1Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
2Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour, sixty measures of meal,
3ten head of fat cattle, twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, in addition to deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.
4For he had dominion over all on this side of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side of the River; and he had peace on all sides around him.
5Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
6Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
7Those officers provided food for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon's table, every man in his month. They let nothing be lacking.
8They also brought barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where the officers were, each man according to his duty.
9God gave Solomon abundant wisdom, understanding, and breadth of mind like the sand that is on the seashore.
10Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
11For he was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the nations all around.
12He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered one thousand five.
13He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows out of the wall; he also spoke of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.
14People of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, sent by all kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
15Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father, and Hiram had always loved David.
16Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
17"You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which were around him on every side, until the LORD put his enemies under the soles of his feet.
18But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. There is no enemy and no evil occurrence.
19Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place shall build the house for my name.'
20Now therefore command that cedar trees be cut for me out of Lebanon. My servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say. For you know that there is nobody among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians."
21When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, "Blessed is the LORD today, who has given to David a wise son to rule over this great people."
22Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message which you have sent to me. I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning cypress timber.
23My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea. I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you specify to me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you will receive them. You will accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household."
24So Hiram gave Solomon cedar timber and cypress timber according to all his desire.
25Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat for food to his household, and twenty cors of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.
26The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty together.
27King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
28He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: for a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor.
29Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains,
30besides Solomon's chief officers who were over the work: three thousand three hundred who ruled over the people who labored in the work.
31The king commanded, and they cut out large stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.
32Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.
