1 Kings 9 27

1 Kings 9:27 kjv

And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.

1 Kings 9:27 nkjv

Then Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, seamen who knew the sea, to work with the servants of Solomon.

1 Kings 9:27 niv

And Hiram sent his men?sailors who knew the sea?to serve in the fleet with Solomon's men.

1 Kings 9:27 esv

And Hiram sent with the fleet his servants, seamen who were familiar with the sea, together with the servants of Solomon.

1 Kings 9:27 nlt

Hiram sent experienced crews of sailors to sail the ships with Solomon's men.

1 Kings 9 verses

1 Kings 9 27 Meaning

This verse details a specific instance of collaboration between King Solomon of Israel and King Hiram of Tyre: Hiram dispatched his highly skilled mariners to join Solomon's servants in a naval expedition. This arrangement highlights the continued alliance and interdependence between their kingdoms, essential for Solomon's successful ventures in maritime trade, specifically in acquiring vast quantities of gold from distant lands like Ophir (as implied by the preceding and following verses).

1 Kings 9 27 Context

1 Kings chapter 9 largely describes the latter part of Solomon's reign, focusing on his significant building projects (after the temple and palace), administrative arrangements, and accumulating wealth. Verses 1-9 detail God's conditional covenant with Solomon following the temple dedication, warning him against idolatry. The narrative then shifts to Solomon's forced labor and taxation, his construction efforts (9:10-25), and crucially, his extensive maritime trade. Verse 27 specifically describes the operational aspect of the fleet built in Ezion-Geber (9:26), which was designed to bring in immense wealth, primarily gold, from Ophir. This verse therefore underlines the continuation of the crucial strategic alliance between Israel and the Phoenician kingdom of Tyre, allowing Solomon to leverage Tyre's established naval expertise to expand his kingdom's influence and treasury. Historically, Phoenicia was renowned for its advanced seafaring and trade networks, making Hiram's assistance indispensable for an emerging land-based power like Israel to venture into large-scale overseas commerce.

1 Kings 9 27 Word analysis

• And Hiram sent: Vayyišlaḥ ḥîrām (וַיִּשְׁלַח חִירָם). Signifies the ongoing partnership between Solomon and Hiram, reflecting a diplomatic and economic alliance that continued from the earlier stages of the temple construction (1 Kgs 5). This emphasizes the importance of alliances and foreign assistance in Solomon's kingdom.
• in the navy: Bā’onî (בָּאֳנִי). Refers to the fleet or specific ship(s). The term indicates the ships Solomon had constructed at Ezion-Geber, demonstrating Solomon's ambition to expand his influence beyond land-based trade.
• his servants: ʿĂḇādāyw (עֲבָדָיו). These were professional individuals, likely skilled laborers or officials in Hiram's service, entrusted with significant tasks. The Hebrew word can mean "slaves" or "servants," but in this context, it denotes a highly skilled professional cadre.
• shipmen: Mal·lā·ḥîm (מַלָּחִים). Specifically denotes mariners or sailors. This term highlights their distinct profession and specialized skill in operating vessels at sea.
• that had knowledge of the sea: Yōḏ‘ê yam (יוֹדְעֵי יָם). This phrase further qualifies the "shipmen," emphasizing their deep expertise. It implies not just sailing ability but also practical navigational wisdom—understanding of currents, winds, celestial navigation, geography of trade routes, and perhaps even ship repair. This was critical for perilous long-distance voyages in ancient times, especially to a distant place like Ophir. Their knowledge would have been accumulated over generations of Phoenician maritime experience.
• with the servants of Solomon: ‘Im-‘abde-Šĕlōmōh (עִם־עַבְדֵי שְׁלֹמֹה). Indicates a collaborative, joint expedition. Solomon's servants would have represented his interests, likely managing cargo, finance, and security, while also perhaps learning maritime trade practices from Hiram's experienced crews, thus developing Israel's own nascent naval capabilities. This mutual participation highlights the strength and mutual benefit of the alliance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Hiram sent... his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea": This group highlights the specific and valuable contribution of Hiram to the joint venture. Tyre was the leading maritime power of the time, and their "know-how" was paramount for deep-sea voyages. This signifies the transfer of specialized skills and expertise from one nation to another, demonstrating a practical interdependence facilitated by the royal alliance.
• "in the navy... with the servants of Solomon": This segment describes the shared enterprise. The navy belonged to Solomon, but its operational success was entirely reliant on Hiram's personnel. Solomon's involvement through his own servants suggests managerial oversight, resource provision, and perhaps even a training aspect for his future maritime ambitions. It underscores Solomon's strategic mind in leveraging foreign strengths for national prosperity.

1 Kings 9 27 Bonus section

The maritime ventures undertaken by Solomon with Hiram's assistance highlight an early, significant instance of international collaboration for economic gain, echoing global trade dynamics seen throughout history. The detailed mention of "shipmen that had knowledge of the sea" reflects the advanced level of ancient navigation practiced by the Phoenicians. Their understanding extended beyond coastal piloting to deep-sea navigation, possibly involving star-gazing (polar navigation), currents, and seasonal wind patterns (monsoons). This skill was crucial for such long-distance voyages as to Ophir, which historical research often places in regions like East Africa or India. This alliance therefore did not just bring wealth; it broadened Israel's worldview and exposure to diverse cultures and goods, playing a role in the global exchange facilitated by Solomon's divinely-granted wisdom.

1 Kings 9 27 Commentary

1 Kings 9:27 concisely portrays the functional aspect of the Israelite-Tyrian alliance, pivoting from temple construction to global trade. While Solomon possessed immense wisdom and resources, he lacked inherent maritime expertise. Hiram, conversely, reigned over Tyre, a civilization synonymous with naval prowess and far-reaching trade routes. The verse illustrates this perfect synergy: Solomon provided the ships, built on his land access, while Hiram supplied the crucial "know-how" in the form of his highly experienced mariners—men literally "knowing the sea." This was not merely the sending of common sailors, but experts equipped with generations of practical navigation, meteorology, and seamanship knowledge vital for venturing into the open sea towards distant, lucrative lands like Ophir. This collaborative endeavor underscores how divine blessings on Solomon (1 Kgs 3-4) were realized not just through supernatural provision, but through practical wisdom in statecraft, including forging beneficial international relationships and discerning valuable skills, wherever they might be found. The vast wealth subsequently brought by these ventures was a tangible sign of God's favor and enabled Solomon's kingdom to flourish. This verse also serves as a subtle testament to the highly specialized professions that existed in the ancient world and the necessity of skilled labor for large-scale national undertakings.