Bible Time

¹AND Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father; for Hiram was always a lover of David. ²And Hiram sent to Solomon and blessed him. And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, ³You know how David my father could not build a house to the name of Yahvah his God because of the wars which were about him on every side, until Yahvah put his enemies under the soles of his feet. ⁴But now Yahvah my God has given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence. ⁵And look, I purpose to build a house to the name of Yahvah my God, as Yahvah spoke to David my father, saying, Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, will build a house to my name. ⁶Now therefore command that they cut for me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you will ask; for you know that there is no one among us who has the skill to cut timber like the Zidonians. ⁷And when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be Yahvah this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people. ⁸And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have heard the things for which you have sent to me; and I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar and timber of fir. ⁹My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will convey them by sea in floats to the place that you will appoint me, and I will cause them to be discharged there, and you will receive them from there; and you will also accomplish my desire in giving food for my household.

¹⁰So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to his desire. ¹¹And Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 measures of wheat for food for his household and 20,000 measures of pure oil; thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. ¹²And Yahvah gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon always, and they 2 made a league together. ¹³And King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was 30,000 men. ¹⁴And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month by turns; a month they were in Lebanon and 2 months at home; and Adoniram was in charge of the levy. ¹⁵And Solomon had 75,000 men who bore burdens and 80,000 hewers of stone in the mountain, ¹⁶Besides the chiefs of Solomon's officers who were set over the work, 3,300, who were in charge of the people doing the work. ¹⁷And the king commanded and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones to complete the house. ¹⁸And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the stonemasons hewed them; so they prepared stones and timber for the building of the house.