In answer to these propositions for artists and material to build the first Religious Temple in Israel, Hiram sent his acceptance of the proposal in _writing_. Believing, as we do, that the spoken languages of the two nations (Tyrus and Israel) at this period were the same (with such slight variations as localities might produce), the answer being in _writing_ confirms that opinion, for it is not probable that the Tyrian monarch would send his autograph letter in a language not to be read or understood by SOLOMON. Upon the elevation of SOLOMON to the throne of his father, Hiram sent an _ambassador_ to congratulate him. SOLOMON replied by an _ambassador_,--that was the ancient custom; and if to foreign nations speaking a different language, an interpreter attended the embassy,--but here none appears to have attended, and so far from being necessary, Hiram sent his last response in writing,--the Bearer of the Despatch, without doubt, was a special Envoy. A full investigation of the dispersion of languages will be given in the second volume. "Then Huram king of Tyre answered in _writing_, which he sent to Solomon," [as follows] Because the Lord hath loved his people he hath made thee king over them. Blessed be the LORD GOD of Israel, that made Heaven and earth, who hath given David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD and an house for his kingdom. And now I have sent a cunning man endued with understanding,--of Huram my father's--[_i. e._ his father's especial artist],--the son of a woman of the Daughter of Dan [_i. e._ of the Tribe of Dan], and his father was a man of Tyre,--skilful to work in gold and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber; in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson: also, to grave any manner of graving, and to find out [_i. e._ to invent] every device which shall be put to him with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord DAVID thy father. [Both Father and Son gathered those artists from the Tyrians.] Now, therefore, the wheat and the barley, the oil and the wine, which my Lord hath _spoken_ of, let him send it unto his servants:--and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need; and we will bring it to thee in floats [_i. e._, rafts] by sea to Joppa [a Tyrian seaport], and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem." [2 Chron. ii. 11-16.]