1 Kings 10:11

And the navy also of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir ,.... This perhaps was before Solomon was concerned with Hiram in navigation and merchandise; though in 2 Chronicles 9:10 both their servants are said to bring it; and it is here inserted perhaps to show that Solomon had not his gold, at least all of it, from the queen of Sheba; but much from Hiram, who fetched it from Ophir; and as this was in India, as observed on 1 Kings 9:28 , many writers make mention of gold in that part of the world, as Diodorus Siculus F23 Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 121. , Strabo F24 Geograph l. 15. p. 481. , Dionysius F25 Perieg. v. 1144. , Curtius F26 Hist. l. 8. sect. 9. , Pliny F1 Nat. Hist. 1. 6. c. 19, 20. , and others: and this navy also

brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees : or algum trees, by transposition of letters, 2 Chronicles 9:10 , which some of the Jewish writers F2 Daved de Pomis, Lexic. fol. 70. 3. take to be coral, which is not likely; others Brasil, rather ebony, which was peculiar to India, as both Solinus F3 Polyhistor. c. 64. and Virgil F4 "Sola India nigrum fert ebenum." Georgie. l. 2. ver. 116, 117. say; Strabo F5 Geograph. l. 15. p. 477. makes mention of strange trees in India:

and precious stones ; of which there is great variety and plenty in that country, as related by Dionysius F6 Perieget, ver. 1119, &c.; , as diamonds, beryls, jaspers, topazes, and amethysts, and by Curtius F7 Hist. l. 8. c. 9. , Solinus F8 Polyhistor. c. 65. , and others.