1Now Solomondecidedto builda housefor the nameof the LORDand a royalpalacefor himself.2So Solomonassigned70000mento carryloadsand 80,000mento quarry[stone] in the mountainsand 3,600to supervisethem.
3Then Solomonsent[word] to Huramthe kingof Tyre,saying,"As you dealtwith Davidmy fatherand senthim cedarsto buildhim a houseto dwellin, so do for me.4"Behold,I am about to builda housefor the nameof the LORDmy God,dedicatingit to Him, to burnfragrantincensebeforeHim and [to set out] the showbreadcontinually,and to offer burntofferingsmorningand evening,on sabbathsand on newmoonsand on the appointedfeastsof the LORDour God,this[being required] foreverin Israel.5"The housewhichI am about to build[will be] great,for greateris our Godthanallthe gods.6"But whois ableto builda housefor Him, for the heavensand the highestheavenscannotcontainHim? So whoam I, that I should builda housefor Him, exceptto burn[incense] beforeHim?7"Nowsendme a skilledmanto workin gold,silver,brassand iron,and in purple,crimsonand violet[fabrics], and who knowshow to makeengravings,to [work] with the skilledmenwhomI havein Judahand Jerusalem,whomDavidmy fatherprovided.8"Sendme also cedar,cypressand algumtimberfrom Lebanon,for I knowthat your servantsknowhow to cuttimberof Lebanon;and indeedmy servants[will work] with your servants,9to preparetimberin abundancefor me, for the housewhichI am about to build[will be] greatand wonderful.10"Now behold,I will giveto your servants,the woodsmenwho cutthe timber,20000korsof crushedwheatand 20,000korsof barley,and 20,000bathsof wineand 20,000bathsof oil."
11Then Huram,kingof Tyre,answeredin a lettersentto Solomon:"Because the LORDlovesHis people,He has madeyou kingoverthem."12Then Huramcontinued,"Blessedbe the LORD,the Godof Israel,whohas madeheavenand earth,whohas givenKingDavida wiseson,endowedwith discretionand understanding,whowill builda housefor the LORDand a royalpalacefor himself.
13"NowI am sendingHuram-abi,a skilledman,endowedwith understanding,14the sonof a Danitewomanand a Tyrianfather,who knowshow to workin gold,silver,bronze,iron,stoneand wood,[and] in purple,violet,linenand crimsonfabrics, and [who knows how] to makeallkinds of engravingsand to executeanydesignwhichmay be assignedto him, [to work] with your skilledmenand with thoseof my lordDavidyour father.15"Nowthen, let my lordsendto his servantswheatand barley,oiland wine,of whichhe has spoken.16"We will cutwhatevertimberyou needfrom Lebanonand bringit to you on raftsby seato Joppa,so that you may carryit up to Jerusalem."
17Solomonnumberedallthe alienswho[were] in the landof Israel,followingthe censuswhichhis fatherDavidhad taken;and 153,600were found.18He appointed70000of them to carryloadsand 80,000to quarry[stones] in the mountainsand 3,600supervisorsto make the peoplework.
