THE CEDARS DESTINED FOR THE TEMPLE.

And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for hehad heard that they had anointed him king in the room of hisfather: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.

And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that Davidmy father could not build a house unto the name of the Lord hisGod for the wars which were about him on every side, until theLord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord myGod hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neitheradversary nor evil occurrent. And, behold: I purpose to build ahouse unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake untoDavid my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy thronein thy room, he shall build a house unto my name. Now thereforecommand thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and myservants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I givehire for the servants according to all that thou shalt appoint:for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill tohew 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 thingswhich thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desireconcerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir: Myservants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea; and Iwill convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shaltappoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thoushalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, ingiving food for my household.

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

And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat forfood to his household and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gaveSolomon to Hiram year by year.

And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: andthere was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made aleague together.

And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levywas thirty thousand men. And he sent them to Lebanon, tenthousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, andtwo months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy. And Solomonhad three score and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscorethousand hewers in the mountains beside the chief of Solomon'sofficers which were over the work, three thousand andthree-hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in thework. 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 stone-squarers; so they prepared timber and stones tobuild the house.—1 Kings v.