There was then no king in Edom; a deputy was king— This is inserted to give us the reason why Jehoshaphat might build ships in the port of Ezion-geber, which was in the territories of the Edomites; namely, that there were no kings in Edom from the time that David had conquered the Edomites, but that the kings of Judah sent thither deputies or vice-roys. Instead of ships of Tharshish, 1 Kings 22:48. Houbigant reads, ships of burden. Others say, that ships of Tharshish means such as were made after the model of those built at Tharshish.
Related Commentaries of 1 Kings 22:47
1 Kings 22:47
47 There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.