The
great work which Solomon was raised up to do was the building of the temple;
his wealth and wisdom were given him to qualify him for that. In this,
especially, he was to be a type of Christ, for "he shall build the
temple of the Lord," Zech. vi. 12. In this chapter we have an account
of the preparations he made for that and his other buildings. Gold and
silver his good father had prepared in abundance, but timber and stones he
must get ready; and about these we have him treating with Hiram king of
Tyre. I. Hiram congratulated him on his accession to the throne, ver. 1. II.
Solomon signified to him his design to build the temple and desired him to
furnish him with workmen, ver. 2-6. III. Hiram agreed to do it, ver. 7-9.
IV. Solomon's work was accordingly well done and Hiram's workmen were well
paid, ver. 10-18.
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Solomon's
Agreement with Hiram.
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B.
C. 1014.
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1 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 lover of David. 2 And
Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3 Thou 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. 4 But now the LORD
my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither
adversary nor evil occurrent. 5 And, behold, I purpose to build
a 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 a house unto my name. 6 Now 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. 7
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 wise son over this great
people. 8 And 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. 9 My
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.
We have here an account of the amicable correspondence between Solomon and
Hiram. Tyre was a famous trading city, that lay close upon the sea, in the
border of Israel; its inhabitants (as should seem) were none of the devoted
nations, nor ever at enmity with Israel, and therefore David never offered
to destroy them, but lived in friendship with them. It is here said of Hiram
their king that he was ever a lover of David; and we have reason to
think he was a worshipper of the true God, and had himself renounced, though
he could not reform, the idolatry of his city. David's character will win
the affections even of those that are without. Here is,
I. Hiram's embassy of compliment to Solomon, v. 1. He sent, as is
usual among princes, to condole with him on the death of David, and to renew
his alliances with him upon his succession to the government. It is good
keeping up friendship and communion with the families in which religion is
uppermost.
II. Solomon's embassy of business to Hiram, sent, it is likely, by
messengers of his own. In wealth, honour, and power, Hiram was very much
inferior to Solomon, yet Solomon had occasion to be beholden to him and
begged his favour. Let us never look with disdain on those below us, because
we know not how soon we may need them. Solomon, in his letter to Hiram,
acquaints him,
1. With his design to build a temple to the honour of God. Some think that
temples among the heathen took their first rise and copy from the tabernacle
which Moses erected in the wilderness, and that there were none before that;
however there were many houses built in honour of the false gods before this
was built in honour of the God of Israel, so little is external splendour a
mark of the true church. Solomon tells Hiram, who was himself no stranger to
the affair, (1.) That David's wars were an obstruction to him, that he could
not build this temple, though he designed it, v. 3. They took up much
of his time, and thoughts, and cares, were a constant expense to him and a
constant employment of his subjects; so that he could not do it so well as
it must be done, and therefore, it not being essential to religion, he must
leave it to be done by his successor. See what need we have to pray that God
will give peace in our time, because, in time or war, the building of
the gospel temple commonly goes on slowly. (2.) That peace gave him an
opportunity to build it, and therefore he resolved to set about it
immediately: God has given me rest both at home and abroad, and there
is no adversary (v. 4), no Satan (so the word is), no
instrument of Satan to oppose it, or to divert us from it. Satan does all he
can to hinder temple work (1 Thess. ii. 18; Zech. iii. 1), but when he is
bound (Rev. xx. 2) we should be busy. When there is no evil occurrent,
then let us be vigorous and zealous in that which is good and get it
forward. When the churches have rest let them be edified, Acts ix. 31. Days
of peace and prosperity present us with a fair gale, which we must account
for if we improve not. As God's providence excited Solomon to think of
building the temple, by giving him wealth and leisure, so his promise
encouraged him. God had told David that his son should build him a house,
v. 5. He will take it as a pleasure to be thus employed, and will not
lose the honour designed him by that promise. It may stir us up much to good
undertakings to be assured of good success in them. Let God's promise
quicken our endeavours.
2. With his desire that Hiram would assist him herein. Lebanon was the place
whence timber must be had, a noble forest in the north of Canaan,
particularly expressed in the grant of that land to Israel--all Lebanon,
Josh. xiii. 5. So that Solomon was proprietor of all its productions. The cedars
of Lebanon are spoken of as, in a special manner, the planting of the
Lord (Ps. cix. 16), being designed for Israel's use and particularly for
temple service. But Solomon owned that though the trees were his the
Israelites had not skill to hew timber like the Sidonians, who were
Hiram's subjects. Canaan was a land of wheat and barley (Deut. viii.
8), which employed Israel in the affairs of husbandry, so that they were not
at all versed in manufactures: in them the Sidonians excelled. Israel, in
the things of God, are a wise and understanding people; and yet, in
curious arts, inferior to their neighbours. True piety is a much more
valuable gift of heaven than the highest degree of ingenuity. Better be an
Israelite skilful in the law than a Sidonian skilful to hew timber. But, the
case being thus, Solomon courts Hiram to send him workmen, and promises (v.
6) both to assist them (my servants shall be with thy servants,
to work under them), and to pay them (unto thee will I give hire
for thy servants); for the labourer, even in church-work, though it be
indeed its own wages, is worthy of his hire, The evangelical prophet,
foretelling the glory of the church in the days of the Messiah, seems to
allude to this story, Isa. 60, where he prophesies, (1.) That the sons of
strangers (such were the Tyrians and Sidonians) shall build up the
wall of the gospel temple, v. 10. Ministers were raised up among
the Gentiles for the edifying of the body of Christ. (2.) That the glory
of Lebanon shall be brought to it to beautify it, v. 13.
All external endowments and advantages shall be made serviceable to the
interests of Christ's kingdom.
3. Hiram's reception of, and return to, this message.
(1.) He received it with great satisfaction to himself: He rejoiced
greatly (v. 7) that Solomon trod in his father's steps, and
carried on his designs, and was likely to be so great a blessing to his
kingdom. In this Hiram's generous spirit rejoiced, and not merely in the
prospect he had of making an advantage to himself by Solomon's employing
him. What he had the pleasure of he gave God the praise of: Blessed be
the Lord, who has given to David (who was himself a wise man) a wise
son to rule over this great people. See here, [1.] With what
pleasure Hiram speaks of Solomon's wisdom and the extent of his dominion.
Let us learn not to envy others either those secular advantages or those
endowments of the mind wherein they excel us. What a great comfort it is to
those that wish well to the Israel of God to see religion and wisdom kept up
in families from one generation to another, especially in great families and
those that have great influence on others! where it is so, God must have the
glory of it. If to godly parents be given a godly seed (Mal. ii. 15), it is
a token for good, and a happy indication that the entail of the blessing
shall not be cut off.
(2.) He answered it with great satisfaction to Solomon, granting him what he
desired, and showing himself very forward to assist him in this great and
good work to which he was laying his hand. We have here his articles of
agreement with Solomon concerning this affair, in which we may observe
Hiram's prudence. [1.] He deliberated upon the proposal, before he returned
an answer (v. 8): I have considered the things. It is common
for those that make bargains rashly afterwards to wish them unmade again.
The virtuous woman considers a field and then buys it, Prov.
xxxi. 16. Those do not lose time who take time to consider. [2.] He
descended to particulars in the articles, that there might be no
misunderstanding afterwards, to occasion a quarrel. Solomon had spoken of
hewing the trees (v. 6), and Hiram agrees to what he desired
concerning that (v. 8); but nothing had been said concerning
carriage, and this matter therefore must be settled. Land-carriage would be
very troublesome and chargeable; he therefore undertakes to bring all the
timber down from Lebanon by sea, a coasting voyage. Conveyance by water is a
great convenience to trade, for which God is to have praise, who taught man
that discretion. Observe what a definite bargain Hiram made. Solomon must
appoint the place where the timber shall be delivered, and thither Hiram
will undertake to bring it and be responsible for its safety. As the
Sidonians excelled the Israelites in timber-work, so they did in sailing;
for Tyre and Sidon were situate at the entry of the sea (Ezek. xxvii.
3): they therefore were fittest to take care of the water-carriage. Tractant
fabrilia fabri--Every artist has his trade assigned. And, [3.] If Hiram
undertake for the work, and do all Solomon's desire concerning the timber
(v. 8), he justly expects that Solomon shall undertake for the wages:
"Thou shalt accomplish my desire in giving food for my household
(v. 9), not only for the workmen, but for my own family." If
Tyre supply Israel with craftsmen, Israel will supply Tyre with corn, Ezek.
xxvii. 17. Thus, by the wise disposal of Providence, one country has need of
another and is benefited by another, that there may be mutual correspondence
and dependence, to the glory of God our common parent.
10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir
trees according to all his desire. 11 And 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. 12 And the LORD
gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram
and Solomon; and they two made a league together. 13 And king
Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand
men. 14 And 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. 15 And Solomon had threescore
and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the
mountains; 16 Beside 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. 17 And the king commanded, and they
brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the
foundation of the house. 18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's
builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber
and stones to build the house.
Here is, I. The performance of the agreement between Solomon and Hiram. Each
of the parties made good his engagement. 1. Hiram delivered Solomon the
timber, according to his bargain, v. 10. The trees were Solomon's,
but perhaps--Materiam superabat opus--The workmanship was of more value
than the article. Hiram is therefore said to deliver the trees. 2.
Solomon conveyed to Hiram the corn which he had promised him, v. 11.
Thus let justice be followed (as the expression is, Deut. xvi. 20), justice
on both sides, in every bargain.
II. The confirmation of the friendship that was between them hereby. God
gave Solomon wisdom (v. 12), which was more and better than any
thing Hiram did or could give him; but this made Hiram love him, and enabled
Solomon to improve his kindness, so that they were both willing to ripen
their mutual love into a mutual league, that it might be lasting. It is
wisdom to strengthen our friendship with those whom we find to be honest and
fair, lest new friends prove not so firm and so kind as old ones.
III. The labourers whom Solomon employed in preparing materials for the
temple. 1. Some were Israelites, who were employed in the more easy and
honourable part of the work, felling trees and helping to square them, in
conjunction with Hiram's servants; for this he appointed 30,000, but
employed only 10,000 at a time, so that for one month's work they had two
months' vacation, both for rest and for the despatch of their own affairs at
home, v. 13, 14. It was temple service, yet Solomon takes care that
they shall not be over-worked. Great men ought to consider that their
servants must rest as well as they. 2. Others were captives of other
nations, who were to bear burdens and to hew stone (v. 15), and we
read not that these had their resting times as the other had, for they were
doomed to servitude. 3. There were some employed as directors and overseers
(v. 16), 3300 that ruled over the people, and they were as necessary
and useful in their place as the labourers in theirs; here were many hands
and many eyes employed, for preparation was now to be made, not only for the
temple, but for all the rest of Solomon's buildings, at Jerusalem, and here
in the forest of Lebanon, and in other places of his dominion, of which see ch.
ix. 17-19. He speaks of the vastness of his undertakings (Eccl. ii. 4, I
made me great works), which required this vast number of workmen.
IV. The laying of the foundation of the temple; for that is the building his
heart is chiefly upon, and therefore he begins with that, v. 17, 18.
It should seem, Solomon was himself present, and president, at the founding
of the temple, and that the first stone (as has been usual in famous
buildings) was laid with some solemnity. Solomon commanded and they
brought costly stones for the foundation; he would do every thing like
himself, generously, and therefore would have some of the costliest stones
laid, or buried rather, in the foundation, though, being out of sight, worse
might have served. Christ, who is laid for a foundation, is an elect and
precious stone (Isa. xxviii. 16), and the foundations of the church are said
to be laid with sapphires, Isa. liv. 11, compare Rev. xxi. 19. That
sincerity which is our gospel perfection obliges us to lay our foundation
firm and to bestow most pains on that part of our religion which lies out of
the sight of men.
