There are many informative quotes and sayings in the Bible about how commerce was handled in the ancient Biblical times. The quoted verses deal with commerce from the time of the Pharaoh and King Solomon, in the Old Testament, and Jesus, in the New Testament.
The Supplier Cities
Store or supplier places were built for the Pharaoh, situated near the border of Egypt which he wanted fortified, mainly to obstruct entrance from possible invasion.
These were oppressive times when captives were degraded to serfdom, employing them in hard labour to do the works. In ancient Egypt, the public and royal buildings were built by captives who were subjected by taskmasters to whips, or sticks, in those times.
“So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.” ~ Exodus 1: 11
The Need for Roads
This concerns infrastructure in regards to the need for good roads. God in these passages instructs the Israelites to make three cities of refuge in the Land of Promise, that they should make them in the midst of the land or centrally located. In preparing the roads, the Israelites were to make good roads for these cities of refuge, in order for the cities to be accessible.
“Then set aside for yourselves three cities centrally located in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess. Build roads to them and divide into three parts the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that anyone who kills a man may flee there.” ~ Deuteronomy 19:2-3
Imported Solomon’s Possessions
“Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue – the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.” ~ I Kings 10: 28-29
Temple Not a Place for Business
After the triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem, he went to the temple where he usually prayed and taught. When he entered, it angered him to find people using the place for business purposes. They were buying and selling as in a marketplace.
“The Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. He said to them, “It is written, my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a ‘den of robbers.'”” ~ Luke 19: 45-46
Domestic, National and International Trading
The book of II Chronicles contains the history of the reign of King Solomon until chapter nine in which the quote has been taken. The passage contains the wisdom, wealth and riches of King Solomon who practiced commerce, from local, national and international scale.
“The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram’s men. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.” ~ II Chronicles 9:21
Readers who found this article insightful may also enjoy some related quotations. Check out Money Quotes from the Bible, Quotes on Wealth from the Bible, and Success Quotes and Sayings from the Bible.
