AND Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father; for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God, for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.
But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants; and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint; for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the Lord this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.
And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for; and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.
My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea; and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them; and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees, and fir trees according to all his desire.
And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil; thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
Golden Text: "Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it." Ps. 127:1.
Notes.—Seven years were occupied by Solomon in building the temple, beginning in the fourth year of his reign. It was not left for him to make all the preparations, for a fund had been accumulating since the days of Samuel for the house of the Lord (1 Chron. 26: 26-28), and an immense amount of gold, silver, brass and iron was ready for use, besides timber and stone (1 Chron. 22: 14). To this material he was to add as was needed. The description of the temple is in 1 Kings 5 and 6, and 2 Chronicles 2 and 3. Read also articles on "Temple" in Bible dictionaries for further suggestions.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What news came to Hiram, king of Tyre, and what did he do? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) How had Hiram regarded David? (3) To what did Solomon refer in his return message? Verse 3. (4) What relation did he now sustain to surrounding nations? Verse 4. (5) What did Solomon now purpose to do? Verse 5. (6) Upon what did his purpose rest? (7) What material did he need from Hiram? Verse 6, first part. (8) How did he propose to expedite matters? Same verse. Note 2. (9) Why did Solomon propose that Hiram's servants assist in the forests? (10) How was Hiram affected when he received Solomon's message? Verse 7. (11) Did he agree to the proposition? Verse 8. (12) How was the timber to be transported to Jerusalem? Verse 9, and 2 Chron. 2:16. (13) What pay did Hiram ask? Same verse. (14) How fully was the bargain carried into effect? Verses 10, 11. Note 3. (15) In what way did the Lord bless in the matter? Verse 12. (16) What was entered into between the two kings?
NOTES.
1. His servants.—These were doubtless ambassadors carrying messages of congratulation and offers of peace and friendship to the newly-made king, in accordance with the custom both of ancient and modern times. Tyre was the rich, commercial kingdom to the north and west of the kingdom of Israel, and was afterwards known as Phoenicia, with the city of Tyre as the capital.
2. My servants.—These were laborers. The number is stated in the latter part of the chapter,—30,000 in courses of 10,000 for a month of service and two months' rest; 70,000 bearers of burdens; 80,000 choppers, and 3,300 overseers. They were engaged about four years in preparing the materials for the temple.
3. Measures.—The wheat measure was a "cor," or homer, equal to eight bushels. The "twenty measures" of oil referred to in verse 11 appears so insignificant compared to the large quantities of other commodities as to suggest an error of transcribing in the old manuscripts. The Septuagint and Josephus both agree with 2 Chron. 2:10, where it is said the amount was 20,000 baths, or 2,000 cors. A bath is six or seven gallons, or one-tenth14of a cor. Chronicles also adds 20,000 measures of barley, and 20,000 baths of wine.
The Temple.
We can only briefly refer to some of the features of the temple. Site.—The temple was built on Mt. Moriah, where had been the threshing-floor of Ornan (Araunah). This is supposed to be the spot where Abraham was to offer up Isaac. This is the eastern hill of Jerusalem, overlooking the Kidron and the Mount of Olives. Foundations.—The top of the mount was leveled, and the precipitous eastern and southern sides were faced with an immense wall of stone built up perpendicularly from the bottom of the valley. A part of the wall still remains, and one of the stones measures over thirty-eight feet in length, is seven feet high, and weighs more than one hundred tons. Material.—The huge caverns and quarries under the city suggest the place from whence were taken at least a part of the stones for the building. They were of white limestone. The cedar, fir and almug, or red sandalwood, could not be procured short of the forests of the Lebanon mountains. Of these woods were composed the beams, doors, inner walls, and the ceiling and roof. All the wood was overlaid with gold (600 talents), thick enough to require nails to fasten it on. Size and form.—The size is given, but there is no certainty as to the outward appearance. In size it bore no comparison to the huge temples of Egypt and other heathen countries, nor even to modern churches and cathedrals, but its wonder consisted in the splendor of the materials used and cost and beauty of adornments. The temples of Zerubbabel and of Herod, both afterwards built on the same site, were larger. The spot is now occupied by the Mohammedan Mosque of Omar. Method of building.—Every stone and beam was carefully prepared for its place beforehand, and was merely carried to its place, "so that there was neither hammer nor axe, nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building." As a type.—The temple is a type of Christian character and of the church of Christ. Christ is the foundation, the corner-stone. Upon this one may build "wood, hay, stubble," or a costly temple, "gold, silver, precious stones." The perfect character becomes a part of the greater temple of his church, and the perfecting of character is the silent office of the Spirit. As the temple was the dwelling-place of the Lord among his people, so are our bodies designed to be the temple of the Holy Ghost,—God in us.
