The First Book of the Kings

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

(2 Chronicles 2:1–10)

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.

And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

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.

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

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

Give orders therefore that thy servants cut me down cedar trees out of Libanus, and let my servants be with thy servants: and I will give thee the hire of thy servants whatsoever thou wilt ask, for thou knowest how there is not among my people a man that has skill to hew wood like to the Sidonians.

Hiram’s Reply to Solomon

(2 Chronicles 2:11–18)

Now when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced exceedingly, and said: Blessed be the Lord God this day, who hath given to David a very wise son over this numerous people.

And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I have heard all thou hast desired of me: and I will do all thy desire concerning cedar trees, and fir trees.

My servants shall bring them down from Libanus to the sea: and I will put them together in floats in the sea, and convey them to the place, which thou shalt signify to me; and will land them there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt allow me necessaries, to furnish food for my household.

So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees, and fir trees, according to all his desire.

And Solomon allowed Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat, for provision for his house, and twenty measures of the purest oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram every year.

And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they two made a league together.

Solomon’s Labor Force

And king Solomon chose workmen cut of all Israel, and the levy was of thirty thousand men.

And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand every month by turns, so that two months they were at home: and Adoniram was over this levy.

And Solomon had seventy thousand to carry burdens, and eighty thousand to hew stones in the mountain:

Besides the overseers who were over every work, in number three thousand, and three hundred that ruled over the people, and them that did the work.

And the king commanded, that they should bring great stones, costly stones, for the foundation of the temple, and should square them:

And the masons of Solomon, and the masons of Hiram hewed them: and the Giblians prepared timber and stones to build the house.

(2 Chronicles 2:1–10)

Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father, and Hiram had always loved David.

Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

“You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which were around him on every side, until the LORD put his enemies under the soles of his feet.

But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is no enemy and no evil occurrence.

Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place shall build the house for my name.’

Now therefore command that cedar trees be cut for me out of Lebanon. My servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say. For you know that there is nobody among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

Hiram’s Reply to Solomon

(2 Chronicles 2:11–18)

When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, “Blessed is the LORD today, who has given to David a wise son to rule over this great people.”

Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you have sent to me. I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning cypress timber.

My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you specify to me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you will receive them. You will accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.”

So Hiram gave Solomon cedar timber and cypress timber according to all his desire.

Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors(a) of wheat for food to his household, and twenty cors(b) of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.

The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.

Solomon’s Labor Force

King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: for a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor.

Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains,

besides Solomon’s chief officers who were over the work: three thousand three hundred who ruled over the people who labored in the work.

The king commanded, and they cut out large stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.

Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.

Footnotes

(a)5:11 20,000 cors would be about 120,000 bushels or about 4.2 megaliters of wheat, which would weigh about 3,270 metric tons.

(b)5:11 20 cors is about 1,100 gallons or about 4220 liters.