He was likely well - informed about conditions in Israel, and he may have been knowledgeable about neighboring nations as a result of his dealings with traveling merchants.
فَقَدْ كَانَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْجَحِ مُلِمًّا بِأَحْوَالِ أُمَّةِ إِسْرَائِيلَ ،‏ وَرُبَّمَا كَانَتْ لَدَيْهِ مَعْرِفَةٌ عَنِ ٱلْأُمَمِ ٱلْمُجَاوِرَةِ نَتِيجَةَ تَعَامُلَاتِهِ مَعَ ٱلتُّجَّارِ ٱلْجَائِلِينَ .‏