1.
And Hiram 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 lover of David.
Hiram. Born of a Jewish mother (1 Kings 7:14 . 2 Chronicles 2:14 ).
lover = ally, Hebrews always at amity with the Phoenicians. Never with Canaanites.
2.
And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
3.
Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.
Thou knowest . Compare 2 Samuel 5:11 . 1Ch 14:1 ; 1 Chronicles 22:4 .
could not. There were three reasons altogether: (1) not the time (2 Samuel 7 ); (2) not the opportunity (Luke 5:3 ); (3) not the man ( 1Ch 22:8 ; 1 Chronicles 28:3 , &c).
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
4.
But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
adversary. Hebrew. satan.
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 house unto my name.
as the LORD spake = according as Jehovah spake. Compare 2 Samuel 7:12 , 2Sa 7:13 . 1 Chronicles 17:11 , 1 Chronicles 17:12 .
6.
Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar 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 can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
any = a man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .
7.
And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed 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 fir.
sent: i.e. wrote. Compare 2 Chronicles 2:11 . See note on Exodus 17:14 , and App-47 .
fir. Or, cypress.
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.
bring them down. Note the illustration in the conversion of sinners. Cut down from nature's standing; down through the waters of death (Romans 6:11 ), before finding their place in the temple of God (Ephesians 2:20-22 ). Same with the stones. See note on 1 Kings 5:17 .
10.
So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
gave = continued to give. Compare Psalms 45:12 .
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.
gave. Not the same as 2 Chronicles 2:10 . That was for Hiram's workmen in Lebanon. This was for his royal household at Tyre.
measures. See App-51 .
pure = bruised (as in a mortar), not crushed in a press.
12.
And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
as = according as. Compare 1 Kings 3:12 .
league =
a covenant. For breaking which Tyre was judged later. See Amos 1:9 .
13.
And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
levy = tribute of men for free labour, not the bond service of 1 Kings 9:21 , 1 Kings 9:22 . Compare 1 Kings 4:6 . 2 Samuel 20:24 . Foretold in 1 Samuel 8:16 . David employed forced service of resident aliens (1 Chronicles 22:2 ; and notes on 2 Samuel 12:31 ).
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 Adoniram was over the levy.
15.
And Solomon had threescore 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 thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
17.
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
brought = quarried.
great stones. These stones illustrate the work of conversion in the sinner. Hewed out of nature's dark quarry (Isaiah 51:1 , Isaiah 51:2 ), out and carved for a place in the temple of glory (Ephesians 2:20-22 ).
18.
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
stonesquarers = men of Gebal, or Giblites, as Ezekiel 27:9 , now Jubeil, forty miles north of Sidon. Compare Psalms 83:7 . Phoenician masons' marks still visible on them.
so = and.