1 Kings 10:5-15

5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at^[a] the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.

6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true.

7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.

8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!

9 Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.”

10 And she gave the king 120 talents^[b] of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

11 (Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood^[c] and precious stones.

12 The king used the almugwood to make supports^[d] for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.)

13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

Solomon’s Splendor

14 The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents,^[e]

15 not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the territories.

1 Kings 10:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 10

This chapter contains an account of the queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon to her great satisfaction, 1Ki 10:1-13, of Solomon's merchandise and riches, and the magnificence of his court, 1Ki 10:14-23, of the rich presents sent to him, and of the purchase of chariots and horses, and other things, he made, 1Ki 10:24-29.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 4:22; 1 Chronicles 26:16
• 2. S Genesis 45:26
• 3. 1 Chronicles 29:25
• 4. Proverbs 8:34
• 5. S 1 Kings 5:7; S Isaiah 42:10
• 6. S Deuteronomy 7:8
• 7. 2 Samuel 8:15; Psalms 11:7; Psalms 33:5; Psalms 72:2; Psalms 99:4; Psalms 103:6
• 8. ver 2; S 1 Kings 9:28; Isaiah 60:6
• 9. S Genesis 10:29; 1 Kings 9:27-28
• 10. S 1 Kings 9:28

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "the ascent by which he went up to"
• [b]. That is, about 4 1/2 tons or about 4 metric tons
• [c]. Probably a variant of "algumwood" ; also in verse 12
• [d]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
• [e]. That is, about 25 tons or about 23 metric tons