מלכים א, פרק ט׳, פסוק כ״ח

A grand expedition set out to secure vast treasures for King Solomon, journeying to a distant land famous for its wealth. The destination of this mission was Ophir, a region widely recognized as a natural gold mine where the precious metal was actively extracted and refined [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג]. The delegation successfully returned with a massive haul of four hundred and twenty talents of gold.

However, historical records present a numerical discrepancy regarding this journey. An account in the Book of Chronicles states that four hundred and fifty talents of gold were brought back from Ophir, leaving an unexplained gap of thirty talents.

Commentators resolve this difference by explaining how the missing gold was utilized before it ever reached the king. One approach suggests that the thirty talents were spent to fund the heavy travel expenses of the journey itself [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Another perspective offers that this specific amount was paid as wages to the servants of Hiram, the King of Tyre, who actively assisted and participated in the difficult task of transporting the gold [מלבי״ם].