BOOK 11 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Kings 5

1 Kings book home•Chapter 5 of 22•18 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

1 Kings 5 Overview

Hiram king of Tyre sends servants to Solomon because he had loved David. Solomon explains that David could not build the temple because of warfare, but now the LORD has given rest. Hiram supplies cedar and fir from Lebanon in exchange for food. Solomon organizes a large labor force, quarrymen, bearers, and craftsmen to prepare timber and costly stones.

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Before you read 1 Kings 5

Coming from

Chapter 4 described a peaceful, prosperous, organized kingdom capable of large projects.

In this chapter

Solomon turns that stability toward the temple through international trade and national labor.

Leads into

Chapter 6 begins actual construction and describes the temple’s dimensions, chambers, interior, and completion.

Key understandingExplore deeper

David’s inability to build is explained here by surrounding warfare; 1 Chronicles 22 adds the emphasis on bloodshed and Solomon’s promised rest. ‘House unto the name of the LORD’ does not mean God can be contained in a structure, as Solomon will say explicitly in chapter 8.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

A task David desired is completed by the next generation.

Truth 2

Peace creates an opportunity for building and long-term planning.

Truth 3

Hiram’s cooperation supplies materials and skill without changing the temple’s devotion to the LORD.

Truth 4

Sacred work still requires ordinary planning, logistics, labor, and provision.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Second Samuel 7 records David’s desire and God’s promise that his son would build the house.

Connection 2

First Chronicles 22 gives fuller background to David’s preparations.

Connection 3

First Kings 8 later clarifies that heaven itself cannot contain God.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not assign secret symbolic meaning to every stone, cedar beam, or labor crew.

Keep this clear 2

The temple belongs to Israel’s covenant worship; Christians are not commanded to reproduce Solomon’s construction program.

Keep this clear 3

The labor system is historical description and need not be romanticized as flawless.

Read 1 Kings 5 watching for…

Why David did not build the temple.

What changed under Solomon.

What Hiram supplies and receives.

The organization of the labor force.

The preparation of materials before construction.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-6Solomon asks Hiram for cedar to build the temple 7-12Hiram agrees, and the two kings make a league 13-18Solomon organizes the labor and prepares stone and timber

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.

And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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1 Kings 5:7

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