1 Kings 5:1

1 And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon: for he heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram had always been David’s friend.

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 And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon: for he heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram had always been David’s friend.

2 Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

3 Thou knowest the will of David, my father, and that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars that were round about him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

4 But now the Lord my God hath given me rest round about; and there is no adversary nor evil occurrence.

5 Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying: Thy son, whom I will set upon the throne, in thy place, he shall build a house to my name.