Hiram

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exaltation of life; a destroyer
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary


HIRAM.—1. King of Tyre, son and successor of Abihaal. When David was firmly established on his throne, Hiram, we are told, sent messengers to him, and, in order to show his goodwill, gave David materials for building his palace, sending at the same time workmen to assist in the building (2Sa_5:11, 1Ch_14:1. This first mention of Hiram is somewhat abrupt, and leads to the supposition that there must have been some earlier intercourse between him and David, the details of which have not come down to us. A real friendship, however, undoubtedly existed between the two (1Ki_5:1), and this was extended to Solomon after the death of David. A regular alliance was made when Solomon came to the throne, Hiram supplying men and materials for the building of the house of the Lord, while Solomon, in return, sent corn and oil to Hiram. Another sign of friendliness was their joint enterprise in sending ships to Ophir to procure gold (1Ki_9:26-28; 1Ki_10:11, 2Ch_8:17-18; 2Ch_9:10; 2Ch_9:21). A curious episode is recounted in 1Ki_9:10; 1Ki_9:14, according to which Solomon gave Hiram ‘twenty cities in the land of Galilee.’ Hiram was dissatisfied with the gift, though he gave Solomon ‘sixscore talents of gold.’ In the parallel account (2Ch_8:1-2) it is Hiram who gives cities (the number is not specified) to Solomon.
There is altogether considerable confusion in the Biblical references to Hiram, as a study of the passages in question shows. When these are compared with extra-Biblical information which we possess in the writings of early historians, discrepancies are emphasized. While, therefore, the friendly intercourse between Hiram and Solomon (as well as with David) is unquestionably historical, it is not always possible to say the same of the details.
2. The name of an artificer from Tyre ‘filled with wisdom and understanding and cunning, to work all works in brass’ (see 1Ki_7:18-47); he is also spoken of as ‘skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson …’ (2Ch_2:14). There is a discrepancy regarding his parentage: in 1Ki_7:14 he is said to have been the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father a man of Tyre: according to 2Ch_2:14 his mother belonged to the tribe of Dan, though here, too, his father was a Tyrian.
The form of the name is usually Hiram in the Books of Samuel and Kings, but the Chronicler adheres uniformly to the form Huram, while we find also Hirom in 1Ki_5:10; 1Ki_5:18; 1Ki_7:40.
W. O. E. Oesterley.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909

(Huram in Chronicles usually, except 1Ch_14:1, in the ketibh, the original Hebrew text).
1. King of Tyre. Sent carpenters, masons, and cedars to David to build his palace (2Sa_5:11). Eupolemon (see Polyhistor, Fragm. Hist. Greek, 3 fr. 18), apparently on the authority of Dius and Menunder of Ephesus in file time of Alexander the Great, states, "David reduced the Syrians near the Euphrates, and Commagene, the Assy. finns, and Phoenicians in Gilead, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Ituraeans, and Nabathaeans; and made an expedition against Suron (Huram?) king of Tyre and Phoenicia, and compelled them all to pay tribute to the Jews." This confirms 2 Samuel 8; 9, and adds particulars drawn probably from Phoenician or other non-Israelite sources. Hiram was "ever a lover of David" (1Ki_5:1; 1Ki_5:10-12). So he made a "league" with his son Solomon (beriyt, "a covenant," recognizing Jehovah, and guaranteeing to Jewish sojourners at Tyre religious liberty).
The mention that "there was peace between Hiram and Solomon" may hint at there having been once war between Hiram and David, before Hiram became "a lover of David." Hiram gave Solomon for the temple cedars and firs, and gold, six score talents, according to all his desire, and Solomon in return gave Hiram 20,000 measures of wheat and 26 measures of pure oil yearly; the mercantile coast cities being dependent on the grain and olive abounding region of Palestine (Act_12:20 end). Solomon also gave Hiram 20 cities in Galilee, which did not satisfy him, and which therefore he called Cabul. (See CABUL.) (1Ki_9:11-14; 1Ki_9:27-32).
Tyre is threatened with punishment for delivering the Jewish captives to Edom, and not remembering "the brotherly covenant," namely, between Hiram and David and Solomon. Hiram sent also in the navy expert shipmen to Ophir from Ezion-Geber, with Solomon's servants; and a navy. (See OPHIR.) With Solomon's navy of Tharshish (1Ki_10:22) to share in the Mediterranean trade. Dius assigns to Hiram a 34 years' reign, and names Abibal as his father, Baleazar as his son and successor. Josephus (Ant. 8:2, section 8) States that the correspondence between Hiram and Solomon was kept in his day among the Tyrian archives.
2. King Hiram sent to Solomon an overseer of workmen skilled in working gold, silver, brass, iron, stone, wood, purple, linen, etc. Bezaleel, similarly (Exo_31:25), but by supernatural endowment, combined weaving with metallurgy. He cast the two great brass pillars of the temple, and made the lavers, shovels and basins (1Ki 7:13-14-40). He is called "my father," i.e. a title of honour, counselor, master workman (Gen_45:8). "Son of a widow of Naphtali," but in 2Ch_2:13-14, of one "of the daughters of Dan," i.e. she was by birth a Danite, and married into Naphtali. When her husband died she married again, as widow of a Naphtalite, a Tyrian to whom she bore Hiram Blunt (Undesigned Coincidences) makes her of the colony Dan or Laish in Naphtali, bordering on Sidoninn or Tyrian territory.
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.

Hi'ram. (noble). Hiram or Huram
1. The king of Tyre, who sent workmen and materials to Jerusalem, first, 2Sa_5:11; 1Ch_14:1, to build a palace for David, (B.C. 1064), whom he ever loved, 1Ki_5:1, and again, 1Ki_5:10; 1Ki_7:13; 2Ch_2:16, to build the Temple for Solomon, with whom he had a treaty of peace and commerce, 1Ki_5:11-12.
He admitted Solomon's ships issuing from Joppa, to a share in the profitable trade of the Mediterranean, 1Ki_10:22, and the Jewish sailors, under the guidance of Tyrians, were taught to bring the gold of India, 1Ki_9:26, to Solomon's two harbors on the Red Sea.
2. Hiram was the name of a man of mixed race, 1Ki_7:13; 1Ki_7:40, the principal architect and engineer, sent by King Hiram to Solomon. See Huram.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863

king of Tyre, and son of Abibal, is mentioned by profane authors as distinguished for his magnificence, and for adorning the city of Tyre. When David was acknowledged king by all Israel, Hiram sent ambassadors with artificers, and cedar, to build his palace. Hiram also sent ambassadors to Solomon, to congratulate him on his accession to the crown. Solomon desired of him timber and stones for building the temple, with labourers. These Hiram promised, provided Solomon would furnish him with corn and oil. The two princes lived on the best terms with each other.
Biblical and Theological Dictionary by Richard Watson
PRINTER 1849.

As king of Tyre in Lebanon, Hiram (or Huram) had always enjoyed good relations with the Israelite kings to the south. He helped David to build a palace (2Sa_5:11) and later helped Solomon in his extensive building projects. He provided Solomon with huge amounts of materials and many skilled workmen in return for great quantities of farm produce (1 Kings 5). He lent Solomon money, in payment of which Solomon offered to give him a large section of Israel’s northern territory (which bordered Lebanon) (1Ki_9:10-14). The two kings also formed a trade alliance and became partners in a profitable shipping operation (1Ki_9:26-28; 1Ki_10:22). (For further details of Hiram’s relations with Israel see SOLOMON.)
Another man named Hiram (or Huram) also features in the biblical record of this period. He was a highly skilled craftsman, also from Lebanon, whom Hiram the king sent to Jerusalem to do the bronze work and other decorations for Solomon’s temple (1Ki_7:13-14; 1Ki_7:40-46; 2Ch_2:7; 2Ch_2:13-14).
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary by Don Fleming
PRINTER 1990.

hı̄?ram (חירם, ḥı̄rām; Septuagint Χιράμ, Chirám, but Χειράμ, Cheirám, in 2Sa_5:11; 1Ch_14:1): There is some confusion regarding the form of this name. In the books of Samuel and Kings the prevailing form is ?Hiram? (חירם, ḥı̄rām); but in 1Ki_5:10, 1Ki_5:18 margin (Hebrew 24, 32); 1Ki_7:40 margin ?Hirom? (חירום, ḥı̄rōm) is found. In Chronicles the form of the word is uniformly ?Huram? (חוּרם, ḥūrām).
(1) A king of Tyre who lived on most friendly terms with both David and Solomon. After David had taken the stronghold of Zion, Hiram sent messengers and workmen and materials to build a palace for him at Jerusalem (2Sa_5:11; 1Ch_14:1). Solomon, on his accession to the throne, made a league with Hiram, in consequence of which Hiram furnished the new king of Israel with skilled workmen and with cedar trees and fir trees and algum trees from Lebanon for the building of the Temple. In return Solomon gave annually to Hiram large quantities of wheat and oil (1Ki_5:1 (Hebrew 15) ff; 2Ch_2:3 (Hebrew 2) ff). ?At the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the two houses, the house of Yahweh and the king's house,? Solomon made a present to Hiram of twenty cities in the land of Galilee. Hiram was not at all pleased with these cities and contemptuously called them ?Cabul.? His displeasure, however, with this gift does not seem to have disturbed the amicable relations that had hitherto existed between the two kings, for subsequently Hiram sent to the king of Israel 120 talents of gold (1Ki_9:10-14). Hiram and Solomon maintained merchant vessels on the Mediterranean and shared mutually in a profitable trade with foreign ports (1Ki_10:22). Hiram's servants, ?shipmen that had knowledge of the sea,? taught the sailors of Solomon the route from Ezion-geber and Eloth to Ophir, whence large stores of gold were brought to King Solomon (1Ki_9:26; 2Ch_8:17 f).
Josephus (Apion, I, 17, 18) informs us, on the authority of the historians Dius and Menander, that Hiram was the son of Abibal, that he had a prosperous reign of 34 years, and died at the age of 53. He tells us on the same authority that Hiram and Solomon sent problems to each other to solve; that Hiram could not solve those sent him by Solomon, whereupon he paid to Solomon a large sum of money, as had at first been agreed upon. Finally, Abdemon, a man of Tyre, did solve the problems, and proposed others which Solomon was unable to explain; consequently Solomon was obliged to pay back to Hiram a vast sum of money. Josephus further states (Ant., VIII, ii, 8) that the correspondence carried on between Solomon and Hiram in regard to the building of the Temple was preserved, not only in the records of the Jews, but also in the public records of Tyre. It is also related by Phoenician historians that Hiram gave his daughter to Solomon in marriage.
(2) The name of a skillful worker in brass and other substances, whom Solomon secured from Hiram king of Tyre to do work on the Temple. His father was a brass-worker of Tyre, and his mother was a woman of the tribe of Naphtali (1Ki_7:14), ?a woman of the daughters of Dan? (2Ch_2:14 (Hebrew 13); 1Ki_7:13; 2Ch_2:13 f (Hebrew 12, 13)).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.

Hiram, 1
Hi?ram, King of Tyre, at the commencement of David's reign. He sent an embassy to felicitate David on his accession, which led to an alliance, or strengthened a previous friendship between them. It seems that the dominion of this prince extended over the western slopes of Lebanon; and when David built himself a palace, Hiram materially assisted the work by sending cedar-wood from Lebanon, and able workmen to Jerusalem (2Sa_5:11; 1Ch_14:1) B.C. 1055.
Hiram, 2
Hiram, King of Tyre, son of Abibaal, and grandson of the Hiram who was contemporary with David, in the last years of whose reign he ascended the throne of Tyre. Following his grandfather's example, he sent to Jerusalem an embassy of condolence and congratulation when David died and Solomon succeeded, and contracted with the new king a more intimate alliance than ever before or after existed between a Hebrew king and a foreign prince. The alliance seems to have been very substantially beneficial to both parties, and without it Solomon would scarcely have been able to realize all the great designs he had in view. In consideration of large quantities of corn, wine, and oil, furnished by Solomon, the king of Tyre agreed to supply from Lebanon the timber required for the temple, to float it along the coast, and deliver it at Joppa, which was the port of Jerusalem (1Ki_5:1, sq.; 9:10, sq.; 2Ch_2:8, sq.). The vast commerce of Tyre made gold very plentiful there; and Hiram supplied no less than 500 talents to Solomon for the ornamental works of the temple, and received in return twenty towns in Galilee; which, when he came to inspect them, pleased him so little, that he applied to them a name of contempt, and restored them to the Jewish king (2Ch_8:2) [CABUL]. It does not, however, appear that the good understanding between the two kings was broken by this unpleasant circumstance; for it was after this that Hiram suggested, or at least took part in, Solomon's traffic to the Eastern seas?which certainly could not have been undertaken by the Hebrew king without his assistance in providing ships and experienced mariners (1Ki_9:27; 1Ki_10:11, etc.; 2Ch_8:18; 2Ch_9:10, etc.), B.C. 1007 [OPHIR; SOLOMON; PHOENICIA].
Hiram, 3
Hiram, or Huram, son of a widow of the tribe of Dan and of a Tyrian father. He was sent by the king of the same name to execute the principal works of the interior of the temple, and the various utensils required for the sacred services. It is probable that he was selected for this purpose by the king from among others equally gifted, in the notion that his half Hebrew blood would render him the more acceptable at Jerusalem.
The Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
by John Kitto.

Hiram
(Heb. Chiram', חַירָם, high-born; generally written “Huram,” חוּרָם, Chramz', in Chronicles, and “Hirom,” חַירוֹם, Chirom,' in 1Ki_5:10; 1Ki_5:18; 1Ki_7:40; Sept. Χειράμ or Χιράμ; Joseph. Εἵραμος and Εἵρωμος), the name of three men.
1. HURAM (Sept. makes two names, Α᾿χιρὰν καὶ Ι᾿ωίμ), the last named of the sons of Bela, son of Benjamin (1Ch_8:5). B.C. post 1856.
2. HIRAM, HURAM, or HIROM, king of Tyre at the commencement of David's reign. He sent an embassy to felicitate David on his accession, which led to an alliance, or strengthened a previous friendship between them. It seems that the dominion of this prince extended over the western slopes of Lebanon; and when David built himself a palace, Hiram materially assisted the work by sending cedar-wood from Lebanon, and able workmen to Jerusalem (2Sa_5:11; 1Ch_14:1). B.C. cir. 1044. It was probably the same prince who sent to Jerusalem an embassy of condolence and congratulation when David died and Solomon succeeded, and who contracted with the new king a more intimate alliance than ever before or after existed between a Hebrew king and a foreign prince. The alliance seems to have been very substantially beneficial to both parties, and without it Solomon would scarcely have been able to realize all the great designs he had in view. In consideration of large quantities of corn, wine, and oil furnished by Solomon, the king of Tyre agreed to supply from Lebanon the timber required for the Temple, to float it along the coast, and deliver it at Joppa, which was the port of Jerusalem (1Ki_5:1 sq.; 1Ki_9:10 sq.; 1Ch_2:3 sq.). The vast commerce of Tyre made gold very plentiful there; and Hiram supplied no less than 500 talents to Solomon for the ornamental works of the Temple, and received in return twenty towns in Galilee, which, when he came to inspect them, pleased him so little that he applied to them a name of contempt, and restored them to the Jewish king (2Ch_8:2). SEE CABUL.
It does not, however, appear that the good understanding between the two kings was broken by this unpleasant circumstance, for it was after this that Hiram suggested, or at least took part in, Solomon's traffic to the Eastern Seas, which certainly could not have been undertaken by the Hebrew king without his assistance in providing ships and experienced mariners' (1Ki_9:27; 1Ki_10:11, etc.; 2Ch_8:18; 2Ch_9:10, etc.). B.C. cir. 1010. SEE OPHIR; SEE SOLOMON.
Josephus has preserved a valuable fragment of the history of Mercander, a native of Ephesus, relating to the intercourse of Hiram and Solomon. professedly taken from the Syrian archives (Apion, 1, 18). “After the death of Abibalus, Hiromus, his son, succeeded him in his kingdom, and reigned thirty-four years, having lived fifty-three. He laid out that part of the city which is called Eurychoron, and consecrated the golden column which is in the temple of Jupiter. And he went up into the forest on the mountain called Libanus, to fell cedars for the roofs of the temples; and having demolished the ancient temples he rebuilt them, and consecrated the fanes of Hercules and Astarte: he constructed that of Hercules first, in the month Peritius; then that of Astarte, when he had overcome the Tityians who had refused to pay their tribute; and when, he had subjected them he returned. In his time was a certain young: man named Abdemonus, who used to solve the problems which were propounded to him by Solomon, king of Jerusalem.” According to the same authority (ib. 1, 17), the historian Dius, likewise from the Tyrian annals, says, “Upon the death of Abibalus, his son Hiromus succeeded to the kingdom. He raised the eastern parts of the city, and enlarged the citadel, and joined it to the temple of Jupiter Olympius, which stood before upon am island, by filling up the intermediate space; and he adorned that temple with donations of gold, and he went up into Libanus to cut timber for the construction of the temples. And it is said that Solomon, who at that time reigned in Jerusalem, sent enigmas to Hiromus, and desired others in return, with a proposal that whichsoever of the two was unable to solve them, should forfeit money to the other. Hiromus agreed to the proposal, but was unable to solve the enigmas, and paid treasures to a large amount as a forfeit to Solomon. And it is said that one Abdemonus, a Tyrian, solved the enigmas, and proposed others which Solomon was not able to unriddle, for which he repaid the fine to Hiromus” (Cory's Ancient Fragments, p. 193.) Some of these riddles, the: Jewish historian states (ib. 1, 17), were extant in his day;; and in Ant. 8, 2, 6, 7, he gives what he declares to be authentic copies of the epistles that passed between the two kings respecting the materials for the Temple. SEE LEBANON. With the letters in 1 Kings 5, , 2 : Chronicles 2, may be compared not only his copies of thee letters, but also the still less authentic letters between: Solomon and Hiram, and between Solomon and Vaphies. (Apries?), which are preserved by Eupolemon (ap. Eusebius, Praep. Evang. 9, 30), and mentioned by Alexander Polvhistor (Clem. Alex. Strom. 1, 24, p. 332). Some Phoenician historians (ap. Tatian. cont. Graec. § 37) relate that Hiram, besides supplying timber for the Temple, gave his daughter in marriage to Solomon. Jewish writers in less ancient times cannot overlook Hiram's uncircumcision in his services towards the building of the Temple. Their legends relate (Eisenm. Ent. Jud. 1, 868) that because he was a God-fearing man, and built the Temple, he was received alive into Paradise; but. that, after he had been there a thousand years, he sinned by pride, and was thrust down into hell. Eupolemon (Euseb. Praep. Evang. 9, 30) states that David, after a war with Hiram, reduced him to the condition of a tributary prince. SEE DAVID.
Some have regarded this Hiram as a different person from the friend of David, since Josephus states that the Temple was built in the twelfth year of the reign of the Tyrian king who aided Solomon in the work (Apion, 1, 17 sq.; the eleventh, according to Ant. 8, 3, 1); but this is probably only by a computation of the historian, whose numerical calculations in these points are far from trustworthy. (See Nessel, Diss. de amicitia Salom. et Hirami, Upsal, 1734.) Hiram is also spoken of by Herodotus (2, 44) as the builder of new temples to Heracles, Melcart, and Astarte, and the adorner of that of Zeus-Baalsamin.
Ewald (Gesch. Israel, III, 1, 28, 83) and Movers (II, 1, 326 sq., 446 sq.) give a Hiram II, who reigned from 551532 B.C., toward the close of the Chald. — Babylonian empire, and who is not mentioned in the Bible.
Dr. Robinson describes a remarkable monument of Solomon's ally, still extant, which he passed a little beyond the village of Hunaneh, on his way from Safed to Tyre (Bib. Res. 3:385). “It is an immense sarcophagus of limestone, resting upon a pedestal of large hewn stones; a conspicuous ancient tomb, bearing among the common people the name of Kaibr Hairan, ‘Sepulcher of Hiram.' The sarcophagus measures twelve feet long by six feet in height and breadth; the lid is three feet thick, and remains in its original position; but a nose has been broken through the sarcophagus at one end. The pedestal consists of three layers of the like species of stone, each of three feet thick, the upper layer projecting over the others; the stones are large, and one of them measures nine feet in length. This gray, weather-beaten monument stands here alone and solitary, bearing the marks of high antiquity; but the name and the record of him by whom or for whom it was erected have perished, like his ashes, forever. It is indeed possible that the present name may have come down by tradition, and that this sepulcher once held the dust of the friend and ally of Solomon; more probably, however, it is merely of Mohammedan application, like so many other names of Hebrew renown, attached to their welys and monuments in every part of Palestine. I know of no historical trace having reference to this tomb; and it had first been mentioned by a Frank traveler (Monro, 1833) only five years before.” (See also Thomson, Lond and Book, 1, 290 sq.)
3. The son of a widow of the tribe of Dan, and of a Tyrian father. He was sent by the king of the same name to execute the principal works of the interior of the Temple, and the various utensils required for the sacred services (1Ki_7:13-14; 1Ki_7:40). We recognize in the enumeration of this man's talents by the king of Tyre a character common in the industrial history of the ancients (comp. those of Bezaleel, Exo_31:3-5), namely, a skilful artificer, knowing all the arts, or at least many of those arts which we practice, in their different branches. SEE HANDICRAFT. It is probable that he was selected for this purpose by the king from among others equally gifted, in the notion that his half Hebrew blood would render him the more acceptable at Jerusalem. B.C. cir. 1010. He is called “Huram” in 2Ch_2:13; 2Ch_4:11; 2Ch_4:16; and “Hirom” in the margin of 1Ki_7:40. In 2Ch_2:13, חוּרָם אָבַי is rendered “Huram my father's;” so in, 2Ch_4:16, חוּרָם אָבַיו is rendered “Huram his father;” where, however, the words אָבַיand אבַיוcan hardly belong to the name, but are appellations; so that “Huram my (oa, his) father” seems to mean Huramo my counselor, i.e., foreman, or master-workman.

CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.

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