¶ 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 Hiram³ was ever a lover of David.

⁴And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

Thou knowest how that David my father could not⁵ build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars⁶ which were about him on every side, until the LORD put⁷ them under the soles of his feet.

But now the LORD my God hath given⁸ me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

And, behold,⁹ I purpose¹⁰ 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.

Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees¹¹ out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire¹² for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint¹³: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians¹⁴.

And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed¹⁵ be the LORD this day, which hath¹⁶ given unto David a wise son¹⁷ over this great people.

And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered¹⁸ the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.

My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon¹⁹ unto the sea: and I will²⁰ convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint²¹ 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.

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

And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures²² of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures²³ of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him:²⁴ and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two²⁵ made a league together.

And king Solomon raised a levy²⁶ out of all Israel; and the levy²⁷ was thirty thousand men.

And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month²⁸ by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram²⁹ was over the levy.

And Solomon had threescore³⁰ and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand³¹ and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones³², and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers³³: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.