1 Kings 5:12-18

12 dedit quoque Dominus sapientiam Salomoni sicut locutus est ei et erat pax inter Hiram et Salomonem et percusserunt foedus ambo

13 legitque rex Salomon operas de omni Israhel et erat indictio triginta milia virorum

14 mittebatque eos in Libanum decem milia per menses singulos vicissim ita ut duobus mensibus essent in domibus suis et Adoniram erat super huiuscemodi indictione

15 fuerunt itaque Salomoni septuaginta milia eorum qui onera portabant et octoginta milia latomorum in monte

16 absque praepositis qui praeerant singulis operibus numero trium milium et trecentorum praecipientium populo et his qui faciebant opus

17 praecepitque rex ut tollerent lapides grandes lapides pretiosos in fundamentum templi et quadrarent eos

18 quos dolaverunt cementarii Salomonis et cementarii Hiram porro Biblii praeparaverunt ligna et lapides ad aedificandam domum

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.