1 Kings 5:12-18

12 The Lord kept his promise and gave Solomon wisdom. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they made a treaty with each other.

13 King Solomon drafted 30,000 men as forced labor from all over Israel,

14 and put Adoniram in charge of them. He divided them into three groups of 10,000 men, and each group spent one month in Lebanon and two months back home. ¹

15 Solomon also had 80,000 stone cutters in the hill country, with 70,000 men to carry the stones,

16 and he placed 3,300 foremen in charge of them to supervise their work.

17 At King Solomon's command they cut fine large stones for the foundation of the Temple.

18 Solomon's and Hiram's workers and men from the city of Byblos prepared the stones and the timber to build the Temple.

1 Kings 5:12-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 5

This chapter relates Solomon's preparation for building the temple: on Hiram, king of Tyre, sending a congratulatory letter to him, he returned another to him, signifying his intention to build an house for God, and requesting him to supply him with timber, and men to work it, 1Ki 5:1-6; to which Hiram readily agreed, and sent him cedar and fir, and Solomon in return sent him food for his household; and things went on very amicably between them, 1Ki 5:7-12; the chapter concludes with an account of Solomon's workmen, where, how, and in what they were employed, 1Ki 5:13-18.

Cross References

• 1. 5.14 1 Kings 12.18.