1 KINGS LESSON 7


     We will begin this lesson in I Kings 5:1 "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."

     Tyre was the capital of Phoenicia. Hiram and David had been
friends. Tyre depended on Israel for much of its food like corn, and
Israel needed cedar trees from Tyre. These servants were to tell
Solomon, how sorry they were that his father David was dead, but they
were, also, to congratulate Solomon on his becoming king.

     I Kings 5:2 "And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,"

     This is saying, that Solomon sent a message back to Hiram.

     I Kings 5:3 "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."

     Hiram, probably, was aware of the desire of David to build a
temple to house the ark of God. They were very good friends. David did
not hide his love and respect for God, and probably, did not hide his
desire to build the temple. Hiram was, also, aware of the wars that
seemed to be continuous during the reign of David. About the time of
the death of David the wars stopped, and now, there is a time of
peace.

     I Kings 5:4 "But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every
side, [so that there is] neither adversary nor evil occurrent."

     We studied, in the last lesson, of the peace that all Israel was
experiencing under the rule of Solomon. It was not only a time of
peace, but prosperity, as well. This would be the perfect time to
build the temple.

     I Kings 5:5 "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."

     The following Scriptures are what God said to David about the
building of the temple.  II Samuel 7:12 "And when thy days be
fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy
seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will
establish his kingdom." II Samuel 7:13 "He shall build an house for my
name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever."
I Chronicles 28:6 "And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall
build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him [to be] my son,
and I will be his father."  Solomon is determined to build the temple
to the LORD in Jerusalem. It is a permanent house, similar to the
tabernacle God had commanded them to build in the wilderness.

     I Kings 5:6 "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."

     The area, where the cedars grew in Lebanon, was under the
rulership of Hiram. These were some of the most beautiful cedar trees
in the world. The Phoenecians were well-known for their artistic
woodwork.  Solomon had plenty of accumulated wealth. It would be no
burden at all to pay for the cutting of the trees. The Hebrews were
not skilled woodsmen, and Solomon wanted to get the men of Tyre to do
this work.  The Sidonians were Phoenecians, also. Tyre and Sidon are
both Phoenecian cities.

     I Kings 5:7  "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."

     Hiram was pleased that Solomon intended to build the temple.
David had wanted so badly to build the temple himself. Since he was
not allowed to do it, Hiram is pleased that Solomon will. Hiram was
not a follower of the LORD, himself, but he recognized the LORD of
David.

     I Kings 5:8 "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."

     This was some of the finest timber in the world. They will be
called cedars of Lebanon. At the time this request was made, these
trees were in abundance. In recent years, they are not in abundance.
God had given specific instructions to Solomon. These trees are
necessary.

     I Kings 5:9  "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."

     We had mentioned earlier, that they had been dependent on Israel
for much of their grain. This would be a wonderful swap. Israel needs
the trees, and Hiram needs food for his people. He explains to Solomon
exactly how he will get them to Jerusalem. Floating trees down rivers
and large bodies of water is still being practiced today. This is an
inexpensive way to transport them.

     I Kings 5:10 "So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees
[according to] all his desire."

     There was such an abundance of trees, that Hiram furnished all
that Solomon needed.

     I Kings 5:11 "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."

     The household of Hiram was much smaller than that of Solomon, and
it took much less food. The oil was from olives that were slightly
green, mashed to make the beautiful white oil. This would not have
been enough to pay for the timber, but this was an amount given yearly
for many years.

     I Kings 5:12 "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."

     This was a very serious treaty made between these two men. They
killed an animal, and cut it in two, and walked between the two halves
to have a blood covenant between them. Solomon was filled with wisdom
from on high. The LORD had equipped him with the knowledge to build
the temple, as well as rule the kingdom.

     I Kings 5:13  "And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel;
and the levy was thirty thousand men."

     This is like the draft. Solomon called for these 30,000 men to
come and work in his service. This means, he took a few qualified men
from each tribe to help build the temple.

     I Kings 5:14 "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."

     The very first thing on the agenda was getting the supply of
cedar and fir. 10,000 of the 30,000 went to Lebanon and worked a
month.  While they were resting at home for 2 months, the rest of the
30,000 each took turns going to work in Lebanon for a month. This way
the 30,000 men worked alternating shifts, so that they all would be
home 2/3 of the time. This would allow them plenty of time to take
care of their own affairs, while they were working for Solomon.
Adoniram saw that this levy was conducted fairly.

     I Kings 5:15 "And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that
bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;"

     This means there were 70,000 burden-bearers, and 80,000 who cut
the timber and worked in the woods.

     I Kings 5:16 "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."

     We see, from this, there were 3,300 superintendents. This is a
tremendous undertaking.

     I Kings 5:17 "And the king commanded, and they brought great
stones, costly stones, [and] hewed stones, to lay the foundation of
the house."

     We must remember, that all of this had to be done by hand. They
had no heavy equipment to help them. This is not speaking just of the
heavy stones, but this is, also, speaking of the precious stones which
were adornments. The foundation stones and the cornerstone must be
perfect. They would be very heavy, as well. Every stone had to fit
exactly. There are spiritual stones that God builds His house of, as
well. Jesus is the cornerstone, and we, Christians, are lively stones
that fit together to make the house. Ephesians 2:20 "And are built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief corner [stone];" I Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively
stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer
up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

     I Kings 5:18 "And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew
[them], and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to
build the house."

     Notice, the close cooperation between Solomon's men and Hiram's
men. Each person did the job he was called to do, and did it well. The
end result is, they have the material needed to build the temple.  We
mentioned before, they were well-known for their beautiful artistry.



























                        1 Kings 7 Questions


1.  ___________ sent his servants to help Solomon.
2.  ___________ was the Phoenician capital.
3.  Why could David not build the house?
4.  During the reign of Solomon, there was ________.
5.  What did Solomon purpose to do?
6.  Why had he chosen to do this?
7.  Quote 2 Samuel chapter 7 verses 12 and 13.
8.  What did the LORD tell David about Solomon?
9.  What did Solomon want from Hiram?
10. Who would be the laborers?
11. The Phoenecians were well-known for their ___________ ________.
12. The ____________ were Phoenecians, as well.
13. What did Hiram say about Solomon in verse 7?
14. Hiram was not a follower of the __________.
15. What did Hiram want in exchange for the cedar and fir trees?
16. How much wheat did Solomon give Hiram yearly?
17. What was the oil made of?
18. What was the league they made, really?
19. How many men did Solomon levy to work in Lebanon?
20. How long did each man work?
21. How many men did Solomon use for burden-bearers?
22. How many men cut timber and worked in the woods?
23. How many superintendents were there?
24. What were the stones?
25. Quote Ephesians chapter 2 verse 20.
26. Quote 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 5.