Daily Tanach Tuesday Sefer Melachim 1 – Chapter 5: Chiram sends wood for the building of the temple

1.      Chiram sends wood for the building of the temple:

• Their relationship: Chiram the king of Tzur sent his servants to Shlomo, as he had heard that he had been anointed king to replace his father. Chiram was considered a beloved friend to Dovid throughout the all the days of his life.
• Shlomo requests from Chiram that he sends him craftsman: Shlomo sent messengers to Chiram to relay to him the following message: “You had known my father Dovid and that he was unable to build a temple for Hashem his G-d due to the many wars that surrounded him, and until that Hashem would subjugate them under his rule. Now, Hashem my G-d has blessed me with tranquility, without there being any danger or enemies surrounding me. I would like to build a temple for Hashem my G-d to fulfill the instruction that Hashem had told my father Dovid that the son who will rule after him on the throne will be the one to build a temple for His name. Now, please instruct your servants who cut for me cedar trees from the Lebanon [which was an area within Israel^[1]]. My servants will work together with your servants, and I will pay you for the work of your servants whatever amount you desire. We need the help of your servants as you are aware that there is no man who knows how to woodshop as do the people named Tzidonim.”
• Chiram acquiesces to the request: When Chiram heard the message of Shlomo he was very happy, and said that G-d should be blessed for having given Dovid a wise son over the great nation. Chiram sent back a message to Shlomo saying, “I heard the request that you sent to me, and I will do all that you desire regarding the cedarwood trees and regarding the Beroshim wood trees. My servants will bring the wood from Lebanon down to the sea and we will pack them into bundles [that are able to float on water similar to a ship] and place them in the sea, to have the wood brought to whatever area you send me. We will unload the wood in that area of final destination and your servants will then carry it [to the area of the temple^[2]]. Now, in exchange for this you will do as I desire to financially support my household.”
• The woods are provided to Shlomo: Chiram provided for Shlomo as much as he desired of cedarwood as well as Beroshim wood.
• Chiram is provided sustenance by Shlomo: Shlomo provided Chiram annually with 20,000 Kur of wheat to sustain his household, and 20 Kur of pure refined olive oil.
• Peaceful relations with each other: G-d provided Shlomo with wisdom as he had spoken to him, and there was peaceful relations between Chiram and Shlomo and they made a treaty with each other.

2.      The taxes and workers collected by Shlomo from the Jewish people to help build the temple:

• King Shlomo collected a tax from all the Jewish people of an amount [that can pay the salaries^[3]] of 30,000 men [to assist with the wood chopping].
• The men who went to Lebanon to chop wood: 10,000 men were sent to Lebanon [to join the servants of Chiram in the wood chopping^[4]]. The men who were there would switch each month, and thus every month there would be 10,000 men in Lebanon and 20,000 at home for a period of two months.
• The tax collector: Adoniram was in charge of collecting the tax.
• The stone carriers: Shlomo had 70,000 stone carriers [who would bring the stones from the mountain until the city^[5]].
• The excavators of stone: Shlomo had 80,000 excavators of stone [who would excavate the stone from the mountains and then send them off with the carriers^[6]]. [All these workers were converts who had converted out of awe of Shlomo’s greatness.^[7]]
• The administrators in charge of the workers: There were 3,300 administrators appointed by Shlomo to oversee the workers [45 workers under his patrol].
• The stones: The king instructed that very large and very heavy stones be brought to build the foundation of the temple. The stones were excavated with iron and were all smoothly cut.

[1] Radak 5:20; however, see Metzudos Dovid ibid that it was part of the land of Chiram

[2] Metzudos Dovid 5:23

[3] Rashi 5:27

[4] Metzudos Dovid 5:27

[5] Rashi 5:29

[6] Rashi 5:29

[7] Rashi 5:29