Solomon’s successful arrangement with Hiram exemplifies how cooperation among nations can serve God’s great purposes.
So Hiram gave Solomon as much as he desired of the cedar and cypress timber (v.10). This verse describes how Hiram, king of Tyre (reigning around 969-936 BC), responded generously when Solomon (king of Israel from 970-931 BC) requested building supplies for the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. Tyre was a Phoenician city located in the region of modern-day Lebanon, famed for its abundant cedar forests, and Hiram’s willingness to give Solomon large quantities of cedar and cypress timber showed both the deep friendship and formal alliance between these two rulers.Hiram’s cooperation was instrumental for Solomon’s massive building project, especially since Israel’s farmland in the hill country did not easily yield such sturdy materials. By contributing these high-quality woods, Hiram enabled Solomon to move forward on the temple construction in Jerusalem, ultimately fulfilling David’s desire to make a permanent house for the LORD and establishing a central place of worship for the nation (1 Kings 8:17-20). As part of their covenant, Solomon provided provisions of grain and oil for Hiram’s household year by year, reflecting a reciprocal relationship beneficial to both kingdoms.
From a broader biblical perspective, the temple foreshadows the way believers commune with God, culminating in Jesus’s ministry—He taught that through Himself, God’s presence could dwell intimately with humanity (John 2:19-21). Hiram’s timber thus played a significant role in laying the foundation for Solomon’s temple, which in turn prepared hearts to see the greater truth of God’s desire to dwell among His people (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23).
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1 Kings 5:10 meaning
So Hiram gave Solomon as much as he desired of the cedar and cypress timber (v.10). This verse describes how Hiram, king of Tyre (reigning around 969-936 BC), responded generously when Solomon (king of Israel from 970-931 BC) requested building supplies for the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. Tyre was a Phoenician city located in the region of modern-day Lebanon, famed for its abundant cedar forests, and Hiram’s willingness to give Solomon large quantities of cedar and cypress timber showed both the deep friendship and formal alliance between these two rulers.Hiram’s cooperation was instrumental for Solomon’s massive building project, especially since Israel’s farmland in the hill country did not easily yield such sturdy materials. By contributing these high-quality woods, Hiram enabled Solomon to move forward on the temple construction in Jerusalem, ultimately fulfilling David’s desire to make a permanent house for the LORD and establishing a central place of worship for the nation (1 Kings 8:17-20). As part of their covenant, Solomon provided provisions of grain and oil for Hiram’s household year by year, reflecting a reciprocal relationship beneficial to both kingdoms.
From a broader biblical perspective, the temple foreshadows the way believers commune with God, culminating in Jesus’s ministry—He taught that through Himself, God’s presence could dwell intimately with humanity (John 2:19-21). Hiram’s timber thus played a significant role in laying the foundation for Solomon’s temple, which in turn prepared hearts to see the greater truth of God’s desire to dwell among His people (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23).