King Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre— In former times there had been among the Hebrews very excellent workmen, who knew how to cut and engrave precious stones, to cast and work upon metals, &c. But this was before they came into the land of Canaan, in the time of Moses, when Bezaleel and Aholiab were excellent in many different arts which were necessary for the work of the temple; but, as the Scripture tells us that they had their skill by inspiration from God, it does not appear that they had any successors: and after they had got possession of Canaan, they neglected all manufactures, and applied themselves almost wholly to agriculture and the feeding of cattle; so that in the time of Solomon there were no professed artists who could undertake the work of the temple. But in Tyre and Sidon there were many; for both in his Iliad and Odyssey Homer gives the people of those two places this character; whom upon every occasion he calls, πολυδαιδαλους that is, excellent artists in several kinds of work.
Related Commentaries of 1 Kings 7:13
1 Kings 7:13-14
13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hirame out of Tyre.
14 He was a widow'sf son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.