New Living Translation

King James Bible

Preparations for Building the Temple

aKing Hiram of Tyre had always been a loyal friend of David. When Hiram learned that David’s son Solomon was the new king of Israel, he sent ambassadors to congratulate him.

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Preparations for the Temple

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.

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Then Solomon sent this message back to Hiram:

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And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

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“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.

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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.

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But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well.

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But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

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So 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.’

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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.

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“Therefore, please command that cedars from Lebanon be cut for me. Let my men work alongside yours, and I will pay your men whatever wages you ask. As you know, there is no one among us who can cut timber like you Sidonians!”

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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.

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When 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.”

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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.

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Then he sent this reply to Solomon:
“I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need.

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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.

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My servants will bring the logs from the Lebanon mountains to the Mediterranean Seab and make them into rafts and float them along the coast to whatever place you choose. Then we will break the rafts apart so you can carry the logs away. You can pay me by supplying me with food for my household.”

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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.

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So Hiram supplied as much cedar and cypress timber as Solomon desired.

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

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In return, Solomon sent him an annual payment of 100,000 bushelsc of wheat for his household and 110,000 gallonsd of pure olive oil.

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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.

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So the LORD gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he had promised. And Hiram and Solomon made a formal alliance of peace.

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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.

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Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.

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Solomon's Workmen and Laborers

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

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He 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.

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And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.

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Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers, 80,000 quarry workers in the hill country,

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And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

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and 3,600e foremen to supervise the work.

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Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

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At the king’s command, they quarried large blocks of high-quality stone and shaped them to make the foundation of the Temple.

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And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

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Men from the city of Gebal helped Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders prepare the timber and stone for the Temple.

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And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

Parallel

New Living Translation

King James Bible

1 Kings 5

1 Kings 5