1 Kings 5:17

Translations

Modern

And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.

Traditional

And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

Literal

And the king commanded them, and they brought large stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the temple, and hewn stones.

Latin

Præcepitque rex ut tollerent lapides grandes, lapides pretiosos in fundamentum templi, et quadrarent eos:

Original

Hebrew

English

And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.

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

Related verses

1 Chronicles 22:2
So David gave orders to gather the foreigners in the land of Israel, from whom he appointed stonecutters to prepare finished stones for building the house of God.
1 Kings 6:7
The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built.
1 Kings 7:9
All these buildings were constructed with costly stones, cut to size and trimmed with saws inside and out from the foundation to the eaves, and from the outside to the great courtyard.
1 Peter 2:6–7
For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.
Revelation 21:14–21
The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
1 Corinthians 3:11–12
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Glossary

Alliance Jerusalem Kings, Books of First and Second Mason, Masonry Postexilic Period Slave, Slavery Solomon (Person) Temple

Topics

Foundation of Stone House: Architecture of Foundations of Stone Mountains: Abounded With: Stone for Building Stones: Great, in Solomon's Temple Stones: Hewn (Cut) Stones: Temple Built of Temple: Solomon's: Foundations of Temple: Solomon's: Materials For, Furnished by Hiram Temple: Solomon's: Materials Prepared For

1 Kings 5:17

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