Solomon and the Smith

‎The Bible tells us that Solomon called also on his ally, Hiram of Tyre, for cunning workmen to aid in preparing the brasswork, the ornaments of gold and silver, and all the decorations for the temple. Chief of the workmen sent him was a smith of the same name as the king, Hiram or Huram.

‎Of this or another smith of Solomon’s time, there is a celebrated legend, told not in the Bible but in the Jewish Talmud. When the temple was finished, King Solomon held a feast within its court, inviting all the craftsmen who had labored on the mighty structure. At the king’s right hand was placed an empty chair, a seat of honor to be awarded to the worker who had contributed most to the beauty of the temple. When the throng came in procession to the throne they found the chair already occupied by an ironworker, a smith. The assembly cried out in anger, for the smith had not worked upon the temple walls at all; but Solomon checking them, bade the smith speak and the man boldly claimed the seat as his own since he had made all the tools, without which the other workmen could have done nothing at all. “And Solomon spake his judgment on the matter, The seat is his of right. All honor to the ironworker.”