1Ki 5:6-18 | TNotes | STEP | 5:6 please command: The main thrust of Solomon’s message was his request for cedars from Lebanon , indicating Hiram’s wide commercial influence. Ancient Near Eastern literature often cites the use of Lebanese cedars in building and furnishing temples and palaces. • Sidonians was a general name for Phoenicians; Sidon was more ancient than Tyre.

5:6 ^a please command: The main thrust of Solomon’s message was his request for cedars from Lebanon, indicating Hiram’s wide commercial influence. Ancient Near Eastern literature often cites the use of Lebanese cedars in building and furnishing temples and palaces.

• Sidonians was a general name for Phoenicians; Sidon was more ancient than Tyre.
Summary for 1Kgs 5:7-12: 5:7-12 ^b Hiram’s reply to Solomon confirmed and perpetuated the cordial relations that he had with David. The venture was mutually beneficial. Solomon received needed construction materials for the Temple; in return, he supplied necessities for Hiram’s household (5:9-10 ^c) and paid Hiram’s workers (5:6 ^d). The passage illustrates the Phoenicians’ skillful commercial enterprises and Solomon’s immense wealth, and it again emphasizes Solomon’s God-given wisdom. The largely commercial venture led to a formal alliance of peace (5:12 ^e). 5:7 ^f Praise the Lord: Hiram did not acknowledge Israel’s God as his own but, following ancient Near Eastern protocol, he politely recognized Solomon’s God (see 10:9 ^g; 2 Kgs 18:22-25 ^h; Ezra 1:2-4 ⁱ; 6:12 ^j; Dan 2:47 ^k; 3:29 ^l; 6:26-27 ^m).
Summary for 1Kgs 5:13-18: 5:13-18 ⁿ This passage describes Solomon’s work force and the division of labor. Forced labor was a common practice in the ancient Near East (see study note on 4:6). 5:13 ^o Aliens with permanent residency in Israel comprised the bulk of Solomon’s labor force. Native Israelites were apparently temporary supervisors for Solomon’s building projects (9:22-23 ^p; 11:28 ^q).
5:16 ^r 3,600 foremen: In 2 Chronicles (2 Chr 2:2 ^s, 17-18 ^t; 8:10 ^u) the foremen total 3,600 non-Israelite and 250 Israelite chief supervisors. The numbers in the Hebrew text of 1 Kgs 5:16 ^v and 9:23 ^w are 3,300 foremen and 550 chief supervisors. It is possible that 250 of the chief supervisors were Israelites, with 300 non-Israelites holding the same rank.
Summary for 1Kgs 5:17-18: 5:17-18 ^x Large blocks of high-quality stone were probably cut to size (see 7:10 ^y) in a quarry near Jerusalem (6:7 ^z). The need to handle these massive stones is probably what led Solomon to institute forced labor. The craftsmen included men from ... Gebal (Byblos), a port known for exporting timber, according to ancient Egyptian inscriptions.