1 Kings 5:1

1 Kings 5:1-12. Preparations of timber and stone for Solomon's temple. League between Solomon and Hiram king of Tyre (2 Chronicles 2:3-16)

1. Hiram king of Tyre The name of this king is spelt Hirombelow in 1Ki 5:10; 1 Kings 5:18, and in 2 Chronicles 2:3 Huram. From the words of the latter narrative we should conclude that it was the same king who had ruled in Tyre in the days of David, to whom he is said to have sent timber for the building of his own house. Cp. 2 Samuel 5:11. But the events alluded to in Samuel were as it seems in the early part of David's reign in Jerusalem, that is, between 30 and 40 years before the preparations spoken of in the present verse. It may therefore be that two kings in succession bore the same name, and this view is confirmed by 2 Chronicles 2:13.

sent his servants unto Solomon Seemingly with a message of congratulation on his accession. Josephus (Ant.viii. 2, 6) says so. -He saluted and congratulated him on his present prosperity." The Syriac has a clause to the same effect. The LXX. very strangely says -he sent his servants to anoint (χρῖσαι) Solomon in the room of David." Hiram was no doubt the greatest independent prince near the land of Israel, but there is no trace of any authority of the Tyrian kings over Israel.

Hiram was ever a lover of David (Cf. 2 Samuel 5:11.) If this be not the same person as the Hiram in David's reign, Hiram must be taken here merely as a synonym for the king of Tyre, just as Pharaoh is often for the king of Egypt.