Keraia
1 Kings 5

1 Kings 5:18

Solomon’s Labor Force · 1 Kings 5:13–18
Read 1 Kings 5

Translations

Modern
So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.
Traditional
And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
Literal
And the builders of Solomon, and the builders of Hiram, and the Gebalites hewed, and they prepared the trees and stones to build the house.
Latin
…quos dolaverunt cæmentarii Salomonis et cæmentarii Hiram: porro Giblii præparaverunt ligna et lapides ad ædificandam domum.

Original

Hebrew
English
So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.

Notes

1 Kings 5:17–18

Workers likely cut large, high-quality stone blocks to size (see 1 Kings 7:10) in a quarry near Jerusalem (6:7). Handling these massive stones probably led Solomon to start using forced labor. The craftsmen included men from Gebal (Byblos), a port known for exporting timber, according to ancient Egyptian inscriptions.

1 Kings 5:13–18

This passage explains Solomon's workforce and how they divided the work. Forced labor was common in the ancient Near East (see study note on 1 Kings 4:6).

1 Kings 5:1–18

King Hiram of Tyre was a loyal friend of David (2 Samuel 5:11–12). This likely means they had a treaty. Hiram was an important ally and business partner (1 Kings 5:7–11, 18; 9:11, 26–28; 10:22). His name is a shorter version of Ahiram, found in other Phoenician writings.

Theme notes and profiles

Solomon Solomon’s Wisdom

Events

People

Hiram: King of Tyre, ally of David and Solomon Solomon: Son of David, king of Israel, known for his wisdom

Places

Gebal: Phoenician city; skilled builders; allied against Israel

Glossary

Alliance Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Jerusalem Kings, Books of First and Second Mason, Masonry Postexilic Period Slave, Slavery Solomon (Person) Stonecutter Temple

Topics

Gebal: A City South of Sidon: People of, Work for Solomon Lebanon: Furnished: Stones for Solomon's Temple Stones: Great, in Solomon's Temple Stones: Hewers (Stone-Cutters) of Stones: Temple Built of Temple: Solomon's: Foundations of Temple: Solomon's: Materials For, Furnished by Hiram Temple: Solomon's: Materials Prepared For