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Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 5:2

Solomon sent to Hiram - Made an interchange of ambassadors and friendly greetings. Josephus tells us that the correspondence between Hiram and Solomon was preserved in the archives of the Tyrians even in his time. But this, like many other assertions of the same author, is worthy of little credit. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 5:2

And Solomon sent to Hiram. [According to Josephus (Ant. 8.2. 6), he wrote a letter, which together with Hiram's reply ( 1 Kings 5:8 ) was preserved among the public archives of Tyro. The account of 2 Chronicles 2:1-18 ; which as a rule is more detailed than that of the Kings, begins here. It does not notice, that is to say, the prior embassy of the Phoenician king, as the object of the chronicler is merely to narrate the measures taken for the erection of the temple], saying [The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 5:2-6

The Temple. Read also 2 Chronicles 2:1-10 , where additional light is thrown on this transaction. It marks a period of extreme interest and importance in Hebrew history. It introduces us, by anticipation, to that which was the crowning glory of the reign of Solomon, for his name must ever stand connected with the magnificence of the first Temple, though it be but as a gorgeous dream of the far distant past, which imagination strives in vain to reproduce with distinctness and certainty.... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 5:1-18

5:1-9:25 SOLOMON’S BUILDING PROGRAMWhen David had expressed a desire to build a permanent house for God, he was told that God was more concerned with building a permanent ‘house’ for David, namely, a dynasty. As for a symbolic dwelling place for God, God had already shown his ideal for Israel in the tabernacle. Nevertheless, he would allow Israel to have a temple, though it would be built not by David, but by David’s son Solomon (see notes on 2 Samuel 7:1-17).Despite God’s emphasis on the need... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 5:1-6

Solomon’s request of Hiram 5:1-6Hiram probably reigned from about 980-947 B.C. [Note: Frank M. Cross, "An Interpretation of the Nora Stone," Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 208 (December 1972):17. Cf. Merrill, p. 239.] Many scholars agree that his reign overlapped David’s by about nine years and Solomon’s by about 24 (cf. 2 Samuel 5:11). Tyre was an important Mediterranean Sea port in Phoenicia north of Israel. Sidon (1 Kings 5:6), another, more important Phoenician port... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 5:1-18

Solomon’s Preparations for building the Temple1. Hiram] see 2 Samuel 5; 1 Chronicles 14:1. It has been questioned whether this Hiram, who was living as late as Solomon’s twentieth year (1 Kings 9:10), is really identical with the Hiram mentioned in connexion with David (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Chronicles 1:1), because, according to Josephus, his reign lasted only 34 years. But it is possible that David did not undertake the buildings in which Hiram assisted him until comparatively late in his life.3.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Kings 5:1-18

The Spade-work of the Kingdom 1 Kings 5:15 Alike as to its structure, furniture, and services, the temple of Solomon had a spiritual and an evangelical signification. Our Lord institutes analogies between Himself and the temple, and the apostles repeatedly refer to the sacred palace as typical of the Christian Church. The temple on Zion, with everything relating to it, was full of prophetic significance; and we do no violence to the text when we see in it an anticipation of a large class of... read more

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