Now when Hiram king of Tyre - heard that - (Solomon) had been anointed king in his father’s place , he sent envoys to Solomon ; - for Hiram had always ... been a friend of David.
And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram :
“ As you are well aware , - due to the wars waged - on all sides against my father David , he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD - had put his enemies under his feet ....
But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side , and there is no adversary ... or crisis ....
So behold , I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God , according to what the LORD said to my father ... David : ‘ I will put your son - on your throne in your place , and he will build the house for My Name. ’
Now therefore , order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down My servants will be with your servants , and I will pay servants whatever wages ... - you set , for you know that (there are) none as skilled in logging ... as the Sidonians. ”
- When Hiram - received Solomon’s message , he rejoiced greatly and said , “ Blessed (be) the LORD this day ! He has given David a wise son over this great people ! ”
Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon , saying : “ I have received - your message ... ; ... I will do - all you desire regarding the cedar ... and cypress timber.
My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea , and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify .... There I will separate (the logs) , and you can take them away. And in exchange, you can meet - my needs by providing my household with food. ”
So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar ... and cypress timber he wanted ,
- - - - and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 ... cors of wheat as food for his household , as well as 20,000 (baths) of pure olive oil ....
And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom , as He had promised There was peace between Hiram ... and Solomon , and the two of them made a treaty.
Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force ... - of 30,000 ... men from all Israel.
He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 (men) ... , so that they would spend one month in Lebanon (and) two months at home. And Adoniram (was) in charge of the forced labor.
Solomon had 70,000 {} ... porters ... and 80,000 {} ... stonecutters in the mountains ,
not including his - 3,300 {} ... ... ... foremen ... ... ... who supervised the workers ... ....
And the king commanded them to quarry large , costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple ... with dressed stones.
So Solomon’s - and Hiram’s builders , along with the Gebalites , quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.