1 Kings 10:29

29 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, [a] and a horse for a hundred and fifty. [b] Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.

1 Kings 10:29 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 10:29

And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred
shekels of silver
Which, reckoning at two shillings and six pence a shekel, amounted to seventy five pounds; but a shekel was not worth more than two shillings and four pence farthing:

and an horse for one hundred and fifty;
and this being the fourth part of the above sum, the Jews gather from hence that there were four horses in a chariot; the horses must be reckoned one with another, the whole collection of them, or otherwise no doubt but one horse was better than another; and it was a pretty large price to give for a horse in those times; which, taking a shekel at the lowest rate, must be upwards of ten pounds; and which is too great a sum still for a custom or tribute to be paid for them, whether to Pharaoh or Solomon, as some understand it:

and so for all the kings of the Hittites;
perhaps the same with the kings of Arabia, ( 1 Kings 10:15 ) and for the kings of Syria; those of Damascus, Zobah

did they bring them out by their means;
that is, by the means of Solomon's merchants, who bought them out of Egypt, and sold them to these kings.

1 Kings 10:29 In-Context

27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.
28 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue.
29 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of silver.
  • [b]. 150 shekels is approximately 3.8 pounds or 1.7 kilograms of silver.
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