Bible Strands
1 Kings 10:22
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Solomon’s commercial operations during his reign, positioned between a description of his palace gold and a summary of his unmatched wealth and wisdom. The passage addresses the reader directly with a factual report of royal logistics rather than a spoken address.
The words — אֳנִי תַרְשִׁישׁ (oni Tarshish) translates literally to “ships of Tarshish,” referring to large deep-water vessels. The conjunction כִּי (ki) operates explicatively, tying this maritime enterprise to the preceding account of Solomon’s wealth.
The thread — The text references this same trade route in 1 Kings 22:48 and 2 Chronicles 20:36, where later monarchs attempt identical voyages but lose their fleets. Genesis 10:4 identifies Tarshish as a son of Javan, anchoring the location within ancient genealogical geography.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to note that Solomon’s prosperity depended on a regulated, triennial international supply chain. It asks the reader to observe how administrative coordination and foreign alliances materialize the kingdom’s described wealth.
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
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 22:48 Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail, because they were wrecked at Ezion-geber.
- Genesis 10:4 And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.
- 2 Chronicles 20:36 They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, and these were built in Ezion-geber.
- Psalms 48:7 With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.
- Psalms 72:10 May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
- 2 Chronicles 9:21 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.
- Isaiah 2:16 against every ship of Tarshish, and against every stately vessel.
- Isaiah 23:1 This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.
- Isaiah 23:6 Cross over to Tarshish; wail, O inhabitants of the coastland!
- Isaiah 23:10 Cultivate your land like the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish; there is no longer a harbor.