1 Kings 5:9 kjv
My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
1 Kings 5:9 nkjv
My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you indicate to me, and will have them broken apart there; then you can take them away. And you shall fulfill my desire by giving food for my household.
1 Kings 5:9 niv
My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household."
1 Kings 5:9 esv
My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household."
1 Kings 5:9 nlt
My servants will bring the logs from the Lebanon mountains to the Mediterranean Sea and make them into rafts and float them along the coast to whatever place you choose. Then we will break the rafts apart so you can carry the logs away. You can pay me by supplying me with food for my household."
1 Kings 5 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 5:6 | Solomon sent this message to Hiram: "You know that my father David was... building a house for the name of the Lord his God." | Solomon seeks Hiram's aid for Temple. |
| 1 Kgs 5:10 | So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the cedar and cypress logs he desired. | Fulfillment of Hiram's promise to provide. |
| 2 Chr 2:3 | Solomon sent word to Huram king of Tyre: “Send me cedar logs as you did for my father David.” | Parallel account of the request for timber. |
| 2 Chr 2:16 | “We will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you as rafts by sea to Joppa, and you may carry it up to Jerusalem.” | Explicit confirmation of raft transport to Joppa. |
| 2 Sam 5:11 | Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and masons, and they built David a house. | Prior established friendly relations and aid from Hiram to David. |
| 1 Chr 14:1 | Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, masons and carpenters to build a palace for him. | Confirms Hiram's earlier provision of materials and skilled workers. |
| Deut 12:5-7 | ...the place the Lord your God will choose...there you are to bring your burnt offerings...and there you are to eat... | God's instruction for a central place of worship, necessitating the Temple. |
| Exod 25:1-8 | ...And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. | Divine command for a dwelling place for God, prototype (Tabernacle). |
| Ps 29:5-6 | The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars...He makes Lebanon skip like a calf. | God's power over Lebanon's resources (cedars). |
| Isa 14:8 | Even the cypress trees rejoice at your fall, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, “Since you went down to the realm of the dead, no woodsman comes against us.” | Cedars of Lebanon renowned and valuable, hence felled for timber. |
| Zech 11:1-2 | Open your doors, Lebanon, that fire may devour your cedars! Wail, you cypress, for the cedar has fallen... | Emphasizes the importance and distinctiveness of Lebanon's cedars. |
| Ezr 3:7 | So they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to Joppa, as Cyrus the Great had permitted. | Later example of bringing cedar by sea to Joppa for the second Temple. |
| Gen 10:19 | The border of the Canaanites extended...as far as Sidon, toward Gerar. | Tyre/Sidon's geographical location as maritime powers. |
| Matt 6:31-33 | ...your Father knows what you need...Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you. | God ensures provision for those focused on His purposes. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God's comprehensive provision. |
| 1 Tim 5:18 | For Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." | Principle of fair remuneration for labor. |
| Luke 10:7 | Stay in that house...for the laborer deserves his wages. | Echoes the principle of deserved payment/provisions for work. |
| Neh 4:16 | From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half held the spears... | Division of labor and logistical organization, reminiscent of Solomon's vast projects. |
| Prov 27:17 | As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. | Illustrates mutual benefit and cooperation between parties. |
| Rom 12:4-5 | For just as each of us has one body with many members...so in Christ we...form one body. | Spiritual principle of diverse parts working together for a common purpose. |
| Col 3:23-24 | Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord... | Motivation for diligent work, relevant to Hiram's efforts. |
| Heb 10:5 | ...a body you prepared for me. | God's meticulous preparation and provision, reflecting His involvement in all things, even construction details. |
1 Kings 5 verses
1 Kings 5 9 Meaning
This verse details King Hiram of Tyre's commitment to King Solomon regarding the transportation of timber for the Temple's construction. Hiram promises to arrange for his skilled workers to cut the cedars from Lebanon, transport them down to the Mediterranean Sea, and then expertly raft them by sea to a specific port designated by Solomon. The transfer of responsibility would occur there, after which Solomon's servants would transport the timber to Jerusalem. In return for this extensive logistical operation, Hiram requests regular provisions to sustain his large royal household and workforce.
1 Kings 5 9 Context
1 Kings chapter 5 focuses on King Solomon's preparations for building the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, a long-cherished aspiration of his father, King David, which God had appointed Solomon to fulfill (1 Kgs 5:5). Following a period of peace and prosperity enabled by divine wisdom, Solomon initiates contact with King Hiram of Tyre, who had been a loyal ally to David. Solomon seeks Hiram's unparalleled expertise in felling and transporting cedar and cypress timber from Lebanon, resources crucial for the Temple but not available in abundance in Israel. This verse, 1 Kings 5:9, presents Hiram's precise, logistically detailed, and conditional response to Solomon's request, establishing a clear agreement between the two monarchs for this immense undertaking. The broader historical context is the zenith of Israel's unified kingdom under Solomon, marking a time of international diplomacy and monumental construction. Culturally, it highlights the superior craftsmanship and maritime capabilities of the Phoenicians (Tyrians and Sidonians) in areas where the Israelites, primarily an agricultural people, lacked expertise.
1 Kings 5 9 Word analysis
- My servants (עֲבָדַי - ʿăvādāy): Refers to Hiram's specialized workforce. This highlights their specific skills in forestry and logging, an area where Hiram's kingdom (Phoenicia) excelled. The use of "servants" implies a large, organized, and obedient labor force under Hiram's direct command. Their expertise was crucial for the task.
- will bring them down (יֹרִידוּ - yôrîdû): Signifies the arduous process of felling massive trees from the high mountain slopes of Lebanon and moving them to the coast. It implies a significant physical and logistical effort, demonstrating the scale of the operation.
- from Lebanon (מִלְּבָנוֹן - mil-lᵊbānnôn): Specifies the source of the timber. Lebanon was famous throughout the ancient Near East for its vast forests of durable cedar and cypress, considered superior building material. This emphasizes the value and rarity of the requested timber.
- to the sea (אֶל-הַיָּם - ʾel hayyām): Indicates the destination point for the logs on land. This was the Mediterranean Sea, crucial for the next phase of transport. It points to the combined land-sea operation.
- and I will raft them (וַאֲנִי אֶעֱשֶׂה אֹתָם רַפְסֹדוֹת - waʾănî ʾeʿĕśeh ʾōṯām rafsōḏōṯ): "I will make them rafts." This term (רַפְסֹדוֹת - rafsōḏōṯ) refers to tying the logs together into large floating rafts. This specialized technique demonstrates the Phoenicians' advanced maritime engineering skills for efficiently transporting large volumes of timber over long distances by water, which was more efficient than overland transport.
- over by sea (יָּמָּה - yā́mmâ): Re-emphasizes the aquatic mode of transport, specifically by traversing the Mediterranean coastline. This was their forte, differentiating their method from simple land-based delivery.
- to the place you specify (אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁלַח אֵלַי - ʾel hammāqôm ʾăšer tišlaḥ ʾēlāy): Means "to the place that you send to me." This grants Solomon the precise control over the drop-off point, likely Joppa (Jaffa), the nearest viable port to Jerusalem, which allowed for subsequent land transport. It highlights the collaborative planning and trust in their agreement.
- There I will have them unloaded for you (וְשָׁמָּה תִּקַּח אֹתָם - wəšāmâ tiqqaḥ ʾōṯām): Literally, "And there you will take them." This signifies the transfer of responsibility and possession. Hiram’s men complete their part by getting the timber to the agreed port, then Solomon’s men assume charge for the inland journey.
- and you can take them away (תִּקַּח אֹתָם - tiqqaḥ ʾōṯām): Reiteration of Solomon's responsibility for the final leg of transport, signifying logistical clarity in the division of labor.
- And you are to grant my request (וְאַתָּה תַּעֲשֶׂה אֶת-חֶפְצִי - wəʾattāh taʿaśeh ʾeṯ-ḥep̄ṣî): "And you will do my desire/pleasure." This is Hiram's explicit condition, ensuring reciprocity and acknowledging the cost of his vast operation. It establishes the nature of the transaction as a fair exchange, not simply tribute.
- for provisions (לֶחֶם - leḥem): Literally "bread," but often used to mean general food and sustenance. It refers to the vital supplies needed for the large number of workers and the extensive logistics involved. This indicates an ongoing payment in kind rather than just a one-time monetary sum.
- for my royal household (לְבֵיתִי - ləvêṯî): "For my house/palace." This refers not only to Hiram personally but also to his court, many officials, and the multitude of workers employed in the logging and shipping industry. The term highlights the massive scope of the operation and the necessity of sustaining the workforce behind it.
1 Kings 5 9 Bonus section
- The system of payment in kind (provisions/food) rather than gold or silver, despite Solomon's immense wealth, indicates a common practice in ancient inter-state relations, especially for a sustained, long-term project involving large workforces. It could also suggest a need for a readily available food source for Hiram's workers while on Solomon's territory, streamlining logistics for both sides.
- The phrase "raft them" highlights the Phoenicians' specific technological advantage. Rafting logs across the open sea, potentially hundreds of miles down the coastline from Lebanon to Joppa, required significant navigational skill, understanding of currents, and robust raft construction.
- The agreement solidified by this verse forms the basis of a significant economic and political alliance between Israel and Tyre, lasting throughout much of Solomon's reign and beyond. This partnership, forged over the Temple project, was a hallmark of the peaceful and prosperous period of the united monarchy.
1 Kings 5 9 Commentary
1 Kings 5:9 details the crucial and precise logistical arrangements between King Hiram of Tyre and King Solomon for providing the vast quantities of timber necessary for the Temple's construction. This verse showcases Hiram's mastery of ancient engineering and his efficient methods of sourcing, felling, and transporting the highly prized Lebanese cedar and cypress via sea rafts to an accessible port chosen by Solomon. The agreement emphasizes mutual benefit, as Hiram, despite his loyalty, necessitates an ongoing provision of food supplies for his extensive royal household and workers in return for his materials, skilled labor, and specialized maritime services. This cooperative enterprise, involving international diplomacy, advanced logistics, and significant resources, underscores the divine orchestration of the Temple's construction through the hands of men, bringing together diverse talents for a unified, sacred purpose.