Study Desk

Solomon started gathering horses and chariots for his army. He had 1400 chariots and 12,000 horse soldiers. He kept them in the chariot cities and in Jerusalem where he lived.

Solomon imported horses from Egypt and Kue. His merchants bought the horses in Kue for a set price.

Then Hiram answered Solomon and sent this message to him: "Solomon, the Lord loves his people. That is why he chose you to be their king."

His mother was from the tribe of Dan, and his father was from the city of Tyre. Huram Abi has skill in working with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood. He also has skill in working with purple, blue, and red cloth and expensive linen. Huram Abi can design and build anything you tell him. He will work with your craftsmen and with the craftsmen of your father King David.

So Solomon counted all the foreigners living in Israel. (This was after the time when his father David counted the people.) They found 153,600 strangers in the country.

Solomon started to build on the second day of the second month of his fourth year as king of Israel.

Huram also made the pots, shovels, and basins. So he finished his work for King Solomon on God's Temple:

When all the work was completed on the Lord 's Temple, Solomon brought in everything his father David had set aside for the Temple. Solomon put all the furniture and all the things made of silver and gold into the storage rooms in God's Temple.

The only things inside the Holy Box are the two tablets that Moses put there at Mt. Horeb. This is where the Lord made his agreement with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

Those who blew the trumpets and those who sang were like one person. They made one sound when they praised and thanked the Lord . They made a loud noise with the trumpets, cymbals, and instruments of music. They praised the Lord , singing, "The Lord is good. His faithful love will last forever." Then the Lord 's Temple was filled with a cloud.

Solomon had made a bronze platform and placed it in the middle of the outer courtyard. The platform was 5 cubits long, 5 cubits wide, and 3 cubits tall. Solomon stood on the platform and faced the Lord 's altar. In front of all the Israelites who were gathered together, Solomon kneeled, spread his hands out toward heaven,

When all the Israelites saw the fire come down from heaven and the Glory of the Lord on the Temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces low to the ground. They worshiped and thanked the Lord , singing, "The Lord is good. His faithful love will last forever."

The priests stood ready to do their work. The Levites stood with the instruments they would use to play music to the Lord . King David had made these instruments to use when they gave thanks to the Lord and sang, "His faithful love will last forever." The priests blew their trumpets as they stood across from the Levites. And all the Israelites were standing.

On the 23rd day of the seventh month, Solomon told the people to go home. All the people thanked the king, said goodbye, and went home. They were happy because of all the good things that the Lord had done for David his servant and for his people Israel.

then I will make you a strong king and your kingdom will be great. That is the agreement I made with David your father when I told him that Israel would always be ruled by one of his descendants.

Solomon did not force any of the Israelites to be his slaves. They were soldiers, government officials, officers, captains, and chariot commanders and drivers.

Solomon followed his father David's instructions. He chose the groups of priests for their service and the Levites for their duties. The Levites were to lead the praise and help the priests from day to day to do what needed to be done in the Temple service. And he chose the gatekeepers by their groups to serve at each gate. This is the way David, the man of God, instructed.

So Solomon completed his work on the Lord 's Temple. Work began the day they laid the foundation and continued without stopping until the day the Temple was finished.

Hiram sent ships to Solomon. Hiram's own men sailed the ships. They were skilled at sailing on the sea. His men went with Solomon's servants to Ophir and brought back 17 tons of gold to King Solomon.

She saw the food at the king's table. She saw his officials meeting together. She saw the servants in the palace and the good clothes they wore. She saw his parties and the sacrifices that he offered in the Lord 's Temple. She was so amazed, she could hardly breathe!