Bible Strands
1 Kings 10:11
(The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almug wood and precious stones.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the return of Hiram’s fleet to Jerusalem immediately after the queen of Sheba completes her audience with Solomon. The passage documents the commercial exchange occurring during the king’s reign without any spoken dialogue.
The words — The phrase אֳנִ֣י חִירָ֔ם ('o.Ni chi.Ram) literally means “the ship[s] of Hiram,” and the verb הֵבִ֨יא (he.Vi') translates as “it brought.” These terms specify the foreign origin of the cargo before the text lists the materials.
The thread — The same fleet operation appears in 1 Kings 9:27 and 2 Chronicles 8:18, where Hiram’s sailors are integrated with Solomon’s crews for Ophir voyages. The almug wood reappears in 2 Chronicles 2:8 as a requested supply for temple and palace construction.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to note that Solomon’s wealth depended on Hiram’s maritime logistics rather than domestic production. It demands acknowledgment of how foreign trade networks directly supplied the materials described in the narrative.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 9:27 And Hiram sent his servants, sailors who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants.
- 2 Chronicles 2:8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber there. And indeed, my servants will work with yours
- 2 Chronicles 8:18 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.
- 2 Chronicles 9:10 (The servants of Hiram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones.
- Psalms 45:9 The daughters of kings are among your honored women; the queen stands at your right hand, adorned with the gold of Ophir.