דברי הימים ב, פרק כ׳, פסוק ל״ו

Two kings united to embark on a major economic and maritime venture. Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, formed a strategic partnership with Ahaziah, the king of Israel, joining their resources to construct a fleet of merchant ships [מצודת דוד].

The foundation of this alliance rested on the unique geographical advantages each kingdom possessed. The Kingdom of Israel held extensive access to the Mediterranean Sea, while the Kingdom of Judah controlled access to the Red Sea. By working together, the leaders planned to launch a southern trade expedition. Their sights were set on distant regions such as Southern Arabia, East Africa, or India, anticipating that the journey would generate enormous financial profits [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The specific goal of the newly constructed fleet was to travel to Tarshish. The historical record in Chronicles clarifies a detail from the Book of Kings, explaining that these vessels were built specifically with Tarshish as their final destination [מלבי"ם]. The construction of the ships took place in Ezion Geber, taking advantage of the established coastline and port facilities located there.

Despite the grand scale and promise of the partnership, the venture ultimately ended in failure. As recorded in the parallel historical account, the ships never completed their intended trade mission. Instead, they were broken and destroyed right in the port of Ezion Geber where they had been built [מלבי"ם].