1 Kings 10:22

For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

For the king {H4428} had at sea {H3220} a navy {H590} of Tharshish {H8659} with the navy {H590} of Hiram {H2438}: once {H259} in three {H7969} years {H8141} came {H935} the navy {H590} of Tharshish {H8659}, bringing {H5375} gold {H2091}, and silver {H3701}, ivory {H8143}, and apes {H6971}, and peacocks {H8500}.

The king had a fleet of large "Tarshish" ships along with Hiram's fleet; once every three years the "Tarshish" fleet came in, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.

For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

Commentary

Context

This verse is part of a larger section detailing the unparalleled prosperity and glory of King Solomon's reign, which was a direct result of God's blessing on his wisdom (1 Kings 3:13). Solomon formed a strategic alliance with Hiram, King of Tyre, a powerful maritime nation. This partnership was crucial for Israel, which lacked significant naval capabilities, allowing them to participate in long-distance sea trade and bring in vast riches that contributed to the splendor described throughout 1 Kings 10. The regular voyages described here underscore the consistent flow of exotic goods into Solomon's kingdom.

Key Themes

  • Unprecedented Wealth and Prosperity: The verse vividly illustrates King Solomon's extraordinary riches, detailing a triennial (once every three years) voyage that brought in highly valuable and exotic commodities such as gold, silver, ivory, and rare animals like apes and peacocks. This immense wealth far surpassed that of any previous Israelite king, as noted in 1 Kings 10:23.
  • International Trade and Influence: Solomon's navy, operating "with the navy of Hiram," demonstrates Israel's significant involvement in global commerce. This extensive trade network expanded Israel's influence and brought diverse resources into the kingdom, reflecting the fulfillment of God's promises of blessing and prosperity to Solomon.
  • Divine Blessing: While the verse focuses on the material goods, the underlying theme is God's abundant blessing upon Solomon for his initial request for wisdom (1 Kings 3:9). This wealth was a tangible sign of God's favor and the flourishing of the kingdom under a wise and divinely appointed ruler.

Linguistic and Geographical Insights

The term Tharshish (often rendered Tarshish) likely refers to a distant port city, possibly in modern-day Spain (Tartessos), or it may be a general term for large, ocean-going ships capable of long voyages. The fact that these voyages took "once in three years" suggests the immense distances and time involved in such ancient maritime expeditions. The goods—gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks—point to origins in Africa, India, or other far-off lands, indicating a vast and complex trade network that stretched across continents, facilitated by the naval expertise of the Phoenicians from Tyre.

Practical Application

This passage reminds us that God can bestow immense blessings and resources, often in ways that seem extraordinary. Solomon's wealth was a testament to God's favor and his initial pursuit of wisdom over riches. However, the narrative of Solomon's later life also serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the potential dangers of immense wealth and power if not managed with continued devotion to God (1 Kings 11:4). For believers today, the verse highlights God's ability to provide abundantly and the importance of stewardship, reminding us that true riches are found in a relationship with God rather than in material possessions alone.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 22:48

    Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

  • Genesis 10:4

    And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:36

    And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongeber.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:37

    Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.

  • Psalms 72:10

    The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

  • Psalms 48:7

    Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

  • Isaiah 66:19

    And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, [to] Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, [to] Tubal, and Javan, [to] the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
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