three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 22So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 24And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. 25And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 26And he ruled over all the kings from the River even unto the land of the Philistines,
Chronicler misunderstands the parallel passage (1 Kin. x. 22, "For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish"). "Navy (or 'ships') of Tarshish" (cp. Ps. xlviii. 7) is a phrase meaning large ships fit for long voyages; i.e. such as were the vessels used by the Phoenicians in trading with Tarshish (i.e. Tartessus in Spain). We may well compare the use of the title "Indiaman," for that term came to be used generally of large trading vessels besides those actually trading with India. The merchandise mentioned in this verse doubtless came from the East and not from Tarshish.
apes] These animals were much sought after; they appear pictured in relief on the Black Obelisk (in the British Museum; among the tribute received by Shalmaneser II of Assyria.
24. his present] i.e. his tribute.
armour] A less probable rendering is στακτὴ ("oil of myrrh") LXX. (here and in Kings); also "myrrh," Pesh. of 2 Chr.
25—28. Cp. i. 14—17.
25. four thousand stalls for horses and chariots] In the parallel passage (1 Kin. iv. 26 = v. 6, Heb.), forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots. Cp. also i. 14 (= 1 Kin. x. 26) where 1400 stalls of horses for chariots are ascribed to Solomon. This number is much more likely to correspond with fact, but that does not affect the probability that the Chronicler would find no difficulty in crediting Solomon with possessing 4000 or even 40,000, especially at the close of his reign. The meaning of the word rendered "stalls" is quite uncertain: it may mean "pair."
twelve thousand horsemen] So 1 Kin. iv. 26 (v. 6, Heb.); and 2 Chr. i. 14 (= 1 Kin. x. 26).
chariot cities] See note on i. 14.
26. from the River] i.e. the Euphrates.
even unto the land of the Philistines] The Philistines, it is implied, were able to maintain their independence.
