Hiram II facts for kids

Hiram II (pronounced Hi-roo-moo) was a king of Tyre, an important ancient city in Phoenicia. He ruled from 737 to 729 BC. Tyre was a powerful trading city located on the coast of what is now Lebanon.

In 738 BC, Hiram II was listed as a ruler who paid tribute to the mighty Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III. This means he had to send gifts or payments to show he accepted Assyrian power. Before him, another king of Tyre, Ithobaal II, also paid tribute that same year. Some historians think Hiram's rule might have started a year later, in 737 BC. It's important not to confuse Hiram II with an earlier king named Hiram who was called "king of the Sidonians" and also paid tribute to the Assyrians.

Conflicts and Alliances

In 733 or 732 BC, Hiram II formed an alliance with Rezin, the king of Damascus. However, this alliance didn't last long. Tiglath-pileser III, the Assyrian king, attacked and defeated them. As a result, Hiram lost control of Sidon, another important Phoenician city. The Assyrian king then gave Sidon to a ruler named Elulaios.

Interests in Cyprus

Hiram II also had people working for him on the island of Cyprus. His main interest there was likely in the valuable copper mines located near the cities of Amathus and Limassol. Copper was a very important metal in ancient times for making tools and weapons.

The Sacred Tree Incident

A letter from an Assyrian official named Qurdi-Aššur-lāmur to King Tiglath-pileser tells an interesting story. It quotes a report from another Assyrian official, Nabū-šēzib, who was in Tyre. Nabū-šēzib claimed he stopped Hiram from taking a special sacred tree (called an ēqu) from Sidon. Hiram had cut down this tree, which was at the entrance to a temple in Sidon, saying he wanted to move it to Tyre. But Nabū-šēzib made him stop, and the tree was left at the foot of a mountain.

Hiram II and the Bible

Some historians believe that parts of the Hebrew Bible were written much later than the events they describe. According to this idea, some stories about Hiram I and his friendship with Solomon, the king of Israel, might actually refer to Hiram II and the Judahite king Ahaz.

For example, the Bible story in 1 Kings 5 says that Hiram gave Solomon cedar wood for his temple. This might actually describe King Ahaz renovating the temple, which is mentioned in 2 Kings 16. To cut trees from Mount Lebanon, the king of Tyre would have needed permission from the Assyrians. Since King Ahaz had recently visited Tiglath-pileser in Damascus, this permission could have been granted then.

Similarly, the Bible mentions fleets of ships assembled by Solomon and Hiram in 1 Kings 10. These fleets might fit better with the time of King Ahaz. Ahaz could have gained access to the sea at the Yarkon River from his Assyrian overlord, Tiglath-pileser, after Assyria conquered Philistia. The gold from Ophir that these fleets collected was important for both kings to pay their tribute to Assyria.

End of His Reign

In 729 BC, Hiram II was removed from power by Mattan II. Mattan II then took the throne. The next year, in 728 BC, Mattan II made a large payment of tribute to the Assyrians. This payment was to get the Assyrians to recognize him as the new king.