1 Kings 10:20

20 Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

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 covered it with fine gold.

19 Six steps led to the throne. Carved into the back of the throne was a calf's head. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. Two lions stood beside the armrests.

20 Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

21 All King Solomon's cups were gold, and all the utensils for the hall [which he called] the Forest of Lebanon were fine gold. (Nothing was silver, because it wasn't considered valuable in Solomon's time.)

22 The king had a fleet headed for Tarshish with Hiram's fleet. Once every three years the Tarshish fleet would bring gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.