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1 And Chiram king of Tyre sent his servants to anoint Solomon in the room of David his father, because Chiram always loved David. 2 And Solomon sent to Chiram, saying, 3 You knew * my father David, that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord my God † because of the wars that compassed him about, until the Lord put them under the ‡ soles of his feet. 4 And now the Lord my God has given me rest round about; there is no one plotting against me, and there is no § evil trespass against me. 5 And, behold, I intend to build a house to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord God spoke to my father David, saying, Your son whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build a house to my name. 6 And now command, and let men cut wood for me out of Libanus: and, behold, my servants shall be with your servants, and I will give you the wages of your service, according to all that you shall say, because you know that we have no one skilled in cutting timber like the Sidonians. 7 And it came to pass, as soon as Chiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be God today, who has given to David a wise son over this numerous people. 8 And he sent to Solomon, saying, I have listened concerning all that you have sent to me for: I will do all your will: as for timber of cedar and fir, 9 my servants shall bring them down from Libanus to the sea: I will form them into rafts, and bring them to the place which you shall send to me about; and I will ** land them there, and you shall take them up: and you shall do my will, in giving bread to my household. 10 So Chiram gave to Solomon cedars, and fir trees, and all his desire. 11 And Solomon gave to Chiram twenty thousand measures of wheat †† as food for his house, and twenty thousand baths of beaten oil thus Solomon gave to Chiram yearly. 12 And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon as he ‡‡ promised him; and there was peace between Chiram and Solomon, and they made a covenant between them. 13 And the king raised §§ a levy out of all Israel, and the levy was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand taking turn every month: they were a month in Libanus and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy. 15 And Solomon had seventy thousand bearers of burdens, and eighty thousand hewers of stone in the mountain; 16 besides the rulers that were appointed over the works of Solomon, there were three thousand *** six hundred ††† masters who wrought in the works. 17 ‡‡‡ And the king commanded and they §§§ brought great stones, precious stones for the foundation of the house, and unhewn stones. 18 And they prepared the stones and the timber during three years.
* 5:3 Or, that my father David, etc. † 5:3 Gr. from the face of. Hebraism. ‡ 5:3 Or, steps. § 5:4 Alex. ἀπαντήμα. See συναντήματα, Ex. 9:14. ** 5:9 Lit. shake them off. †† 5:11 Some read μαχὰλ, or μαχὰθ, as if from מכרח cibus. ‡‡ 5:12 Gr. spoke to him. §§ 5:13 Lit. tribute, etc. *** 5:16 Heb. 300. Alex. 500. ††† 5:16 Heb. and Alex. overseers of the people. ‡‡‡ 5:17 Verse 17 is not in Vat. The following is from Alex. §§§ 5:17 Gr. bring.