Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 9:26

"And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom." — 1 Kings 9:26 (ASV)

For information on Ezion-geber and Eloth, see the notes in the marginal references. As the entire region around Elath (Akaba) is without trees, it is conjectured that the wood Solomon used to build his fleet was cut in Lebanon, floated by sea to Gaza, and from there transported by land to Ezion-geber, at the head of the Elanitic Gulf. (Compare to 2 Chronicles 2:16).