Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 8:17
Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.
17, 18 (= 1Ki 9:26-28). Solomon’s Fleet
17. to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth ] In 1 Kin. Ezion-geber which is beside Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea. Strictly speaking it was at the head of the Gulf of Akaba, the eastern arm of the Red Sea. Cp. 2Ch 20:36 (R.V.) and Deu 2:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 17. Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber] See the notes on 1Kg 9:26-28, for conjectures concerning Ezion-geber and Ophir.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of this and the next verse, See Poole “1Ki 9:26“, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. Then went Solomon toEzion-geber, and to ElothThese two maritime ports weresituated at the eastern gulf of the Red Sea, now called the Gulf ofAkaba. Eloth is seen in the modern Akaba, Ezion-geber in El Gudyan[ROBINSON]. Solomon,determined to cultivate the arts of peace, was sagacious enough toperceive that his kingdom could become great and glorious only byencouraging a spirit of commercial enterprise among his subjects;and, accordingly, with that in mind he made a contract with Huram forships and seamen to instruct his people in navigation.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Ver. 17-18. Then went Solomon to Eziongeber,…. Being now at leisure to look after his navy, to carry on merchandise; and of this, and the following verse, and the reconciliation of them with 1Ki 9:26,
[See comments on 1Ki 9:26],
[See comments on 1Ki 9:27],
[See comments on 1Ki 9:28].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Voyage to Ophir. Cf. 1Ki 9:26-28, and the commentary on that passage, where we have discussed the divergences of our narrative, and have also come to the conclusion that Ophir is not to be sought in India, but in Southern Arabia. By the date of this voyage is made to fall in the period after the building of the temple and the palace, i.e., in the second half of Solomon’s reign.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(d) THE VOYAGE TO OPHIR (2Ch. 8:17-18).
Comp. 1Ki. 9:26-28.
(17) Then (z).After the completion of the Temple.
Went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth.Syr., Ezion-geber, a city which is over against Eloth. 1Ki. 9:26 reads, And a fleet did king Solomon make at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth.
The sea.Kings, the Red Sea. So Vulg. The words of our text do not necessarily imply a personal visit on the part of Solomon. He sent his shipwrights to the Idumean port.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Solomon is represented under various characters. But though he went, it seems, in person to gather the gold of Ophir, yet he himself hath left it upon record that there is a merchandise that is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. Pro 3:14 . And what is that but the bartering with thee, thou blessed Jesus, our poverty for thy riches; our sins for thy righteousness; and our weakness for thy strength. Oh! for that durable riches and righteousness which is with thee, in which there is nothing hollow and unsubstantial; for thou causest them that love thee to inherit substance, and thou fillest all their treasures. Pro 8:21Pro 8:21 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 8:17 Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.
Ver. 17. To Eziongeber. ] A haven of the Red Sea, called by Josephus Berenice, by Jerome Essia; Eloth is also called Elath, Deu 2:8 and at this day Elana, unde sinus Elaniticus.
Four hundred and fifty talents.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 8:17-18
2Ch 8:17-18
SOLOMON’S NAVY
“Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom. And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and fetched from thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.”
“Ezion-geber, and Eloth” (2Ch 8:17). “These two places were near each other at the northern extremity of the Gulf of Aqabah.”
“Four hundred and fifty talents of gold” (2Ch 8:18). One can always count on the nit-pickers to contrast this with the statement in Kings that the amount was four hundred and twenty talents. Maybe sea-port taxes, sailors’ wages, and other expenses were deducted in the King’s account! Such variations are unimportant.
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 8:17-18. Solomon wished to import this gold from Ophir because it was reputed to be of unusual fineness. As the sea travel in those waters was somewhat uncertain, Huram (Hiram) sent some of his men to serve as guides in the adventure.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Eziongeber: 2Ch 20:36, Num 33:35, 1Ki 9:26, 1Ki 9:27, 1Ki 22:48
Eloth: Deu 2:8, 2Ki 14:22, 2Ki 16:6, Elath
Reciprocal: 2Ch 26:2 – Eloth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8:17 Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the {i} sea side in the land of Edom.
(i) Meaning, the Red Sea.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
3. Solomon’s economic success 8:17-9:28
God gave Solomon wisdom and wealth as He had promised (2Ch 1:12). The location of Ophir (2Ch 8:18) is uncertain. Scholars have suggested India, Somalia on the east coast of Africa, West Arabia, and South Arabia.
The Queen of Sheba attested to Solomon’s wisdom (2Ch 9:1-12). God’s purpose for Israel was that His people should draw the nations to Yahweh (Exo 19:5-6). We see Israel realizing this purpose partially in this queen’s visit to Solomon. She came to listen to him, and she brought gifts to him (cf. Isa 2:3; Isa 60:3; Isa 60:5-6; Hag 2:7).
"Negotiations with Solomon concerning trade in aromatic resins were to be expected. Frankincense and myrrh were in high demand for use in pharmacopoeia and cosmetics, embalming and religious offerings (Isa 60:6; Jer 6:20). Frankincense and myrrh ranked alongside gold for trade and as gifts for a king." [Note: Ibid., p. 242.]
"The Queen of Sheba who came to Jerusalem with much wealth and found that she had only imagined the half of the king’s wisdom gives a dramatic picture of the hope that the Chronicler, along with the prophets, had vested in the Davidic kingship." [Note: John Sailhamer, First and Second Chronicles, pp. 79-80.]
"The impression made upon the Queen of Sheba shows the power that belongs to the children of God to bring God to those who are, figuratively speaking, ’far off’." [Note: McConville, p. 148.]
Other Gentile nations also contributed greatly to Solomon’s wealth (2Ch 9:22-24). God brought this wealth to Solomon because of his obedience. Nevertheless, Solomon only partially fulfilled God’s promises. Their complete fulfillment awaited the appearance of the perfectly obedient Son of David.