build a house to God； for God foretold to my father that such a
house should he built by me； wherefore I desire thee to send some
of thy subjects with mine to Mount Lebanon to cut down timber；
for the Sidonians are more skillful than our people in cutting of
wood。 As for wages to the hewers of wood； I will pay whatsoever
price thou shalt determine。〃
7。 When Hiram had read this epistle； he was pleased with it； and
wrote back this answer to Solomon。
Hiram To King Solomon。
〃It is fit to bless God that he hath committed thy father's
government to thee； who art a wise man； and endowed with all
virtues。 As for myself； I rejoice at the condition thou art in；
and will be subservient to thee in all that thou sendest to me
about； for when by my subjects I have cut down many and large
trees of cedar and cypress wood； I will send them to sea； and
will order my subjects to make floats of them； and to sail to
what place soever of thy country thou shalt desire； and leave
them there； after which thy subjects may carry them to Jerusalem。
But do thou take care to procure us corn for this timber； which
we stand in need of； because we inhabit in an island。〃
8。 The copies of these epistles remain at this day； and are
preserved not only in our books； but among the Tyrians also；
insomuch that if any one would know the certainty about them； he
may desire of the keepers of the public records of Tyre to show
him them； and he will find what is there set down to agree with
what we have said。 I have said so much out of a desire that my
readers may know that we speak nothing but the truth； and do not
compose a history out of some plausible relations； which deceive
men and please them at the same time； nor attempt to avoid
examination； nor desire men to believe us immediately； nor are we
at liberty to depart from speaking truth； which is the proper
commendation of an historian； and yet be blameless： but we insist
upon no admission of what we say； unless we be able to manifest
its truth by demonstration； and the strongest vouchers。
9。 Now king Solomon； as soon as this epistle of the king of Tyre
was brought him； commended the readiness and good…will he
declared therein； and repaid him in what he desired； and sent him
yearly twenty thousand cori of wheat； and as many baths of oil：
now the bath is able to contain seventy…two sextaries。 He also
sent him the same measure of wine。 So the friendship between
Hiram and Solomon hereby increased more and more； and they swore
to continue it for ever。 And the king appointed a tribute to be
laid on all the people； of thirty thousand laborers； whose work
he rendered easy to them by prudently dividing it among them； for
he made ten thousand cut timber in Mount Lebanon for one month；
and then to come home； and rest two months； until the time when
the other twenty thousand had finished their task at the
appointed time； and so afterward it came to pass that the first
ten thousand returned to their work every fourth month： and it
was Adoram who was over this tribute。 There were also of the
strangers who were left by David； who were to carry the stones
and other materials； seventy thousand； and of those that cut the
stones； eighty thousand。 Of these three thousand and three
hundred were rulers over the rest。 He also enjoined them to cut
out large stones for the foundations of the temple； and that they
should fit them and unite them together in the mountain； and so
bring them to the city。 This was done not only by our own country
workmen； but by those workmen whom Hiram sent also。
CHAPTER 3。
Of The Building Of This Temple
1。 Solomon began to build the temple in the fourth year of his
reign； on the second month； which the Macedonians call
Artemisius； and the Hebrews Jur； five hundred and ninety…two
years after the Exodus out of Egypt； but one thousand and twenty
years from Abraham's coming out of Mesopotamia into Canaan； and
after the deluge one thousand four hundred and forty years； and
from Adam； the first man who was created； until Solomon built the
temple； there had passed in all three thousand one hundred and
two years。 Now that year on which the temple began to be built
was already the eleventh year of the reign of Hiram； but from the
building of Tyre to the building of the temple； there had passed
two hundred and forty years。
2。 Now； therefore； the king laid the foundations of the temple
very deep in the ground； and the materials were strong stones；
and such as would resist the force of time； these were to unite
themselves with the earth； and become a basis and a sure
foundation for that superstructure which was to be erected over
it； they were to be so strong； in order to sustain with ease
those vast superstructures and precious ornaments； whose own
weight was to be not less than the weight of those other high and
heavy buildings which the king designed to be very ornamental and
magnificent。 They erected its entire body； quite up to the roof；
of white stone； its height was sixty cubits； and its length was
the same； and its breadth twenty。 There was another building
erected over it； equal to it in its measures； so that the entire
altitude of the temple was a hundred and twenty cubits。 Its front
was to the east。 As to the porch； they built it before the
temple； its length was twenty cubits； and it was so ordered that
it might agree with the breadth of the house； and it had twelve
cubits in latitude； and its height was raised as high as a
hundred and twenty cubits。 He also built round about the temple
thirty small rooms； which might include the whole temple； by
their closeness one to another； and by their number and outward
position round it。 He also made passages through them； that they
might come into on through another。 Every one of these rooms had
five cubits in breadth； （7） and the same in length； but in height
twenty。 Above these there were other rooms； and others above
them； equal； both in their measures and number； so that these
reached to a height equal to the lower part of the house； for the
upper part had no buildings about it。 The roof that was over the
house was of cedar； and truly every one of these rooms had a roof
of their own； that was not connected with the other rooms； but
for the other parts； there was a covered roof common to them all；
and built with very long beams； that passed through the rest； and
rough the whole building； that so the middle walls； being
strengthened by the same beams of timber； might be thereby made
firmer： but as for that part of the roof that was under the
beams； it was made of the same materials； and was all made
smooth； and had ornaments proper for roofs； and plates of gold
nailed upon them。 And as he enclosed the walls with boards of
cedar； so he fixed on them plates of gold； which had sculptures
upon them； so that the whole temple shined； and dazzled the eyes
of such as entered； by the splendor of the gold that was on every
side of them； Now the whole structure of the temple was made with
great skill of polished stones； and those laid together so very
harmoniously and smoothly； that there appeared to the spectators
no sign of any hammer； or other instrument of architecture； but
as if； without any use of them； the entire materials had
naturally united themselves together； that the agreement of one
part with another seemed rather to have been natural； than to
have arisen from the force of tools upon them。 The king also had
a fine contrivance for an ascent to the upper room over the
temple； and that was by steps in the thickness of its wall； for
it had no large door on the east end； as the lower house had； but
the entrances were by the sides； through very small doors。 He
also overlaid the temple； both within and without； with boards of
cedar； that were kept close together by thick chains； so that
this contrivance was in the nature of a support and a strength to
the building。
3。 Now when the king had divided the temple into two parts； he
made the inner house of twenty cubits ＇every way＇； to be the most
secret chamber； but he appointed that of forty cubits to be the
sanctuary； and when he had cut a door…place out of the wall； he
put therein doors of Cedar； and overlaid them with a great deal
of gold； that had sculptures upon it。 He also had veils of blue；
and purple； and scarlet； and the brightest and softest linen；
with the most curious flowers wrought upon them； which were to be
drawn before those doors。 He also dedicated for the most secret
place； whose breadth was twenty cubits； and length the same； two
cherubims of solid gold； the height of each of them was five
cubits （8） they had each of them two wings stretched out as far
as five cubits； wherefore Solomon set them up not far from each
other； that with one wing they might touch the southern wall of
the secret place； and with another the northern： their other
wings； which joined to each other； were a covering to the ark；
which was set between them； but nobody can tell； or even
conjecture； what was the shape of these cherubims。 He also laid
the floor of the temple with plates of gold； and he added doors
to the gate of the temple； agreeable to the measure of the height
of the wall； but in breadth twenty cubits； and on them he glued
gold plates。 And； to say all in one word； he left no part of the
temple； neither internal nor external； but what was covered with
gold。 He also had curtains drawn over these doors in like manner
as they were drawn over the inner doors of the most holy place；
but the porch of the temple had nothing of that sort。
4。 Now Solomon sent for an artificer out of Tyre； whose name was
Hiram； he was by birth of the tribe of Naphtali； on the mother's
side； （for she was of that tribe；） but his father was Ur； of the
stock of the Israelites。 This man was skillful in all sorts of
work； but his chief skill lay in working in gold； and silver； and
brass； by whom were made all the mechanical works about the
temple； according to the will of Solomon。 Moreover； this Hiram
made two ＇hollow＇ pillars； whose outsides were of brass； and the
thickness of the brass was four fingers' breadth； and the height
of the pillars was eighteen cubits and their circumference