2 Chronicles 9:21

For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

For the king's {H4428} ships {H591} went {H1980} to Tarshish {H8659} with the servants {H5650} of Huram {H2361}: every three {H7969} years {H8141} once {H259} came {H935} the ships {H591} of Tarshish {H8659} bringing {H5375} gold {H2091}, and silver {H3701}, ivory {H8143}, and apes {H6971}, and peacocks {H8500}.

The king had ships that could go to Tarshish with Huram's servants; once every three years the "Tarshish" ships came in, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.

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

For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 9:21 vividly illustrates the extraordinary wealth and global reach of King Solomon's reign, describing his impressive maritime trade operations.

Context

This verse is part of a broader narrative in 2 Chronicles that extols the unparalleled wisdom, wealth, and glory of King Solomon, portraying his reign as a golden age for Israel. Solomon's prosperity was not only due to tribute from neighboring nations but also extensive international trade. His strategic alliance with Huram (also known as Hiram), the king of Tyre, was instrumental in facilitating these long-distance voyages. Huram's skilled mariners joined Solomon's servants in operating these fleets, demonstrating the strategic partnerships of the time. This account parallels that found in 1 Kings 10:22, further emphasizing the significance of this trade to his kingdom's opulence. The verse is situated after descriptions of Solomon's vast gold and silver reserves, highlighting the source of his material abundance, as seen in 2 Chronicles 9:20.

Key Themes

  • Unrivaled Prosperity: The triennial arrival of ships laden with precious metals and exotic goods underscores the immense wealth accumulated during Solomon's reign, distinguishing him among the kings of his era, as further detailed in 2 Chronicles 9:22.
  • International Influence: The voyages to distant Tarshish signify Israel's significant global connections and Solomon's diplomatic and commercial prowess, extending his kingdom's reach far beyond its borders.
  • Divine Blessing: While the verse focuses on material aspects, the chronicler often presents Solomon's extraordinary prosperity and wisdom as a direct fulfillment of God's promises and blessings upon his reign, echoing promises found in 1 Kings 3:13.

Linguistic Insights

  • Tarshish: The precise geographical location of "Tarshish" (Hebrew: Tarshish) is a subject of scholarly debate. It likely refers to a distant, significant port city, possibly in modern-day Spain (Tartessos), or it may have been a general term for any far-off land accessible by sea. Its mention here signifies the immense distance and scale of Solomon's trade network, emphasizing the exotic nature of the goods.
  • Exotic Cargo: The specific listing of "ivory, and apes, and peacocks" highlights the unique and luxurious nature of the imports. Ivory (elephant tusks) was a highly prized material used for decorative items and furniture. "Apes" (Hebrew: qoph) and "peacocks" (Hebrew: tukkiyyim) were rare, imported animals, symbolizing opulence, royal prestige, and the king's ability to acquire the most unusual treasures from around the world.

Significance and Application

This verse paints a vivid picture of a remarkable period in Israelite history—a time of immense national glory, peace, and material abundance under King Solomon's wise rule. It serves as a testament to God's ability to grant extraordinary blessings and resources to His people, not only for their benefit but also for the advancement of His purposes, such as the building of the Temple. For the modern reader, this passage offers a glimpse into the vastness of Solomon's kingdom and the extent of God's provision. However, it also implicitly reminds us of the potential pitfalls of immense wealth and power, which, in the broader narrative of Solomon's life, eventually contributed to his spiritual decline, a theme explored in 1 Kings 11:4. It encourages reflection on the source, purpose, and stewardship of our own resources and blessings.

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.

  • 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.

  • Job 39:13

    ¶ [Gavest thou] the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

  • 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.
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