1 Kings 5:8

And Hiram sent to Solomon,.... A letter to him, to the following purpose:

saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for; whether he could, and whether it was fitting he should grant his request; which was acting like a wise and prudent prince:

[and] I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir; or of cypress, as in Josephus's copy of this letter, and which grew on Lebanon c; these were odorous, sound, and durable timber, especially the cedar, and therefore chosen by Solomon for building.

c Diodor. Sic. l. 19. p. 700.