Hiram I: Difference between revisions

|title = [[King of Tyre]]

'''Hiram I''' ([[Phoenician language|Phoenician]]: 𐤇𐤓𐤌 ''Ḥirōm'' "my brother is exalted";, [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: {{Script/Hebrew|חִירָם}}חירם ''Ḥīrām'', Modern [[Arabic Language|Arabic]]: حيرام, also called ''Hirom'' or ''Huram'')<ref name=":0">[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/2_samuel/5.htm Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers] on 2 Samuel 5, accessed 11 July 2017</ref>

was the [[Phoenicia]]n king of [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] according to the [[Hebrew Bible]]. His regnal years have been calculated by some as 980 to 947 BC, in succession to his father, [[Abibaal]]. Hiram was succeeded as king[[King of Tyre]] by his son [[Baal-Eser I]].<ref>Vance, Donald R. (March 1994) "Literary Sources for the History of Palestine and Syria: The Phœnician Inscriptions" ''The Biblical Archaeologist'' 57(1) 2–19.</ref> Hiram is also mentioned in the writings of [[Menander of Ephesus]] (early 2nd century BC), as preserved in [[Josephus|Josephus's]] ''[[Against Apion]]'', which adds to the biblical account. According to Josephus, Hiram lived for 53 years and reigned 34.

The [[Hebrew Bible]] says that he allied himself with [[David]], king of [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|the United Kingdom of Israel]]Judah and his artisans built David's palace in [[Jerusalem]] after his capture of the city.<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|5:11|KJV|}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|1|Kings|5:1|KJV|}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|14:1|KJV|}})</ref> The palace was built using [[Lebanon Cedar]]. After David's death, Hiram maintained his alliance with David's son and successor [[Solomon]], again as an equal ("אחי", meaning "my brother")<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Kings|9:13}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|Amos|1:9}}</ref><ref>[[Michael D. Coogan]], ''A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament'' page 213–214, Oxford University Press, 2009</ref> Through the alliance with Solomon, Hiram ensured himself access to the major [[trade route]]s to Egypt, [[Arabia]] and [[Mesopotamia]]. The two kings also jointly opened a trade route over the [[Red Sea]], connecting the Israelite harbour of [[Ezion-Geber]] with a land called [[Ophir]].<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Chronicles 8:16,17|multi=yes}}</ref> Some schools of thought suggest that this land of Ophir was in the port city of [[Sopara]], near modern [[Mumbai]] (Bombay), [[India]].<ref>[[A. L. Basham]], ''[[The Wonder That Was India]]'' page 232, [[Picador (imprint)|Picador]] India</ref>

According to the Bible, both kings grew rich through this trade, and Hiram sent Solomon architects, workmen, cedar wood, and gold to build the [[Solomon's Temple|First Temple]] in [[Jerusalem]]. Josephus says that he also extended the Tyrean harbour, enlarged the city by joining the two islands on which it was built, and constructed a royal palace and a temple for [[Melqart]] (''Against Apion'' i:17). [[ModernMelqart archaeology]],school however, hasis found no evidence fortoday thesein expansionsLebanon.<ref>{{cite book|last=Demand |first=Nancy H. |title=The Mediterranean Context of Early Greek History |year=2011 |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |isbn=978-1405155519 |page=230}}</ref>

The beginning date of Hiram's reign is derived from a statement by [[Josephus]] by citing both Tyrian court records and the writings of [[Menander of Ephesus|Menander]],<ref name=":1">''[[Against Apion]]'' i:17,18.</ref> relating that 143 years passed between the start of construction of [[Solomon]]'s Temple until the founding of [[Carthage]] (or until [[Dido (Queen of Carthage)|Dido]]'s flight that led to its founding). Josephus also related that Hiram's reign began 155 years and 8 months before that event and that construction of Solomon's Temple began in the twelfth year of Hiram's reign, which would be 143 years before the building of Carthage.