Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from 1 Kings chapter
5. Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to
Solomon because he heard that they had anointed
him king in place of his father, for Hiram had
always loved David. Then Solomon sent to Hiram,
saying, You know how my father David could not
build a house for the name of the Lord his God
because of the wars which were fought against
him on every side, until the Lord put his foes
under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord
my God has given me rest on every side. There
is neither adversary nor evil occurrence. And
behold, I propose to build a house for the name
of the Lord my God. As the Lord spoke to my father
David, saying, Your son, whom I will set on your
throne in your place, he shall build the house
for my name. Now therefore command that they
cut down cedars for me from Lebanon, and my servants
will be with your servants, and I will pay you
wages for your servants according to whatever
you say. For you know there is none among us
who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians.
So it was when Hiram heard the words of Solomon
that he rejoiced greatly and said, Blessed be
the Lord this day, for he has given David a wise
son over this great people. Then Hiram sent to
Solomon, saying, I have considered the message
which you sent me, and I will do all you desire
concerning the cedar and cypress logs. My servants
shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea.
I will float them in rafts by sea to the place
you indicate to me, and will have them broken
apart there. Then you can take them away. and
you shall fulfill my desire by giving food for
my household. Then Hiram gave Solomon cedar and
cypress logs according to all his desire, and
Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cores of wheat
as food for his household, and twenty cores of
pressed oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year
by year. So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as
he had promised him, and there was peace between
Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a
treaty together. Then King Solomon raised up
a labor force out of all Israel, and the labor
force was 30 ,000 men, and he sent them to Lebanon
10 ,000 a month in shifts. They were one month
in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was
in charge of the labor force. Solomon had 70
,000 who carried burdens and 80 ,000 who quarried
stone in the mountains, besides 3 ,300 from the
chiefs of Solomon's deputies who supervised the
people who labored in the work. And the king
commanded them to quarry large stones, costly
stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation
of the temple. So Solomon's builders, Hiram's
builders, and the Gebelites quarried them, and
they prepared timber and stones to build the
temple. I hope you enjoyed today's reading as
much as I did, and I look forward to seeing you
again tomorrow to continue on our journey. God
bless you, and have a great day.