1 Kings 10:22

10:22 Along with Hiram’s fleet, the king had a fleet of large merchant ships ¹  that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet ²  came into port with cargoes of ³  gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. ⁴ 

1 Kings 10:2

10:2 She arrived in Jerusalem ⁵  with a great display of pomp, ⁶  bringing with her camels carrying spices, ⁷  a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind.

1 Kings 9:21

9:21 Their descendants remained in the land (the Israelites were unable to wipe them out completely). Solomon conscripted them for his work crews, and they continue in that role to this very day. ⁸ 

¹ tn Heb “a fleet of Tarshish [ships].” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish.

² tn Heb “the fleet of Tarshish [ships].”

³ tn Heb “came carrying.”

⁴ tn The meaning of this word is unclear. Some suggest “baboons.”

⁵ map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

⁶ tn Heb “with very great strength.” The Hebrew term חַיִל (khayil, “strength”) may refer here to the size of her retinue (cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV) or to the great wealth she brought with her.

⁷ tn Or “balsam oil.”

⁸ tn Heb “their sons who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel were unable to wipe out, and Solomon raised them up for a crew of labor to this day.”