1 Kings 5:6

_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._ Command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon х_ 'ªRAAZIYM_ (H730)] - trees very like deal in appearance, but their special scent and great durability show them to be very superior to firs. х_ 'EREZ_ (H730), a name expressing the firmness of its roots, was the Cedrus conifera, a very tall and widespreading tree.] Nowhere else could Solomon have procured materials for the woodwork of his contemplated building. The forests of Lebanon, adjoining the sea in Solomon's time, belonged to the Phoenicians, and the timber being a lucrative branch of their ex

1-9 Here is Solomon's design to build a temple. There is no adversary, no Satan, so the word is; no instrument of Satan to oppose it, or to divert from it. Satan does all he can, to hinder temple work. When there is no evil abroad, then let us be ready and active in that which is good, and get forward. Let God's promises quicken our endeavours. And all outward skill and advantages should be made serviceable to the interests of Christ's kingdom. It Tyre supplies Israel with craftsmen, Israel will supply Tyre with corn, Ezekiel 27:17. Thus, by the wise disposal of Providence, one country has need of another, and is benefitted by another, that there may be dependence on one another, to the glory of God....

Verse 1 Kings 5:6. _ANY THAT CAN SKILL TO HEW TIMBER_] An obsolete and barbarous expression for _any that know how to cut timber_. They had neither _sawyers, carpenters, joiners_, nor _builders_ among them, equal to the Sidonians. Sidon was a part of the territories of Hiram, and its inhabitants appear to have been the most expert workmen. It requires more skill to _fell_ and prepare timber than is generally supposed. _Vitruvius_ gives some rules relative to this, lib. ii., cap. 9, the sum of which is this: 1. Trees should be felled in autumn, or in the winter, and in the wane of the moon; for in this season the trees recover their vigour and solidity, which was dispersed among their leaves, and exhausted by their fruit, in spring and summer; they will then be free from a certain moisture, very apt to engender worms and rot them, which in autumn and winter

Solomon’s message to Hiram and Hiram’s answer 1 Kings 5:8 are given much more fully in 2 Chronicles 2:3. CEDAR-TREES - The Hebrew word here and elsewhere translated “cedar,” appears to be used, not only of the cedar proper, but of other timber-trees also, as the fir, and, perhaps, the juniper. Still there is no doubt that the real Lebanon cedar is most commonly intended by it. This tree, which still grows on parts of the mountain, but which threatens to die out, was probably much more widely spread anciently. The Tyrians made the masts of their ships from the wood Ezekiel 27:5, and would naturally be as careful to cultivate it as we have ourselves bee

EXPOSITION SOLOMON AND HIRAM—The somewhat detailed description which we have had in 1 Kings 4:1. of Solomon's pomp and power and wisdom, is followed in 1 Kings 5:1. sqq. by an account of what, in Jewish eyes, was the great undertaking of his reign, and, indeed, the great glory of Hebrew history—the erection and adornment of the Temple. And as this was largely due to the assistance he received both in the shape of materials and labourers—from the Tyrian king, we have in the first place an account of his alliance with Hiram. 1 KINGS 5:1 AND HIRAM (In...

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, as it seems from 1 Kings 5:10; see also 2 Chronicles 2:3; AND MY SERVANTS SHALL BE WITH THY SERVANTS: to assist them, and to carry the timber from place to place, and to learn how to hew timber: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants, according to all that thou shalt appo

4. THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE AND ITS DEDICATION CHAPTER 5 Hiram King of Tyre _ 1. Hiram sends servants to Solomon (1 Kings 5:1)_ 2. The message of Solomon (1 Kings 5:2) 3. Hiram's answer and league with Solomon (1 Kings 5:7) 4. Solomon's workmen (1 Kings 5:13) In connection with 1 Kings 5-8 the Chapter s in 2 Chronicles should be read which give a more extensive account (2 Chronicles 2-5:11). Solomon now begins the great work, which may be called his life work, the building of the house of the LORD. Hiram heard of Solomon's enthronement, and sent messengers to Solomon. This Gentile king was a lover

SOLOMON'S ALLIANCE WITH HIRAM. PREPARATION FOR THE TEMPLE. This chapter has a few Deuteronomic additions (1 Kings 5:3 and 1 Kings 5:12). In 1 Kings 5:4 there is a truly Deuteronomic touch: the one sanctuary could not come into existence till God had given the people rest (2 Samuel 7:11; Deuteronomy 12:9; Deuteronomy 25:19). The alliance was of mutual importance to the Israelites and the Tyrians. The corn-growing districts of N. Palestine were the granary

ANY. a man. Hebrew. _'ish._ App-14....

_Now therefore command thou_ Solomon's request is much expanded in 2 Chronicles 2:3-10, where he asks for a cunning workman in gold and other metals, and in purple, crimson and blue, and skilled in carving or engraving. He desires also much other wood beside cedar. Of the Sidonian purple we have frequent notices in Classical authors, it is -the grain of Sarra worn by Kings and heroes old," as Milton sings of it. _Par. Lost_XI. 242. Cf. Verg. _Æn._iv. 137 -Sidoniam picto chlamydem circumdata limbo." Homer tells us of the great skill of Sidonian workmen: the embroidered robes of Andromache and the bowl given by Achilles as a prize at the games in honour of Patroclus were of Sidonian workmanship. (Hom. _Il_. vi. 290; xxiii. 743, 744.) _cedar-trees out of Lebanon_ We see from Hiram's answer in...