1 Kings 5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 5

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. 6:12. 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... read more

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 5:10-18

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, 1 Kgs. 5:10. 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, 1 Kgs. 5:11. Thus let justice be followed (as the expression is, Deut.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 5

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 5 This chapter relates Solomon's preparation for building the temple: on Hiram, king of Tyre, sending a congratulatory letter to him, he returned another to him, signifying his intention to build an house for God, and requesting him to supply him with timber, and men to work it, 1 Kings 5:1 ; to which Hiram readily agreed, and sent him cedar and fir, and Solomon in return sent him food for his household; and things went on very amicably between them, 1 Kings 5:7 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 5:1

And Hiram king of Tyre sent servants unto Solomon ,.... His ambassadors, to condole him on the death of his father, and congratulate him on his accession to the throne; this king is called by the Phoenician historians F19 Apud Joseph. contr. Apion. l. 1. c. 17, 18. Hirom, and by Eupolemus F20 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 33, 34. Suron, as he is Huram in 2 Chronicles 2:3 ; and by Theophilus of Antioch F21 Ad Antolyc. l. 3. p. 131, 132. Hierom the son of... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 5:3

Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God ,.... As he designed, and was desirous of; and which Hiram might know not only by common fame, but from David himself, between whom there was an intercourse, and that in relation to cedars for building, which David had of Hiram, 2 Chronicles 2:3 ; for the wars which were about him on every side ; or warriors, as the Targum, the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, and Syrians: until the Lord... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 5:4

But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side ,.... From foreign enemies; for Solomon had no wars with any: so that there is neither adversary ; or Satan, no internal enemy in his kingdom, as well as no external ones, Adonijah, Joab, and other ill-designing persons, being cut off: nor evil occurrent ; nothing that rose up, and met him, to discourage or hinder the prosecution of the good work he had in view. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 5:5

And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God ,.... For his worship, and for his honour and glory: as the Lord spake unto David my father ; by the prophet Nathan, 2 Samuel 7:12 ; saying, thy son whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name ; which was no small encouragement to Solomon to go about this work; in which he was a type of Christ, the builder of his temple, the church, see Zechariah 6:12 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 5:6

Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedars out of Lebanon ,.... That is, order his servants to cut them down there for him. Some think that Lebanon belonged to the land of Israel, and therefore Solomon did not ask for the cedars upon it, but for his servants to hew them for him; but as it lay upon the borders of Israel, part of it might belong to them, and another part to Hiram, and on which the best cedars might grow, and so he furnished Solomon both with trees, and men to cut them,... read more

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