WHEN Solomon–the beloved of God, builder of the Everlasting
House, and Grand Master of the Lodge of Jerusalem–ascended the
throne of his father David he consecrated his life to the
erection of a temple to God and a palace for the kings of
Israel. David’s faithful friend, Hiram, King of Tyre, hearing
that a son of David sat upon the throne of Israel, sent messages
of congratulation and offers of assistance to the new ruler. In
his History of the Jews, Josephus mentions that copies of the
letters passing between the two kings were then to be seen both
at Jerusalem and at Tyre. Despite Hiram’s lack of appreciation
for the twenty cities of Galilee which Solomon presented to him
upon the completion of the temple, the two monarchs remained the
best of friends. Both were famous for their wit and wisdom, and
when they exchanged letters each devised puzzling questions to
test the mental ingenuity of the other. Solomon made an
agreement with Hiram of Tyre promising vast amounts of barley,
wheat, corn, wine, and oil as