1 Kings 5:8

8 Then he sent this reply to Solomon: “I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need.

1 Kings 5:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 5:8

And Hiram sent to Solomon
A letter to him, to the following purpose:

saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for;
whether he could, and whether it was fitting he should grant his request; which was acting like a wise and prudent prince:

[and] I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and
concerning timber of fir;
or of cypress, as in Josephus's copy of this letter, and which grew on Lebanon ^F3; these were odorous, sound, and durable timber, especially the cedar, and therefore chosen by Solomon for building.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Diodor. Sic. l. 19. p. 700.

1 Kings 5:8 In-Context

6 “Therefore, please command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me. Let my men work alongside yours, and I will pay your men whatever wages you ask. As you know, there is no one among us who can cut timber like you Sidonians!”

7 When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he was very pleased and said, “Praise the LORD today for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel.”

8 Then he sent this reply to Solomon: “I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need.

9 My servants will bring the logs from the Lebanon mountains to the Mediterranean Sea and make them into rafts and float them along the coast to whatever place you choose. Then we will break the rafts apart so you can carry the logs away. You can pay me by supplying me with food for my household.”

10 So Hiram supplied as much cedar and cypress timber as Solomon desired.