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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 5
Solomon solicits and gains Hiram's help in getting timber to build the
temple—Israelites hew stones and cut timber for the temple.
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1 AND aHiram
king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had
anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a
blover of David.
2 And Solomon sent to aHiram,
saying,
3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not
build an ahouse unto the name of the
LORDa his God for the
wars which were about him on every side, until the bLORD
put them under the soles of his feet.
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3a an house unto the name of the LORD
Certainly other kingdoms did have 'temples' or houses of worship unto that
'god' which they did worship. Egypt was a great example for the building of
temples unto their gods. Not that the LORD had need of an earthly abode, but
more that it did establish Israel as a recognizable nation and kingdom among
those other such kingdoms round about. And it did give some tangible edifice
unto the God of Israel, identifying him who he was and that Israel did
subscribe to worship him. Not that the tent tabernacle did not offer such to
the people of Israel, but that the people of Israel could further recognize
themselves with their God in the same context of all the other nations. And
the nations did come to see and experience the Temple of Solomon and come to
know the God of Israel. But in this both pride and corruptions would enter in
and those among Israel would design to have a place of worship to their gods
within the kingdom of Israel as well. And to this end their corruptions would
also lay claim to even worship their own gods at the temple of Jehovah and
thus they would come to corrupt the House of the LORD.
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4 But now the LORD my God hath given me
arest on every side, so that there is neither
adversary nor evil occurrent.
5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the
name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy
son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an
ahouse unto my name.
6 Now therefore command thou that they hew me
acedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with
thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to
all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among
us any that bcan skill to hew timber like unto the
Sidonians.
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7 ¶ And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the
words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said,
aBlessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto
David a wise son over this great people.
8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have
considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all
thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of
afir.
9 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
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10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
12 And the LORD gave Solomon
awisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between
Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a bleague together.
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13 ¶ And king Solomon raised a
alevy out of all Israel; and the blevy
was thirty thousand men.
14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month
by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and
aAdoniram was over the levy.
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15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that
bare aburdens, and fourscore thousand
bhewers in the mountains;
16 Beside the chief of Solomon's
aofficers which were over the work, three thousand
and three hundred, which bruled over the people that
wrought in the work.
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17 And the king commanded, and they brought great
stones, acostly stones, and hewed
bstones, to lay the foundation of the house.
18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did
hew them, and the astonesquarers: so they prepared
timber and stones to build the house.
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