(KJV) 1 Kings 5¹

⥃Preparations for the Temple ^{[ 2 Chronicles 2:1–10 ]}

[1] And Hiram² king of Tyre sent³ his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram⁴ was ever a lover of David.⁵ [2] And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,⁶ [3] Thou knowest how that David my father could not⁷ build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars⁸ which were about him on every side, until the Lord put⁹ them under the soles of his feet. [4] But now the Lord my God hath given¹⁰ me rest on every side, [so that there is] neither adversary nor evil occurrent. [5] And, behold¹¹, I purpose¹² to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord¹³ spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name. [6] Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees¹⁴ out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire¹⁵ for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint¹⁶: for thou knowest that [there is] not¹⁷ among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians¹⁸.

⥃Hiram’s Reply to Solomon ^{[ 2 Chronicles 2:11–18 ]}

[7] [¶]And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed¹⁹ [be] the Lord this day, which hath²⁰ given unto David a wise son²¹ over this great people. [8] And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered²² the things which thou sentest to me for: [and] I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir²³. [9] My servants shall bring [them] down from Lebanon²⁴ unto the sea: and I will²⁵ convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint²⁶ me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive [them]: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food²⁷ for my household. [10] So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees [according to] all his desire. [11] And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures²⁸ of wheat [for] food to his household, and twenty measures²⁹ of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. [12] And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him³⁰: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two³¹ made a league together.

⥃Solomon’s Labor Force

[13] [¶]And king Solomon raised a levy³² out of all Israel; and the levy³³ was thirty thousand men. [14] And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month³⁴ by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, [and] two months at home: and Adoniram³⁵ [was] over the levy. [15] And Solomon had threescore³⁶ and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; [16] Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which [were] over the work, three thousand³⁷ and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work. [17] And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones³⁸, [and] hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. [18] And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew [them], and the stonesquarers³⁹: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.