Preparations for Building the Temple
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a Now 1Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, 2for Hiram always loved David.
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And Solomon sent word to Hiram,
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3"You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God 4because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.
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5But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune.
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And so I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, 6as the LORD said to David my father, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.'
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Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians."
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As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people."
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And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber.
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My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes 7by providing food for my household."
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So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired,
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while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 corsb of wheat as food for his household, and 20,000c cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.
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And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, 8as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
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King Solomon drafted 9forced labor out of all Israel, and the draft numbered 30,000 men.
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And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. 10Adoniram was in charge of the draft.
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Solomon also 11had 70,000 burden-bearers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country,
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besides Solomon's 3,300 12chief officers who were over the work, 13who had charge of the people who carried on the work.
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At the king's command 14they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.
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So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and 15the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.
Herramientas de Estudio para 1 Kings 5
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)