An Overview of I Kings 5-10 Answers

1. When do we first read of Hiram in the Scriptures?

• “And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and

they built David an house” (II Samuel 5:11).

• This explains why we read that Hiram was a lover of David (I Kings 5:1).

2. What message did Solomon send to Hiram?

• “And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house

unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put

them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there

is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD

my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy

room, he shall build an house unto my name. Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out

of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants

according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew

timber like unto the Sidonians” (I Kings 5:2-6).

3. What was Hiram’s response to Solomon?

• “And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said,

Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people. And Hiram

sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire

concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon

unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause

them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food

for my household. So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire” (I Kings 5:7-

10).

4. What did Solomon give to Hiram?

• “And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty

measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year” (I Kings 5:11).

5. For what purpose did Solomon raise a levy [work force] of thirty thousand men?

• For the preparations to build the temple (I Kings 5:13-18).

6. How many years after Israel came out of Egypt did they begin to build the temple for God?

• “And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of

the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second

month, that he began to build the house of the LORD” (I Kings 6:1).

7. What condition was made by God for Him to dwell among the children of Israel?

• “Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my

judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I

spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel”

(I Kings 6:12-13).

8. Using I Kings 6:19 and your knowledge concerning the placement of the Ark of the Covenant, what would you
conclude the “oracle” to be?

• Since the Ark of the Covenant is there, the oracle is the holy of holies, or most holy place (Exodus 26:

34; cf. I Kings 8:6, I Chronicles 22:19, and II Chronicles 5:7).

9. What description was given of the cherubims placed inside the oracle?

• “And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high. And five cubits was

the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one

wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the

cherubims were of one measure and one size. The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of

the other cherub. And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the

cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the

other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house. And he overlaid the cherubims with

gold” (I Kings 6:23-28).

• Cherubims were used to guard the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24).

• Cherubims of gold were used inside the tabernacle (Exodus 25:18-22).

• Real Cherubims were scary (Ezekiel 10:1-20).

10. How long did it take to build the “house” of the Lord?

• Seven years (I Kings 6:38).

11. How long did Solomon take in building his own house?

• Thirteen years (I Kings 7:1). Twenty years for his and the Lord’s house (9:10).

12. Who was responsible for the pillars of brass, four brasen wheels of the cherubims, ten lavers of brass, etc. within
the temple?

• Hiram out of Tyre as he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in

brass (I Kings 7:13-50).

13. Who made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, athe table of gold
whereupon the shewbread was, and the candlesticks of pure gold?

• Solomon made these as well as other things of pure gold (I Kings 7:48-50).

14. As all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the Lord was completed, what did he bring in?

• Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and

the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD (I Kings 7:51).

15. What events took place to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion?

• “Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of

the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the

LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king

Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, and

the priests took up the ark. And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the

congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites

bring up” (I Kings 8:1-4).

16. What do you find missing in the Ark of the Covenant?

• The only thing in the Ark was the two tables of stone (I Kings 8:9), which means Aaron’s rod and the

manna was missing (Hebrews 9:2-4).

17. What prevented the priests from standing to minister in the temple?

• “And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of

the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had

filled the house of the LORD” (I Kings 8:10-11).

18. As Solomon speaks before the congregation of Israel, what does he state to show that God fulfills His promises?

• “And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father,

and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying, Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I

chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David

to be over my people Israel. And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the

LORD God of Israel. And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an

house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house;

but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name. And the LORD hath

performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of

Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel” (I Kings 8:15-

20).

• For God to keep His mercy and covenants, they had to walk before Him with all their heart (I Kings 8:23-

24).

19. Was Solomon under the impression that the temple he built could contain God?

• “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain

thee; how much less this house that I have builded” (I Kings 8:27)?

20. Did Solomon ask God to hear his prayers, those of Israel, and the prayers of strangers?

• Yes, (I Kings 8:28-53).

21. What are some things Solomon pointed out to Israel after he ended his prayer to God?

• “(54) And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication

unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands

spread up to heaven. (55) And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice,

saying, (56) Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he

promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his

servant. (57) The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake

us: (58) That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments,

and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. (59) And let these my words,

wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he

maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:

(60) That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. (61) Let

your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his

commandments, as at this day” (I Kings 8:54-61).

22. What did God say to Solomon as he appeared to him when Solomon finished his house and the Lord’s house?

• “(1) And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the

king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, (2) That the LORD appeared to

Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. (3) And the LORD said unto him, I have

heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou

hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. (4) And if

thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according

to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: (5) Then I will establish the

throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee

a man upon the throne of Israel. (6) But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will

not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and

worship them: (7) Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I

have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all

people: (8) And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss;

and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house? (9) And they shall

answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt,

and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the

LORD brought upon them all this evil” (I Kings 9:1-9).

23. Was Hiram pleased with the twenty cities Solomon gave him?

• No, (I Kings 9:11-13). He called them Cabul which means “good for nothing”.

24. Did Solomon prepare an army and navy?

• Yes, he even had Hiram’s help with skilled shipmen (I Kings 9:19; 22; 26-27).

25. Did the queen of Sheba have her questions about Solomon answered?

• Yes: “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD,

she came to prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels

that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she

communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any

thing hid from the king, which he told her not. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom,

and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance

of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of

the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine

own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had

seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard” (I

Kings 10:1-7).

26. What did Solomon give to the queen of Sheba?

• “And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that

which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her

servants” (I Kings 10:13).

• She gave him gold, spices, etc. (I Kings 10:10).

27. In what ways did king Solomon exceed all the kings of the earth?

• In riches and wisdom (I Kings 10:23).

28. How did Solomon have such great wisdom and who was interested in his wisdom?

• God gave it to him and all the earth was interested in his wisdom (I Kings 10:24; 4:29).

Having A Basic Understanding of Some Old Testament Truths
Part 52 – Hiram Contacts Solomon Through Solomon’s Growing Wealth (I Kings 5-10)

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