And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.
Solomon sent to Huram. The correspondence was probably conducted on both sides in writing (2 Chronicles 2:11: see also on 1 Kings 5:8).
As thou didst deal with David my father. This would seem decisive of the question whether the Huram then reigning in Tyre was David's friend (see the note at 1 Kings 5:1-6). In opening the business, Solomon grounded his request for Tyrian aid on two reasons: (1) The temple he proposed to build must be a solid and permanent building, because the worship was to be continued in perpetuity, and therefore the building materials required to be of the most durable quality. (2) It must be a magnificent structure, because it was to be dedicated to the God who was greater than all gods; and therefore, as it might seem a presumptuous idea to erect an edifice for a Being 'whom the heaven and the heaven of heavens do not contain,' it was explained that Solomon's object was not to build an house for Him to dwell in, but a temple in which His worshippers might offer sacrifices to His honour. No language could be more humble and appropriate than this. The pious strain of sentiment was such as became a king of Israel.