1 Kings 5:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts. They would be a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the draft.

NIV: He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.

NASB: Then he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts; they were in Lebanon for a month, and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced laborers.

CSB: He sent ten thousand to Lebanon each month in shifts; one month they were in Lebanon, two months they were at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.

NLT: He sent them to Lebanon in shifts, 10,000 every month, so that each man would be one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of this labor force.

KJV: And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.

NKJV: And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; Adoniram was in charge of the labor force.

First Kings 5:13–18 (2 Chronicles 2:17–18) describes the laborers who build the temple. King Hiram provides men from Tyre and the Phoenician port Gebal to harvest cedar and cypress and float the logs down the coast. Solomon conscripts Israelites to work in shifts in Lebanon, harvesting wood. Resident aliens from among the Canaanites who still reside in Israel work as laborers and stonecutters (1 Kings 9:20). Adoniram, David's former forced labor manager (2 Samuel 20:24), continues working for Solomon. Solomon will finish the temple in about seven years (1 Kings 6:1, 37–38).

In 1 Kings 5, Solomon enlists the help of King Hiram of Tyre to build the temple. When Hiram hears that his friend David has died, he sends messengers to connect with Solomon. Solomon knows that David commissioned the lumber for which Damascus is famous (1 Chronicles 22:2–5) and asks for more help. Hiram enthusiastically agrees in exchange for a yearly food allowance. Solomon conscripts tens of thousands of resident aliens in Israel to work with Hiram's men and dress stone for the foundation. Second Chronicles 2 adds more detail, including the addition of the half-Israelite, half-Lebanese craftsman Hiram-abi.

In 1 Kings 5, Solomon starts accumulating supplies and workers for the temple (2 Chronicles 2). David has already gathered building materials and precious metals. He has invited Israelite leaders and King Hiram of Tyre to help (1 Chronicles 22; 28—29). Hiram agrees to continue the working relationship with Solomon. Solomon conscripts laborers, and Hiram sends a master craftsman to build the furnishings (2 Chronicles 4:11–18). With all the help, Solomon will be able to bring the ark to its new home in about seven years (1 Kings 6:1, 37–38).

This was originally the first half of a combined text. First Kings records the end of David's reign and the rule of Solomon. After this, the kingdom is split in two. The northern nation of Israel no longer submits to the king of the southern nation, called Judah. The prophet Elijah first appears in this book. The kings mostly fail to honor the Lord. They participate in idolatry and other sins. This will eventually result in their conquest and exile, as depicted throughout the books of Chronicles.