10 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar-trees and cypress-trees [according to] all his desire. 11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat as food for his household, and twenty measures of beaten oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year. 12 And Jehovah gave Solomon wisdom as he promised him. And there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league. 13 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, two months at home; and Adoniram was over the levy. 15 And Solomon had seventy thousand that bore burdens, and eighty thousand stone-masons in the mountains; 16 besides the overseers whom Solomon had set over the work, three thousand three hundred, who ruled over the people that wrought in the work. 17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the house. 18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Giblites hewed them, and prepared timber and stones to build the house.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 5:10-18
Commentary on 1 Kings 5:10-18
(Read 1 Kings 5:10-18)
The temple was chiefly built by the riches and labour of Gentiles, which typified their being called into the church. Solomon commanded, and they brought costly stones for the foundation. Christ, who is laid for a Foundation, is a chosen and precious Stone. We should lay our foundation firm, and bestow most pains on that part of our religion which lies out of the sight of men. And happy those who, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, for a habitation of God through the Spirit. Who among us will build in the house of the Lord?