Hiram Abif

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Hiram Abif is an allegorical figure in Masonic ritual, figuratively the master of the construction of King Solomon's Temple built around 988 BC).

According to the traditional history used in ritual Hiram Abif was murdered by three craftsmen working on the construction of the temple in an effort to elicit information from the Master Mason. Whatever the information or secret was, Abif did not reveal it to them before his death.

Hiram's body was hidden by the assailants, later being recovered by King Solomon and suitably interred.

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Biblical Sources

Two candidates appear in biblical sources, Hiram king of Tyre or Hiram a craftsman of great skill sent from Tyre. It is clear from ritual that Hiram Abif is the craftsman.

Hiram, King of Tyre, is credited in 2 Samuel 5:11 for having sent building materials and men for the original construction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Second Chronicles 2:13 relates a formal request from King Solomon of Jerusalem to King Hiram I of Tyre, for workers and for materials to build a new temple; King Hiram responds I am sending you Huram-Abi, a man of great skill, whose mother was from Dan and whose father was from Tyre. He is trained to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood and with purple, blue and crimson yarn and fine linen. He is experienced in all kinds of engraving and can execute any design given to gin. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my lord, David your father.

In 1 Kings 7:13-14, Hiram is described as a widow's son from Tyre, contracted by Solomon to cast the bronze furnishings for the new temple. From this text reference, Freemasons often refer to Hiram Abif as "the widow's son". Hiram lived or at least temporarilly worked in clay banks (1 Kings 7:46-47) along the Jabbok River, on the east bank of the Jordan River, near their confluence.


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Pseudo-history

Revisionist historians and Freemasons, Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, argue in their book The Hiram Key that Hiram Abif was actually Theban pharaoh Tao II the Brave.

Abif shows up in legend by Freemasonry-related organizations, but such legends are usually built upon - and embellished - versions of the Freemason ritual.

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References

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