2 Chronicles 8:18 kjv
And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.
2 Chronicles 8:18 nkjv
And Hiram sent him ships by the hand of his servants, and servants who knew the sea. They went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and acquired four hundred and fifty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.
2 Chronicles 8:18 niv
And Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own men, sailors who knew the sea. These, with Solomon's men, sailed to Ophir and brought back four hundred and fifty talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.
2 Chronicles 8:18 esv
And Hiram sent to him by the hand of his servants ships and servants familiar with the sea, and they went to Ophir together with the servants of Solomon and brought from there 450 talents of gold and brought it to King Solomon.
2 Chronicles 8:18 nlt
Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers and manned by experienced crews of sailors. These ships sailed to Ophir with Solomon's men and brought back to Solomon almost seventeen tons of gold.
2 Chronicles 8 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 9:26-28 | King Solomon also built a fleet of ships… with Huram’s men... to Ophir. | Solomon's maritime trade to Ophir, mirroring 2 Chr 8:18. |
| 1 Kgs 10:11 | (Huram’s fleet of ships… also brought from Ophir almug wood and precious stones). | Confirmation of Ophir as a source of diverse precious goods. |
| 2 Chr 9:10-11 | (And Huram’s servants… also brought almug trees… and precious stones). | Shows a broader range of valuable imports beyond just gold. |
| 1 Kgs 10:14 | The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents… | Contextualizes the amount from Ophir as part of Solomon's annual gold intake. |
| 2 Chr 9:13 | Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents… | Further emphasizing Solomon's immense yearly gold revenue. |
| Job 28:16 | It cannot be valued in gold of Ophir… | References Ophir gold as the highest standard of preciousness. |
| Ps 45:9 | Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. | Metaphorical use of Ophir gold to signify ultimate beauty and value. |
| 1 Kgs 5:1-12 | Account of Hiram's assistance to Solomon for the Temple construction. | Details the foundation of the cooperative relationship between Solomon and Hiram. |
| 2 Chr 2:3-16 | Huram's commitment to supply cedar and skilled workers for Solomon. | Chronicles' account of the alliance for building projects. |
| Isa 23:1 | The oracle concerning Tyre… | Reflects Tyre's reputation as a powerful maritime trading city. |
| Eze 27:1-36 | Extensive description of Tyre's immense maritime trade and wealth. | Illustrates the context of Phoenician seafaring prowess that aided Solomon. |
| 2 Chr 7:1-3 | God's glory filling the Temple built by Solomon. | The acquisition of gold for the magnificent Temple's adornment. |
| Prov 24:3-4 | By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established… | Solomon's wisdom in forming alliances leads to the kingdom's prosperity. |
| Hag 2:8 | The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. | God's ultimate ownership and ability to provide all wealth. |
| 1 Chr 29:2 | I have provided with all my strength for the house of my God… onyx stones, and glistening stones, and all manner of precious stones, and onyx stones, and glistening stones, and all manner of precious stones, and abundance of all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. gold, and silver, and bronze, and iron, and wood, and precious stones, and all manner of precious stones, and abundance of all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood… | David's foresight and provision for the Temple's materials, a precursor to Solomon's task. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… | A New Testament counterpoint on the transient nature of material wealth. |
| 1 Tim 6:17 | Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited… | Cautionary New Testament principle on handling earthly riches. |
| Rev 21:18 | The wall was built of jasper, and the city pure gold, like clear glass. | Depiction of New Jerusalem, where gold is symbolic of divine purity and glory. |
| Zec 9:3 | Tyre has built herself a stronghold and has heaped up silver like dust and gold like the dirt of the streets. | Highlights the vast riches amassed by Tyre through trade. |
| Eccl 2:8 | I gathered for myself also silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces… | Solomon reflecting on the pursuit and acquisition of wealth during his reign. |
| Ps 72:15 | May gold from Sheba be given to him… | A prophetic blessing of wealth for the king, applicable to Solomon and a future Messiah. |
| Prov 8:10-11 | Choose my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold… | Wisdom being more valuable than material riches like Ophir gold. |
| Deut 8:18 | You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth… | Principle that wealth ultimately comes from God's blessing. |
2 Chronicles 8 verses
2 Chronicles 8 18 Meaning
This verse describes a successful maritime trade expedition undertaken by King Solomon, facilitated by his ally King Huram (Hiram) of Tyre. Huram provided ships and skilled mariners, who sailed alongside Solomon’s servants to a distant land called Ophir. From Ophir, they brought back a vast quantity of gold—specifically four hundred and fifty talents—which was then delivered to King Solomon. This illustrates Solomon's immense wealth, his wise alliances, and the far-reaching influence of his kingdom.
2 Chronicles 8 18 Context
2 Chronicles Chapter 8 focuses on Solomon's ongoing building programs after the completion of the Temple and his own palace. It details his construction of cities (like Gezer), his military fortifications, his organization of labor, and his economic enterprises. Verse 18 fits precisely within this context by describing the acquisition of a vital resource—gold—necessary for these extensive projects, the adornment of the Temple, and the general enhancement of the kingdom's prosperity and glory. Historically, this period marks the zenith of the united monarchy of Israel under Solomon, a time characterized by unprecedented peace, wisdom, wealth, and international prestige, facilitated by key alliances such as that with Huram of Tyre.
2 Chronicles 8 18 Word analysis
- And Huram sent him: "Huram" (Hebrew: חִירָם, Chiram) refers to Hiram, the powerful King of Tyre, a key Phoenician ally to King David and his son Solomon. This phrase underscores the cooperative nature of their relationship, essential for Solomon's ambitious undertakings, particularly maritime ventures beyond Israel's traditional naval expertise.
- by the hands of his servants: This signifies formal delegation and responsible conduct. The "servants" were not just crewmen but trusted, skilled personnel demonstrating the formal partnership and the value placed on the mission.
- ships: (Hebrew: אֳנִיּוֹת, oniyyot) Refers to a fleet of vessels. Phoenicia was renowned for its maritime technology and naval power, critical for long-distance voyages and international trade. This detail highlights the necessary expertise and resources provided by Huram.
- and servants that had knowledge of the sea: (Hebrew: יֹדְעֵי יָם, yod'ei yam - literally, "knowers of the sea") This explicitly points to expert mariners and navigators. The Phoenicians were the most skilled seafarers of their time, adept at navigating open waters and establishing trade routes. Their expertise was indispensable for the success of such distant and lucrative expeditions, as Israel itself had limited prior naval experience.
- and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir: This confirms a joint expedition. Solomon's servants likely managed logistics and represented Israel's interests, while Huram's mariners provided the navigational and operational prowess for the demanding voyage. "Ophir" (Hebrew: אוֹפִיר, Ophir) was a legendary, distant land famed for its abundant supply of high-quality gold. Its exact location remains debated (the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, or India have been proposed), signifying its remoteness and the immense scope of Solomon's trade network.
- and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold: "Took thence" means they acquired or extracted it from Ophir. The quantity, "four hundred and fifty talents" (Hebrew: אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים כִּכְּרֵי זָהָב, arba me'ot vachamishshim kikrei zahav), represents an astonishing amount of wealth. A talent (Hebrew: כִּכָּר, kikkar) was a significant unit of weight, approximately 75 pounds or 34 kilograms. Thus, 450 talents calculates to roughly 33,750 pounds or 15.3 metric tons of gold, underscoring the unprecedented prosperity of Solomon's kingdom. While 1 Kings 9:28 records 420 talents for a similar voyage, this minor variation (common in biblical numbers across parallel accounts, perhaps due to different expeditions or rounding methods) does not diminish the immense value received.
- and brought them to King Solomon: The culmination of the arduous voyage, delivering the precious cargo directly to the king. This final phrase emphasizes the success and direct benefit of the venture to the monarch and, by extension, to the kingdom.
2 Chronicles 8 18 Bonus section
The mention of "Ophir" for its gold in biblical texts elevates it to a symbol of extraordinary wealth and preciousness. It reflects the global reach and economic might of Solomon's kingdom. While the exact location is debated among scholars (some favoring South Arabia, others East Africa or India, based on various theories), its remoteness suggests voyages of significant daring and advanced navigational skills, indicative of a peak era in ancient trade. The vast quantities of gold described throughout Solomon's reign—culminating in an annual intake far exceeding that of many contemporary nations—illustrate a divinely orchestrated abundance. This economic splendor under Solomon's reign can also be seen as a foretaste or a type of the ultimate peace, prosperity, and divine glory that will characterize the Messiah's future kingdom, where resources will be limitless and peace absolute.
2 Chronicles 8 18 Commentary
2 Chronicles 8:18 provides a window into the golden age of Solomon's reign, illustrating the practical means by which the grand Temple and royal infrastructure were funded. The verse underscores several key principles. Firstly, divine blessing upon a kingdom often manifests in material prosperity, enabled through wisdom and strategic alliances. Solomon's partnership with Huram, forged by his father David, reflects astute geopolitical maneuvering and resourcefulness, tapping into Phoenicia's superior naval and commercial capabilities. Secondly, the scale of this operation to Ophir highlights Israel's elevation to a formidable economic power on the international stage. The immense amount of gold obtained signifies not only opulence but also the practical means by which God equipped Solomon to fulfill the vast building projects He had mandated, particularly the glorification of the Temple. Finally, while detailing earthly wealth, the passage subtly points to the transient nature of material riches when compared to true spiritual wisdom, echoing themes found in Solomon's later writings (e.g., Ecclesiastes), and preparing for a New Testament understanding that true treasure lies in Christ.