| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1 King 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. | 1Now 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. |
| 2Then Solomon sent this message back to Hiram: | 2And Solomon relayed this message 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. | 3“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. |
| 4But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well. | 4But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis. |
| 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.’ | 5So 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.’ |
| 6“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!” | 6Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.” |
| 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.” | 7When 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!” |
| 8Then he sent this reply to Solomon: “I have received your message, and I will supply all the cedar and cypress timber you need. | 8Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying: “I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber. |
| 9My servants will bring the logs from the Lebanon mountains to the Mediterranean Sea 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.” | 9My 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.” |
| 10So Hiram supplied as much cedar and cypress timber as Solomon desired. | 10So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted, |
| 11In return, Solomon sent him an annual payment of 100,000 bushels of wheat for his household and 110,000 gallons of pure olive oil. | 11and 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. |
| 12So the LORD gave wisdom to Solomon, just as he had promised. And Hiram and Solomon made a formal alliance of peace. | 12And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty. |
| 13Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel. | 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. | 14He 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. |
| 15Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers, 80,000 quarry workers in the hill country, | 15Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, |
| 16and 3,600 foremen to supervise the work. | 16not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers. |
| 17At the king’s command, they quarried large blocks of high-quality stone and shaped them to make the foundation of the Temple. | 17And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. |
| 18Men from the city of Gebal helped Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders prepare the timber and stone for the Temple. | 18So 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. |
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