The big picture
1 Kings 5 opens in verse 1 with “And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by…”, and closes in verse 18 with “And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they…” Repeated or prominent terms include Solomon, Hiram, LORD, house, servants. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Kings · King James Version · 181 Kings 5:1-6
1–6: Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that…
1 Kings 5:1–6 opens with “And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed…” and reaches “Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Kings 5 develops its own movement around Solomon, Hiram, LORD, house, servants, with particular weight carried by LORD, servants, build.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of…” Naming Hiram and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,” Naming Hiram and Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Kings 5:1-6
King James Version1And 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.
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.
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.
1 Kings 5:7-12
7–12: It came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced…
1 Kings 5:7–12 opens with “And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said…” and reaches “And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Kings 5 develops its own movement around Solomon, Hiram, LORD, house, servants, with particular weight carried by Solomon, Hiram, gave.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
“And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy…” Naming Hiram and Solomon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Kings 5:7-12
King James Version7And 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.
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.
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.
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.
1 Kings 5:13-18
13–18: King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty…
1 Kings 5:13–18 opens with “And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.” and reaches “And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Kings 5 develops its own movement around Solomon, Hiram, LORD, house, servants, with particular weight carried by stones, levy, builders.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
1 Kings 5:13-18
King James Version13And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Kings 5:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Kings 5:7 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
1 Kings 5:18 leaves the reader with “And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Solomon, Hiram, LORD, house, servants, build help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the repeated ending make readers feel?
Death becomes the chapter's persistent refrain, even as generation follows generation.
What two interruptions offer hope?
Enoch's walk with God and Lamech's hope attached to Noah.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.