1 Kings 5
Preparations for Building the Temple
1
2Then Solomon sent this message back to Hiram:
3“You know that my father, David, was not able to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD his God because of the many wars waged against him by surrounding nations. He could not build until the LORD gave him victory over all his enemies.
4But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well.
5So I am planning to build a Temple to honor the name of the LORD my God, just as he had instructed my father, David. For the LORD told him, ‘Your son, whom I will place on your throne, will build the Temple to honor my name.’
6
7When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he was very pleased and said, “Praise the LORD today for giving David a wise son to be king of the great nation of Israel.”
8Then he sent this reply to Solomon:“I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need.
9My servants will bring the logs from the Lebanon mountains to the Mediterranean Sea
10So Hiram supplied as much cedar and cypress timber as Solomon desired.
11In return, Solomon sent him an annual payment of 100,000 bushels
13Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.
14He sent them to Lebanon in shifts, 10,000 every month, so that each man would be one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of this labor force.
15Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers, 80,000 quarry workers in the hill country,
16and 3,600