What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 8:17? Then Solomon went • The word “Then” links this verse to the accomplishments already recorded in 2 Chronicles 8:1-16—Solomon has completed the temple, his palace, and various fortified cities. • Having secured worship and national defense, the king now turns outward to economic expansion. This echoes Proverbs 24:27, “Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.” • “Solomon went” underscores personal involvement. He does not merely send servants; he travels himself, modeling the diligence celebrated in Ecclesiastes 9:10. to Ezion-geber • Ezion-geber sits at the northern tip of the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba. According to 1 Kings 9:26-27, “King Solomon also built ships at Ezion-geber… Hiram sent his servants… to man the fleet.” • This port gives Israel direct access to trade routes reaching Arabia, Africa, and beyond. Genesis 12:2’s promise of blessing “to all nations” finds a practical avenue here as Israel’s influence spreads through commerce. • David had earlier secured control of this region (2 Samuel 8:13-14), so Solomon builds on his father’s victories, illustrating Proverbs 13:22—“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” and to Eloth • Eloth (sometimes spelled Elath) lies just a few miles south of Ezion-geber, also on the Gulf. Along with Ezion-geber it forms a twin-port complex. • These two harbors enable a full-scale fleet, foreshadowing 2 Chronicles 8:18, “Hiram’s servants… brought from there 450 talents of gold to King Solomon.” • Isaiah 60:5 speaks of “the riches of the nations” flowing in; Solomon’s visit to Eloth begins a literal fulfillment as foreign gold and goods sail into Israel’s harbors. on the coast • The phrase highlights geography: Solomon deliberately establishes a maritime corridor. Psalm 72:8—“May he rule from sea to sea”—is pictured here in real shoreline activity. • Coastal trade demands organization: shipyards, warehousing, and crews. Solomon’s administrative wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34) now operates in a new sphere. • This step also diversifies Israel’s economy beyond agriculture, embodying the prudent “multiple ventures” approach commended in Ecclesiastes 11:1-2. of Edom • Edom, descended from Esau (Genesis 36:1), was subjugated by David (2 Samuel 8:14). Solomon’s peaceful use of Edomite territory displays how God’s promise of dominion (Genesis 25:23) is kept without ongoing war. • It also foreshadows later messianic hope: Amos 9:12 predicts that the restored kingdom “may possess the remnant of Edom.” Solomon’s control is an early taste of that prophecy. • The mention of Edom reminds readers that God can turn former hostility into channels of blessing, aligning with Romans 8:28’s assurance that “all things work together for good” to those who love Him. summary 2 Chronicles 8:17 records more than a travel itinerary; it shows Solomon extending Israel’s reach from the heart of Jerusalem to the edge of the Red Sea. Personally visiting Ezion-geber and Eloth, he secures ports, forges alliances, and opens trade routes—all in territory God had already placed under Israel’s authority. The verse illustrates wise stewardship of inherited victories, God’s faithfulness to earlier promises, and the outward-looking purpose of His people: to let blessing flow from covenant obedience to the nations beyond. |
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