מלכים א, פרק י׳, פסוק כ״ח

King Solomon's vast economic and military power required a constant, large-scale supply of horses. To meet this demand, he established a sophisticated international trade network, gaining complete control over the vehicle and livestock market of the ancient Middle East. The primary source for these choice animals was Egypt, a region renowned for its premium horses [מלבי״ם]. However, this was not a standard commercial relationship. The primary approach among commentators is that Pharaoh granted Solomon an absolute monopoly. No individual or nation could export a single horse from Egypt without Solomon's explicit permission or without paying a toll directly to his administration [רש״י, רלב״ג, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The exact nature of this massive operation is understood in a few distinct ways. One perspective suggests that Solomon's merchants operated through large gatherings of horse traders or by purchasing entire breeding grounds at once. By buying the animals in bulk, they effectively eliminated all competition and maintained strict control over the market [רש״י, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another approach expands the scope of this monopoly beyond livestock, suggesting that Solomon also secured the exclusive rights to export luxurious Egyptian linen and royal garments, paying for them with goods brought down from Jerusalem [רלב״ג, רד״ק]. A third perspective understands the trade network geographically, proposing that Solomon imported horses from two entirely separate locations: Egypt and a distinct district known as Kveh [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].

The financial mechanics of these acquisitions depended on how the trade was structured. According to the geographical view, Solomon enjoyed a highly favorable, low-cost agreement with Egypt that covered little more than travel expenses, whereas goods imported from the district of Kveh required his merchants to pay full market value alongside steep export taxes [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. Conversely, the other approaches suggest that the heavy price paid by the merchants refers to the massive upfront sum given directly to the king of Egypt to secure the exclusive franchise rights [רש״י]. By purchasing this absolute exclusivity, Solomon's merchants were able to turn a massive profit, taxing and reselling the horses and premium linen to neighboring powers, such as the kings of the Hittites and Aram, who were eager to acquire these valuable resources [רלב״ג, רד״ק].