It has been supposed that these ships were conveyed from Tyre to Ezion-geber, either
(1) round the continent of Africa, or
(2) across the isthmus of Suez.
But the writer probably only means that ships were given by Hiram to Solomon at this time, and in connection with the Ophir enterprise. These vessels may have been delivered at Joppa, and have been there carefully studied by the Jewish shipwrights, who then preceeded to Ezion-geber, and, assisted by Phoenicians, constructed ships after their pattern.
Four hundred and fifty talents - “Four hundred and twenty talents” in Kings 1 Kings 9:28. One or other of the two texts has suffered from that corruption to which numbers are so especially liable.