1 Kings 5:9

“My servants shall bring [them] down from Lebanon unto the sea, etc.] The Mediterranean sea, on which Tyre stood: and I will convey them by sea in floats; which were either a sort of carriage for the timber the Tyrians and Sidonians had, being furnished with various navigable vessels; or these were the timber itself, and the planks of it, which being fastened together, were set afloat under the direction of some boats with oars, of which they had plenty: unto the place that thou shalt appoint me; which was Joppa, as appears from (<140216>2 Chronicles 2:16); belonging to the land of Israel, in the same sea: and will cause them to be discharged there; either to be unloaded from the vessels, or…”

“See the marginal reference. The timber was first carried westward from the flanks of Lebanon to the nearest part of the coast, where it was collected into floats, or rafts, which were then conveyed southward along the coast to Joppa, now Jaffa, from where the land journey to Jerusalem was not more than about forty miles. A similar course was taken on the building of the second temple Ezra 3:7. Food for my household - The Phoenician cities had very little arable territory of their own, the mountain range of Lebanon rising rapidly behind them; and they must always have imported the chief part of their sustenance from abroad. They seem commonly to have derived it from Judaea (marginal…”

“The sea - The mid - land sea. Floats - Or, rafts. It is thought the timber were tied together in the water, as now is usual, and so by the help of boats or ships, conveyed to the appointed place, which was at no great distance. Household - My family and court, which most properly is called his house. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 5:11”

“Lebanon: Deu 3:25 and I will: Ch2 2:16 appoint: Heb. send in giving food: Ch2 1:15; Ezr 3:7; Eze 27:17; Act 12:20 3 Kings (1 Kings) 5:11”