And Solomon sent to Hiram,.... A letter, either by the hand of his ambassadors when they returned, as Kimchi thinks, or by ambassadors Solomon sent on purpose. Josephus w appeals to the Tyrian archives for the genuineness of these letters that passed between Hiram and Solomon; and Eupolemus, an Heathen writer x has both this which Solomon sent to Hiram, and that which Hiram sent in answer to it, which agree with those in the sacred records:
saying: as follows.
w Antiqu. l. 8. c. 2. sect. 8. x Ut Supra. (Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 32, 34.)