1 Kings 5:1

1 Hiram, king of Tyre, also sent his slaves unto Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father; for Hiram had always loved David.

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 Hiram, king of Tyre, also sent his slaves unto Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father; for Hiram had always loved David.

2 Then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3 Thou knowest how David, my father, could not build a house unto the name of the LORD his God, for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put his enemies under the soles of his feet.

4 Now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side so that there is neither adversary nor evil encounter.

5 And, therefore, I have determined to build a house unto the name of the LORD my God as the LORD spoke unto David, my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy place, he shall build a house unto my name.