October 5, 2019

1 KINGS 4:20 – 5:9

4:20 Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing.
4:21 And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines and unto the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.
4:22 And Solomon’s provisions for one day were thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal,
4:23 Ten fattened oxen and twenty pastured oxen and a hundred sheep, besides deer and gazelles and roebucks and fattened fowl.
4:24 For he had dominion over all the area west of the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the River; and he had peace on all sides around him.
4:25 And Judah and Israel dwelt securely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beer-sheba, throughout all Solomon’s days.
4:26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots and twelve thousand horsemen.
4:27 And those superintendents provided food for King Solomon and for all who came to King Solomon’s table, each in his month; they left nothing lacking.
4:28 And they also brought to the place where it should be, barley and straw for the horses and steeds, each according to his charge.
4:29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and very much understanding and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore.
4:30 And Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the children of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
4:31 For he became wiser than all men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame was among all the surrounding nations.
4:32 And he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.
4:33 And he discoursed about trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that shoots forth out of the wall; he also discoursed about animals and about birds and about creeping things and about fish.
4:34 And they came from all the peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

5:1 Now Hiram the king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always loved David.
5:2 And Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,
5:3 You know about David my father that he was not able to build a house for the name of Jehovah his God because of the warfare that his enemies surrounded him with, until Jehovah put them under the soles of his feet.
5:4 But now Jehovah my God has given me rest all around; there is no adversary or evil occurrence.
5:5 And now I intend to build a house for the name of Jehovah my God according to what Jehovah spoke to David my father, saying, Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.
5:6 Now therefore command that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants, and I will give you payment for your servants, according to whatever you say; for you know that among us there is no one who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.
5:7 And when Hiram heard Solomon’s words, he rejoiced greatly and said, Blessed be Jehovah this day, who has given David a wise son over this great people.
5:8 And Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, I have heard the message which you have sent me. I will do all your desire concerning cedar timber and cypress timber.
5:9 My servants will bring them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you direct me; and I will break them apart there, and you can carry them off. And you can fulfill my desire by giving food to my household.