מלכים א, פרק י׳, פסוק י״א

The sudden mention of a fleet of ships during the Queen of Sheba's visit is deeply intentional. It serves to highlight the staggering splendor of the ascent to the House of God, a sight that had already left the visiting queen breathless. This magnificent structure was constructed using rare materials imported from distant lands by Hiram's ships [מלבי"ם, אברבנאל].

The exact nature of these imported materials presents an interesting discussion. One perspective identifies them as sea corals harvested from southern waters. While corals might not be costly in their native marine environment, the immense effort required to transport them across great distances transformed them into items of extreme rarity and value [רש"י, רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. Conversely, another approach suggests these materials were actual trees. According to this view, they provided an expensive, deeply fragrant wood with a striking appearance, imported from remote areas such as the land of Cush [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל].

Ultimately, what captured the queen's awe was not merely the presence of these exotic materials, but their unprecedented scale. Items of such immense value were typically available only in small amounts, yet they arrived in Jerusalem in staggering abundance. King Solomon utilized this vast supply to construct massive supports and walkways for both the House of God and his own royal palace, as well as to craft large lyres and harps. In that era, utilizing such precious materials on such a massive scale stood out as a true engineering and artistic marvel [מלבי"ם, אברבנאל].