1 Kings 5:14-18 Meaning: One Month On, Two Months Off
14He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: for a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor.
15Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains,
16besides Solomon’s chief officers who were over the work: three thousand three hundred who ruled over the people who labored in the work.
17The king commanded, and they cut out large stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.
18Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.
14And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.
15And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
16Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
17And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
18And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.
14And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the men subject to taskwork.
15And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand that were hewers in the mountains;
16besides Solomon’s chief officers that were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
17And the king commanded, and they hewed out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with wrought stone.
18And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites did fashion them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.
14and he sendeth them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month, by changes, a month they are in Lebanon, two months in their own house; and Adoniram is over the tribute.
15And king Solomon hath seventy thousand bearing burdens, and eighty thousand hewing in the mountain,
16apart from the heads of the officers of Solomon, who are over the work, three thousand and three hundred, those ruling over the people who are working in the business.
17And the king commandeth, and they bring great stones, precious stone, to lay the foundation of the house, hewn stones;
18and the builders of Solomon, and the builders of Hiram, and the Giblites hew, and prepare the wood and the stones to build the house.
14And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, two months at home; and Adoniram was over the levy.
15And Solomon had seventy thousand that bore burdens, and eighty thousand stone-masons in the mountains;
16besides the overseers whom Solomon had set over the work, three thousand three hundred, who ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
17And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
18And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Giblites hewed them, and prepared timber and stones to build the house.
Meaning in one sentence
The one-month-on, two-months-off rotation for temple laborers shows God's design for work and rest, even in building His house.
Context
The temple would be the most important building in Israel's history, and Solomon spared no effort in preparing for it. He had already secured an agreement with King Hiram of Tyre for timber and skilled workers. Now the organizing begins. Thirty thousand Israelites are sent in monthly rotations to Lebanon, spending one month cutting cedar and two months at home. A much larger force of foreign residents, living permanently in the land, works year-round quarrying stone in the mountains, supervised by thousands of foremen. The king orders that the foundation stones be especially large and carefully cut. Builders from Israel, from Tyre, and from the Phoenician city of Gebal all work together to prepare timber and stone. The passage shows the immense scale of the project, but tucked inside the numbers is a quiet detail about how the workers were treated.
Key Words
Three terms in this passage invite us to look closer. The word courses refers to a scheduled rotation. The same Hebrew word is used elsewhere for changes of clothes; the workers changed shifts regularly. They were not stuck on the mountain indefinitely but had a set rhythm of work and home time. The phrase forced labor (a levy or tribute) describes the work of the seventy thousand burden bearers and eighty thousand stonecutters. The commentaries point out that these were not Israelites but foreigners living in the land, and their work was continuous. Meanwhile, the Israelites served only one month at a time. And the costly stones for the foundation were not just any rocks. They were large, carefully chosen, and dressed with precision, “costly” because they required great effort and skill. Even the hidden foundation was prepared with care. Together these words reveal that God cared about the quality of the temple and the well-being of the people who built it. Rest and excellence could coexist.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian readers have noticed different things in these verses. Some, like Matthew Henry, emphasize the humane organization seen in the rotation, calling it good governance. Others note the large numbers and the distinction between Israelites and foreigners, sometimes seeing a pattern of redemption: God’s own people were not enslaved to the work in the same way as those outside the covenant. Still others focus on the foundation stones, linking them to Christ as the chief cornerstone. Across traditions, the passage is read not merely as an ancient account of a building project but as a reminder that even sacred work is shaped by wisdom and mercy. The details matter. The God who gave the design also gave the rest.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to pass over the rotation as a trivial logistical detail. In fact, the text deliberately tells us the workers spent two months at home for every month on site. This was not accidental. It shows that even the most holy project, building the temple itself, had to honor the human need for rest and family. The schedule was part of God’s wisdom for His people, not just an efficiency choice.
Living This Out
You may be involved in work that feels important, even sacred. Church projects, caring for family, serving neighbors. This passage invites you to ask: am I working in a way that honors God’s rhythm? The temple builders had a regular break built into their schedule. The foreigners worked continuously, but the Israelites went home. For you, that might mean protecting one day off, saying no to a good opportunity so you can be present with your family, or trusting that God’s work does not depend on your exhaustion. The foundation stones were costly and carefully laid, but the workers were not ground down. You can build something beautiful without burning out.
Main takeaway: God’s wisdom gave the temple builders a rhythm of work and rest, showing He values people over projects.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God wanted a special house built for Him. He told the workers to take turns so they could rest and be with their families. God cares about you and your family too.
For ages 9, 12
Sometimes we think God wants us to work all the time. But when Solomon built the temple, God made sure the workers had two months off for every month they worked. That shows us that God values rest and time with family. Even when you have important things to do, God wants you to take time to rest and be with people you love. The foundation of the temple was made with special stones, but the people who built it were treated with care too.
Questions People Ask
Why did the Israelite laborers work only one month out of three?
The rotation gave them rest and time at home. God did not want even the work of building His temple to crush the families of Israel. The pattern shows His care for people, not just the project.
Who were the seventy thousand burden bearers and eighty thousand stonecutters?
These were foreigners living in Israel, descendants of the Canaanite nations that had not been driven out. Solomon set them to the heavier, continuous labor, while the Israelites worked in limited shifts.
What made the foundation stones costly?
They were large stones that required great effort to quarry, transport, and shape. The word 'costly' points to their value and the deliberate care taken in preparing them for the temple's foundation.
How does this passage speak to our work and rest today?
It reminds us that God built rest into the most sacred work. Even when serving Him, we are not meant to labor without stopping. The rhythm of work and home time is part of His good design.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study