Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s placeHiram was the king of Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city-state known for its wealth and maritime prowess. The Phoenicians were renowned for their skills in shipbuilding and trade, which made them valuable allies. The anointing of Solomon as king signifies a divinely sanctioned leadership transition, a common practice in ancient Israel to denote God's choice. This transition from David to Solomon marks a period of peace and prosperity, allowing for the construction of the Temple. The relationship between Israel and Tyre is significant, as it reflects the political and economic alliances of the time. Hiram's awareness of Solomon's anointing indicates the importance of Israel in the region and the respect other nations had for its leadership.
he sent envoys to Solomon
Sending envoys was a customary diplomatic practice in the ancient Near East, used to establish or maintain alliances and communicate intentions. This act by Hiram demonstrates his desire to continue the positive relationship established with David. It also reflects the political acumen of Hiram, recognizing the strategic importance of maintaining good relations with Israel under Solomon's rule. The sending of envoys can be seen as an act of respect and acknowledgment of Solomon's new authority, as well as a move to secure mutual benefits, particularly in trade and resources.
for Hiram had always been a friend of David
The friendship between Hiram and David is well-documented, with Hiram providing materials and craftsmen for David's building projects, including his palace. This alliance was beneficial for both parties, as it provided Israel with resources and expertise, while Tyre gained a powerful ally. The continuation of this friendship through Solomon suggests a stable and enduring alliance. This relationship can be seen as a type of Christ, where peace and cooperation are established through covenant relationships. The friendship also highlights the theme of God's providence in establishing and maintaining relationships that further His purposes, such as the building of the Temple, which Solomon would undertake with Hiram's assistance.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Hiram, King of TyreHiram was the ruler of the Phoenician city of Tyre. Known for his wisdom and wealth, he maintained a strong alliance with King David and later with Solomon. His kingdom was renowned for its skilled craftsmen and valuable resources, particularly cedar wood.
2.
SolomonThe son of David and Bathsheba, Solomon was anointed as the king of Israel. Known for his wisdom, Solomon was tasked with building the temple in Jerusalem, a project that required extensive resources and labor.
3.
DavidThe former king of Israel and father of Solomon, David was a man after God's own heart. His reign established a strong and unified Israel, and he laid the groundwork for the construction of the temple.
4.
TyreA significant Phoenician city known for its trade and skilled artisans. Tyre played a crucial role in providing materials and expertise for the construction of Solomon's temple.
5.
EnvoysRepresentatives sent by Hiram to Solomon, signifying the continuation of the alliance and friendship between the two kingdoms.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Godly AlliancesAlliances, when rooted in mutual respect and shared goals, can be beneficial for fulfilling God's purposes. Hiram's friendship with David and Solomon facilitated the building of the temple, a central place of worship for Israel.
Legacy and ContinuityThe relationship between Hiram and the house of David illustrates the importance of maintaining and honoring past alliances. Solomon's respect for his father's friendships ensured continued peace and prosperity.
Wisdom in LeadershipSolomon's ability to maintain and build upon his father's alliances demonstrates the wisdom needed in leadership. Leaders today can learn from Solomon's example to seek counsel and support from trusted allies.
God's Provision through OthersGod often provides for His people through the resources and skills of others. Hiram's contribution to the temple construction is a reminder that God can use anyone, even those outside the covenant community, to accomplish His purposes.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 1 Kings 5:1?
2.How does Hiram's relationship with David influence his actions in 1 Kings 5:1?
3.What can we learn about godly alliances from 1 Kings 5:1?
4.How does 1 Kings 5:1 reflect God's faithfulness to His promises?
5.How can we apply Hiram's respect for David to our relationships today?
6.What scriptural connections exist between 1 Kings 5:1 and building God's kingdom?
7.How does 1 Kings 5:1 demonstrate the political alliances in Solomon's reign?
8.What does Hiram's relationship with Solomon reveal about God's plan for Israel's neighbors?
9.How does 1 Kings 5:1 reflect the fulfillment of God's promises to David?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 5?
11.How can we verify Hiram’s historicity and alliance with Solomon mentioned in 1 Kings 5:1–12, given limited external records?
12.Was Tyre rebuilt after its prophesied destruction?
13.How do we explain the claim in Ezekiel 26:19–21 that Tyre would be uninhabitable and submerged under the sea when part of the ancient city remains accessible and occupied?
14.(Amos 1:9–10) Where is the external proof that Tyre was punished for breaking its covenant of brotherhood, or is this a theological claim without historical backing?What Does 1 Kings 5:1 Mean
Hiram king of Tyre heard• “Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard…” (1 Kings 5:1) shows that news of Solomon’s coronation quickly reached neighboring nations.
• Tyre, a prosperous Phoenician port city, had long interacted with Israel (cf.2 Samuel 5:11, where Hiram sent cedar and craftsmen to build David’s palace).
• Hiram’s attentive ear underscores God’s sovereign orchestration of international affairs; even pagan kings move when the Lord advances His purposes (cf.Proverbs 21:1).
Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place• Anointing signified divine appointment (1 Samuel 10:1;1 Kings 1:39). Solomon sits on the throne by God’s design, continuing David’s line exactly as promised (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
• The phrase “in his father’s place” stresses continuity. Israel’s stability rests on God’s covenant faithfulness, not mere human politics (1 Kings 2:12;Psalm 89:35-36).
He sent envoys to Solomon• Hiram’s immediate dispatch of representatives signals respect and eagerness for alliance (1 Kings 5:2;2 Chronicles 2:3).
• Diplomacy here is more than politics; God is providing resources for the temple Solomon will build (1 Kings 5:6-9).
• Practical outworking: when God calls His people to a task, He moves others—even unbelievers—to supply what is needed (Ezra 1:1-4;Philippians 4:19).
Hiram had always been a friend of David• “For Hiram had always been a friend of David” (1 Kings 5:1) notes a longstanding covenantal friendship (1 Kings 5:7, 12).
• Hiram’s loyalty to David naturally extends to David’s son, modeling generational blessing for those who align with God’s anointed (Proverbs 27:10).
• This friendship foreshadows the gospel reality: blessing flows to all who honor the Son because of the Father (John 5:23;Psalm 2:12).
summary1 Kings 5:1 reveals God sovereignly raising allies to accomplish His plans. Hiram’s attentive ear, Solomon’s divine anointing, the swift diplomatic mission, and the enduring friendship with David together showcase the Lord’s faithfulness to His covenant and His provision for the building of His house.
(1)
Hiramis first mentioned in
2Samuel 5:11 (and the parallel,
1Chronicles 14:1) as having sent workmen and materials to David for the building of his house. He is described as a "lover of David." Ancient tradition makes him a tributary or dependent monarch; and his attitude, as described in Scripture, towards both David and Solomon agrees with this. Josephus (
100Apion, i. 17, ? 18) cites from Dios, a Ph?nician historian, and Menander of Ephesus, a description of Hiram's parentage, of his prosperous reign and skill in building; and quotes, as from the Tyrian archives (
Ant. viii. 11, ?? 6, 7), letters passing between him and Solomon. The embassy here noticed from Hiram is clearly one of congratulation, perhaps of renewal of fealty. (In
2Chronicles 2:14-15 occur the phrases, "my lord, my lord David thy father.")
Verse 1. -
And Hiram (In vers. 10, 18, the name is spelled
Hirom (
חִירום), whilst in Chronicles, with one exception (
1 Chronicles 14:1, where the
Keri, however, follows the prevailing usage), the name appears as
Huram (
חוּרָם). In Josephus it is
Αἰρωμος. This prince and his friendly relations with the Jews are referred to by the Tyrian historians, of whose materials the Greek writers Dins and Menander of Ephesus (
temp. Alexander the Great) availed themselves. According to Dins (quoted by Josephus contr. Apion, 1:17) Hiram was the son of Abibaal. Menander states that the building of the temple was commenced in the twelfth year of Hiram's reign, which lasted 34 years (Jos. Ant. 8:03.1; Contr. Ap. 1:18). Hiram is further said to have married his daughter to Solomon and to have engaged with him in an intellectual encounter which took the shape of riddles] king of Tyre [Heb.
צור,
rock, so called because of the rocky island on which old Tyro was built, sometimes called
מִבְצַר לֺצר, the fortress of, or fortified Tyro (
Joshua 19:29;
2 Samuel 24:7, etc.) The capital of Phoenicia. In earlier times, Sidon would seem to have been the more important town; hence the Canaanites who inhabited this region were generally called Zidonians, as in ver. 6]
sent his servants [
legatos, Vatablus]
unto Solomon [The Vat. LXX. has here a strange reading, "To
anoint Solomon," etc. The object of this embassy was evidently to recognize and congratulate the youthful king (the Syriac has a gloss,
"and he blessed him," which well represents one object of the embassy) and at the same time to make overtures of friendship. An alliance, or good understanding, with Israel was then, as at a later period (
Acts 12:20) of great importance to them of Tyre and Sidon. Their narrow strip of seaboard furnished no corn lands, so that their country depended upon Israel for its nourishment];
for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of David his father [
i.e., he had heard of the death of David and the accession of Solomon; possibly of the events narrated in chap. 1.]:
for Hiram was ever [Heb.
all the days:
i.e., of their reigns; so long as they were contemporary sovereigns]
a lover of David.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Now when Hiramחִירָ֨ם(ḥî·rām)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2438:Hiram -- a Benjamite, also two Arameans (Syrians)kingמֶֽלֶךְ־(me·leḵ-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428:A kingof Tyreצ֤וֹר(ṣō·wr)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6865:Tyre -- a Phoenician cityheardשָׁמַ֔ע(šā·ma‘)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085:To hear intelligentlythatכִּ֥י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunction[Solomon] had been anointedמָשְׁח֥וּ(mā·šə·ḥū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 4886:To rub with oil, to anoint, to consecrate, to paintkingלְמֶ֖לֶךְ(lə·me·leḵ)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428:A kingin his father’sאָבִ֑יהוּ(’ā·ḇî·hū)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1:Fatherplace,תַּ֣חַת(ta·ḥaṯ)Preposition
Strong's 8478:The bottom, below, in lieu ofhe sentוַ֠יִּשְׁלַח(way·yiš·laḥ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971:To send away, for, outenvoysעֲבָדָיו֙(‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw)Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650:Slave, servanttoאֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, toSolomon;שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה(šə·lō·mōh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010:Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throneforכִּ֣י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionHiramחִירָ֛ם(ḥî·rām)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2438:Hiram -- a Benjamite, also two Arameans (Syrians)had alwaysכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everybeenהָיָ֥ה(hā·yāh)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, befriendsאֹהֵ֗ב(’ō·hêḇ)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 157:To have affection fwith David.לְדָוִ֖ד(lə·ḏā·wiḏ)Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732:David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse
Links
1 Kings 5:1 NIV1 Kings 5:1 NLT1 Kings 5:1 ESV1 Kings 5:1 NASB1 Kings 5:1 KJV
1 Kings 5:1 BibleApps.com1 Kings 5:1 Biblia Paralela1 Kings 5:1 Chinese Bible1 Kings 5:1 French Bible1 Kings 5:1 Catholic Bible
OT History: 1 Kings 5:1 Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) 
