Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 5
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Kings 5
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Kings 5
"And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David." — 1 Kings 5:1 (ASV)
Hiram, king of Tyre - Menander of Ephesus, who wrote a history of Tyre in Greek based on native Tyrian documents around 300 B.C., mentioned this Hiram as the son of Abibaal, king of Tyre. He said that Hiram ascended the throne when he was nineteen, reigned for thirty-four years, and, dying at the age of fifty-three, was succeeded by his son Baleazar. Menander spoke at some length about the dealings of Hiram with Solomon.
Sent his servants - This appears to have been an embassy of congratulation.
"Thou knowest how that David my father could not build a house for the name of Jehovah his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until Jehovah put them under the soles of his feet." — 1 Kings 5:3 (ASV)
Solomon’s assumption that Hiram knew of David’s plan has not appeared in the preceding history, but it is consistent with 1 Chronicles 22:4.
"But now Jehovah my God hath given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence." — 1 Kings 5:4 (ASV)
The contrast is not between different periods of Solomon’s reign, but between his reign and that of his father.
Evil occurrent: This phrase is better understood as an "evil occurrence."
"And, behold, I purpose to build a house for the name of Jehovah my God, as Jehovah spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build the house for my name." — 1 Kings 5:5 (ASV)
As the Lord spoke—see the marginal references, 1 Kings 7:13, and compare 1 Chronicles 22:10.
"Now therefore command thou that they cut me cedar-trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants; and I will give thee hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt say: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that knoweth how to cut timber like unto the Sidonians." — 1 Kings 5:6 (ASV)
Solomon’s message to Hiram and Hiram’s answer (1 Kings 5:8–9) are given much more fully in 2 Chronicles 2:3–16.
Cedar-trees - The Hebrew word translated as “cedar” here and elsewhere appears to be used not only for the cedar proper but also for other timber trees, such as the fir and perhaps the juniper. Still, there is no doubt that the true Lebanon cedar is most commonly intended. This tree, which still grows on parts of the mountain but is in danger of dying out, was probably much more widespread in ancient times. The Tyrians made the masts of their ships from this wood (Ezekiel 27:5) and would naturally have been as careful to cultivate it as we ourselves have been to grow oak. When the Assyrian kings made their expeditions into Palestine, they appear to have frequently cut it in Lebanon and Hermon and transported it to their own capitals.
Skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians - The mechanical genius and nautical skill of the Phoenicians generally, and of the Sidonians in particular, are noted by Homer and Herodotus. In the reign of Hiram, Sidon, though it may have had its own king, acknowledged the supremacy of Tyre.
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