I Kings 5
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Commentaries
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Hiram king of Tyre - It must have been at the beginning of Solomon's reign that these ambassadors were sent; and some suppose that the Hiram mentioned here is different from him who was the friend of David; but there seems no very solid reason for this supposition. As Hiram had intimate alliance with David, and built his palace, Sa2 5:11, he wished to maintain the same good understanding with his son, of whose wisdom he had no doubt heard the most advantageous accounts; and he loved the son because he always loved the father, for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
Open source ↗HIRAM SENDS TO CONGRATULATE SOLOMON. (Kg1 5:1-6) Hiram . . . sent his servants unto Solomon--the grandson of David's contemporary [KITTO]; or the same Hiram [WINER and others]. The friendly relations which the king of Tyre had cultivated with David are here seen renewed with his son and successor, by a message of condolence as well as of congratulation on his accession to the throne of Israel. The alliance between the two nations had been mutually beneficial by the encouragement of useful traffic. Israel, being agricultural, furnished corn and oil, while the Tyrians, who were a commercial people, gave in exchange their PhÅ“nician manufactures, as well as the produce of foreign lands. A special treaty was now entered into in furtherance of that undertaking which was the great work of Solomon's splendid and peaceful reign.
Open source ↗And Hiram king of Tyre sent servants unto Solomon,.... His ambassadors, to condole him on the death of his father, and congratulate him on his accession to the throne; this king is called by the Phoenician historians (s) Hirom, and by Eupolemus (t) Suron, as he is Huram in Ch2 2:3; and by Theophilus of Antioch (u) Hierom the son of Abelmalus, in the twelfth year of whose reign the temple was built: for he had heard that they had anointed him, king in the room of his father; that the Israelites had anointed him king: for Hiram was ever a lover of David; a friend and ally of his; and we never read of the Tyrians being at war with him, or assisting any of his enemies. (s) Apud Joseph. contr. Apion. l. 1. c. 17, 18. (t) Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 33, 34. (u) Ad Antolyc. l. 3. p. 131, 132.
Open source ↗Solomon's negotiations with Hiram of Tyre. - Kg1 5:1. When king Hiram of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in the place of David, he sent his servants, i.e., an embassage, to Solomon, to congratulate him (as the Syriac correctly explains) on his ascent of the throne, because he had been a friend of David the whole time (כּל־הימים, i.e., as long as both of them David and Hiram were kings). On Hiram and the length of his reign, see the remarks on Sa2 5:11. This is passed over in the Chronicles as having no essential bearing upon the building of the temple. Kg1 5:2-3 Solomon thereupon communicated to Hiram, by means of an embassy, his intention to carry out the building of the temple which his father projected, and asked him for building wood from Lebanon for the purpose. From the words, "Thou knowest that my father David could not build," etc., it is evident that David had not only been busily occupied for a long time with the plan for building a temple, but that he had already commenced negotiations with Hiram on the matter; and with this Ch1 22:4 agrees. "To the name of Jehovah:" this expression is based upon Deu 12:5 and Deu 12:11 : "the place which the Lord shall choose to put His name there, or that His name may dwell there." The name of Jehovah is the manifestation of the divine nature in a visible sign as a real pledge of His presence (see at Kg1 12:5), and not merely numen Jovae quatenus ab hominibus cognoscitur, colitur, celebratur (Winer, Thenius). Hence in 2 Sam 7, to which Solomon refers, בּית לי בּנה (Kg1 5:5, Kg1 5:7) alternates with לשׁמי בּית בּנה (Kg1 5:13). On the obstacle which prevented it, "because of the war, with which they (the enemies) had surrounded me," see at Sa2 7:9. On the construction, סבב with a double accusative, compare the v…
Open source ↗We have here an account of the amicable correspondence between Solomon and Hiram. Tyre was a famous trading city, that lay close upon the sea, in the border of Israel; its inhabitants (as should seem) were none of the devoted nations, nor ever at enmity with Israel, and therefore David never offered to destroy them, but lived in friendship with them. It is here said of Hiram their king that he was ever a lover of David; and we have reason to think he was a worshipper of the true God, and had himself renounced, though he could not reform, the idolatry of his city. David's character will win the affections even of those that are without. Here is, I. Hiram's embassy of compliment to Solomon, Kg1 5:1. He sent, as is usual among princes, to condole with him on the death of David, and to renew his alliances with him upon his succession to the government. It is good keeping up friendship and communion with the families in which religion is uppermost. II. Solomon's embassy of business to Hiram, sent, it is likely, by messengers of his own. In wealth, honour, and power, Hiram was very much inferior to Solomon, yet Solomon had occasion to be beholden to him and begged his favour. Let us never look with disdain on those below us, because we know not how soon we may need them. Solomon, in his letter to Hiram, acquaints him, 1. With his design to build a temple to the honour of God. Some think that temples among the heathen took their first rise and copy from the tabernacle which Moses erected in the wilderness, and that there were none before that; however there were many houses built in honour of the false gods before this was built in honour of the God of Israel, so little is external splendour a mark of the true church. Solomon tells Hiram, who was himself no stranger to the aff…
Open source ↗5:1-18 King Hiram of Tyre had . . . been a loyal friend of David (2 Sam 5:11-12). This might mean that the two shared a covenantal relationship (a treaty). Hiram was a valuable ally and commercial partner (1 Kgs 5:7-11, 18; 9:11, 26-28; 10:22). His name is a shortened form of Ahiram, a name seen elsewhere in Phoenician inscriptions.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
חִירָם (Chîyrâm, H2438) — Chiram or Chirom, the name of two Tyrians מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king צֹר (Tsôr, H6865) — Tsor, a place in Palestine שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… מָשַׁח (mâshach, H4886) — to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise) דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse
Open source ↗שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) חִירָם (Chîyrâm, H2438) — Chiram or Chirom, the name of two Tyrians אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application יָכֹל (yâkôl, H3201) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might) בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) כַּף (kaph, H3709) — the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… נוּחַ (nûwach, H5117) — to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and… סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… שָׂטָן (sâṭân, H7854) — an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) פֶּגַע (pegaʻ, H6294) — impact (casual)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) כִּסֵּא (kiççêʼ, H3678) — properly, covered, i.e. a throne (as canopied)
Open source ↗צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… אֶרֶז (ʼerez, H730) — a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots) לְבָנוֹן (Lᵉbânôwn, H3844) — Lebanon, a mountain range in Palestine עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) שָׂכָר (sâkâr, H7939) — payment of contract; concretely, salary, fare, maintenance; by implication, compensation,… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… עֵץ (ʻêts, H6086) — a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks) צִידֹנִי (Tsîydônîy, H6722) — a Tsidonian or inhabitant of Tsidon
Open source ↗חִירָם (Chîyrâm, H2438) — Chiram or Chirom, the name of two Tyrians שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor שָׂמַח (sâmach, H8055) — probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse חָכָם (châkâm, H2450) — wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗חִירָם (Chîyrâm, H2438) — Chiram or Chirom, the name of two Tyrians שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חֵפֶץ (chêphets, H2656) — pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a… עֵץ (ʻêts, H6086) — a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks) אֶרֶז (ʼerez, H730) — a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots) בְּרוֹשׁ (bᵉrôwsh, H1265) — a cypress (?) tree; hence, a lance or a musical instrument (as made of that wood)
Open source ↗עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… לְבָנוֹן (Lᵉbânôwn, H3844) — Lebanon, a mountain range in Palestine יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… דֹּבְרָה (dôbᵉrâh, H1702) — a raft מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) נָפַץ (nâphats, H5310) — to dash to pieces, or scatter נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חֵפֶץ (chêphets, H2656) — pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
Open source ↗חִירָם (Chîyrâm, H2438) — Chiram or Chirom, the name of two Tyrians נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor אֶרֶז (ʼerez, H730) — a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots) עֵץ (ʻêts, H6086) — a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks) בְּרוֹשׁ (bᵉrôwsh, H1265) — a cypress (?) tree; hence, a lance or a musical instrument (as made of that wood) חֵפֶץ (chêphets, H2656) — pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a…
Open source ↗שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) חִירָם (Chîyrâm, H2438) — Chiram or Chirom, the name of two Tyrians עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… כֹּר (kôr, H3734) — properly, a deep round vessel, i.e. (specifically) a cor or measure for things dry חִטָּה (chiṭṭâh, H2406) — wheat, whether the grain or the plant מַכֹּלֶת (makkôleth, H4361) — nourishment בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) כָּתִית (kâthîyth, H3795) — beaten, i.e. pure (oil) שֶׁמֶן (shemen, H8081) — grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time)
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… שָׁלוֹם (shâlôwm, H7965) — safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,… חִירָם (Chîyrâm, H2438) — Chiram or Chirom, the name of two Tyrians שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king שְׁלֹמֹה (Shᵉlômôh, H8010) — Shelomah, David's successor עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… מַס (maç, H4522) — properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity שְׁלוֹשִׁים (shᵉlôwshîym, H7970) — thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term…
Open source ↗שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) לְבָנוֹן (Lᵉbânôwn, H3844) — Lebanon, a mountain range in Palestine עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh, H2320) — the new moon; by implication, a month חֲלִיפָה (chălîyphâh, H2487) — alternation שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אֲדֹנִירָם (ʼĂdônîyrâm, H141) — Adoniram, an Israelite מַס (maç, H4522) — properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.
So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted,
Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.
Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre: “Do for me as you did for my father David when you sent him cedars to build himself a house to live in.
The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; men of wealth will seek your favor.
Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom and broke a covenant of brotherhood.
he sent his son Joram to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze,