1 Kings 10:1-17

The Queen of Sheba

1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. ¹

2 She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.

3 And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain.

4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built,

5 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and 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 to me. Your wisdom and prosperity have far exceeded the report I heard.

8 How blessed are your men! ^[a] How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!

9 Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness.”

10 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, ^[b] a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again were spices in such abundance brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

11 (The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almug ^[c] wood and precious stones.

12 The king made the almug wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had such almug wood been brought in, nor has such been seen again to this day.)

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

Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor

14 The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, ^{[d] 2}

15 not including the revenue from the merchants, traders, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.

16 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold ^[e] went into each shield.

17 He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold ^[f] went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

1 Kings 10:1-17 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. (2 Chronicles 9:1–12)
• 2. (2 Chronicles 1:14–17; 2 Chronicles 9:13–28)

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate your wives
• [b]. 120 talents is approximately 4.52 tons or 4.1 metric tons of gold.
• [c]. Almug is probably a variant of algum; also in verse 12; see 2 Chronicles 2:8.
• [d]. 666 talents is approximately 25.1 tons or 22.8 metric tons of gold.
• [e]. 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of gold.
• [f]. 3 minas is approximately 3.77 pounds or 1.71 kilograms of gold; possibly a reference to double minas, that is, approximately 7.54 pounds or 3.42 kilograms.