TRADE
The first mention of a commercial transaction in the Bible is Abraham’s purchase of a field from Ephron the Hittite (Gen. 23:3-20). In the V. 16 mentions money in pesos, the shekel, the accepted currency among merchants.
Canaan was a crossroads of trade routes, linking Mesopotamia with Egypt (cp. also Gen. 37:25, 28). Solomon took great advantage of this, controlling this route (1 Kings 10:14-29; 1 Chron. 9:13-28).
Judah later engaged in trade with Egypt (Hos. 12:1), while Israel traded with its northern neighbors (1 Kings 20:34).
After the exile, mention is made of the fairmen who went to Jerusalem (Neh. 13:16 ff.). The Jews exported wheat, honey, oil, and resin (Ez. 27:17), among other things.
Mention is made of the trade of Tire (Ez. 27:5-24).
In the NT Lydia is cited as a seller of purple (Acts 16:14); warnings are given regarding conceit (James 4:13), and it is mentioned in relation to the great Babylon (Rev. 18:1-23), among other mentions.