HIRAM
(probably an abbreviation of the Heb. and Phen. “‘ahiram” = “exalted brother”). In ancient inscriptions it is documented that Hiram (Ahiram) was a common royal name in Phenicia.
For example, it appears on the Ahiram sarcophagus from the 11th century BC. discovered at Byblos (the Gebal of Ps. 83:8; Ezek. 27:9) by a French expedition in 1923-24.
(a) One of the kings of Tyre. Hiram succeeded his father Abitaal, reigning 34 years (970-936 B.C.), dying at 53 years of age (Ant. 8:5, 3; Against Apion. 1:17, 18).
He enlarged the city of Tyre, providing it with a dock to the east; He built a dam that joined the city with the island on which the temple to Jupiter or Baal-Samem was located; He built temples to Hercules and Astarte.
Hiram was a friend of David and Solomon (1 Kings 5:1; 2 Chron. 2:3). When David had captured the citadel of Zion, Hiram sent ambassadors to him. David wanted to build a palace, and Hiram provided him with cedar wood, also sending him stonemasons and carpenters (2 Sam. 5:11). This was before the birth of Solomon (2 Sam. 7:2, 12; 11:2).
When Solomon acceded to the throne, Hiram sent him his congratulations. With a commercial contract, he obtained cedar and cypress wood for the construction of the temple, and craftsmen skilled in the art of working with wood and stone (1 Kings 5: 1-12; 2 Chron. 2: 3- 16).
He advanced him 120 talents of gold (1 Kings 9:14), and ordered his sailors to participate in Solomon’s expeditions to search for gold at Ophir (1 Kings 9: 10-12; 2 Chron. 9: twenty-one). As partial compensation for his services, Solomon offered him twenty towns in Galilee, which Hiram rejected (1 Kings 9:10-12; 2 Chron. 8:1, 2).
Certain authors have raised whether perhaps there were two kings named Hiram, David’s friend at the beginning of his reign, and Solomon, so many years later. In any case, in the annals of Tiglath-pileser III another Hiram king of Tire (744-727 BC) is mentioned.
(b) Craftsman, son of a Tyrian father and a widow from the tribe of Naphtali (1 Kings 7:13, 14). By birth, this woman was from the tribe of Dan (2 Chron. 2:14).
Hiram did the work of casting bronze and copper for Solomon’s temple, the columns, the great bronze sea, the bronze fountains, the capitals, the bases (1 Kings 7:13-46; 2 Chron. 2 :13, 14).
The title “father” (“Abi”) given to him (2 Chr. 2:13; 4:16) means “teacher” or “counselor.”