2 Chronicles 9 21

2 Chronicles 9:21 kjv

For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

2 Chronicles 9:21 nkjv

For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant ships came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

2 Chronicles 9:21 niv

The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram's servants. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.

2 Chronicles 9:21 esv

For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

2 Chronicles 9:21 nlt

The king had a fleet of trading ships of Tarshish manned by the sailors sent by Hiram. Once every three years the ships returned, loaded with gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

2 Chronicles 9 verses

2 Chronicles 9 21 Meaning

2 Chronicles 9:21 vividly describes the immense and sustained wealth of King Solomon, portraying him as a monarch with unparalleled riches derived from an extensive international trade network. The verse details the regular, triennial voyages of his fleet, operating in partnership with skilled mariners from Tyre, to the distant port of Tarshish. These ships consistently returned laden with an extraordinary array of exotic and valuable commodities: gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. This illustrates not only Solomon's economic power and strategic alliances but also God's lavish blessing on his reign and wisdom.

2 Chronicles 9 21 Context

This verse is found within 2 Chronicles chapter 9, which culminates the Chronicler's glorious portrayal of King Solomon's reign, emphasizing his divine wisdom, immense wealth, and extensive international influence. The chapter begins with the Queen of Sheba's visit, where she witnesses Solomon's unparalleled wisdom and magnificent kingdom, confirming reports of his prosperity. Following this, the text details various aspects of Solomon's reign, including his golden shields, his elaborate throne, and the massive tribute he received annually. Verse 21, specifically, illustrates a key component of this opulence: Solomon's dedicated and consistent global trade ventures. It shows a continuous, reliable influx of luxury goods, establishing Solomon's reign as a pinnacle of economic prosperity and an era blessed by God's provision for His chosen king. The Chronicler emphasizes Solomon's obedience and wisdom as the foundation of such blessing, connecting material prosperity directly to divine favor. Historically, this points to a period of remarkable peace and established trade routes facilitated by alliances, such as that with Huram of Tyre, a major maritime power.

Word Analysis

• For the king's ships went to Tarshish:

  • For the king's: This points directly to Solomon, the reigning monarch, whose personal initiative and resources established this grand scale of international trade. It signifies royal, state-sponsored enterprise.
  • ships: (Hebrew: אֳנִיּוֹת, 'oniyyot) Refers to a fleet of large vessels. These were likely "ships of Tarshish" (1 Kgs 10:22, 2 Chron 9:22), meaning vessels built or equipped for long, deep-sea voyages, rather than smaller coastal traders. Their construction required significant expertise and resources, testifying to Solomon's advanced naval capabilities.
  • went to Tarshish: This signifies distant, international trade. Tarshish (תַּרְשִׁישׁ, Tarshish) is often identified with Tartessus in southern Spain, implying a journey across the Mediterranean Sea—an extraordinary feat of ancient navigation requiring sophisticated knowledge of seafaring and a substantial fleet. It could also represent a general term for distant trading posts. This points to Solomon's kingdom having a global reach, bringing exotic goods from the far reaches of the known world.

• with the servants of Huram:

  • with the servants of Huram: (Hebrew: עֲבָדִים, 'abhadhim) Refers to the skilled mariners and navigators from King Huram (Hiram) of Tyre. Tyre was the leading maritime power of the ancient Near East, renowned for its sailors and knowledge of distant trade routes. This highlights Solomon's strategic alliance with Tyre, through which he gained the naval expertise essential for such extensive voyages. It underscores the cooperative and international nature of his enterprises, combining Israel's divine wisdom and resources with Phoenicia's technical skills.

• every three years once came the ships of Tarshish:

  • every three years once: This specific time frame (Hebrew: מִקֵּץ שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים אֶחָת, miqqetz shālošh shānîm 'echāt) emphasizes the regularity, consistency, and long-term planning involved in these voyages. A three-year cycle suggests the immense distance, the time required for travel, trade, loading, and return, including potential stops and waiting periods for favorable winds or seasonal trade. This periodicity speaks to the stability and endurance of Solomon's prosperous kingdom under God's blessing.
  • came the ships of Tarshish: Reconfirms that Solomon possessed or utilized "ships of Tarshish"—either built for the Tarshish route or coming from Tarshish itself. The consistent arrival indicates a continuous flow of goods and wealth.

• bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks:

  • bringing: Emphasizes the constant influx of riches and exotic goods.
  • gold, and silver: These represent the fundamental precious metals, signifying vast accumulation of wealth and the foundation of Solomon's material splendor, which he transformed into furnishings and ornamentation for the Temple and his palace.
  • ivory: Sourced from elephant tusks, a highly prized and exotic material used for luxury carvings, furniture inlays (e.g., Solomon's throne), and decorative items. Its presence signifies rarity and extreme luxury.
  • and apes: Exotic animals acquired for royal display, amusement, and status symbol, showcasing the king's power and access to rare foreign treasures.
  • and peacocks: Another exotic bird, valued for its dazzling plumage, used for ornamental purposes and further enhancing the image of opulence and extravagant display at the royal court. The collection of these rare and exotic items vividly portrays the unparalleled splendor, luxury, and international reach of Solomon's reign, directly attributed by the Chronicler to God's blessing on his wisdom.

2 Chronicles 9 21 Commentary

2 Chronicles 9:21 is a concise yet powerful testament to the zenith of King Solomon's earthly prosperity and the extent of God's blessing on his reign. The verse underscores his immense wealth, not merely in static terms but as a continuous, dynamic influx of the world's most valuable and exotic commodities. The partnership with Huram, King of Tyre, highlights the strategic alliances and expert collaboration crucial to such ambitious international trade, reflecting Solomon's wisdom in practical governance and diplomacy. The three-year cycle of the voyages speaks to the massive scale and methodical nature of his operations, signifying long-term stability and planning enabled by divine favor. While presenting a glorious picture of Israel's golden age under Solomon, it implicitly points to the divine source of this prosperity. The Chronicler emphasizes that this lavish wealth was a direct result of Solomon seeking wisdom from God, showcasing the benefits of obedience and walking in divine counsel. However, this same abundance of gold, silver, horses, and exotic elements can also serve as a subtle foreshadowing of potential dangers if such material blessings lead to a violation of Deuteronomic commands for kings (Deut 17:16-17), though the Chronicler chooses to focus primarily on the positive aspect of God's unfathomable provision for His people through their anointed king.

Bonus Section

• Dual Fleet Theory: Biblical texts suggest Solomon likely had two distinct fleets for long-distance trade. One operated from Ezion-geber on the Red Sea, sailing south (likely to Ophir, source of gold and almug wood – 1 Kgs 9:26-28; 2 Chron 8:17-18). The other, based at Mediterranean ports, conducted trade with Tarshish for silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. This indicates a sophisticated global trade network reaching both east and west, truly extraordinary for the era.
• Significance of "Ships of Tarshish": While "Tarshish" likely refers to a specific place (e.g., Tartessus), "ships of Tarshish" evolved into a technical term for large, ocean-going vessels capable of undertaking long, difficult voyages, regardless of their destination. This indicates that Solomon's navy was comprised of vessels of the highest capacity and sophistication available in the ancient world, enabling unprecedented economic reach.
• God's Promise and Potential Danger: This verse depicts a tangible fulfillment of God's promise to Solomon for his wisdom, granting him "riches, possessions, and honor" (2 Chron 1:12). However, the accumulation of "gold, silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks" directly parallels items warned against for kings in Deuteronomy 17:16-17, particularly not multiplying gold, silver, and horses (1 Kgs 10:26-27 explicitly mentions horses from Egypt, and 1 Kgs 11:1-8, his numerous foreign wives). While this verse celebrates the blessing, in the broader biblical narrative, Solomon's ultimate downfall is often linked to the very things that made his reign glorious, highlighting the double-edged nature of extreme material prosperity when divorced from continued faithfulness.