1 Kings 5:1

1 King Hiram of Tyre had always been a friend of David's, and when he heard that Solomon had succeeded his father David as king, he sent ambassadors to him.

1 Kings 5:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 5:1

And Hiram king of Tyre sent servants unto Solomon
His ambassadors, to condole him on the death of his father, and congratulate him on his accession to the throne; this king is called by the Phoenician historians ^F19 Hirom, and by Eupolemus ^F20 Suron, as he is Huram in ( 2 Chronicles 2:3 ) ; and by Theophilus of Antioch ^F21 Hierom the son of Abelmalus, in the twelfth year of whose reign the temple was built:

for he had heard that they had anointed him, king in the room of his
father;
that the Israelites had anointed him king:

for Hiram was ever a lover of David;
a friend and ally of his; and we never read of the Tyrians being at war with him, or assisting any of his enemies.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 Apud Joseph. contr. Apion. l. 1. c. 17, 18.
F20 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 33, 34.
F21 Ad Antolyc. l. 3. p. 131, 132.

1 Kings 5:1 In-Context

1 King Hiram of Tyre had always been a friend of David's, and when he heard that Solomon had succeeded his father David as king, he sent ambassadors to him.

2 Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:

3 "You know that because of the constant wars my father David had to fight against the enemy countries all around him, he could not build a temple for the worship of the Lord his God until the Lord had given him victory over all his enemies.

4 But now the Lord my God has given me peace on all my borders. I have no enemies, and there is no danger of attack.

5 The Lord promised my father David, "Your son, whom I will make king after you, will build a temple for me.' And I have now decided to build that temple for the worship of the Lord my God.