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1 Samuel 26

Amplified Bible, 2015 (AMP)

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¹ For he was ruling over everything west of the [Euphrates] River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the [Euphrates] River; and he had peace on all sides around him.

² Judah and Israel lived in security, every man under his vine and fig tree [in peace and prosperity], from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], during all the days of Solomon.

³ Solomon also had[5]40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.

⁴ Those deputies provided food for King Solomon and for all [the staff] who came to King Solomon's table, each in his month; they let nothing be lacking.

⁵ They also brought the barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds (warhorses, chargers) to the place where it was needed, each man according to his assignment.

⁶ Now God gave Solomon [exceptional] wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand of the seashore.

⁷ Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.

⁸ For he was wiser[6] than all [other] men, [wiser] than[7] Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. His fame was known in all the surrounding nations.

⁹ He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.

¹⁰ He spoke of trees, from the cedar which is in Lebanon to the hyssop [vine] that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and fish.

¹¹ People came from all the peoples (nations) to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

¹² Hiram 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 been a friend of David.

¹³ Then Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,

¹⁴ You know that David my father could not build a house (temple) for the Name (Presence) of the LORD his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the LORD put his enemies under his feet. But now that the LORD my God has given me rest [from war] on every side, there is neither adversary nor misfortune [confronting me]. Behold, I intend to build a house (temple) to the Name of the LORD my God, just as the LORD said to my father David: 'Your son whom I will put on your throne in your place shall build the house for My Name and Presence.' So now, command that they cut cedar trees from Lebanon for me, and my servants will join your servants, and I will give you whatever wages you set for your servants. For you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the men of Sidon.

¹⁵ When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given David a wise son [to be king] over this great people."

¹⁶ So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message which you sent to me; I will do everything you wish concerning the cedar and cypress timber.

¹⁷ My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the [Mediterranean] sea, and I will have them made into rafts to go by sea to the place (port) that you direct me; then I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away. Then you shall[1] return the favor by providing food for my household."

¹⁸ So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and cypress timber he desired,

¹⁹ and Solomon gave Hiram 20,000[2] kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of pure [olive] oil. Solomon gave all these to Hiram each year.

²⁰ The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.

²¹ King Solomon levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered 30,000 men.

²² He sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts; one month they were in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced laborers.

²³ Solomon had 70,000 burden bearers (transporters) and 80,000 stonemasons in the hill country [of Judah],

²⁴ besides Solomon's 3,300 chief deputies who were in charge of the project and who were in charge of the people doing the work.

²⁵ The king gave orders, and they quarried great[3] stones, valuable stones, to lay the foundation of the house (temple) with cut stones.

#	AMP
1	For he was ruling over everything west of the [Euphrates] River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the [Euphrates] River; and he had peace on all sides around him.
2	Judah and Israel lived in security, every man under his vine and fig tree [in peace and prosperity], from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], during all the days of Solomon.
3	Solomon also had[5]40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.
4	Those deputies provided food for King Solomon and for all [the staff] who came to King Solomon's table, each in his month; they let nothing be lacking.
5	They also brought the barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds (warhorses, chargers) to the place where it was needed, each man according to his assignment.
6	Now God gave Solomon [exceptional] wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand of the seashore.
7	Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
8	For he was wiser[6] than all [other] men, [wiser] than[7] Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. His fame was known in all the surrounding nations.
9	He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.
10	He spoke of trees, from the cedar which is in Lebanon to the hyssop [vine] that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and fish.
11	People came from all the peoples (nations) to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
12	Hiram 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 been a friend of David.
13	Then Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,
14	You know that David my father could not build a house (temple) for the Name (Presence) of the LORD his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the LORD put his enemies under his feet. But now that the LORD my God has given me rest [from war] on every side, there is neither adversary nor misfortune [confronting me]. Behold, I intend to build a house (temple) to the Name of the LORD my God, just as the LORD said to my father David: 'Your son whom I will put on your throne in your place shall build the house for My Name and Presence.' So now, command that they cut cedar trees from Lebanon for me, and my servants will join your servants, and I will give you whatever wages you set for your servants. For you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the men of Sidon.
15	When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given David a wise son [to be king] over this great people."
16	So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message which you sent to me; I will do everything you wish concerning the cedar and cypress timber.
17	My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the [Mediterranean] sea, and I will have them made into rafts to go by sea to the place (port) that you direct me; then I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away. Then you shall[1] return the favor by providing food for my household."
18	So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and cypress timber he desired,
19	and Solomon gave Hiram 20,000[2] kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of pure [olive] oil. Solomon gave all these to Hiram each year.
20	The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
21	King Solomon levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered 30,000 men.
22	He sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts; one month they were in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced laborers.
23	Solomon had 70,000 burden bearers (transporters) and 80,000 stonemasons in the hill country [of Judah],
24	besides Solomon's 3,300 chief deputies who were in charge of the project and who were in charge of the people doing the work.
25	The king gave orders, and they quarried great[3] stones, valuable stones, to lay the foundation of the house (temple) with cut stones.

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