And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber.
We have here an account of the amicable correspondence between Solomon and Hiram. Tyre was a famous trading city, that lay close upon the sea, in the border of Israel; its inhabitants (as should seem) were none of the devoted nations, nor ever at enmity with Israel, and therefore David never offered to destroy them, but lived in friendship with them.
Commenting on 1 Kings 5:1-9
And Hiram sent to Solomon,.... A letter to him, to the following purpose: saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for; whether he could, and whether it was fitting he should grant his request; which was acting like a wise and prudent prince: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir; or of...
Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things . . . and I will do--The contract was drawn out formally in a written document (Ch2 2:11), which, according to JOSEPHUS, was preserved both in the Jewish and Tyrian records.