1 Kings 9:26

26 And ships! King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, located near Elath in Edom on the Red Sea.

1 Kings 9:26 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 9:26

And King Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber
Which was one of the stations of the Israelites, near the wilderness of Sin, or Paran, ( Numbers 33:35 ) , it signifies the backbone of a man; and it is said F23 the ridge of rocks before this port were in that form, covered by the sea at high water, and sticking up with various points in a line when it was low. Josephus says F24 in his time it was called Berenice, which is placed by Mela F25 between the Heroopolitic bay, and the promontory Strobilus, or Pharan. It is thought probable F26 to be the same with that which is called by the Arabs Meenah-el-Dsahab, the port of gold, called Dizahab, ( Deuteronomy 1:1 ) , which stands upon the shore of the Arabic gulf, about two or three days' distance from Mount Sinai; though by others F1 thought to be the same the Arabs call Calzem, where was a great quantity of wood fit for building ships. It is further described,

which is beside Elath, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of
Edom;
and when Edom was subdued by David, this port fell into his hands, and so was in the possession of Solomon; and there being plenty of timber in the parts adjacent, and this being a port in the Red sea, Solomon chose it as proper place to build ships in. Elath, near to which was, is the same the Elanitic bay had its name from; or which (See Gill on Deuteronomy 2:8). Trajan, the Roman emperor, formed a navy in the Red sea F2, that by it he might ravage and waste the borders of India; and here it seems Solomon's navy went; see ( 1 Kings 9:28 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F23 Harris's Voyages, vol. 1. B. 1. ch. 2. sect. 3. p. 377.
F24 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 6. sect. 4.
F25 De Situ Orbis, l. 3. c. 8.
F26 Clayton's Chronology p. 407.
F1 Vossius in Melam ut supra, (Harris's Voyages, vol. 1. B. 1. ch. 2. sect. 3.) p. 386.
F2 Eutrop. Rom. Hist. l. 8. Ruti Fest. Breviar.

1 Kings 9:26 In-Context

24 It was after Pharaoh's daughter ceremonially ascended from the City of David and took up residence in the house built especially for her that Solomon built the defense complex (the Millo).
25 Three times a year Solomon worshiped at the Altar of God, sacrificing Whole-Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings, and burning incense in the presence of God. Everything that had to do with The Temple he did generously and well; he didn't skimp.
26 And ships! King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, located near Elath in Edom on the Red Sea.
27 Hiram sent seaworthy sailors to assist Solomon's men with the fleet.
28 They embarked for Ophir, brought back sixteen tons of gold, and presented it to King Solomon.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.