Hiram I ( Phoenician: 𐤇𐤓𐤌 ''Ḥirōm'' "my brother is exalted";

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

: חירם ''Ḥīrām''; also called ''Hirom'' or ''Huram'')Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers
on 2 Samuel 5, accessed 11 July 2017 was the

Phoenicia Phoenicians were an Ancient Semitic-speaking peoples, ancient Semitic group of people who lived in the Phoenician city-states along a coastal strip in the Levant region of the eastern Mediterranean, primarily modern Lebanon and the Syria, Syrian ...

n king of Tyre according to the

Hebrew Bible The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
. '' Abibaal. Hiram was succeeded as King of Tyre by his son Baal-Eser I. Hiram is also mentioned in the writings of Menander of Ephesus (early 2nd century BC), as preserved in Josephus's '' Against Apion'', which adds to the biblical account. According to Josephus, Hiram lived for 53 years and reigned 34.

Reign

During Hiram's reign, Tyre grew from a satellite of

Sidon Sidon ( ) or better known as Saida ( ; ) is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast in the South Governorate, Lebanon, South Governorate, of which it is the capital. Tyre, Lebanon, Tyre, t ...

into the most important of

n cities, and the holder of a large trading empire. He suppressed the rebellion of the first Tyrean colony at Utica, near the later site of

Carthage Carthage was an ancient city in Northern Africa, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classic ...

(''Against Apion'' i:18). The

Hebrew Bible The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
. '' David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...

, king of Judah and his artisans built David's palace in

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

after his capture of the city. The palace was built using Lebanon Cedar. After David's death, Hiram maintained his alliance with David's son and successor

Solomon Solomon (), also called Jedidiah, was the fourth monarch of the Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy), Kingdom of Israel and Judah, according to the Hebrew Bible. The successor of his father David, he is described as having been the penultimate ...

, again as an equal ("אחי", meaning "my brother") Michael D. Coogan, ''A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament'' page 213–214, Oxford University Press, 2009 Through the alliance with Solomon, Hiram ensured himself access to the major

trade route A trade route is a logistical network identified as a series of pathways and stoppages used for the commercial transport of cargo. The term can also be used to refer to trade over land or water. Allowing goods to reach distant markets, a singl ...

s to Egypt,

Arabia The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world. Geographically, the ...

and

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is a historical region of West Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia is known as present-day Iraq and forms the eastern geographic boundary of ...

. The two kings also jointly opened a trade route over the

Red Sea The Red Sea is a sea inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. Its connection to the ocean is in the south, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. To its north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and th ...

, connecting the Israelite harbour of Ezion-Geber with a land called Ophir. Some schools of thought suggest that this land of Ophir was in the port city of Sopara, near modern

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

(Bombay),

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. According to the Bible, both kings grew rich through this trade, and Hiram sent Solomon architects, workmen, cedar wood, and gold to build the First Temple in

. 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)

Hypotheses regarding chronology of reign

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,'' Against Apion'' i:17,18. relating that 143 years passed between the start of construction of

's Temple until the founding of

(or until 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. As pointed out by William Barnes (1801–1886), the date for the start of Temple construction using the Tyrian data is derived "wholly independently" of the way that date is derived by using the Scriptural data. By incorporating another source, Pompeius Trogus' date for the founding of Carthage (825 B.C.), we can arrive at an alternate solution. This approach places the beginning of Hiram's reign in 979/8 B.C. and the commencement of Temple construction eleven years later, in 968/7 B.C. It is important to note that most chronological systems place the start of Solomon's reign around 971/70 B.C.

Hiram I of Tyre: ally and potential facilitator of Solomon's Golden Age

Hiram I, king of Tyre, ruled a powerful Phoenician city-state during the 10th century BCE. The exact dates of his reign are debated by scholars, with estimates placing it between 980 and 947 BCE. His reign coincided with the rise of the United Kingdom of Israel under King David and his son, Solomon. The available evidence, primarily drawn from the Hebrew Bible and archaeological discoveries, suggests a potentially significant relationship between Hiram and the Israelite kings, particularly Solomon. The Hebrew Bible portrays Hiram as a close associate of the Israelite monarchs (1 Kings 5:1-18; 2 Chronicles 2:2-16). According to the biblical narrative, Hiram supplied skilled laborers, cedar wood, and other materials to King David for the construction of his palace in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 14:1). This account, while potentially embellished, hints at a cooperative relationship between the two leaders. However, it is during Solomon's reign that the most detailed descriptions of Hiram's role emerge. The Bible describes a specific agreement between the two kings for the construction of monumental projects in Jerusalem: Solomon's Temple and his royal palace (1 Kings 5). This agreement, if factual, suggests a formalized partnership. The narrative details that Hiram provided skilled laborers, artisans, and vast quantities of prized cedar and cypress wood from the forests of Lebanon (1 Kings 5:6-10). In return, Solomon offered Tyre essential resources like wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine (1 Kings 5:11-12). This exchange, if accurately depicted, highlights the potential for a mutually beneficial economic relationship fostered by the agreement. Beyond the Hebrew Bible, references to Hiram are limited. Notably, Josephus, a 1st-century CE Jewish historian, mentions Hiram in his work "Against Apion" (i:18). Citing Menander of Ephesus, a 3rd-century BCE historian, Josephus credits Hiram with quelling a rebellion in the Phoenician colony of Utica (near modern-day Carthage). Rabbinic literature identifies Hiram as one of the four men who pretended to be gods.Nebuchadnezzar was equally victorious in his expedition against Tyre, whose king, Hiram, his stepfather, he dethroned and put to a painful death (Lev. R. xviii. 2; Yalḳ., Ezek. 367). While limited historical evidence exists outside the Bible, it suggests a period of prosperity and expansion for Tyre under Hiram's leadership. The potential alliance with Israel could have provided Tyre with access to valuable resources and new markets. Conversely, Solomon might have benefitted from Tyre's skilled workforce and expertise in maritime trade and construction. Further research is necessary to definitively establish the nature and extent of their collaboration. Regardless, Hiram's reign likely marked a period of significant cultural and economic exchange between the two kingdoms, with a lasting impact on the region.

"Tomb of Hiram"

The "Tomb of Hiram" (Qabr Hiram) dates from the Persian period, four to six centuries after the presumed time of Hiram.Livius.org, ''The "Tomb of Hiram" at Hannaouiye''
accessed 06 October 2021 It is built 6 km southeast of Tyre, near the village of Hanaouay, on the road to Qana and has the form of a colossal limestone sarcophagus on a pedestal.

In modern fiction

King Hiram is a character in the time travel story ''Ivory, and Apes, and Peacocks'' (1983) by Poul Anderson.

Namesakes

In 1829, the Town of Tyre was formed in Seneca County in the state of New York and the choice of its name was presumably inspired by ancient Tyre, according to the Town Historian. Likewise, its Hiram Lay Cobblestone Farmhouse, which is on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

, was apparently named after the Phoenician king. In the Southern Lebanese city of Tyre there is a neighbourhood called Hay Hiram, located in Tyre's northern municipality of Abassiyat. Hiram

Hospital A hospital is a healthcare institution providing patient treatment with specialized Medical Science, health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically ...

is based in that neighbourhood and nearby there is a Hiram

Pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medication, medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it ...

. In the centre of Tyre's Sour municipality main street is named after Hiram (spelled ''Hyram'' on

Google Maps Google Maps is a web mapping platform and consumer application offered by Google. It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panorama, interactive panoramic views of streets (Google Street View, Street View ...

). Hiram Street suffers from high traffic congestion, air and

noise pollution Noise pollution, or sound pollution, is the propagation of noise or sound with potential harmful effects on humans and animals. The source of outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by machines, transport and propagation systems.Senate Publi ...

References

{{Authority control 10th-century BC kings of Tyre Monarchs in the Hebrew Bible 10th-century BC monarchs People from Tyre, Lebanon 940s BC deaths Ophir