1 Kings 5:18

18 So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites hewed [stones], and they prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.

1 Kings 5:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 5:18

And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew [them],
&c.] The stones; for it seems Solomon had not only hewers of wood, but of stone, from Hiram:

and the stonesquarers;
or rather the Giblites, the men of Gebal, which were under the jurisdiction of Tyre, and were skilful in this sort of work, as some of them were in others, see ( Ezekiel 27:9 ) ;

so they prepared timber and stones to build the house;
both Solomon's and Hiram's builders, and the large number of workmen, both Israelites and strangers; which latter were an emblem of the Gentiles concerned in the building of the spiritual temple, the church of Christ, ( Zechariah 6:15 ) ; and whereas the number of strangers that wrought for the building was far greater than that of the Israelites, it may denote the greater number of Gentiles in the Gospel church state mentioned besides these: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year: so long as the building lasted, and the workmen were employed; but Abarbinel thinks that he gave it to him as long as he lived, out of his great munificence and liberality.

1 Kings 5:18 In-Context

16 Besides the chiefs of the officers Solomon had, there were three thousand three hundred having charge over the people who were doing the work.

17 When the king commanded, they quarried great stones [and] precious stones to lay [the] foundation of the house [with] hewn stones.

18 So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites hewed [stones], and they prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.