Synopsis of the Chapter
Solomon builds his palace and many cities; he subjugates the remnants of the Canaanites; he establishes regular sacrifices to be offered at the king's expense; he distributes the offices of priests and Levites according to David's arrangement; having sent a fleet to Ophir, he receives from there 450 talents of gold.
Verse 2: The Cities Which Hiram Had Given ¶
2. THE CITIES WHICH HIRAM HAD GIVEN (that is, returned) TO SOLOMON.
Verse 17: Solomon Went to Eziongeber ¶
17. SOLOMON WENT (either in person or through his ministers and officials) TO EZIONGEBER. — This is a port on the Red Sea, from which there is an easy and nearby passage to the East Indies; whence you may conclude that Ophir was in the East Indies, not the West Indies, namely in Pegu, not in Peru. For not in Peru, but in Pegu are found monkeys, peacocks, ivory, gems, spices, thyine wood, which this Ophir fleet brought to Solomon. This port is called Berenice by Josephus, book III of Antiquities chapter VI, Effia by St. Jerome; today it is called Suez.