1 Kings 10:20

20 Twelve lions [were] standing there, six on each of the six steps {on either side}; nothing like this was made for any of the kingdoms.

1 Kings 10:20 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 10:20

And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other
upon the six steps
There was a lion on each side of every step, a symbol of royal power, as before observed; so the Egyptians placed lions under the throne of Orus ^F18:

there was not the like made in any kingdom;
for the matter and form of it, for its grandeur and magnificence; there was none at least at that time, whatever has been since; for this is the first throne of ivory we read of.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Hori Apoll. Hieroglyph, l. 1. c. 17.

1 Kings 10:20 In-Context

18 The king also made a large ivory throne, and he overlaid it [with] fine gold.

19 Six steps [led up] to the throne, and [there was] a circular top to the throne behind it, and armrests were {on each side of the seat}, with two lions standing beside the armrests.

20 Twelve lions [were] standing there, six on each of the six steps {on either side}; nothing like this was made for any of the kingdoms.

21 All of the drinking vessels of King Solomon [were] gold, and all the vessels for the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver; [it was] not considered as something valuable in the days of Solomon.

22 For the fleet of Tarshish belonged to the king [and was] on the sea with the fleet of Hiram; once every three years the fleet of Tarshish used to come carrying gold and silver, ivory, apes, and baboons.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "from this and from this"