1 Kings 5:9

My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. And in exchange, you can meet my needs by providing my household with food.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Hiram king of Tyre addresses Solomon, responding to his timber request in 1 Kings 5:8. He details the transport logistics and proposes a food-for-wood exchange for his household.

The words — The Hebrew יָ֗מָּ/ה (Ya.ma/h) means “toward the sea,” and דֹּבְר֤וֹת (doe.Rot) literally denotes “rafts” or floating bundles, specifying how the cedar logs will be moved.

The thread — This logistical and commercial arrangement repeats in 2 Chronicles 2:16 and 1 Kings 5:10, while Ezra 3:7 and Ezekiel 27:17 reflect the same regional trade network of provisions for Lebanese timber.

Why it lands — The text plainly records a contractual agreement where physical labor and maritime transport are traded for daily sustenance, requiring a reader to acknowledge that sacred projects depend on structured, mutual provision rather than unilateral miracle.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

עֲ֠בָדַי'A.va.da/iservants/ my יֹרִ֨דוּyo.Ri.duthey will bring [them] down מִן־min-from הַלְּבָנ֜וֹןha./le.va.Non<the>/ Lebanon יָ֗מָּהYa.ma/h[the] sea/ towards וַ֠אֲנִיVa./'a.niand/ I אֲשִׂימֵ֨ם'a.si.Me/mI will make/ them דֹּבְר֤וֹתdoe.Rotrafts בַּיָּם֙ba/i.Yamon the/ sea עַֽד־'ad-to הַמָּק֞וֹםha./ma.Komthe/ place אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which תִּשְׁלַ֥חtish.Lachyou will send אֵלַ֛י'e.La/ito/ me וְנִפַּצְתִּ֥יםve./ni.patz.Ti/mand/ I will break up/ them שָׁ֖םshamthere וְאַתָּ֣הve./'a.Tahand/ you תִשָּׂ֑אti.Sa'you will carry [them] away וְאַתָּה֙ve./'a.Tahand/ you תַּעֲשֶׂ֣הta.'a.Sehyou will do אֶת־'et-<obj.>חֶפְצִ֔יchef.Tz/idesire/ my לָתֵ֖תla./Tetby/ giving לֶ֥חֶםLe.chem[the] food of בֵּיתִֽי׃bei.T/ihousehold/ my

King James Version

My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.

Cross-references

Ezra 3:7 They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.
Ezekiel 27:17 Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise.
2 Chronicles 2:16 We will cut logs from Lebanon, as many as you need, and we will float them to you as rafts by sea down to Joppa. Then you can take them up to Jerusalem.”
Acts 12:20 Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.
Deuteronomy 3:25 Please let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that pleasant hill country as well as Lebanon!”
2 Chronicles 1:15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.