Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.
Solomon journeyed to Ezion-geber and to Eloth at the seaside in Edom to secure the commercial advantages of an outlet at the head of the Red Sea, building a navy of ships there on the shore in the land of Edom. The vessels were manned by trained sailors from Tyre together with Solomon's own servants. They made voyages to Ophir that brought back gold and great plenty of almug trees and precious stones.
The enterprise greatly increased the revenues of the king and of many of his subjects, yet it replaced a missionary spirit with a spirit of commercialism aimed at personal aggrandizement. It was a selfish use of a strategic point along the highways of world commerce. From cupidity and short-sightedness Solomon misused a wonderful opportunity to reveal the character of the true God to representatives of all nations passing through his territory, leaving the multitudes thronging the thoroughfares of travel in ignorance of the true God.
Solomon journeyed to Ezion-geber and to Eloth at the seaside in Edom to secure the commercial advantages of an outlet at the head of the Red Sea, building a navy of ships there on the shore in the land of Edom. The vessels were manned by trained sailors from Tyre together with Solomon's own servants. They made voyages to Ophir that brought back gold and great plenty of almug trees and precious stones.
The enterprise greatly increased the revenues of the king and of many of his subjects, yet it replaced a missionary spirit with a spirit of commercialism aimed at personal aggrandizement. It was a selfish use of a strategic point along the highways of world commerce. From cupidity and short-sightedness Solomon misused a wonderful opportunity to reveal the character of the true God to representatives of all nations passing through his territory, leaving the multitudes thronging the thoroughfares of travel in ignorance of the true God.