1 Kings 5: Hiram sends cedar, and Solomon raises forced labor
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What happens?
Hiram king of Tyre, who had always loved David, sends his servants to Solomon. Solomon sends word that David could not build a house for the name of Yahweh because of the wars around him, but now Yahweh has given rest on every side, and Solomon means to build it; he asks Hiram for cedar from Lebanon. Hiram blesses Yahweh, agrees to send cedar and cypress by sea on rafts, and Solomon gives him wheat and oil year by year. Yahweh gives Solomon wisdom, as he had promised, and the two kings make a treaty. Solomon raises forced labor from all Israel, thirty thousand men, sent to Lebanon ten thousand a month; he also has seventy thousand carriers, eighty thousand stone cutters and three thousand three hundred officers, and they prepare great stones and timber to build the house.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. Solomon sends his words to Hiram in verses 3 to 6; in verse 5 he repeats what Yahweh spoke to David, and those are Solomon's words, so they are not in gold. Hiram speaks in verse 7 and sends his answer in verses 8 and 9. Verse 12, that Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom as he had promised him, is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father, and Hiram had always loved David.
In plain English: Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he had heard that they had anointed him king in his father's place. Hiram had always loved (or: been a friend of) David.
Good to know: Hiram king of Tyre also sent David cedar trees, carpenters and masons, "and they built David a house" (). "Loved" is from ahab, which the dictionary gives as "to have affection for". The STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "a friend".
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2Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
In plain English: Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,
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3“You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God because of the wars which were around him on every side, until Yahweh put his enemies under the soles of his feet.
In plain English: "You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God, because of the wars that were all around him, until Yahweh put his enemies (literally: them) under the soles of his feet (or, as the Hebrew is also read: my feet).
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4But now Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side. There is no enemy and no evil occurrence.
In plain English: But now Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side. There is no enemy (the Hebrew word is: satan; see the note) and nothing evil happening (this Bible: no evil occurrence).
The Hebrew word: "Enemy" is satan, which the dictionary gives as "an opponent", and also, with "the" before it, Satan. It is in 23 verses of the Bible; this Bible says "Satan" in 14 of them and "adversary" in 8. In the same word is used when "Yahweh raised up an adversary to Solomon".
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5Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place shall build the house for my name.’
In plain English: Now I mean (literally: I am saying) to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, 'Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, will build the house for my name.'
Good to know: Solomon repeats what Yahweh spoke to David. These are Solomon's words, so they are not in gold. Yahweh's own words to David through Nathan are in : "He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."
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6Now therefore command that cedar trees be cut for me out of Lebanon. My servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say. For you know that there is nobody among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
In plain English: So now, command that cedar trees be cut for me from Lebanon. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants, whatever you say. For you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians."
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7When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, “Blessed is Yahweh today, who has given to David a wise son to rule over this great people.”
In plain English: When Hiram heard Solomon's words, he was very glad and said, "Blessed be Yahweh today, who has given David a wise son over this great people."
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8Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent to me. I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning cypress timber.
In plain English: Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message you sent me. I will do all you want about the cedar timber and the cypress timber.
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9My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you specify to me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you will receive them. You will accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.”
In plain English: My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place you tell me, and I will break them up there, and you will take them away. And you will do what I want: give food for my household."
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10So Hiram gave Solomon cedar timber and cypress timber according to all his desire.
In plain English: So Hiram gave Solomon cedar timber and cypress timber, all he wanted.
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11Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat for food to his household, and twenty cors of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.
In plain English: Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty cors of pure oil (literally: beaten oil). Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.
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12Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.
In plain English: Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him (literally: spoken to him). There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty (literally: a covenant).
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13King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
In plain English: King Solomon raised forced labor (this Bible: a levy) from all Israel, and the forced labor was thirty thousand men.
Good to know: "Levy" is mas, forced labor: see the note on . The text comes back to this labor later: gives what it was for, and says "of the children of Israel Solomon made no bondservants". After Solomon dies, the people ask his son to make "the hard service of your father" lighter ().
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14He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: for a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor.
In plain English: He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month, in turns: one month they were in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was over the forced labor.
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15Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains,
In plain English: Solomon had seventy thousand who carried loads, and eighty thousand who cut stone in the mountains (or: the hill country),
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16besides Solomon’s chief officers who were over the work: three thousand three hundred who ruled over the people who labored in the work.
In plain English: besides Solomon's chief officers who were over the work: three thousand three hundred, who ruled over the people doing the work.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers. gives the same seventy thousand and eighty thousand, and "three thousand six hundred to oversee them". The text does not explain the two numbers.
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17The king commanded, and they cut out large stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.
In plain English: The king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with cut stone.
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18Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.
In plain English: Solomon's builders, Hiram's builders and the Gebalites cut them, and they prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.
Good to know: The dictionary gives the Gebalites as people "of Gebal". names "the land of the Gebalites" together with "all Lebanon".
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