Comments on 1 Kings 5 v1-12 Solomon makes a contract with king Hiram of Tyre, who's mother was an Israelite, to supply timber for the construction of the Temple. In exchange for the lumber is wheat and oil. Why timber from Tyre? They had what we would call today Western Red Cedar, which can grow up to 180 feet tall with up to 20 foot diameters (these would be the most ancient trees, which can reach 450 years in age). Cedar wood is also extremely rot and insect resistant. The Sycamores common to Israel are nowhere near the size and do not produce as high quality a timber. Solomon's approaching Hiram was a followup to previous contracting between Hiram and David, cf. 2 Sam. 5:11. v13-18 The conscription of laborers for the Temple. The "levy" in v. 13 is a levy of forced labor from Israelites, as is further indicated by their complaint afterwards in 12:4. Later for the construction of Solomon's Palace and other structure in Jerusalem local Canaanites are forced into servitude rather than the Israelites, cf. 9:20-22. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.