Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler records a historical event during Solomon’s reign, detailing the logistical collaboration between the king of Tyre and Israel. The narrative follows Solomon’s arrival at the coastal ports of Ezion-geber and Eloth.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּשְׁלַח (va/i.yish.lach) means "and he sent," establishing Hiram’s active provision. The phrase יֹדְעֵי יָם (Yod.'ei yam) literally translates to "knowers of the sea," denoting experienced sailors.
The thread — This maritime expedition and the subsequent gold delivery appear in 1 Kings 9:27 and are cross-referenced in 2 Chronicles 9:10 and 9:13. These passages collectively document the ongoing commercial and naval partnership between Solomon and Hiram.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize the precise administrative and logistical arrangements that facilitated Solomon’s wealth. It demands an acknowledgment of how foreign alliances and specialized labor were mobilized to execute royal economic projects.
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 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.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 9:10 (The servants of Hiram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones.
- 2 Chronicles 9:13 The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents,
- 1 Kings 9:27 And Hiram sent his servants, sailors who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants.
- 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.
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.