(r.) The overflowing wealth in which he is so vividly depicted is not easy to reduce to a modern financial estimate ; partly because the numbers are so often treacherous, and partly because it is un. certain what items of expenditure fell on the general funds of the government. In illustration of the former topic, it is enough to observe that the money prepared for the temple by David is computed in r Chron. xxix. 4 at 3000 talents of pure gold and 7000 of silver, while in xxii. 14 it is called too,000 of gold and 1,000,000 of silver ; also the sum for which David buys the floor of Araunah is, in 2 Sam. xxiv. 24, 50 shekels of silver ; but this in Chron. xxi. 25 is become 600 shekels of gold. Efforts are made to resolve the former difficulty ; but they are superseded by the latter, and by nu merous other manifestly exaggerated figures. But abandoning all attempt at numerical estimates, it cannot be doubted that the wealth of Solomon was very great ; and it remains for us to consider from what sources it was supplied.
The profound peace which the nation enjoyed as a fruit of David's victories stimulated the in dustry of all Israel. The tribes beyond the Jordan had become rich by the plunder of the Hagarenes, and had a wide district where their cattle might multiply to an indefinite extent. The agricultural tribes enjoyed a soil and climate in some parts eminently fruitful, and in all richly rewarding the toil of irrigation ; so that, in the security of peace, nothing more was wanted to develop the resources of the nation than markets for its various produce. In food for men and cattle, in timber and fruit trees, in stone, and probably in the useful metals, the land supplied of itself all the first wants of its people in abundance. For exportation, it is dis tinctly stated that wheat, barley, oil, and wine, were in chief demand; to which we may conjec turally add wool, hides, and other raw materials. The king had undoubtedly large districts and ex tensive herds of his own ; but besides this, he re ceived presents in kind from his own people and from the subject nations; and it was possible in this way to make demands upon them, without severe oppression, to an extent that is unbearable where taxes must be paid in gold or silver. He was himself at once monarch and merchant ; and we may with much confidence infer that no pri vate merchant will be allowed to compete with a prince who has assumed the mercantile character. By his intimate commercial union with the Tyrians he was put into the most favourable of all positions for disposing of his goods. That energetic nation, possessing so small a strip of territory, had much need of various raw- produce for their own wants. Another large demand was made by them for the raw materials of manufactures, and for articles which they could with advantage sell again ; and as they were able to furnish so many acceptable luxuries to the court of Solomon, a most active ex change soon commenced. Only second in import
ance to this, and superior in fame, was the com merce of the Red Sea, which could not have been successfully prosecuted without the aid of Tyrian enterprise and experience. The navigation to Sheba, and the districts beyond—whether of East ern Arabia or of Africa—in spite of its tediousness, was highly lucrative, from the vast diversity of pro ductions between the countries so exchanging ; while, as it was a trade of monopoly, a very dispro portionate share of the whole gain fell to the carriers of the merchandise. The Egyptians were the only nation who might have been rivals in the southern maritime traffic ; but their religion and their exclusive principles did not favour sea-voyages; and there is some reason to think that at this early period they abstained from sending their own people abroad for commerce, The goods brought back from the south were chiefly gold, precious stones, spice, almug or other scented woods, and ivory ; all of which were Probably so abundant in their native regions as to be parted with on easy terms, and of course were all admirably suited for re. exportation to Europe. The carrying trade, which was thus shared between Solomon and the Tyrians, was probably the most lucrative part of the southern and eastern commerce. How large a portion of it went on by caravans of caviels is wholly unknown; yet that this branch was considerable is certain. From Egypt Solomon imported not only linen yarn, but even horses and chariots, which were sold again to the princes of Syria and of the Hit tites, and were probably prized for the superior breed of the horses, and for the light, strong, and elegant structure of the chariots. Wine being abundant in Palestine, and wholly wanting in Egypt, was no doubt a principal means of repay ment. Moreover, Solomon's fortifying of Tadmor (or Palmyra), and retention of Thapsacus on the Euphrates, show that he had an important interest in the direct land and river trade to Babylon, although we have no details on this subject. The difficulty which meets us is, to imagine by what exports, light enough to bear land carriage, he was able to pay for bis imports. 1.Ve may conjecture that he sent out Tyrian cloths and trinkets, or Egyptian linen of the finest fabric ; yet in many of these things the Babylonians also excelled. On the whole, when we consider that in the case of Solomon the commercial wealth of the entire com munity was concentrated in the hands of the govern ment, that much of the trade was a monopoly, and that all was assisted or directed by the experience and energy of the Tyrians, the overwhelming riches of this eminent merchant-sovereign are perhaps not surprising.