The next phase of the narrative outlines the construction projects (palace and temple), but amid all the architectural glory there will also be a subtle criticism of the royal administration. Without much background information, we learn that Hiram king of Tyre sends envoys to Solomon (5:1), having heard of his accession. The city of Tyre was a thriving commercial and colonial center; Joshua 19:29 refers to it as “fortified,” and Herodotus mentions a venerable ancient temple. This is not Hiram’s first appearance in the Former Prophets. Back in 2 Samuel 5, an unprompted Hiram sent timber and craftsmen to build a palace for David. Here he sends a delegation to Solomon, and the narrator informs us that he “loved” David (NIV “on friendly terms with”)—the same verb used to describe Solomon’s “…