1046 B.C.] DAVID had been King of Judah ten years, and Monarch over all Israel two years, when Hiram ascended the throne of Tyrus. The intimacy and friendship between DAVID and Abibal were continued upon the death of the latter, by his son and representative, Hiram;--for it is recorded that the Tyrian King sent to DAVID, at Jerusalem, Messengers of Peace, Architects and Sculptors, and even materials to erect a Cedar Palace for the Monarch of Israel:--a royal gift, as magnificent as it was original, and (in our reading) we do not remember that it was ever imitated. He was indeed "a lover of David." 1043 B. C.] "And Hiram king of Tyre sent _messengers_ to David,--and _cedar trees_, [from Lebanon] and _carpenters_ and _masons_; and they built David a house." (_i. e._ Palace.) [2 Samuel v. 11, 12.] In the Hebrew the word "masons" is defined to be "_hewers_ of the stone of the wall,"--_i. e._ Sculptors:--the common workmen are identified by a term, as expressive as can be desired for illustrating the rudiment of the art,--viz., stone-squarers. [1 Kings v. 18.] "And Hiram's _builders_ did hew them, and the _stone_-SQUARERS." For two years previous to the death of the warlike DAVID, he gathered material for building the Temple of Jerusalem, which by Prophecy was to be erected by his son SOLOMON, [_i. e._ the peaceable]--for no Sovereign whose life had been passed in the battle-field, and amid scenes of warfare and carnage, could erect (except in mockery) a Temple to The Peaceful GOD. During this period _David_ commanded that the Sculptors, who were "strangers" in the land of Israel, should be gathered for the purpose of commencing the Sculpture for the great edifice. These "strangers" were, without doubt, Tyrians. They had furnished Cedar for the building, and they were, also, the skilful artists to work in all kinds of metals. This calling forth of foreign artists to build and decorate The Temple, is a conclusive proof that the Israelites were not practical Architects or Sculptors. The Tyrians had already built for DAVID his regal Palace at Jerusalem, and were, therefore, naturally received with every courtesy by the Israelites, and many probably remained in the country. In illustration of the previous remarks, the following extracts are given from the 1st Book of Chronicles [ch. xii.]: "And David commanded to gather together the _strangers_ that were in the land of Israel: and he set _masons_ to _hew wrought_ stones to build the house of God" (_i. e._ The Temple). From this quotation it would appear that the stones were "wrought," or put into shape, by common workmen of Israel (_i. e._ the "Stone-squarers"); and thus subsequently the "Strangers" (_i. e._ Tyrians) were to "hew" the stones--_i. e._ Sculpture them. DAVID gathered material of all metals,--and the only wood he obtained appears to have been the Cedar from Lebanon, and for this he was indebted to the Tyrians.