And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought [them] to king Solomon.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Huram sent some of his servants with ships, and others that were experienced sailors who understood the sea; they went with Shlomo's servants to Ofir and took from there fifteen tons of gold, which they brought back to King Shlomo.
Berean Standard Bible:
So Hiram sent him ships captained by his servants, along with crews of experienced sailors. They went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir and acquired from there 450 talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.
American Standard Version:
And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and fetched from thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, [as] musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
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.
And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought [it] to king Solomon.
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Commentary for 2 Chronicles 8:18
2 Chronicles 8:18 is a verse that captures a moment in the extensive collaborative efforts between King Solomon of Israel and Huram (also known as Hiram), the king of Tyre, a Phoenician city-state renowned for its maritime prowess. The historical context of this verse is set during the peak of Solomon's reign, a period characterized by grand building projects, including the First Temple in Jerusalem. Solomon's alliance with Huram was instrumental in acquiring the resources necessary for these monumental tasks.
The verse specifically mentions Huram's contribution to Solomon's ventures by sending "ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea." This highlights the nautical expertise of the Phoenicians, who were widely recognized as the preeminent seafarers of their time. The Phoenicians' maritime knowledge was crucial for the successful navigation to Ophir, a distant and legendary location famed for its gold.
In this collaborative expedition, Solomon's and Huram's servants worked together to transport a substantial quantity of gold back to Jerusalem—four hundred and fifty talents, an amount that would be worth millions of dollars in modern terms. This gold was likely used in the adornment of the Temple and Solomon's palace, underscoring the wealth and splendor of his reign.
The themes present in this verse include international cooperation, the importance of specialized knowledge (in this case, maritime skills), and the pursuit of wealth to enhance the glory of a kingdom. It also reflects the biblical emphasis on the abundance of resources made available to Solomon during his reign, which is often portrayed as a golden age of Israelite history. The verse underscores the interconnectedness of ancient economies and the role of trade and alliance in the accumulation of wealth and the execution of grand royal projects.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H2361 There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: חוּרָם Transliteration: Chûwrâm Pronunciation: khoo-rawm' Description: probably from חוּר; whiteness, i.e. noble; Churam, the name of an Israelite and two Syrians; Huram. Compare חִירָם.
Strong's Number: H7971 There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׁלַח Transliteration: shâlach Pronunciation: shaw-lakh' Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).
Strong's Number: H3027 There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָד Transliteration: yâd Pronunciation: yawd Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
Strong's Number: H5650 There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עֶבֶד Transliteration: ʻebed Pronunciation: eh'-bed Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
Strong's Number: H591 There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֳנִיָּה Transliteration: ʼŏnîyâh Pronunciation: on-ee-yaw' Description: feminine of אֳנִי; a ship; ship(-men).
Strong's Number: H3045 There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָדַע Transliteration: yâdaʻ Pronunciation: yaw-dah' Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.
Strong's Number: H3220 There are 339 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יָם Transliteration: yâm Pronunciation: yawm Description: from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south; sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward).
Strong's Number: H935 There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: בּוֹא Transliteration: bôwʼ Pronunciation: bo Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
Strong's Number: H8010 There are 263 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שְׁלֹמֹה Transliteration: Shᵉlômôh Pronunciation: shel-o-mo' Description: from שָׁלוֹם; peaceful; Shelomah, David's successor; Solomon.
Strong's Number: H211 There are 110 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אוֹפִיר Transliteration: ʼÔwphîyr Pronunciation: o-feer' Description: or (shortened) אֹפִיר; and אוֹפִר; of uncertain derivation; Ophir, the name of a son of Joktan, and of a gold region in the East; Ophir.
Strong's Number: H3947 There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: לָקַח Transliteration: lâqach Pronunciation: law-kakh' Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
Strong's Number: H702 There are 383 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אַרְבַּע Transliteration: ʼarbaʻ Pronunciation: ar-bah' Description: masculine אַרְבָּעָה; from רָבַע; four; four.
Strong's Number: H3967 There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: מֵאָה Transliteration: mêʼâh Pronunciation: may-aw' Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore.
Strong's Number: H2572 There are 141 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: חֲמִשִּׁים Transliteration: chămishshîym Pronunciation: kham-ish-sheem' Description: multiple of חָמֵשׁ; fifty; fifty.
Strong's Number: H3603 There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: כִּכָּר Transliteration: kikkâr Pronunciation: kik-kawr' Description: from כָּרַר; a circle, i.e. (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region, especially the Ghor or valley of the Jordan; also a (round) loaf; also a talent (or large [round] coin); loaf, morsel, piece, plain, talent.
Strong's Number: H2091 There are 336 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: זָהָב Transliteration: zâhâb Pronunciation: zaw-hawb' Description: from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; gold(-en), fair weather.
Strong's Number: H4428 There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: מֶלֶךְ Transliteration: melek Pronunciation: meh'-lek Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.