Study Desk

Each governor also supplied his share of barley and straw, where it was needed, for the chariot horses and the work animals.

"You know that because of the constant wars my father David had to fight against the enemy countries all around him, he could not build a temple for the worship of the Lord his God until the Lord had given him victory over all his enemies.

The Lord promised my father David, ‘Your son, whom I will make king after you, will build a temple for me.' And I have now decided to build that temple for the worship of the Lord my God.

So send your men to Lebanon to cut down cedars for me. My men will work with them, and I will pay your men whatever you decide. As you well know, my men don't know how to cut down trees as well as yours do."

Hiram was extremely pleased when he received Solomon's message, and he said, "Praise the Lord today for giving David such a wise son to succeed him as king of that great nation!"

My men will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the sea and will tie them together in rafts to float them down the coast to the place you choose. There my men will untie them, and your men will take charge of them. On your part, I would like you to supply the food for my men."

At King Solomon's command they cut fine large stones for the foundation of the Temple.

"If you obey all my laws and commands, I will do for you what I promised your father David.

For the entrance to the main room a rectangular doorframe of olive wood was made.

An inner court was built in front of the Temple, enclosed with walls which had one layer of cedar beams for every three layers of stone.

Solomon also built a palace for himself, and it took him thirteen years.

Solomon's own quarters, in another court behind the Hall of Judgment, were made like the other buildings. He also built the same kind of house for his wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt.

The palace court, the inner court of the Temple, and the entrance room of the Temple had walls with one layer of cedar beams for every three layers of cut stones.

King Solomon sent for a man named Huram, a craftsman living in the city of Tyre, who was skilled in bronze work.

Each cart had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. At the four corners were bronze supports for a basin; the supports were decorated with spiral figures in relief.

There was a circular frame on top for the basin. It projected upward 18 inches from the top of the cart and 7 inches down into it. It had carvings around it.

The supports and panels were decorated with figures of winged creatures, lions, and palm trees, wherever there was space for them, with spiral figures all around.

Huram also made ten basins, one for each cart. Each basin was 6 feet in diameter and held 200 gallons.

Huram also made pots, shovels, and bowls. He completed all his work for King Solomon for the Lord 's Temple. This is what he made: The two columns The two bowl-shaped capitals on top of the columns The design of interwoven chains on each capital The 400 bronze pomegranates, in two rows of 100 each around the design on each capital The ten carts The ten basins The tank The twelve bulls supporting the tank The pots, shovels, and bowls All this equipment for the Temple, which Huram made for King Solomon, was of polished bronze.

Solomon also had gold furnishings made for the Temple: the altar, the table for the bread offered to God,