[1] Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that
they had anointed him king in place of his father; for Hiram always loved
David. [2] And Solomon sent word to Hiram, [3] "You know that David my
father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of
the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the LORD put them
under the soles of his feet. [4] But now the LORD my God has given me rest
on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. [5] And so I
purpose to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said
to David my father, `Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your
place, shall build the house for my name.' [6] Now therefore command that
cedars of Lebanon be cut for me; and my servants will join your servants,
and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set; for you know
that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the
Sido'nians." [7] When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced
greatly, and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given to David a
wise son to be over this great people." [8] And Hiram sent to Solomon,
saying, "I have heard the message which you have sent to me; I am ready to
do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. [9] My
servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon; and I will make it
into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct, and I will have them
broken up there, and you shall receive it; and you shall meet my wishes by
providing food for my household." [10] So Hiram supplied Solomon with all
the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired, [11] while Solomon gave
Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty
thousand cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year. [12]
And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace
between Hiram and Solomon; and the two of them made a treaty. [13] King
Solomon raised a levy of forced labor out of all Israel; and the levy
numbered thirty thousand men. [14] And he sent them to Lebanon, ten
thousand a month in relays; they would be a month in Lebanon and two months
at home; Adoni'ram was in charge of the levy. [15] Solomon also had seventy
thousand burden-bearers and eighty thousand hewers of stone in the hill
country, [16] besides Solomon's three thousand three hundred chief officers
who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the
work. [17] At the king's command, they quarried out great, costly stones in
order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. [18] So
Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men of Gebal did the hewing
and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.