1 *Kings 5

₁King Hiram from the land of Tyre had always been a friend of David until David died. When they told Hiram that Solomon was anointed to be king after his father, he sent some of his officials to Solomon. ₂Solomon told the officials to say to Hiram: ₃‘You know that my father David had to go to war_against all the people around his land until the Lord helped him defeat them all. That is why he could not build a temple for his God, the Lord. ₄But now the Lord my God has given me peace with all the people around me. I do not have any enemies and there is no danger for us. ₅Now I want to build a temple for the Lord my God. I want to do it as the Lord told my father David. The Lord said: “I will make your son king after you, and he will build the temple for Me.” ₆Now you must tell your workers to cut down cedar trees on Mount Lebanon. My workers will help and work with your workers. I will pay your workers, and you must tell me how much I must give them. You know no one can cut down trees as well as the people of Sidon.’

₇Hiram was happy when they told him what Solomon had said. He said: ‘I praise the Lord today that He gave David a wise son to be king of this important nation.’ ₈Hiram sent people to Solomon to tell him: ‘I got your message and I will do what you ask and give you all the cedar trees and pine trees you want. ₉My workers will bring the trees from Mount Lebanon down to the sea. I will tie them together and make them float in the sea and I will bring them to you. You must tell me where you want them. We will untie the wood and your people can take it from there. You can pay me by giving me food for my people, as much as I need.’

₁₀Hiram gave Solomon as much cedar wood and pine wood as he wanted ₁₁and Solomon gave Hiram 20 000 cors of wheat and 20 cors of pure olive oil each year for the people in his palace. ₁₂The Lord gave Solomon wisdom as He promised. He always had peace with Hiram and they made an agreement.

₁₃King Solomon told 30 000 workers from the land_of_Israel to come and work for him, ₁₄and every month he sent 10 000 of them in groups to go to the Lebanon mountains. After they had been on the Lebanon mountains for a month, they stayed at home for 2 months. Adoniram was the leader of all the workers. ₁₅Solomon had 70 000 men to carry wood and 80 000 men who cut rocks in the mountains. ₁₆There were 3 300 managers who had to see that the workers did their work. ₁₇They had to cut big rocks as the king told them. They were big and good rocks that they cut for the foundation of the temple. ₁₈The builders of Solomon and of Hiram and the men from the town of Gebal had to cut the rocks and the wood and stones and they prepared everything to build the temple.