Bible Commentaries

4. The Building of the Temple and its Dedication

CHAPTER 5 Hiram King of Tyre

1. Hiram sends servants to Solomon (1 Kings 5:1)

2. The message of Solomon (1 Kings 5:2-6)

3. Hiram’s answer and league with Solomon (1 Kings 5:7-12)

4. Solomon’s workmen (1 Kings 5:13-18)

In connection with 1 Kings 5-8 the chapters in 2 Chronicles should be read which give a more extensive account (2 Chronicles 2-5:11). Solomon now begins the great work, which may be called his life work, the building of the house of the LORD. Hiram heard of Solomon’s enthronement, and sent messengers to Solomon. This Gentile king was a lover of David. David had made before his death abundant material for the building of the house and Hiram had supplied much of it (1 Chronicles 22:4). Solomon requested that Hiram furnish cedar trees from Lebanon for the building of the house and Hiram agrees to float them down the coast. According to the request of Hiram, Solomon supplied Hiram’s household with 20,000 measures of wheat and twenty measures of oil. Hiram also sent a master-workman by name of Huram whose mother was a Jewess (2 Chronicles 2:13-14; 1 Kings 7:14). This cooperation of the Gentiles in building the temple is also prophetic, for the riches of the Gentiles are promised to Israel (Isaiah 40:6; Isaiah 54:3). Jews and Gentiles will unite to manifest His glory. A large number of workmen were needed. Two classes were employed. First there were 30,000 men out of Israel raised by a levy; 10,000 worked by relays of 10,000 a month. The second class was composed of strangers (1 Kings 5:15; 2 Chronicles 2:17-18), 150,000 in number; 70,000 were burden bearers and 80,000 hewers in stone. Over all were 3300 officers (verse 16) with 550 chiefs (1 Kings 9:23), of whom 250 were native Israelites (2 Chronicles 8:10). The great stones and the costly (splendid) stones and hewed stones are especially mentioned. They were for the foundation of the house. These stones may illustrate all those who as “living stones” are built up a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). Through Grace all those are taken out of nature’s place and prepared to fit into that marvellous temple of the Lord “fitly framed together--an holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:21).