This is a direct allusion to the worship of Hiram, who believed that Jupiter and Apollo were the Gods of "all Gods,"—but, so far from resenting the unintentional rebuke by Solomon, he actually bestows a blessing upon the worship of his ally, though opposed to his own, for in his letter he writes:
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,"
and that his actions should be in keeping with his words, he forthwith entered into a Treaty to build the first Temple to the ever-living and the only God at Jerusalem.
Had not Hiram been king of Tyrus, he was worthy to have been monarch of Israel; for the mind that could have acted as his own did, upon so august and solemn an occasion, was already prepared to reject plurality, and believe in The One God. What a contrast does Hiram's character present to all the Roman monarchs, from Tiberius to Maxentius, when in a similar position from the introduction of Christianity!
From the foregone description of the Tyrian arts and artists (and for details the Books of Kings and Chronicles will testify) it will not be questioned whether from personal knowledge and skill, they could have built the Cities and Temples lately discovered in the Western Hemisphere; but more especially is the question now inadmissible, from the fact, that the styles of the architecture of the Temples at Jerusalem and Palenque, we have shewn to be analagous if not identical.
Scripture does not warrant any Historian in writing that the Israelites had a Knowledge of Navigation. It has, however, been often stated that they had, because Solomon "made a Navy:"—but, the sense is, that he gathered a navy,—and this is proved from the fact that Hiram furnished that identical "navy" for the King of Israel. Navigation was the only point in Tyrian policy, in which they resolved to have no rivals,—and to prevent it, they supplied expeditions for other countries,—Galleys, Pilots, and Mariners;—they formed Treaties for this purpose with nations with whom they were on terms of amity. Hiram followed the National policy at this time with Solomon,—and the Tyrians did the same subsequently with the Egyptian. Writers in attributing to the Israelites a knowledge of Navigation, quote from the first Book of Kings [ix. 26].
992 B. C.] "And King Solomon made a navy of Ships in Ezion-Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom,"—but those writers avoid quoting the succeeding verses,—and two in 2 Chronicles [viii. 17, 18].
"And Hiram sent in the navy his servants,—shipmen [i. e. pilots and mariners] that have a knowledge of the Sea,—with the servants ["common-hands">[ of Solomon."
"Then went Solomon to Ezion-Geber, and to Eloth, at the Sea-side [Red Sea] in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent him by the hands of his servants,—Ships, and servants that had a knowledge of the Sea"—[i. e. pilots and mariners]. Now this last quotation has reference to the same voyage,—and it is there shewn that the Tyrians actually built the ships:—they were probably framed and fashioned at Tyrus,—then taken in parts over land, (for Hiram "sent them")—and that is the only way the timbers could have reached the Red Sea, from the Mediterranean,—and then the ships were built or put together, by the Tyrians at Ezion-Geber,—and from thence they commenced their voyage to Ophir, (although some doubt the locality) on the shores of India, and their return cargo was "420 talents of gold." [i. e. two millions and a quarter sterling.]
We are anxious to establish the fact that the Israelites had no Knowledge of Navigation, and that upon the authority of Holy-Writ,—for the Aborigines of North America (who are descendants of Israel) have no nautical knowledge in its enlarged sense,—and, therefore, an analogy will be proved by the absence of Commercial Knowledge.