Hiram

11Hiram was the king of Tyre. He sent men to David with cedar logs, woodworkers, and stone workers. They built a fine house for David.

And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

NoteTyre was a rich city by the sea, north of Israel. Cedar trees grew tall in the hills near it. Cedar wood smells sweet and lasts a long time, so kings built with it.

12David understood that the LORD had truly made him king over Israel. He saw that God had made his kingdom great for the good of God's people Israel.

And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.

1Hiram was the king of a city called Tyre. He heard that Solomon was now king in place of his father. So Hiram sent his servants to Solomon. Hiram had always been a good friend of King David.

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.

NoteTyre was a rich city by the sea, north of Israel. Its people had ships and sold things to other lands. Hiram had been friends with David, Solomon's father, for many years.

2Then Solomon sent a message back to Hiram. This is what he said:

And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3"You know that my father David could not build a house for the LORD his God. Enemies fought him on every side. He had to fight wars until the LORD gave him the win over them all."

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.

NoteA "house" for the LORD means a temple. A temple is a special building where people come to worship God. It is not a house where anyone sleeps.

4"But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side. No enemy is fighting me. Nothing bad is happening."

But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

5"So I plan to build a house for the LORD my God. The LORD told my father David this: 'I will put your son on your throne after you. He will build the house for my name.'"

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.

Note"For my name" means the building belonged to God. It was the place where people would come to pray to him.

6"So please give the order to cut cedar trees for me in Lebanon. My servants will work with your servants. I will pay your workers whatever you ask. Your men from Sidon know how to cut wood better than any of ours."

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.

NoteCedar trees are very tall trees with sweet-smelling wood. Lebanon is a land just north of Israel with mountains full of them. Sidon was a city near Tyre, and its men were the best at cutting big trees.

7When Hiram heard Solomon's words, he was very glad. He said, "Praise the LORD today! He has given David a wise son to lead these many people."

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.

8Hiram sent an answer to Solomon. He said, "I have heard your message. I will do everything you asked. I will send you cedar wood and fir wood."

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.

NoteFir wood comes from another tall tree, a bit like a pine tree.

9"My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea. I will tie them together and float them to any place you choose. There I will take them apart, and you can carry them away. In return, please send food for the people in my house."

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.

NoteThere were no trucks or big roads back then. Floating logs across the water was the easiest way to move them.

10So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar wood and fir wood he wanted.

So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.

11Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for his household. He also gave him twenty measures of pure olive oil. Solomon sent this to Hiram every year.

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.

NoteA measure was a huge basketful, more than one person could carry. Twenty thousand of them was a mountain of grain. Olive oil is squeezed from olives. People cooked with it and burned it in lamps for light.

12The LORD made Solomon wise, just as he had promised. Hiram and Solomon lived in peace with each other. The two kings made an agreement together.

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.

NoteThis kind of agreement is called a treaty. Two kings promise to stay friends and help each other.

13Then King Solomon called men from all over Israel to work for him. There were thirty thousand of these workers.

And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

NoteThe king did not ask these men. He ordered them to come and work for him.

14He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand men each month, taking turns. Each man worked one month, then stayed home two months. A man named Adoniram was in charge of all these workers.

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.

15Solomon had seventy thousand men who carried heavy loads. He had eighty thousand more men who cut stone in the hills.

And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

NoteThe men cut the stones right out of the rocky hills. A place where people cut stone like this is called a quarry.

16He also had three thousand three hundred head workers. They watched over the men and told them what to do.

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.

17The king gave an order, and the men dug out huge stones. These stones cost a lot. Workers cut them smooth and square for the bottom of the house.

And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

NoteThe bottom part of a building is called the foundation. It holds up everything above it. Stones cut smooth and square sit together tightly and do not wobble.

18Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders shaped these stones. Men from the town of Gebal helped them too. Together they got the wood and stone ready to build the house.

And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

NoteGebal was a town on the seashore near Tyre. Its men were famous for shaping stone.

10Twenty years went by while Solomon built the two buildings. One was the temple, God's house. The other was his own palace.

And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king’s house,

11Hiram, the king of Tyre, had helped Solomon a lot. He sent cedar wood, pine wood, and gold, as much as Solomon wanted. So Solomon gave Hiram twenty towns in the land of Galilee.

(Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.

NoteTyre was a rich city by the sea, north of Israel. Cedar and pine are trees. Their wood was strong and smelled good, so it was the best wood for building.

12Hiram left Tyre to go look at the towns Solomon gave him. He did not like them.

And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.

13He said, "What kind of towns are these, my brother?" He named that area the land of Cabul. People still call it that.

And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.

NoteKings called each other "my brother" to be friendly, even when they were not family. The name Cabul sounded like the words for "good for nothing." Hiram was saying the towns were not worth much.

14Hiram had sent the king one hundred twenty talents of gold.

And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.

NoteA talent was a heavy weight, about as much as a big dog. One hundred twenty talents of gold was a huge amount.

26King Solomon also built a group of ships at a place called Ezion-geber. It is near Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.

And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.

NoteEdom was a dry land south of Israel. Ezion-geber was a town on the water where ships could be built and loaded.

27Hiram sent his own men to sail with those ships. They knew the sea well. They worked with Solomon's men.

And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.

NoteHiram's people lived by the sea and sailed all the time. They were the best sailors anyone knew.

28They sailed to a place called Ophir. They brought back four hundred twenty talents of gold and gave it to King Solomon.

And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.

NoteOphir was a faraway land famous for very fine gold. Nobody today knows for sure where it was.

11King Hiram's ships brought gold from a place called Ophir. They also brought lots of almug wood and beautiful stones from there.

And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.

NoteHiram was the king of Tyre, a country close by. He and Solomon were friends who traded with each other. No one today knows for sure where Ophir was. It was famous for gold. Almug was a rare wood brought from far away by ship.

12The king used the almug wood to make steps for the LORD's house and his own palace. He also made harps and other music instruments for the singers. Wood like that never came again, and no one has seen it since.

And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.

NoteHarps have strings that you pluck with your fingers. Singers played them while they sang.

1Hiram was the king of Tyre. He sent men to David with cedar logs. He also sent workers who cut stone and workers who built with wood. They came to build a palace for David.

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.

NoteCedar is a tall tree. Its wood smells good and lasts a long time. Kings paid a lot for it. A palace is a very big house where a king lives.

2David knew that the LORD had made him king over Israel for sure. God had made his kingdom great. God did this because he loved his people Israel.

And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.

NoteThe LORD in capital letters is God's special name. A kingdom is the land and people a king takes care of.

3Solomon sent a message to Huram, the king of Tyre. He said, "You helped my father David. You sent him cedar logs to build his house. Please help me the same way.

And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.

NoteTyre was a rich city by the sea, north of Israel. Cedars are tall trees with strong wood that smells sweet.

4I am going to build a house for the LORD my God. It will be set apart just for him. There we will burn sweet-smelling incense before him. There we will always keep the special bread on the table. We will give burnt offerings every morning and evening. We will do it on Sabbath days, on new moon days, and at the feasts God chose. God told Israel to do this always.

Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.

NoteIncense is a sticky gum from trees. Burning it makes a sweet smell. The special bread sat on a table inside God's house, and fresh loaves were set out each week. A burnt offering was a gift to God: an animal burned on an altar, which is a stone table for gifts. The Sabbath was the seventh day of each week, a day to rest and worship. A new moon day was the start of a new month. Feasts were special days each year when everyone came together to worship.

5The house I build will be great. Our God is greater than all other gods.

And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.

NotePeople in other lands worshiped many gods. They often made statues of them.

6But no one can really build a house for him. Even the highest heavens are too small to hold him. So who am I to build him a house? I can only build a place to burn offerings to him.

But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

Note"Heaven of heavens" means the sky and everything far beyond it.

7So please send me a man with great skill. He must know how to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. He must know how to work with purple, red, and blue yarn. He must know how to carve. He will work with my own skilled men in Judah and Jerusalem. My father David found those men.

Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.

NoteBronze is a hard metal made by mixing copper and tin. Yarn is thread used for weaving cloth. Purple, red, and blue dyes were rare and cost a lot back then. To carve is to cut shapes and pictures into wood, stone, or metal.

8Please send me cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon. I know your workers are good at cutting trees there. My workers will help your workers.

Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,

NoteLebanon was the land just north of Israel. It had huge forests. Cedar, cypress, and algum were all fine trees for building.

9They will get me plenty of wood. The house I am building will be very large and fine.

Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.

10This is what I will pay your woodcutters. I will give them 20,000 measures of ground wheat. I will give them 20,000 measures of barley. I will give them 20,000 baths of wine and 20,000 baths of olive oil."

And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.

NoteA measure here held about as much grain as a big barrel. A bath was about six gallons, like a large jug. Barley is a grain that people ground up to make bread.

11Then Huram, the king of Tyre, wrote back to Solomon. He said, "The LORD loves his people. That is why he made you their king."

Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.

12Huram also said, "Praise the LORD, the God of Israel! He made the heavens and the earth. He gave King David a wise son. This son is smart and careful. He will build a house for the LORD and a palace for himself.

Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

13So I am sending you a very skilled man. His name is Huram-abi. He is clever and full of good ideas.

And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father’s,

14His mother came from the tribe of Dan. His father was a man from Tyre. He knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. He can work with stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and red yarn, and fine linen. He can carve any kind of design. He can make anything you ask him to make. He will work with your skilled men and with the men of your father David.

The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.

NoteDan was one of the twelve family groups of Israel. Linen is smooth cloth made from a plant called flax.

15So please send your servants the wheat, barley, oil, and wine you promised.

Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:

16We will cut all the wood you need from Lebanon. We will tie the logs together and float them by sea to Joppa. Then you can carry them up to Jerusalem."

And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.

NoteJoppa was a town on the seacoast. Jerusalem sat high up in the hills. That is why the logs had to be carried up from the shore.