"Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Sidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David." The following is part of David's address to Solomon, and refers to the accomplished Tyrians, as will be shewn hereafter. "Timber [cedar] and Stone have I prepared: and thou mayst add thereto. Moreover there are _workmen_ with thee in abundance, _hewers_ and _workers_ of stone and timber, and _all manner of cunning_ [_i. e._ skilful] _men for every manner of work_." 1015 B. C.] Hiram of Tyrus had reigned 31 years when DAVID died. SOLOMON having been anointed King during the last year of his father's life, was already in possession of the regal power. Upon the ascension of the "wise" Sovereign of Jerusalem, the Monarch of the Tyrians instantly sent ambassadors to congratulate him on the event. "And Hiram king of Tyre sent servants [ambassadors] unto SOLOMON: for he had heard that they had anointed him King in the room of his father; for Hiram was ever a lover of DAVID." [1 Kings v. 1.] SOLOMON, appreciating the proffered friendship of Hiram, and having resolved to build The Temple to the One God, sent the following message to the Tyrian monarch, for artists and materials to erect the edifice: "As thou didst deal with DAVID my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me. Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my GOD, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense and for the continual shew-bread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new-moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our GOD. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. And the house which I build is great, _for great is our_ GOD _above all gods_. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain him?--who am I, then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him? Send me now, therefore, a man cunning to work in gold and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and in crimson, and in blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did _provide_ [_i. e._ did bring from Tyrus.] Send me, also, cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees out of Lebanon; and behold my servants [labourers] shall be with thy servants [artists] even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great. And behold I will give to thy servants the hewers [carvers] that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil." [2 Chron, ii. 3--10.]