1 Kings 5:1-4

Solomon Gathers Building Materials for the Temple

5:1 (5:15) ¹  King Hiram of Tyre ²  sent messengers ³  to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father’s place. (Hiram had always been an ally of David.) 5:2 Solomon then sent this message to Hiram: 5:3 “You know that my father David was unable to build a temple to honor the Lord ⁴  his God, for he was busy fighting battles on all fronts while the Lord subdued his enemies. ⁵  5:4 But now the Lord my God has made me secure on all fronts; there is no adversary or dangerous threat.

[5:1]  ¹ sn The verse numbers in the English Bible differ from those in the Hebrew text (BHS) here; 5:1-18 in the English Bible corresponds to 5:15-32 in the Hebrew text. See the note at 4:21.

[5:1]  ² map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.

[5:1]  ³ tn Heb “his servants.”

[5:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “a house for the name of the Lord.” The word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor. The “name” of the Lord sometimes designates the Lord himself, being indistinguishable from the proper name.

[5:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “because of the battles which surrounded him until the Lord placed them under the soles of his feet.”