Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying:Hiram, the king of Tyre, was a significant ally to both David and Solomon. His kingdom was known for its skilled craftsmen and abundant resources, particularly in timber. The relationship between Hiram and Solomon reflects the political alliances of the time, where neighboring kingdoms often engaged in trade and mutual support. This alliance is a continuation of the friendship Hiram had with David, Solomon's father, indicating a legacy of cooperation and peace. The communication between Hiram and Solomon underscores the importance of diplomacy and collaboration in achieving great projects, such as the building of the Temple.
I have received your message;
This phrase indicates the formal and respectful communication between two monarchs. In ancient times, messages were often delivered by envoys or messengers, emphasizing the importance of clear and reliable communication. The receipt of the message signifies Hiram's acknowledgment and willingness to engage in the proposed trade. It also reflects the organized and structured nature of Solomon's administration, capable of managing large-scale projects and international relations.
I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber.
Cedar and cypress were highly valued in the ancient Near East for their durability, fragrance, and resistance to decay, making them ideal for construction, especially in significant buildings like temples and palaces. The use of these materials in the Temple construction symbolizes the best offerings to God, reflecting the grandeur and holiness of the place of worship. The willingness of Hiram to fulfill Solomon's request demonstrates the strong alliance and mutual respect between the two leaders. This cooperation can be seen as a type of Christ, where resources and efforts are united for a divine purpose, prefiguring the unity and cooperation in the body of Christ for the building of His spiritual temple, the Church.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
HiramThe king of Tyre, known for his friendship with King David and later with Solomon. He was a skilled diplomat and provided materials and craftsmen for the building of the temple.
2.
SolomonThe son of David and king of Israel, renowned for his wisdom and for building the first temple in Jerusalem.
3.
TyreA significant city in ancient Phoenicia, known for its wealth and skilled artisans, particularly in timber and shipbuilding.
4.
Cedar and Cypress TimberValued materials in ancient construction, especially for their durability and fragrance. They were used in the construction of the temple and other significant buildings.
5.
The TempleThe first temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship for the Israelites, symbolizing God's presence among His people.
Teaching Points
God's Provision through RelationshipsGod often provides for His purposes through relationships and alliances. Just as He used Hiram to supply Solomon with materials, He can use people in our lives to fulfill His plans.
The Importance of CommunicationEffective communication, as seen in the correspondence between Hiram and Solomon, is crucial in achieving mutual goals and understanding.
Valuing Quality in Service to GodThe use of the finest materials for the temple construction reflects the importance of offering our best in service to God. We should strive for excellence in our endeavors for His glory.
Wisdom in LeadershipSolomon's wise decision to seek help from Hiram demonstrates the importance of wisdom and discernment in leadership, recognizing when and where to seek assistance.
Symbolism of Cedar and CypressThe choice of cedar and cypress symbolizes strength, durability, and beauty. In our spiritual lives, we should seek to cultivate these qualities through our relationship with God.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 1 Kings 5:8?
2.How does 1 Kings 5:8 demonstrate God's provision through Hiram's response to Solomon?
3.What qualities of leadership can we learn from Solomon's request to Hiram?
4.How does Hiram's cooperation reflect God's sovereignty in fulfilling His temple promise?
5.In what ways can we seek God's wisdom in our partnerships today?
6.How can we apply Solomon's example of collaboration in our church community?
7.How does 1 Kings 5:8 demonstrate the importance of alliances in biblical times?
8.What does 1 Kings 5:8 reveal about Solomon's wisdom in international relations?
9.How does 1 Kings 5:8 reflect God's provision for Solomon's temple construction?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 5?
11.(Ezra 3:7) Could a newly returned, resource-strapped community realistically acquire and transport large quantities of cedar from Lebanon?
12.In 2 Chronicles 2:11–12, why does Tyrian King Hiram express devotion to Israel’s God when no independent Tyrian records verify such reverence?
13.What do the cedars of Lebanon symbolize in the Bible?
14.If the author truly was King Solomon, why is there no explicit historical record or external verification of these events beyond the text (Song of Solomon 3)?What Does 1 Kings 5:8 Mean
Then Hiram sent a reply to SolomonHiram, king of Tyre, responds to Solomon’s earlier request for building materials. His prompt answer shows:
• Respectful recognition of Solomon’s authority, much like his friendship with David (2 Samuel 5:11;1 Kings 5:1).
• God-directed cooperation between Israel and Gentile neighbors, anticipating the nations being blessed through Israel (Genesis 12:3;Isaiah 60:10).
• The unfolding of God’s plan for the temple, for which David had gathered resources and Solomon now seeks skilled partners (1 Chronicles 22:2-4).
I have received your messageHiram confirms he has carefully heard Solomon’s words (1 Kings 5:7). This underscores:
• Clear communication in accomplishing God-given tasks (Proverbs 15:23).
• Covenant faithfulness as Hiram stands ready to honor his earlier alliance with David (1 Kings 5:12).
• The importance of listening before acting, mirroringJames 1:19 in principle.
I will do all you desireHiram’s wholehearted agreement illustrates:
• Generous partnership—he is not offering partial help but total compliance (2 Chronicles 2:16).
• God stirring even foreign kings to fulfill His purposes, as later seen with Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4).
• A picture of willing service that reflects Christ-like humility (Philippians 2:4-5).
Regarding the cedar and cypress timberThe specific materials matter:
• Cedar from Lebanon was prized for durability and fragrance; cypress for stability—both fitting for God’s house (1 Kings 6:9-18).
• Solomon’s temple would proclaim God’s glory through excellence, echoingPsalm 96:9, “Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.”
• Provision of these resources fulfills David’s earlier preparations (1 Chronicles 22:5) and anticipates the temple’s role as a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7).
summary1 Kings 5:8 records Hiram’s affirmative response to Solomon’s request, demonstrating respectful alliance, careful listening, wholehearted cooperation, and material provision—all orchestrated by God to advance the building of His temple. The verse reminds us that the Lord moves hearts, coordinates resources, and uses both His people and willing outsiders to accomplish His purposes with excellence.
Verse 8. -
And Hiram sent to Solomon [in writing,
2 Chronicles 2:11. It is instructive to remember in connexion with this fact that, according to the universal belief of antiquity, the use of letters,
i.e., the art of writing, was communicated to the Greeks by the Phoenicians. Gesenius, indeed, holds that the
invention of letters is also due to them. See the interesting remarks of Mr. Twisleton, Dict. Bib. 2. pp. 866-868],
saying,
I have considered the things which thou sentest unto me for [Heb.
heard the things (
i.e., message)
which thou sentest unto me]:
and I will do all thy desire concerning [Heb.
in, i.e., as to] timber [or
trees] of cedar [Heb.
cedars]
and timber of fir [Heb.
trees of cypresses. This is, perhaps, the proper place to inquire what. trees are intended by the words
אֶרֶז, and
בְּרושׁ, here respectively translated" cedar" and "fir." As to the first, it is impossible to restrict the word to the one species (
Pinus cedrus or Cedrus Libani) which is now known as the cedar of Lebanon, or, indeed, to
any single plant. That the
Cedrus Libani, one of the most magnificent of trees, is meant in such passages as
Ezekiel 31,
Psalm 92:12, etc., admits of no manner of doubt. It is equally clear, however, that in other passages the term "cedar" must refer to some other tree. In
Numbers 19:6, and
Leviticus 14:6,
e.g., the juniper would seem to be meant. "The cedar could not have been procured in the desert without great difficulty, but the juniper (
Juniperus oxycedrus) is most plentiful there." (The "cedar" of our pencils, it may be remarked, is a kind of juniper -
Juniperus Bermudiana.) In
Ezekiel 27:5, "they have taken cedars of Lebanon to make
masts for thee," it is probable that the
PinusHalepensis, not, as was formerly thought, the Scotch fir (
Pinus sylvestris), is intended. The
Cedrus Libani appears to be indifferently adapted to any such purpose, for which, however, the
Pinus Halepensisis eminently fitted. But in the text, as throughout ch. 5-8, the reference, it can hardly be doubted, is to the
Cedrus Libani. It is true the wood of this species is neither beautiful nor remarkably durable. Dr. Lindley calls it the "worthless, though magnificent cedar," but the former adjective, however true it may be of English-grown cedar, cannot justly be applied to the tree of the Lebanon mountain. The writer has some wood in his possession, brought by him from the Lebanon, and though it has neither fragrance nor veining, it is unmistakably a hard and resinous wood. And it should be remembered that it was only employed by Solomon in the
interior of the temple, and was there, for the most part, overlaid with gold, and that the climate of Palestine is much less destructive than our own. There seems to be no sufficient reason, therefore, for rejecting the traditional and till recently universal belief that the
Cedrus Libani was the timber chosen for the temple use. Mr. Houghton, in Smith's Dict. Bib., vol. 3. App. A. p. 40, who speaks of it "as being
κατ ἐξοχὴν,
the firmest and grandest of the conifers," says at the same time that "it has no particular quality to recommend it for building purposes; it was probably therefore not very extensively used in the construction of the temple." But no other tree can be suggested which better suits the conditions of the sacred narrative. The
deodara, which has found favour with some writers, it is now positively stated, does not grow near the Lebanon. It may be added that, under the name of
Eres, the yew was probably included. The timber used in the palaces of Nineveh, which was long believed to be cedar, is now proved to be yew (Dict. Bib., art. "Cedar"). However it is certain that
אֶרֶז is a
nomen generale which includes, at any rate, the pine, the cedar, and the juniper, in confirmation of which it may be mentioned that at the present day, "the name
arz is applied by the Arabs to all three" (Royle, in Kitto's Cyclop., art. "Eres"). The Grove of Cedars now numbers about 450 trees, great and small. Of these about a dozen are of prodigious size and considerable antiquity, possibly carrying us back (as the natives think) to the time of Solomon. Their precise age, however, can only be a matter of conjecture. The identification of the "fir" is even more precarious than that of the cedar. Celsius would see in this the true cedar of Lebanon. Others identify it with the juniper (
Juniperus excelsa) or with the
Pinus Halepensis, but most writers (among whom are Keil and Bahr) believe the evergreen cypress (
Cupressus sempervirens) to be intended. Very probably the name
Berosh comprehended two or three different species, as the cypress, the juniper, and the savine. The first named grows even near the summits of the mountain. Bahr says it is inferior to cedar (but see above). According to Winer, it is well fitted for building purposes, as" it is not eaten by worms, and is almost imperishable and very light." It is certainly of a harder and closer grain, and more durable than the
Cedrus Libani. It shows the brevity of our account that Solomon has not mentioned his desire for "fir" as well as" cedar." This is disclosed in Hiram's reply, and in the parallel passage of the chronicler. It is also to be noticed that in the text the request for
materials is more prominently brought to view, while in Chronicles the petition is for
workmen.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Then Hiramחִירָם֙(ḥî·rām)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2438:Hiram -- a Benjamite, also two Arameans (Syrians)sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח(way·yiš·laḥ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971:To send away, for, outa reply toאֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, toSolomon,שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה(šə·lō·mōh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010:Solomon -- David's son and successor to his thronesaying:לֵאמֹ֔ר(lê·mōr)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559:To utter, say“I have receivedשָׁמַ֕עְתִּי(šā·ma‘·tî)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8085:To hear intelligentlyyour message;אֲשֶׁר־(’ă·šer-)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatIאֲנִ֤י(’ă·nî)Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589:Iwill doאֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙(’e·‘ĕ·śeh)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213:To do, makeallכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everyyou desireחֶפְצְךָ֔(ḥep̄·ṣə·ḵā)Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2656:Pleasure, desire, a valuable thing, a matterregarding the cedarאֲרָזִ֖ים(’ă·rā·zîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 730:A cedar treeand cypressבְרוֹשִֽׁים׃(ḇə·rō·wō·šîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1265:A cypress, tree, a lance, a musical instrumenttimber.בַּעֲצֵ֥י(ba·‘ă·ṣê)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6086:Tree, trees, wood
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OT History: 1 Kings 5:8 Hiram sent to Solomon saying I have (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) 
