Summary

1 Kings 5:7 tells us of the reaction of King Hiram when the message of Solomon was read to him. On the most basic level we ought to learn from this that Hiram was pleased with the message that Solomon returned to him (1 Kings 5:2–6). There is, however, another matter that we can learn from this verse.

It shows us that Hiram’s high regard for both David (in the past) and Solomon (at that present time) was genuine and not pretended. The rejoicing he experienced was real and it was internal, for rejoicing is something that takes place in the heart. His audible statement was an outward manifestation of the internal rejoicing. This understanding is important because it prevents us from seeing the negotiations of this chapter as hypocritical and self-serving. Hiram, as we will see, was going to receive profit from Solomon for the worker as materials that Tyre provided Solomon, but the transaction was done in good faith and friendship lay behind it.

Hiram put his rejoicing into words, and the words were a blessing of the God of Israel. He said that the Lord was to be blessed for placing Solomon on Israel’s throne. Yet, his exact words are interesting. David, he said, is the one who has received the gift of his son reigning over the people of Israel. By this language Hiram acknowledged that David, though physically dead, was still able to experience God’s blessing to some degree. This was not a fully established doctrine of resurrection, but it points us in that direction.

There is one final question we will deal with. Did the blessing that Hiram pronounced upon the Lord indicate that he was a sincere worshipper of him? We cannot be certain, for Hiram’s heart is not open to our inspection. The most likely answer is that Hiram viewed the Lord merely as the God of Israel, which means that the Lord was a national deity that only had particular meaning for Israel. Tyre, conversely, had its own national god or gods to which Hiram was committed.

Such a view was widespread throughout the ancient idol-ridden world. There was in this view no universal exclusivity to any deity. But we must remember that Israel’s God claimed (and still does claim) such exclusive worship. Is it not possible that David’s interaction with Hiram may have brought the message of the One Supreme and Holy God, the Creator of all mankind? Much later in Israel’s history, the Syrian general Naaman renounced the gods of Syria in favour of Yahweh (see 2 Kings 5:17–18). Therefore, we cannot discount the possibility that Hiram was a true believer.