1 Kings 9:27
And Hiram sent his servants, men who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon's servants.
And Hiram sent his servants
Hiram, the king of Tyre, was a significant ally of King Solomon. This alliance was crucial for Solomon's building projects, including the temple. Hiram's cooperation with Israel highlights the political and economic relationships between Israel and its neighboring nations. Tyre was known for its skilled craftsmen and seafarers, which made Hiram's contribution invaluable.

sailors who knew the sea
The Phoenicians, of whom the people of Tyre were a part, were renowned for their maritime skills. Their expertise in navigation and shipbuilding was unmatched in the ancient world. This phrase underscores the importance of specialized knowledge and skills in achieving successful ventures, such as Solomon's trading expeditions.

to serve in the fleet
The fleet mentioned here refers to the ships used for trade and exploration. Solomon's fleet, with the help of Hiram's sailors, embarked on voyages that expanded Israel's trade networks. This collaboration allowed Israel to access wealth and resources from distant lands, contributing to Solomon's prosperity.

with Solomon’s servants
This cooperation between Hiram's and Solomon's servants symbolizes the unity and shared purpose between the two kingdoms. It reflects the broader theme of collaboration and partnership in achieving common goals. The integration of different groups working together can be seen as a precursor to the New Testament's message of unity in the body of Christ, where diverse members work together for the kingdom of God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hiram
The king of Tyre, a friend and ally of King Solomon. Hiram was known for his skilled craftsmen and seamen, and he played a significant role in providing materials and labor for Solomon's building projects, including the temple.

2. Solomon
The king of Israel, renowned for his wisdom, wealth, and extensive building projects. Solomon's reign was marked by peace and prosperity, and he established strong trade networks.

3. Servants of Hiram
Skilled seamen from Tyre, known for their expertise in navigation and maritime activities. They were sent to assist Solomon in his naval endeavors.

4. Servants of Solomon
Israelites who worked alongside Hiram's men in the fleet. This collaboration highlights the partnership between Israel and Tyre.

5. The Fleet
A naval enterprise initiated by Solomon to expand trade and acquire wealth. The fleet was based at Ezion-Geber, near the Red Sea, and was instrumental in Solomon's economic expansion.
Teaching Points
The Value of Alliances
Godly alliances can lead to mutual benefits and the fulfillment of God's purposes. Solomon's partnership with Hiram demonstrates the importance of choosing allies wisely.

The Importance of Expertise
Utilizing the skills and expertise of others can lead to greater success. Solomon's willingness to incorporate Hiram's experienced seamen into his fleet shows the value of collaboration.

God's Provision through Relationships
God often provides for His people through relationships and partnerships. The alliance between Solomon and Hiram was a means of God's provision for Israel's prosperity.

Wisdom in Leadership
Effective leadership involves recognizing and leveraging the strengths of others. Solomon's decision to work with Hiram's men reflects his wisdom in governance.

The Role of Trade and Commerce
Trade and commerce can be tools for expanding influence and prosperity. Solomon's fleet was a means of extending Israel's reach and wealth, showing the potential of economic endeavors when aligned with God's will.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the alliance between Solomon and Hiram illustrate the importance of choosing the right partners in our personal and professional lives?

2. In what ways can we apply the principle of utilizing others' expertise in our own lives and ministries?

3. How can we discern when a partnership or alliance is in line with God's will for our lives?

4. What lessons can we learn from Solomon's leadership in terms of recognizing and leveraging the strengths of others?

5. How can we ensure that our economic and business endeavors align with God's purposes and bring glory to Him?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 5
This chapter details the initial alliance between Solomon and Hiram, including the provision of materials for the temple. It sets the stage for the continued cooperation seen in 1 Kings 9:27.

2 Chronicles 8:18
This verse parallels 1 Kings 9:27, describing the joint naval venture between Solomon and Hiram, emphasizing the successful trade missions to Ophir.

Proverbs 27:17
This proverb about iron sharpening iron can be related to the mutual benefit and sharpening of skills between the Israelites and the Tyrians in their joint ventures.
Solomon's WorshipA. Rowland
People
Amorites, Canaanites, David, Geber, Gibeon, Hiram, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Israelites, Jebusites, Ophir, Perizzites, Pharaoh, Solomon, Tamar
Places
Baalath, Beth-horon, Brook of Egypt, Cabul, Edom, Egypt, Eloth, Ezion-geber, Galilee, Gezer, Gibeon, Hazor, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Megiddo, Millo, Ophir, Red Sea, Tamar, Tyre
Topics
Along, Experienced, Familiar, Fleet, Hiram, Navy, Sailors, Sea-force, Seamen, Servants, Serve, Shipmen, Solomon, Solomon's
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Kings 9:27

     5531   skill

1 Kings 9:26-28

     4333   gold

1 Kings 9:27-28

     5517   seafaring

Library
Promises and Threatenings
'And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do. 2. That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared unto him at Gibeon. 3. And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before Me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put My name there for ever; and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Gadara
There was a double Gadara. One at the shore of the Mediterranean sea: that was first called Gezer, 1 Kings 9:15. In Josephus, "Simon destroyed the city Gazara, and Joppe, and Jamnia."--And in the Book of the Maccabees, "And he fortified Joppe, which is on the sea, and Gazara, which is on the borders of Azotus." At length, according to the idiom of the Syrian dialect, Zain passed into Daleth; and instead of Gazara, it was called Gadara. Hence Strabo, after the mention of Jamnia, saith, "and there
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Whether Solicitude Belongs to Prudence?
Objection 1: It would seem that solicitude does not belong to prudence. For solicitude implies disquiet, wherefore Isidore says (Etym. x) that "a solicitous man is a restless man." Now motion belongs chiefly to the appetitive power: wherefore solicitude does also. But prudence is not in the appetitive power, but in the reason, as stated above [2746](A[1]). Therefore solicitude does not belong to prudence. Objection 2: Further, the certainty of truth seems opposed to solicitude, wherefore it is related
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Prophecy Pertains to Knowledge?
Objection 1: It would seem that prophecy does not pertain to knowledge. For it is written (Ecclus. 48:14) that after death the body of Eliseus prophesied, and further on (Ecclus. 49:18) it is said of Joseph that "his bones were visited, and after death they prophesied." Now no knowledge remains in the body or in the bones after death. Therefore prophecy does not pertain to knowledge. Objection 2: Further, it is written (1 Cor. 14:3): "He that prophesieth, speaketh to men unto edification." Now speech
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether it is Lawful to Give and Receive Money for Spiritual Actions?
Objection 1: It seems that it is lawful to give and receive money for spiritual actions. The use of prophecy is a spiritual action. But something used to be given of old for the use of prophecy, as appears from 1 Kings 9:7,8, and 3 Kings 14:3. Therefore it would seem that it is lawful to give and receive money for a spiritual action. Objection 2: Further, prayer, preaching, divine praise, are most spiritual actions. Now money is given to holy persons in order to obtain the assistance of their prayers,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Seven Seas According to the Talmudists, and the Four Rivers Compassing the Land.
"Seven seas (say they) and four rivers compass the land of Israel. I. The Great Sea, or the Mediterranean. II. The sea of Tiberias. III. The sea of Sodom. IV. The lake of Samocho... The three first named among the seven are sufficiently known, and there is no doubt of the fourth:--only the three names of it are not to be passed by. IV. 1. The Sibbichaean. The word seems to be derived from a bush. 2. ... 3. ... V. Perhaps the sandy sea. Which fits very well to the lake of Sirbon, joining the commentary
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

How to Split a Kingdom
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. 2. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt); 3. That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 4. Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Greater Prophets.
1. We have already seen (Chap. 15, Nos. 11 and 12) that from Moses to Samuel the appearances of prophets were infrequent; that with Samuel and the prophetical school established by him there began a new era, in which the prophets were recognized as a distinct order of men in the Theocracy; and that the age of written prophecy did not begin till about the reign of Uzziah, some three centuries after Samuel. The Jewish division of the latter prophets--prophets in the more restricted sense of the
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

Beginning at Jerusalem
The whole verse runs thus: "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." The words were spoken by Christ, after he rose from the dead, and they are here rehearsed after an historical manner, but do contain in them a formal commission, with a special clause therein. The commission is, as you see, for the preaching of the gospel, and is very distinctly inserted in the holy record by Matthew and Mark. "Go teach all nations,"
John Bunyan—Jerusalem Sinner Saved

The Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
"On the western shore" (of the Asphaltites) "dwell the Essenes; whom persons, guilty of any crimes, fly from on every side. A nation it is that lives alone, and of all other nations in the whole world, most to be admired; they are without any woman; all lust banished, &c. Below these, was the town Engadda, the next to Jerusalem for fruitfulness, and groves of palm-trees, now another burying-place. From thence stands Massada, a castle in a rock, and this castle not far from the Asphaltites." Solinus,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
"If any one wishes to be rich, let him go north; if he wants to be wise, let him come south." Such was the saying, by which Rabbinical pride distinguished between the material wealth of Galilee and the supremacy in traditional lore claimed for the academies of Judaea proper. Alas, it was not long before Judaea lost even this doubtful distinction, and its colleges wandered northwards, ending at last by the Lake of Gennesaret, and in that very city of Tiberias which at one time had been reputed unclean!
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Jerusalem Sinner Saved;
OR, GOOD NEWS FOR THE VILEST OF MEN; BEING A HELP FOR DESPAIRING SOULS, SHOWING THAT JESUS CHRIST WOULD HAVE MERCY IN THE FIRST PLACE OFFERED TO THE BIGGEST SINNERS. THE THIRD EDITION, IN WHICH IS ADDED, AN ANSWER TO THOSE GRAND OBJECTIONS THAT LIE IN THE WAY OF THE THEM THAT WOULD BELIEVE: FOR THE COMFORT OF THEM THAT FEAR THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST. BY JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. London: Printed for Elizabeth Smith, at the Hand and Bible, on London Bridge, 1691. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR.
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Commerce
The remarkable change which we have noticed in the views of Jewish authorities, from contempt to almost affectation of manual labour, could certainly not have been arbitrary. But as we fail to discover here any religious motive, we can only account for it on the score of altered political and social circumstances. So long as the people were, at least nominally, independent, and in possession of their own land, constant engagement in a trade would probably mark an inferior social stage, and imply
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to Christians to be Holy. By John Bunyan.
Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.'--[Psalm 93:5] London, by B. W., for Benj. Alsop, at the Angel and Bible, in the Poultrey. 1684. THE EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. This is the most searching treatise that has ever fallen under our notice. It is an invaluable guide to those sincere Christians, who, under a sense of the infinite importance of the salvation of an immortal soul, and of the deceitfulness of their hearts, sigh and cry, "O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.),
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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