MPV Commentary

13. The annual revenue from gold that Solomon received was substantial—equivalent to approximately £3.6 million in today's currency.

The amount of 666 talents of gold is staggering, and when considering the proportion of silver (2Ch 9:14), which would be about one-ninth of the total value, the yearly supply would have been nearly £6 million. This was a remarkable sum for an infant maritime commerce effort.

21. The king's ships from Tarshish set sail with Huram's servants on board.

The term "ships of Tarshish" refers to large vessels built or used in Tarshish, known for their size and construction.

25. Solomon maintained 4,000 stalls for his horses.

Some scholars have suggested that the original Hebrew term might imply not just individual stalls but also groups of ten horses kept together in a single area, which would mean he had 40,000 horses. However, most critics agree that this interpretation is unlikely and instead consider the text to refer to the stalls themselves, consistent with the overall grandeur of Solomon's establishments.

28. Horses were brought to Solomon from Egypt (see 2Ch 1:14).

Solomon's reign marked the pinnacle of Israel's worldly glory. His completion of the central temple in Jerusalem, where the people would gather three times a year, has secured his place in history. However, his reign had a devastating impact on the Jewish nation, as he introduced idolatry, formed alliances with foreign leaders, and engaged in commercial ventures that led to the introduction of luxuries, ultimately altering the character of God's people.