So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse reveals that everyone pitched in to build the Temple – Solomon’s people, Hiram’s people, and even the skilled stonemasons from Gebal. It wasn't just one kingdom's project; it was a massive, international collaboration, underscoring the immense significance and far-reaching impact of this sacred structure.
So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Solomon is gearing up to build the magnificent Temple for God, but he’s facing a huge logistical challenge: he needs massive amounts of specific materials, like cedar and stone, and skilled labor to prepare them. This verse shows him partnering with King Hiram of Tyre, who has the resources and expertise Solomon lacks, to gather and shape these precious building blocks. This collaboration sets the stage for the actual construction of the Temple, highlighting how God often works through partnerships to accomplish His grand plans.
When you picture the building of Solomon's Temple, you might imagine only Israelites working. But this verse reveals a much bigger picture!
King Solomon was renowned for his wisdom and wealth, and he embarked on a massive project: building the Lord's house. However, the sheer scale of the endeavor meant he needed help beyond his own people.
This verse highlights that God's work often involves a diverse community, bringing together different skills and resources from various peoples. It wasn't just an Israelite project; it was a multi-cultural, divinely orchestrated effort.
Building a magnificent house for God wasn't a simple task. It required specific skills and meticulous preparation, as this verse shows.
The verse doesn't just say people were 'working'; it specifies their roles: 'did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone.' This points to:
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This reminds us that even sacred tasks require diligence, expertise, and thorough preparation. God deserves our best efforts, utilizing the skills He has given us to build His purposes.
Understand the original words
banah · Hebrew Noun
Those who construct or establish; in a spiritual sense, it refers to those who participate in the building of God's kingdom or the assembly of believers, often involving wisdom, skill, and cooperation.
The building of the Temple wasn't just an Israelite effort; it was an international project, showcasing Solomon's diplomatic skill and the vast resources required to honor God.
c. 1015 BC
David Becomes King of Israel
David unifies the tribes of Israel and establishes Jerusalem as his capital, setting the stage for a united kingdom.
c. 1005 BC
David Plans to Build the Temple
David desires to build a permanent house for God but is told by the prophet Nathan that his son will build it.
c. 970 BC
Solomon Becomes King of Israel
Solomon inherits a stable kingdom and the plans for the Temple from his father, David.
c. 967 BC— this verse
Solomon Begins Temple Construction
Solomon starts the massive undertaking of building the First Temple in Jerusalem, a project that will take seven years.
c. 967-960 BC
International Cooperation for the Temple
Solomon collaborates with King Hiram of Tyre, securing skilled Phoenician craftsmen and essential materials like cedar and cypress wood.
c. 960 BC
Temple Completed and Dedicated
The magnificent Temple is finished and dedicated by Solomon with great ceremony and prayer, becoming the center of Israelite worship.
This passage continues the building theme, detailing the immense time and resources Solomon poured into constructing the Temple, highlighting the massive scale of the project initiated in 1 Kings 5:18.
2 Chronicles 2:1-16This parallel account emphasizes the vast preparations and the collaborative effort, including the involvement of skilled craftsmen and the sourcing of materials, mirroring the preparatory work described in 1 Kings 5:18.
Ezra 3:7This verse echoes the theme of bringing in materials and skilled laborers for the reconstruction of the Temple, showing how the pattern of God's people working together with resources to build His dwelling place continued through history.
Matthew 13:47-50While about the Kingdom of Heaven, this parable speaks of the separation of the good from the bad that occurs at the 'end of the age,' paralleling how the workers and materials were sorted and prepared for a holy purpose in the Temple's construction.
This verse reveals that everyone pitched in to build the Temple – Solomon’s people, Hiram’s people, and even the skilled stonemasons from Gebal. It wasn't just one kingdom's project; it was a massive, international collaboration, underscoring the immense significance and far-reaching impact of this sacred structure.
Solomon is gearing up to build the magnificent Temple for God, but he’s facing a huge logistical challenge: he needs massive amounts of specific materials, like cedar and stone, and skilled labor to prepare them. This verse shows him partnering with King Hiram of Tyre, who has the resources and expertise Solomon lacks, to gather and shape these precious building blocks. This collaboration sets the stage for the actual construction of the Temple, highlighting how God often works through partnerships to accomplish His grand plans.
Solomon is gearing up to build the magnificent Temple for God, but he’s facing a huge logistical challenge: he needs massive amounts of specific materials, like cedar and stone, and skilled labor to prepare them. This verse shows him partnering with King Hiram of Tyre, who has the resources and expertise Solomon lacks, to gather and shape these precious building blocks. This collaboration sets the stage for the actual construction of the Temple, highlighting how God often works through partnerships to accomplish His grand plans.
"So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the men of Gebal did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house." — This verse reveals that everyone pitched in to build the Temple – Solomon’s people, Hiram’s people, and even the skilled stonemasons from Gebal. It wasn't just one kingdom's project; it was a massi…
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Last reviewed October 2026