1 Kings 5:6 brings us to the part of the message in which Solomon requested help from his father's friend. The request began with a desire that Hiram would have servants cut cedars of Lebanon for Solomon. The proposal included the help of Solomon’s own servants and the promise that Solomon would furnish the payment of Hiram’s servants. The king of Israel based the request upon the fact that no one in Israel has the skill to cut timber like the Sidonians.
We might ask why Solomon spoke of the Sidonians. Sidon was a sister city to Tyre. Together they and their surroundings (which included modern-day Lebanon) comprised one Phoenician nation.
The reader needs to understand that Solomon’s message is the opening of negotiations on this subject. It will be apparent that Hiram’s ideas and Solomon’s are not exactly the same. We see here that Solomon conceived the gathering of timber to be a joint effort of the servants of both kings, but we will observe in the next verse that Hiram wished his servants to do all the gathering of the timber and ship it to a place where Solomon’s workers can collect it.
One matter to look for, therefore, is which plan will be the one agreed upon. This may tell us which king, Solomon or Hiram, has the authority over the other to assure that his will would be accomplished. We will see, contrary to what we might expect, that Solomon exercised the greater influence.
6 Now therefore command that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. And my servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants such wages as you set, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”