Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 10:11
And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
The navy of Hiram – i. e., Solomons navy in the Red Sea, which was chiefly manned by subjects of Hiram. (see the marginal reference).
Almug-trees – Probably the sandal-wood tree (pterocarpus santalinus). The wood is very heavy, hard, and fine grained, and of a beautiful garnet color, which, according to the rabbinical writers, was the color of the algum. One of the names of the red sandal-wood, in its own native country (India) is valguka, a word of which algum is a natural corruption.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. Great plenty of almug trees] In the parallel place, 2Ch 9:10-11, these are called algum trees, the mem and the gimel being transposed; probably the latter is the more correct orthography. What the algum trees were we do not exactly know. The Vulgate calls it ligna thyina, the thya or lignum vitae wood; and Mr. Parkhurst thinks that the original algumim, comes from al, not, and gem, to fill; because the lignum vitae is of so close a texture that it can imbibe no water, and cannot be affected by wet weather. The Septuagint translate it , pine timber; the Syriac [Syriac] kaise dakisotho, probably cypress wood, or what the translators render ligna brasilica; the Arabic translates coloured wood, and subjoins a paraphrase, for that wood was by nature painted with various colours. Perhaps the Arabic comesnearest the truth; wood shaded of different colours, such as the rose wood and such like, which are brought to us from various parts of the East Indies. The whole passage as it stands in the Arabic is this: “And the ships of Hiram brought gold from the land of Hind, (India,) and they carried also much coloured wood, (but this wood is naturally painted of various colours,) and very precious jewels. And Solomon put some of that same painted wood which was brought to him in the house of the Lord, and in his own house; and with it he adorned them.” And for inlaying and veneering nothing can be finer than this wood.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
11. almug treesParenthetically,along with the valuable presents of the queen of Sheba, is mentioneda foreign wood, which was brought in the Ophir ships. It is thoughtby some to be the sandalwood; by others, to be the deodara speciesof fragrant fir, much used in India for sacred and important works.Solomon used it for stairs in his temple and palace (2Ch9:11), but chiefly for musical instruments.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the navy also of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir,…. This perhaps was before Solomon was concerned with Hiram in navigation and merchandise; though in 2Ch 9:10 both their servants are said to bring it; and it is here inserted perhaps to show that Solomon had not his gold, at least all of it, from the queen of Sheba; but much from Hiram, who fetched it from Ophir; and as this was in India, as observed on 1Ki 9:28, many writers make mention of gold in that part of the world, as Diodorus Siculus w, Strabo x, Dionysius y, Curtius z, Pliny a, and others: and this navy also
brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees: or algum trees, by transposition of letters, 2Ch 9:10, which some of the Jewish writers b take to be coral, which is not likely; others Brasil, rather ebony, which was peculiar to India, as both Solinus c and Virgil d say; Strabo e makes mention of strange trees in India:
and precious stones; of which there is great variety and plenty in that country, as related by Dionysius f, as diamonds, beryls, jaspers, topazes, and amethysts, and by Curtius g, Solinus h, and others.
w Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 121. x Geograph l. 15. p. 481. y Perieg. v. 1144. z Hist. l. 8. sect. 9. a Nat. Hist. 1. 6. c. 19, 20. b Daved de Pomis, Lexic. fol. 70. 3. c Polyhistor. c. 64. d “Sola India nigrum fert ebenum.” Georgie. l. 2. ver. 116, 117. e Geograph. l. 15. p. 477. f Perieget, ver. 1119, &c. g Hist. l. 8. c. 9. h Polyhistor. c. 65.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11, 12) Gold from Ophir.The insertion of this notice is obviously suggested by the mention of the gold and precious stones brought from Sheba. The wood of the almug tree, called (apparently more properly) the algum tree in 2Ch. 9:10, is (see Note on 1Ki. 9:25) the red sandal-wood found in China and the Indian Archipelago, and still used for precious utensils in India. The pillars for the house of the Lord could not have been any of the larger supports of the Temple. They are usually supposed to have been (see margin) rails or balustrades for stairs. (See 2Ch. 9:11.) For the harps and the psalteries (which appear to have been like our guitars) the beauty and hardness of the word would be especially appropriate. These represent the stringed instruments chiefly in use in the service of the Temple. The harp (kinnor) is the more ancient, traced (see Gen. 4:21) even to antediluvian times. The psaltery (nebel) is first mentioned (generally with the harp) in the Psalms. Both seem to have been played either with the hand, or with a plectrum or quill.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Of almug trees Josephus describes them as a sort of pine; Shaw understands the cypress to be meant; but most moderns identify this tree with the sandal-wood, which was celebrated in the East from very early times as a fine-grained and fragrant tree. The reference to the navy of Hiram, and the mention of Ophir, seem to have been because the navy brought therefrom so many products similar to those which the queen of Sheba presented to him.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 10:11-12. And the navy also of Hiram, &c. Parkhurst thinks, that the almugim, thya, or lignumvitae tree, is so called from al, not, and gem, to fill, because it is of so close a texture, as not to imbibe water, nor be affected by the wet and weather. See Dr. Shaw’s Travels, p. 422.
REFLECTIONS.The spreading fame of Solomon brought to his court a vast resort of strangers. Among the most distinguished of which, we must reckon the queen of Sheba.
1. She came with a vast retinue, and the richest presents, to converse with a person of whom she had heard such wonders, to prove him by hard questions, to gain advice in her difficulties, and especially to inquire concerning the name of the Lord who had bestowed on Solomon such uncommon wisdom. Note; (1.) Wisdom can never be too dearly bought, or too far fetched. (2.) If her solicitude to inquire after God was so commendable, how will it upbraid their neglect, who, when the greater than Solomon is here, to teach them by his word and Spirit, refuse instruction, and will not hear the wisdom of God.
2. Solomon entertained her with the dignity becoming her rank, communed with her of all that she had in her heart, answered every question, and solved all her difficulties to her entire satisfaction. Note; They who have the gift of knowledge, should delight in the communication of it.
3. What she heard and saw quite astonished her. His discourses so deep and clear; his buildings so vast and magnificent; his table so richly and regularly supplied; his servants so exact, orderly, and numerous; his liveries so grand; his cup-bearers so stately; and his ascent by steps to the house of the Lord so nobly contrived, so exquisitely finished; or, as it may be rendered, the burnt-offerings in the house of the Lord, which, as proselyted, she might now be admitted to behold: these were all so astonishing, that she was lost in admiration.
4. When she had recovered from her amazement, she could not withhold expressing her high satisfaction, and how much the event exceeded her expectation. Fame is usually too liberal, but here had been unjust, half had not been told her. She pronounces them happy, who enjoyed the constant opportunity of hearing such a prodigy of wisdom; declares that she could be tempted to wish her lot among his servants, rather than on the throne of Sheba; and concludes with blessing God for his distinguished gifts and greatness, and for his goodness to Israel in giving them such a king. Note; (1.) To enjoy the converse of those who are wise in the things of God is a most valuable mercy. (2.) God, as the author of all our blessings, deserves the praise of all. (3.) When we shall come to the presence of our Solomon, the Prince of Peace, we shall own how much the glory he hath prepared for his people exceeds all that eye hath seen or ear heard, or it hath entered into the heart of man to conceive.
5. They parted with mutual magnificent presents: she gave him gold, and spices, and jewels; and he made her a like return, presenting her besides with every thing curious, which she desired. Note; (1.) Mutual tokens are the pledges of friendship. (2.) Though we have nothing valuable to offer to the Lord Jesus, yet, if we have the willing heart, he will send us away loaded with his good things, and we can ask him nothing that he will not delight to bestow on us.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Ki 10:11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
Ver. 11. And the navy also of Hiram, ] i.e., Built with the timber sent by Hiram, and manned by his mariners. 2Ch 8:18
Brought gold from Ophir.
Brought in from Ophir,
Great plenty of almug trees.
a Vide Plin., lib. xiii. cap. 15, 16.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
navy also of Hiram. Joined with Solomon (1Ki 10:22; 1Ki 9:27, 1Ki 9:28).
Ophir. See note on 2Ch 8:18.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
from Ophir: 1Ki 9:27, 1Ki 9:28, 2Ch 8:18, Psa 45:9
almug: 2Ch 2:8, 2Ch 9:10, 2Ch 9:11, algum trees
Reciprocal: 1Ch 1:23 – Ophir Rev 18:12 – merchandise
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 10:11-12. The navy of Hiram brought great plenty of almug-trees It is very uncertain what these almug-trees were, or algum-trees, as they are termed 2Ch 2:8, by a transposition of letters. Dr. Waterland renders the expression gum-trees, and Houbigant ligna citra, citron-wood. But Dr. Castell thinks it was the wood called sanctulum, which is proper for all the uses mentioned in the next verse, and is still in India. The king made of the almug-trees pillars for the house There is nothing said from whence we can form any conjecture what is meant by these pillars or props, or how or where they were applied.