MPV Commentary

Solomon's Yearly Sacrifices.

The three annual festivals that Solomon observed were the Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles (2 Chronicles 8:13; 31:3). These verses conclude the account of his building projects and demonstrate that his goal in constructing these buildings at Jerusalem was to address the shortcomings present at the beginning of his reign (1 Kings 3:1-4).

Solomon also established a maritime presence by sending ships to Ezion-geber, which is located beside Eloth. These neighboring ports were situated at the head of the eastern branch of the Red Sea. He employed Tyrian shipwrights and sailors for this endeavor (2 Chronicles 8:17-18).

Ezion-geber got its name from a reef of rocks at the harbor entrance. The nearby location, Eloth, was also known as Elim or Elath, which means "the trees." A grove of terebinths still exists in that area.

Solomon's ships sailed to Ophir, a general term for the southern regions along the African, Arabian, or Indian seas, as they were known at that time. During his reign, he imported 420 talents of gold from these expeditions (2 Chronicles 8:18). At the standard weight and value of the time, this would have been equivalent to approximately £2,604,000.