1 Kings 5:1
King James Version
5 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 Hiram was ever a lover of David.
Here's the wonderful team work between the two kings, Hiram and Solomon, as the latter built a HOUSE for GOD.
First, Solomon explains the circumstances to the HOUSE.
1 Kings 5:2-5
King James Version
2 And Solomon sent to Hiram,
saying,
3 Thou knowest how that David my father
could 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 put them under the soles of his feet.
4 But now the Lord my God
hath given me rest on every side,
so that there is neither adversary
nor evil occurrent.
5 And, behold,
I purpose 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.
With Solomon requesting Hiram:
1 Kings 5:6
King James Version
6 Now therefore command thou
that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon;
and my servants shall be with thy servants:
and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants
according to all that thou shalt appoint:
for thou knowest that there is not among us
any that can skill to hew timber
like unto the Sidonians.
Hiram was delighted to help:
1 Kings 5:7-10
King James Version
7 And it came to pass,
when Hiram heard the words of Solomon,
that he rejoiced greatly, and said,
Blessed be the Lord this day,
which hath given unto David
a wise son over this great people.
8 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying,
I have considered the things
which thou sentest to me for:
and I will do all thy desire
concerning timber of cedar,
and concerning timber of fir.
9 My servants shall bring them down
from Lebanon unto the sea:
and I will convey them by sea in floats
unto the place that thou shalt appoint 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.
10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees
according to all his desire.
In turn, Solomon provided for Hiram and his household.
1 Kings 5:11
King James Version
11 And Solomon gave Hiram
twenty thousand measures of wheat
for food to his household,
and twenty measures of pure oil:
thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
The two excited kings "made a league together".
1 Kings 5:12-18
King James Version
12 And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom,
as he promised him:
and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon;
and they two made a league together.
13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel;
and the levy was thirty thousand men.
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 Adoniram was over the levy.
15 And Solomon had threescore
and ten thousand that bare burdens,
and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
16 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers
which were over the work,
three thousand and three hundred,
which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
17 And the king commanded,
and they brought great stones,
costly stones,
and hewed stones,
to lay the foundation of the house.
18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders
did hew them,
and the stonesquarers:
so they prepared timber and stones
to build the house.
This rare friendship, surely was done for the GLORY of GOD, and also to honor Hiram's friendship with Solomon's father, king DAVID.
If you're wondering the extent of Solomon's power given him by GOD, click here.
Images: Free Bible Images
