預備建造聖殿
1泰爾王希蘭素來與大衛修好，他聽說以色列人膏立了所羅門繼承大衛的王位，就遣使者來見所羅門。 2所羅門也派人去見希蘭，說： 3「你知道，我父大衛因周圍戰事連連，未能為他的上帝耶和華建殿，要等到耶和華使仇敵伏在他腳下後再建。 4現在我的上帝耶和華使我四境太平，內外無憂， 5我想為我的上帝耶和華建殿，因為耶和華曾對我父大衛說，『我必使你的兒子繼承你的王位，他必為我的名建殿。』 6請你命人為我砍伐黎巴嫩的香柏木。我會派人幫助你的人，並按你的要求付你的人工錢。因為你知道，我們沒有人像西頓人那樣善於砍伐樹木。」
7希蘭聽了所羅門的話後，非常高興，說：「今天當讚美耶和華！祂賜給大衛一個有智慧的兒子治理這偉大的民族。」 8他派人回覆所羅門說：「我已收到你派人帶來的口信。我一定會照你的心願提供香柏木和松木。 9我的工人會將這些木料從黎巴嫩紮成木筏，經海道運到你指定的地點。木筏拆散以後，你就可以點收了。你也要成全我的心願，供應我家食糧。」 10於是，希蘭供應所羅門需用的香柏木和松木， 11所羅門每年供應希蘭四百四十萬升麥子和四千四百升橄欖油。 12耶和華照著應許賜給所羅門智慧。他跟希蘭修好，締結盟約。
13所羅門王從以色列徵集了三萬勞工， 14派他們每月輪班到黎巴嫩工作，每班一萬人，在黎巴嫩一個月，在家兩個月。亞多尼蘭做他們的總管。 15所羅門又徵用了七萬名搬運工，八萬名在山上鑿石的匠人。 16此外，他還派了三千三百名監工，監督工人做工。 17他們按照王的命令在山上鑿出珍貴的巨石，用來作殿的根基。 18於是，所羅門和希蘭的工匠及迦巴勒人鑿好石頭，備好木料，準備建殿。
1And 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.5.1 Hiram: also called, Huram 2And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3Thou 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. 4But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. 5And, 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.5.5 purpose: Heb. say 6Now 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.5.6 appoint: Heb. say
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. 8And 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.5.8 considered: Heb. heard 9My 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.5.9 appoint: Heb. send
10So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. 11And 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.5.11 measures: Heb. cors 12And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
13¶ And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.5.13 levy: Heb. tribute of men 14And 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. 15And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains; 16Beside 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. 17And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. 18And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.5.18 stonesquarers: or, Giblites
