The First Book of the Kings, commonly called the Third Book of the Kings
1 Kings 5
Chapter V · Vol. II, p. 726
1 Hiram, sending to congratulate Solomon, is certified of his purpose to build the temple, and desired to furnish him with timber for that purpose. 7 Hiram, blessing God for Solomon, and requesting food for his family, furnisheth him with timber. 13 The number of Solomon's workmen and labourers.
1 And Hirama king of Tyre1 sent his servants unto Solomon; (for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father:) for Hiram bwas ever a lover of David.
1 There were two cities called Tyre—the one on the continent, the other on an island. The former was, most probably, the residence of Hiram, the latter is the Tyre of prophecy, and its grandeur and destruction continue to furnish a striking evidence of the divine origin of the Holy Scriptures, in which its fates were predicted.—C.
3 Thou knowest how that David my father couldd 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 eput them under the soles of his feet.
4 But now the LORD my God fhath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
5 And, behold, I 2purpose gto build an house unto the name of the LORD my God,3 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.
2 Heb. say.
g 2 Sa.7.12,13. 1 Ch.22.10;28.6,20,21. Mat.16.18. 2 Ch.2.1.
3 The religious character of this embassy forms one of the most beautiful episodes in the history of human diplomacy. And is it not an emblem of Christ calling the Gentiles to join with him in building up his church, the true and holy temple where the Lord dwells?—C.
6 Now therefore command thou that they hew me hcedar-trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will iI give hire for thy servants, according to all that thou shalt appoint:4 for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the kSidonians.5
h Ps.29.5;92.12. Ca.5.15. ch.6.9,10,16,20.
4 Heb. say.
5 Almost every country has some peculiar productions for beneficial exchange, and some peculiar arts and manufactures in which it excels. Thus God binds nations together by mutual necessities and benefits, provides for the extension of the gospel, and overrules the tendencies of men for war.—C.
7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, lBlessed be the LORD this day,6 which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.
8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered7 the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning mtimber of fir.
9 My servants shall bring them down from nLebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint8 me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire in ogiving food for my household.9
8 Heb. send.
o 1 Ti.5.8. Ac.12.20. Ezr.3.7. Eze.27.17.
9 Sidon being a large commercial city, built on the coast, and having near it only a narrow plain, required a large supply of provisions. 'Food for his household' was consequently the most acceptable return Solomon could make to Hiram for his services.—P.
10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar-trees, and fir-trees, according to all his desire.
11 And Solomon1 gave Hiram twenty thousand pmeasures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures2 of pure oil:3 thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
1 B.C. 1012.
p Heb. cors, 2 Ch.2.10, i.e. about 42,500 bolls.
2 About 1560 gallons, wine measure.
3 In 2 Ch. 2. 10 we find mention of 20,000 baths of oil. But this does not necessarily contradict the 20 measures in the text—as the one account may refer to oil of common quality—the text to pure oil for Hiram's own household.—C.
12 And the LORD qgave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two rmade a league together.
13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was sthirty thousand men.
s ch.9.15.
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 tAdoniram was over the levy.
t ch.4.6.
15 And Solomon had threescore and uten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
u 2 Ch.2.2,17,18. ch.9.20-22.
16 Besides the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, xthree thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
x 2 Ch.2.2. ch.9.23.
17 And the king commanded, and they ybrought great stones,4 costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
y ch.7.9;6.7. 1 Co.3.10,11. 1 Pe.2.7. Is.28.16. Re.21.14,27.
4 As an illustration of what is meant by great stones, it may be remarked that in the ruins of Baalbec, generally ascribed to Solomon, Irby and Mangles measured one 66 feet long and 12 feet in depth and breadth; and Wood found one in a neighbouring quarry, prepared for removal, which was 70 feet long by 14 feet 5 inches in breadth, and 14 feet in depth, which, estimated as Portland stone, would weigh 1135 tons.—C.
18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the zstone-squarers:5 so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
z Or, Gibilites; as Eze.27.9. Ps.83.7.
5 This clause ought to be translated as follows:—'And Solomon's builders, and Hiram's builders, and the Giblites hewed.' The Giblites were the inhabitants of Gebal, a small city situated on the shore of the Mediterranean beneath Lebanon, and eighteen miles north of Beyrout. It is a remarkable fact that the masonry of the ancient walls of Gebal bear a close resemblance to those of the temple-wall at Jerusalem.—P.
Notes
[Ver. 6. The skill of the Sidonians in hewing timber was owing to two causes: 1. The cedar forests were in the mountains of Lebanon, within a very few miles of the city. There remains of ancient cedar forests have been discovered within the past five years. It was thought until very recently that the only remnant of the famous cedars was the little grove near the northern extremity of the mountain chain. Now, no less than seven distinct groves are known. 2. The Sidonians were the earliest and most celebrated navigators, they had consequently acquired skill in cutting timber for ship-building. P.]
Ver. 15. [It must be remembered that in those early days there were no regularly constructed roads, and there were no engines constructed to economize human labour. Palestine besides was a mountainous country; and transport was difficult. Every stone and beam had to be dragged along by strength of arm. Thousands were thus required to do work which as many scores could now do by the aid of machinery. The bearers of burdens and hewers spoken of in this verse were employed in the mountains around Jerusalem. It appears from 2 Ch. 2. 17, 18 that these pressed labourers were Canaanites. P.]
Ver. 17. [The stones laid bare by recent excavations round the walls of the temple area are of enormous magnitude, and the walls themselves, as now in part exposed to view, show what a vast amount of labour and time must have been spent upon them. Some of the stones measure nearly 40 ft. in length by 5 ft. in thickness. P.]
Reflections.—Condolence with the afflicted is truly kind; and faithful friends love the children for their parents' sake. It is good for kings to cultivate peace with their neighbours, especially such as fear God. The more outward rest we have, the more earnestly we should lay out ourselves in promoting the worship and honour of God: and when we have God's promise to encourage us we need never doubt of our success. They have often most of natural ingenuity who have no real knowledge of God. And frequently God employs those in building his church who have no spiritual interest in her. But it is highly honourable to assist in promoting her welfare. In all bargains the conditions ought to be clear, that after-disputes may be prevented. And labourers' wages should be always paid with the greatest punctuality. When God hath a temple to build he can easily provide workmen; and in his work every one ought to have his particular allotment. But great is the mercy, that thousands unnumbered of Gentile sinners have been brought into the gospel church, and built up a spiritual temple, a meet habitation of God, through the Spirit.