1 Kings 10

The Queen of Sheba

1 The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon's fame connected with the name of the Lord and came to test him with difficult questions.

2 She came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke to him about everything that was on her mind.

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

4 When the queen of Sheba observed all of Solomon's wisdom, the palace he had built,

5 the food at his table, his servants' residence, his attendants' service and their attire, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he offered at the Lord's temple, it took her breath away.

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

7 But I didn't believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half. Your wisdom and prosperity far exceed the report I heard.

8 How happy are your men.^[a] How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom.

9 May the Lord your God be praised! He delighted in you and put 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 four and a half tons^[b] of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again did such a quantity of spices arrive as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

11 In addition, Hiram's fleet that carried gold from Ophir brought from Ophir a large quantity of almug^[c] wood and precious stones.

12 The king made the almug wood into steps for the Lord's temple and the king's palace and into harps and lyres for the singers. Never [before] had such almug wood come, and [the like] has not been seen [again] even to this very day.

13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba her every desire-whatever she asked-besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she, along with her servants, returned to her own country.^[d]

Solomon's Wealth

14 The weight of gold that came to Solomon annually was 25 tons,^[e]

15 besides what came from merchants, traders' merchandise, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.

16 King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold; 15 pounds^[f] of gold went into each shield.

17 He made 300 small shields^[g] of hammered gold; about four pounds^[h] of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.^[i]

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

19 The throne had six steps; there was a rounded top at the back of the throne, armrests on either side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.

20 Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps, one at each end. Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.

21 All of King Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, since it was considered as nothing in Solomon's time,

22 for the king had ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram's fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.^[j][k]

23 King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and in wisdom.

24 The whole world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

25 Every man would bring his annual tribute: items^[l] of silver and gold, clothing, weapons,^[m] spices, and horses and mules.^[n]

26 Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen^[o] and stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills.

28 Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and Kue.^[p] The king's traders bought them from Kue at the going price.

29 A chariot was imported from Egypt for 15 pounds^[q] [of silver], and a horse for about four pounds.^[r] In the same way, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram through their agents.^[s]

1 Kings 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

The queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon. (1-13) Solomon's wealth. (14-29)

Verses 1-13 The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to hear his wisdom, thereby to improve her own. Our Saviour mentions her inquiries after God, by Solomon, as showing the stupidity of those who inquire not after God, by our Lord Jesus Christ. By waiting and prayer, by diligently searching the Scriptures, by consulting wise and experienced Christians, and by practising what we have learned, we shall be delivered from difficulties. Solomon's wisdom made more impression upon the queen of Sheba than all his prosperity and grandeur. There is a spiritual excellence in heavenly things, and in consistent Christians, to which no reports can do justice. Here the truth exceeded; and all who, through grace, are brought to commune with God, will say the one half was not told them of the pleasures and the advantages of wisdom's ways. Glorified saints, much more, will say of heaven, ( 1 Corinthians. 2:9 ) pronounced them happy that constantly attended Solomon. With much more reason may we say of Christ's servants, Blessed are they that dwell in his house; they will be still praising him. She made a noble present to Solomon. What we present to Christ, he needs not, but will have us do so to express our gratitude. The believer who has been with Jesus, will return to his station, discharge his duties with readiness, and from better motives; looking forward to the day when, being absent from the body, he shall be present with the Lord.

Verses 14-29 Solomon increased his wealth. Silver was nothing accounted of. Such is the nature of worldly wealth, plenty of it makes it the less valuable; much more should the enjoyment of spiritual riches lessen our esteem of all earthly possessions. If gold in abundance makes silver to be despised, shall not wisdom, and grace, and the foretastes of heaven, which are far better than gold, make gold to be lightly esteemed? See in Solomon's greatness the performance of God's promise, and let it encourage us to seek first the righteousness of God's kingdom. This was he, who, having tasted all earthly enjoyments, wrote a book, to show the vanity of all worldly things, the vexation of spirit that attends them, and the folly of setting our hearts upon them: and to recommend serious godliness, as that which will do unspeakably more to make us happy, that all the wealth and power he was master of; and, through the grace of God, it is within our reach.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX, Syr read your wives
• [b]. Lit 120 talents
• [c]. Spelled algum in 2 Ch 2:8; 9:10-11
• [d]. 2 Ch 9:1-12
• [e]. Lit 666 talents
• [f]. Lit 600 (shekels)
• [g]. 2 Sm 1:21; 2 Kg 19:32; Isa 21:5
• [h]. Lit three minas
• [i]. 1 Kg 7:2-5
• [j]. Or baboons
• [k]. 2 Ch 9:13-21
• [l]. Or vessels, or weapons
• [m]. Or fragrant balsam
• [n]. 2 Ch 9:22-24
• [o]. 1 Kg 4:26
• [p]. Cilicia (modern Turkey)
• [q]. Lit 600 shekels
• [r]. Lit 150 shekels
• [s]. Dt 17:16; 2 Ch 1:14-17; 9:25-28

Chapter Summary

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.