1 Kings 10:19

19 The throne had six steps leading up to it, with the figure of a lion at each end of every step, a total of twelve lions. At the back of the throne was the figure of a bull's head, and beside each of the two armrests was the figure of a lion. No throne like this had ever existed in any other kingdom.

1 Kings 10:19 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 10:19

The throne had six steps
Up to the footstool of the throne, which was of gold, ( 2 Chronicles 9:18 ) and was high, that everyone in court might see him, and the better hear the sentence he gave:

and the top of the throne was round behind;
had a semicircle at the top of it, like an alcove:

and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat;
or "hands" ^F17, such as the arms of a chair, to lean and rest upon:

and two lions stood beside the stays;
which were not only ornamental, and for support of the stays, but expressive of majesty, and of undaunted courage and resolution to do justice, and of the danger such expose themselves to, who oppose magistrates in the discharge of their office; and in which Solomon was a type of Christ, the lion of the tribe of Judah; and for the same reasons were the like portraits on the steps, as follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (tdy) "manus", V. L. Montanus (agkwnev) "brachiola", Sept. in 2 Chron. ix. 18.

1 Kings 10:19 In-Context

17 He also made three hundred smaller shields, overlaying each one of them with nearly four pounds of gold. He had all these shields placed in the Hall of the Forest of Lebanon.

18 He also had a large throne made. Part of it was covered with ivory and the rest of it was covered with the finest gold.

19 The throne had six steps leading up to it, with the figure of a lion at each end of every step, a total of twelve lions. At the back of the throne was the figure of a bull's head, and beside each of the two armrests was the figure of a lion. No throne like this had ever existed in any other kingdom.

21 All of Solomon's drinking cups were made of gold, and all the utensils in the Hall of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. No silver was used, since it was not considered valuable in Solomon's day.