Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

A navy of ships - Literally, אני oni, a ship: in the parallel place, 2 Chronicles 8:17, it is said that Hiram sent him אניות oniyoth, ships; but it does not appear that Solomon in this case built more than one ship, and this was manned principally by the Tyrians.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

On Ezion-geber and Eloth, see the notes to marginal references. As the entire tract about Elath (Akaba) is destitute of trees, it is conjectured that the wood of which Solomon built his fleet was cut in Lebanon, floated to Gaza by sea, and thence conveyed across to Ezion-geber, at the head of the E anitic Gulf, by land carriage. (Compare 2 Chronicles 2:16.)

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

SOLOMON'S NAVY BRINGS GOLD FROM OPHIR

"And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon."

"Ezion-geber ... on the shore of the Red Sea" (1 Kings 9:26). This is one of the most important passages in the O.T., because of its use of the Hebrew term [~Yam] [~Cuwp], an expression which James Moffatt and many other critical scholars erroneously translated as Reed Sea in the Book of Exodus (Exodus 15:22), enabling them to postulate upon the basis of that false translation the proposition that Israel merely crossed over marshy ground and not any sea at all. James Moffatt's translation renders [~Yam] [~Cuwp] in Exodus 15:22 as "Reed Sea"; but here in 1 Kings 9:26, where we find exactly that same expression, [~Yam] [~Cuwp], Moffatt properly rendered it Red Sea, for the simple reason that it would be foolish to relate that Solomon launched his navy on a Reed Sea. We have elaborated this for the purpose of pointing out the essential dishonesty of that type of scholarship.

(For a further discussion of [~Yam] [~Sup], see our dissertation on this in Volume 2 (Exodus) of our Commentaries on the Pentateuch, pp. 177-179.) It is now a matter of general information that [~Yam] [~Cuwp] cannot mean either Reed Sea or Red Sea; it actually means End Sea, a proper name for the Indian Ocean which was in general use in the mid-second millennium B.C. when the Pentateuch was written by Moses.

And upon what part of the Indian Ocean did Solomon launch that navy? It was the port at the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba. "It was at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba that Solomon built his new seaport of Ezion-geber."[11]

Incidentally, present-day scholarship, coupled with extensive archaeological studies, make it clear that Moses led the children of Israel over exactly that same arm of the Indian Ocean, namely, the Gulf of Aqaba - only Moses led them across the southern terminus of the Gulf of Aqaba, believe it or not!

Moses led Israel across the Gulf of Aqaba at its southern strait, as proved by Larry Williams' recent book The Mountain of Moses.[12] He also located Mount Horeb (Sinai) in Arabia, as Paul also did (Galatians 4:25).

"And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold" (1 Kings 9:28). "Ophir is usually located in southwestern Arabia, but some scholars, on the basis of the cargo mentioned in 1 Kings 10:22, locate it in India."[13]

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And King Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber,.... Which was one of the stations of the Israelites, near the wilderness of Sin, or Paran, Numbers 33:35, it signifies the backbone of a man; and it is said^F23Harris's Voyages, vol. 1. B. 1. ch. 2. sect. 3. p. 377. the ridge of rocks before this port were in that form, covered by the sea at high water, and sticking up with various points in a line when it was low. Josephus says^F24Antiqu. l. 8. c. 6. sect. 4. in his time it was called Berenice, which is placed by Mela^F25De Situ Orbis, l. 3. c. 8. between the Heroopolitic bay, and the promontory Strobilus, or Pharan. It is thought probable^F26Clayton's Chronology, &c. p. 407. to be the same with that which is called by the Arabs Meenah-el-Dsahab, the port of gold, called Dizahab, Deuteronomy 1:1, which stands upon the shore of the Arabic gulf, about two or three days' distance from Mount Sinai; though by others^F1Vossius in Melam ut supra, (Harris's Voyages, vol. 1. B. 1. ch. 2. sect. 3.) p. 386. thought to be the same the Arabs call Calzem, where was a great quantity of wood fit for building ships. It is further described,

which is beside Elath, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom; and when Edom was subdued by David, this port fell into his hands, and so was in the possession of Solomon; and there being plenty of timber in the parts adjacent, and this being a port in the Red sea, Solomon chose it as proper place to build ships in. Elath, near to which was, is the same the Elanitic bay had its name from; or which See Gill on Deuteronomy 2:8. Trajan, the Roman emperor, formed a navy in the Red sea^F2Eutrop. Rom. Hist. l. 8. Ruti Fest. Breviar. , that by it he might ravage and waste the borders of India; and here it seems Solomon's navy went; see 1 Kings 9:28.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth — These were neighboring ports at the head of the eastern or Elanitic branch of the Red Sea. Tyrian ship carpenters and sailors were sent there for Solomon‘s vessels (see on 2 Chronicles 8:17, 2 Chronicles 8:18).

Ezion-geber — that is, “the giant‘s backbone”; so called from a reef of rocks at the entrance of the harbor.

Eloth — Elim or Elath; that is, “the trees”; a grove of terebinths still exists at the head of the gulf.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.

Made — Not now, but in the beginning of his reign.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 Kings 9:26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which [is] beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.

Ver. 26. And king Solomon made a navy of ships.] Not now first, but when he first began to build, or before. Neither out of covetousness, but for the ease of the people, and to defray his great charges. Fabrica enim opes etiam regias et maximas exhaurit. Building is very costly.

In Eziongeber.] Jehoshaphat did the like, but with unlike success; and why? see 1 Kings 22:48.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Solomon made a navy of ships; not now in the order in which it is placed in the history, but in the beginning of his reign; as appears, because the almug trees which he used in this work were brought in this navy from Ophir, 1 Kings 10:11,12 2 Chronicles 9:10,11, which was a three years’ voyage & here, 1 Kings 10:22; for Ophir and Tharshish were either the same place, or one near to another.

Eloth, or Elath, as it is called, 2 Kings 14:22. See Deuteronomy 2:8. It is thought to be that famous port on the Red Sea which Ptolemy and Strabo call Elana.

In the land of Edom; which David brought under his dominion, and Solomon kept it.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

26.A navy of ships — A fleet, of course, of less size, and ships of smaller dimensions than those with which we are familiar. The success and great importance of Phenician navigation probably suggested this enterprise to Solomon. The Hebrews were never a seafaring people, and Solomon’s sailors had to be taught by Hiram’s shipmen. See next verse.

Ezion-geber — An ancient city on the eastern arm of the Red Sea, at which the Israelites once or twice encamped during their wanderings in the desert. Numbers 33:35; Deuteronomy 2:8. In modern times no trace of it seems to be found.

Eloth — Written, also, Elath. This city seems to have been more ancient and more important than Ezion-geber, since it is mentioned for the purpose of showing the locality of other places. It, also, was one of the places where Israel halted in the desert journey. Deuteronomy 2:8. All that now remains of it are extensive mounds of rubbish which “present nothing of interest, except as indicating that a very ancient city has here utterly perished.” — Robinson.

On the shore of the Red Sea — That is, on the eastern arm of the Red Sea, which bounds the Peninsula of Sinai on the southeast. It is now commonly called the Elanitic Gulf, or Bahr Akabah.

Land of Edom — The mountainous tract of country lying to the south of Palestine, and, as here appears, extending to the Red Sea; the possession of the children of Esau. See at Genesis 36:8.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Fleet. Some ancient Latin editions have, (Haydock) "a name," or monument. (Worthington) --- Ailath, to the east. See Numbers xxxiii. 13.

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Ezion-geber. Compare Numbers 33:35. Deuteronomy 2:8. Position lost when Edom revolted (2 Kings 8:20). Restored by Uzziah (2 Kings 14:22). Finally lost by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:6).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.

Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth. These were neighbouring ports at the head of the eastern or Elanitic branch of the Red Sea. Tyrian ship-carpenters and sailors were sent there for Solomon's vessels, (see the notes at 2 Chronicles 8:1-18.) "Ezion-geber" - i:e., the giant's, backbone; so called from a reef of rocks at the entrance of the harbour. "Eloth" - Elim, or Elath; i:e., 'the trees:' a grove of terebinths still exists at the head of the gulf.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(26) Ezion-geber.—This place is first noticed in Numbers 33:35 and Deuteronomy 2:8 as a station in the wanderings of the Israelites, reached not long before their entrance into Canaan. It lies at the head of the Gulf of Akabah, the nearest point of the Red Sea, on the edge of the mountain country of Edom. Its very name (“the giant’s backbone”) indicates the nature of the country around it, which (it has been noted) could hardly have itself supplied timber for ship-building. But from 2 Chronicles 8:18 it appears that the ships, or the materials from which they were built, were sent from Tyre.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

made a navy

2 Chronicles 8:12,17,18-11

Ezion-geber

22:48; Numbers 33:35; Deuteronomy 2:8

Eloth

2 Kings 14:22

shore

Heb. lip.