(26) And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom. (27) And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. (28) And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
It is supposed, and not without good reason, that the Ophir here spoken of is the same with what is now called Sri Lanka, in the East Indies. But, Reader, what is the golden wedge of Ophir, compared to the preciousness of Jesus. Isaiah 13:12. It is worthy the Reader's remark, that Judea, the Holy land, and what is called the glory of all lands, had no gold. And as the land, so the people of God. What are they, and who are they that are the excellent of the earth? James tells us, they are the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. James 2:5. Reader! see to it, that you are of this description. Remember who God's poor are: not simply poor in outward circumstances but poor in spirit. Jesus' followers. This is to do as Solomon, after all his attainments, recommended. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, (says he), that is Jesus; for Jesus is the wisdom of God, and the power of God; and the man that getteth understanding; for the merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. Proverbs 3:14.