John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 5:2
And Solomon sent to Hiram ,.... A letter, either by the hand of his ambassadors when they returned, as Kimchi thinks, or by ambassadors Solomon sent on purpose. Josephus F23 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 2. sect. 8. appeals to the Tyrian archives for the genuineness of these letters that passed between Hiram and Solomon; and Eupolemus, an Heathen writer F24 Ut Supra. (Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 32,34.) has both this which Solomon sent to Hiram, and that which Hiram sent in answer... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 5:1-9
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... read more