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During Hiram's reign, Tyre grew from a satellite of [[Sidon]] into the most important of [[Phoenicia]]n cities, and the holder of a large trading empire. He suppressed the rebellion of the first Tyrean colony at [[Utica, Tunisia|Utica]], near the later site of [[Carthage]] (''Against Apion'' i:18).
The [[Hebrew Bible]] says that he allied himself with [[David]], king of [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|the United Kingdom of Israel]] 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). [[Modern archaeology]], however, has found no evidence for these expansions.<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>
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