Chapter 5
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1And 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.
7And 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.
13And 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.
“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.”
Overview
Solomon enters an alliance with Hiram king of Tyre to obtain cedar and cypress timber for building the temple. In exchange, Solomon provides wheat and oil to Hiram's household. Solomon conscripts a labor force of thirty thousand men from Israel to work in shifts in Lebanon, alongside the existing workforce of carriers and stonecutters.
Key Themes
Preparation for God's House
The enormous effort and international cooperation involved in gathering materials for the temple reflect the worthiness of God and the honor due to His name.
Fulfillment of David's Vision
Solomon acknowledges that David could not build the temple due to warfare, but now God has given rest, fulfilling the promise that David's son would build it.
The Cost of Worship
Building God's house requires sacrifice — resources, labor, and careful planning — reminding us that genuine worship is never without cost.
Study Questions
Why was it important that David's son rather than David himself build the temple (v. 3)?
What does the cooperation between Solomon and Hiram, an outsider, suggest about God's purposes among the nations?
How does the scale of preparation for the temple reflect the value Solomon placed on honoring God?
What does the forced labor described in this chapter reveal about the costs of grand building projects?
How does the careful preparation of materials before construction parallel the spiritual preparation God does in our lives?
Connection to Christ
The temple Solomon prepares to build is the dwelling place of God among His people, pointing to Christ who is the true temple — 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up' (John 2:19). As Solomon gathered the nations' resources to build God's house, Christ gathers people from every nation into a spiritual temple built of living stones (1 Peter 2:5).
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through 1 Kings 5. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?