Solomon prepares to build the temple and sends to Huram of Tyre for timber and a skilled craftsman. He recruits workers from the foreigners in the land, and declares that God is greater than all gods.
1 And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD , and an house for his kingdom .
2 And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens , and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain , and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre , saying , As thou didst deal with David my father , and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.
4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God , to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense , and for the continual shewbread , and for the burnt offerings morning and evening , on the sabbaths , and on the new moons , and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God . This is an ordinance for ever to Israel .
5 And the house which I build is great : for great is our God above all gods .
6 But who is able to build him an house , seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house , save only to burn sacrifice before him?
7 Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold , and in silver , and in brass , and in iron , and in purple , and crimson , and blue , and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem , whom David my father did provide .
8 Send me also cedar trees , fir trees , and algum trees , out of Lebanon : for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon ; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants ,
9 Even to prepare me timber in abundance : for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great .
10 And, behold, I will give to thy servants , the hewers that cut timber , twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat , and twenty thousand measures of barley , and twenty thousand baths of wine , and twenty thousand baths of oil .
11 Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing , which he sent to Solomon , Because the LORD hath loved his people , he hath made thee king over them.
12 Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel , that made heaven and earth , who hath given to David the king a wise son , endued with prudence and understanding , that might build an house for the LORD , and an house for his kingdom .
13 And now I have sent a cunning man , endued with understanding , of Huram my father's ,
14 The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan , and his father was a man of Tyre , skilful to work in gold , and in silver , in brass , in iron , in stone , and in timber , in purple , in blue , and in fine linen , and in crimson ; also to grave any manner of graving , and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men , and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father .
15 Now therefore the wheat , and the barley , the oil , and the wine , which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants :
16 And we will cut wood out of Lebanon , as much as thou shalt need : and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa ; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem .
17 And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel , after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred .
18 And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens , and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain , and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work .