New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
1 Kings 5
1
Hiram was the king of Tyre. He heard that Solomon had been anointed as king. He heard that Solomon had become the next king after his father David. Hiram had always been David's friend. So Hiram sent his messengers to Solomon.
Reference
Kingdom
1 Chronicles 14:1
2 Chronicles 2:3
2 Samuel 5:11
Parallel theme
1 Kings 5:10
Psalm 45:12
Amos 1:9
2
Then Solomon sent a message back to Hiram. It said,
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 2:3
3
"As you know, my father David had to fight many battles. His enemies attacked him from every side. So he couldn't build a temple where the Lord his God would put his Name. That wouldn't be possible until the Lord had put his enemies under his control.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 15:25
References God
1 Chronicles 28:3
References Lord
1 Chronicles 22:8
4
"But now the Lord my God has given me peace and rest on every side. We don't have any enemies. And we don't have any other major problems either.
Reference
5
So I'm planning to build a temple. I want to build it for the Name of the Lord my God. That's what he told my father David he wanted me to do. He said, 'I will put your son on the throne in your place. He will build a temple. I will put my Name there.'
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 17:12
1 Chronicles 22:10
1 Chronicles 28:6
References Lord
1 Chronicles 28:10
6
"So give your men orders to cut down cedar trees in Lebanon for me. My men will work with yours. I'll pay you for your men's work. I'll pay any amount you decide on. As you know, we don't have anyone who is as skilled in cutting down trees as the men of Sidon are."
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 2:8
7
When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was very pleased. He said, "May the Lord be praised today. He has given David a wise son to rule over that great nation."
Reference
8
So Hiram sent a message to Solomon. It said, "I have received the message you sent me. I'll do everything you want me to. I'll provide the cedar and pine logs.
9
My men will bring them from Lebanon down to the Mediterranean Sea. I'll make them into rafts. I'll float them to the place you want me to. When the rafts arrive, I'll separate the logs from each other. Then you can take them away. "And here's what I want in return. Provide food for all of the people in my palace."
Reference
10
So Hiram supplied Solomon with all of the cedar and pine logs he wanted.
11
Solomon gave Hiram 125,000 bushels of wheat as food for the people in his palace. He also gave him 115,000 gallons of oil that was made from pressed olives. He did that for Hiram year after year.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 2:10
12
The Lord made Solomon wise, just as he had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon. The two of them made a peace treaty.
Reference
13
King Solomon forced men from all over Israel to work hard for him. There were 30,000 of them.
Reference
14
He sent them off to Lebanon in groups of 10,000 each month. They spent one month in Lebanon. Then they spent two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the people who were forced to work.
15
Solomon had 70,000 people who carried things. He had 80,000 who cut stones in the hills.
17
The people did what the king commanded. They removed large blocks of fine stone from a rock pit. They used them to provide a foundation for the temple.
Reference
Summary of 1 Kings 5
1 Kings 5 describes Solomon's preparations to build the temple in Jerusalem, his peaceful agreement with Hiram king of Tyre for cedar and fir timber from Lebanon, and the organization of a massive workforce to quarry and prepare the stones and materials required for the temple, marking the beginning of one of the most important building projects in Israel's history.
The chapter begins with Hiram, king of Tyre, contacting Solomon after hearing that Solomon has become king.
Hiram had maintained a friendly relationship with David.
Solomon now continues this relationship with Hiram.
Solomon explains that he wants to build a temple dedicated to the name of the Lord.
David had desired to build this temple, but his years of warfare prevented him from completing the project.
According to Solomon, God has now given him peace on every side.
This peaceful situation allows Solomon to begin the work that David had prepared for but could not complete.
Solomon therefore asks Hiram for cedar and fir timber from Lebanon.
Lebanon was famous throughout the ancient world for its valuable timber.
Solomon offers payment through agricultural products, particularly wheat and olive oil.
Hiram gladly accepts the agreement.
He promises to provide the timber and arrange for it to be transported from Lebanon to the coast.
The materials can then be shipped by sea to the location Solomon chooses.
This agreement creates a peaceful and economically useful relationship between Israel and Tyre.
The chapter specifically emphasizes that God gave Solomon wisdom.
That wisdom is reflected not only in Solomon's personal decisions but also in his ability to establish international cooperation and organize a complicated construction project.
Solomon then begins assembling an enormous workforce.
He selects 30,000 men from Israel for work connected with the timber supply.
These workers serve in rotating groups, spending one month in Lebanon and two months at home.
This arrangement provides labor while limiting the continuous burden placed upon individual workers.
In addition to these workers, Solomon organizes 70,000 laborers who carry materials and 80,000 stonecutters who work in the mountains.
Thousands of supervisors are appointed to oversee the operation.
The project therefore requires an extensive administrative structure.
The workers quarry large and costly stones for the foundation of the temple.
Skilled workers from Israel and Tyre cooperate in preparing the timber and stone.
The men from Gebal, a Phoenician city associated with skilled building and timber work, also participate in preparing the materials.
The chapter ends before the temple itself is constructed.
Instead, it focuses on the enormous preparations necessary before construction can begin.
The emphasis is therefore on planning, resources, international cooperation, skilled labor, organization, and God's provision of peace and wisdom.
1 Kings 5 teaches that Solomon uses the peace, wisdom, resources, and international relationships God has provided to begin building the temple, demonstrating how a major work dedicated to God requires careful preparation, skilled cooperation, organized leadership, valuable resources, and faithful commitment to fulfilling the purposes God had established through David and Solomon.
The chapter begins with Hiram, king of Tyre, contacting Solomon after hearing that Solomon has become king.
Hiram had maintained a friendly relationship with David.
Solomon now continues this relationship with Hiram.
Solomon explains that he wants to build a temple dedicated to the name of the Lord.
David had desired to build this temple, but his years of warfare prevented him from completing the project.
According to Solomon, God has now given him peace on every side.
This peaceful situation allows Solomon to begin the work that David had prepared for but could not complete.
Solomon therefore asks Hiram for cedar and fir timber from Lebanon.
Lebanon was famous throughout the ancient world for its valuable timber.
Solomon offers payment through agricultural products, particularly wheat and olive oil.
Hiram gladly accepts the agreement.
He promises to provide the timber and arrange for it to be transported from Lebanon to the coast.
The materials can then be shipped by sea to the location Solomon chooses.
This agreement creates a peaceful and economically useful relationship between Israel and Tyre.
The chapter specifically emphasizes that God gave Solomon wisdom.
That wisdom is reflected not only in Solomon's personal decisions but also in his ability to establish international cooperation and organize a complicated construction project.
Solomon then begins assembling an enormous workforce.
He selects 30,000 men from Israel for work connected with the timber supply.
These workers serve in rotating groups, spending one month in Lebanon and two months at home.
This arrangement provides labor while limiting the continuous burden placed upon individual workers.
In addition to these workers, Solomon organizes 70,000 laborers who carry materials and 80,000 stonecutters who work in the mountains.
Thousands of supervisors are appointed to oversee the operation.
The project therefore requires an extensive administrative structure.
The workers quarry large and costly stones for the foundation of the temple.
Skilled workers from Israel and Tyre cooperate in preparing the timber and stone.
The men from Gebal, a Phoenician city associated with skilled building and timber work, also participate in preparing the materials.
The chapter ends before the temple itself is constructed.
Instead, it focuses on the enormous preparations necessary before construction can begin.
The emphasis is therefore on planning, resources, international cooperation, skilled labor, organization, and God's provision of peace and wisdom.
1 Kings 5 teaches that Solomon uses the peace, wisdom, resources, and international relationships God has provided to begin building the temple, demonstrating how a major work dedicated to God requires careful preparation, skilled cooperation, organized leadership, valuable resources, and faithful commitment to fulfilling the purposes God had established through David and Solomon.