1 Kings 5 11

1 Kings 5:11 kjv

And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

1 Kings 5:11 nkjv

And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty kors of pressed oil. Thus Solomon gave to Hiram year by year.

1 Kings 5:11 niv

and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year.

1 Kings 5:11 esv

while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, and 20,000 cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.

1 Kings 5:11 nlt

In return, Solomon sent him an annual payment of 100,000 bushels of wheat for his household and 110,000 gallons of pure olive oil.

1 Kings 5 verses

1 Kings 5 11 Meaning

1 Kings 5:11 details Solomon's annual payment to Hiram, king of Tyre, as part of their extensive agreement for building the Temple. This verse specifically outlines the provisions of twenty thousand measures of wheat and twenty measures of pure oil supplied for Hiram's household, signifying Solomon's vast resources, the strength of their alliance, and the fulfillment of God's promise of prosperity to Israel.

1 Kings 5 11 Context

1 Kings chapter 5 sets the stage for the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Following his father David's death, Solomon inherited the divine promise to build a house for the Lord (2 Sam 7:12-13). To accomplish this monumental task, Solomon recognized the need for resources and skills that Israel lacked. Tyre, a Phoenician city-state, was renowned for its skilled craftsmen, especially in timber and stone, and its access to high-quality cedar and cypress wood from Lebanon. Hiram, the king of Tyre, had a long-standing positive relationship with David and readily agreed to Solomon's proposal for an alliance. Solomon offered foodstuffs, which Israel, an agriculturally rich land blessed by God, possessed in abundance. Hiram, a ruler of a maritime trading city, needed a consistent supply of food for his household and laborers. Verse 11 details this specific annual provision from Solomon to Hiram, highlighting the material exchange at the core of their strategic partnership that facilitated the Temple's construction, thereby affirming God's providential care for Israel.

1 Kings 5 11 Word analysis

• And Solomon gave Hiram:

  • Indicates Solomon's proactive role in fulfilling his part of the agreement. It emphasizes his commitment to the alliance and, by extension, to the Temple project.
  • It highlights a strategic diplomatic and economic relationship between two significant ancient Near Eastern powers.

• twenty thousand measures of wheat:

  • "measures" (כֹּר, kor): A Hebrew unit of dry volume, approximately equivalent to 220 liters or about 6 bushels. This signifies a massive quantity of wheat.
  • This vast amount underscores Israel's agricultural fertility and God's abundant blessing upon the land, making Solomon's kingdom a breadbasket for its allies. It was an essential commodity for a trading city like Tyre which might have had limited agricultural land.

• for food to his household:

  • Specifies the purpose of the wheat and oil: sustaining Hiram's royal family and direct staff. This suggests a direct personal tribute or exchange for Hiram's personal involvement and commitment, distinct from payments for laborers (cf. 2 Chr 2:10).
  • This direct provision to the king's household was a sign of honor and respect in ancient treaties.

• and twenty measures of pure oil:

  • "measures" (בַּת, bat): A Hebrew unit of liquid volume, approximately equivalent to 22 liters or about 6 gallons. Twenty bats of oil is a substantial, but not astronomical, quantity for a household.
  • "pure oil" (שֶׁמֶן כָּתִית, shemen katit): Literally "oil of beaten olives." This refers to the highest quality olive oil, produced by crushing olives in a mortar or mill without pressing them. It was typically used for sacred purposes in the Tabernacle/Temple (e.g., for the menorah lamp, Exod 27:20), indicating its purity and premium quality.
  • Providing katit oil to Hiram emphasizes the exceptional nature of Solomon's gift, conveying respect and the quality of Israel's produce, elevating the stature of the gift beyond mere sustenance.

• thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year:

  • This phrase emphasizes the continuous, long-term nature of the agreement. It wasn't a one-time transaction but an ongoing annual obligation, indicating a durable covenant.
  • "Year by year" highlights the commitment and reliability of Solomon's provision, crucial for an established trade partnership and the sustained effort required for a multi-year construction project like the Temple.

• words-group: "Solomon gave Hiram... for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil:"

  • This highlights the personal and official nature of the payment. While the Temple work involved a larger workforce, this specific provision was directed towards Hiram's personal sustenance, demonstrating the direct relationship between the two kings. The choice of wheat (staple) and pure oil (luxury/quality) also speaks to the comprehensive nature of the supply, addressing both necessity and high standing.

• words-group: "twenty thousand measures of wheat... and twenty measures of pure oil... year by year"

  • This collective phrase demonstrates the massive scale of the Temple undertaking, which necessitated such continuous and substantial payments. It underscores God's blessing on Israel's agriculture that enabled them to provide such quantities consistently, securing vital resources from a powerful trading nation for the ultimate purpose of building God's house. It implicitly argues against reliance on foreign deities, instead showing that Yahweh's blessing made Israel self-sufficient and capable of providing for others.

1 Kings 5 11 Bonus section

• The parallel account in 2 Chronicles 2:10 mentions an even larger provision for the hewers and additional items (barley, wine), which suggests 1 Kings 5:11 refers specifically to Hiram's personal "household" provision as per the agreement (1 Kgs 5:9), while other supplies were for the general workforce. This distinction emphasizes the direct diplomatic nature of the exchange mentioned in 1 Kings 5:11 for the king's own consumption, and not solely for his workers.
• The "measures" (kor and bat) were common Ancient Near Eastern units, confirming the practicality of the trade agreement within regional economic norms.
• The use of premium "pure oil" suggests not just food, but potentially the best quality for the lighting and perhaps even ritual use within Hiram's palace, mirroring the reverence shown in its use within Israel's tabernacle.
• This stable long-term relationship with Tyre contrasts sharply with Solomon's later diplomatic "missteps" and spiritual decline, providing a glimpse of his reign's peak in prosperity and adherence to wisdom.
• The economic strength demonstrated by this trade also implicitly showcased God's blessing on Israel to the surrounding nations, indicating His favor and the power of His covenant.

1 Kings 5 11 Commentary

1 Kings 5:11 reveals a cornerstone of Solomon's wise reign: astute diplomacy combined with divine blessing. The generous annual provision of vast quantities of wheat and pure oil to King Hiram of Tyre was not merely a commercial exchange but a strategic act of statecraft, vital for securing the unparalleled resources required for building God's Temple. The amount of wheat, stated in kors, signified an immense agricultural surplus, testament to the fruitfulness of the land God had given to Israel and His faithfulness in providing for His people's needs and grand endeavors. The inclusion of "pure oil" (shemen katit) for Hiram's household goes beyond basic sustenance; it symbolizes quality, honor, and perhaps even a subtle cultural exchange, given the sacred use of such oil in Israel's own worship. This verse portrays Solomon not just as a king blessed with wealth, but as an administrator who could manage such vast logistical undertakings "year by year." It underscores the reality that great spiritual undertakings often require careful material planning and robust alliances. The consistent fulfillment of this commitment solidified the long-term partnership with Tyre, crucial for the supply chain of timber and skilled labor, allowing the divinely inspired vision for the Temple to become a reality. This account stands as an example of how God enables His people to fulfill His purposes, providing both the wisdom for leadership and the abundant resources to accomplish even monumental tasks.