1 Kings 10:5

5 likewise the food of his table and the sitting of his slaves and the attendance of his ministers and their apparel, and his butlers and his burnt offering which he sacrificed in the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.

1 Kings 10:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 10:5

And the meat of his table
The various sorts of it, the different dishes, and the multitude of them; see ( 1 Kings 4:22 1 Kings 4:23 )

and the sitting of his servants;
at table, either with him, or at tables by themselves, yet in his presence; for these were his nobles and courtiers, who were placed in order, according to their rank and degree, which showed wisdom:

and the attendance of his ministers;
or the "standing" F17 of those that waited, both at the king's table, and the tables of the lords, who each had their proper place and business assigned; so that the utmost decorum was observed, and no confusion or disorder to be seen:

and their apparel:
their several liveries, which were distinct according to the posts and offices in which they were, and which no doubt were rich and splendid, as well as various:

and his cup bearers;
to serve him and his nobles with wine when called for; though the word signifies liquors F18, and may design the various sorts of wines, and other drinkables, used by him, of which there was great plenty:

and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord;
the steps which he had made to go up from his palace to the temple; which were so curiously devised, and so artificially wrought, that it gave the queen, among other things, a sensible proof of his great wisdom, as well as of his religion and piety. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, and some others, render the words, "and the burnt offerings which he offered in the house of the Lord"; and so Josephus F19 understood them; she was shown the service of the house of the Lord, as much as could be admitted, and perhaps was told the meaning of it; all which she saw, both in his own house, and in the house of God, and greatly surprised her:

so that there was no more spirit in her;
she was quite astonished; like one in an ecstasy, she had no power for a time to speak, what she saw and heard so affected her.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 (Kmem) "statum", Tigurine version, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius; "stationem", Piscator.
F18 (wyqvm) "et potum ejus", Tig. vers. so Abarbinel
F19 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 8. c. 6. sect. 5.)

1 Kings 10:5 In-Context

3 And Solomon told her all her questions; there was not any thing hid from the king, which he did not tell her.
4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom and the house that he had built,
5 likewise the food of his table and the sitting of his slaves and the attendance of his ministers and their apparel, and his butlers and his burnt offering which he sacrificed in the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.
6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in my own land of thy words and of thy wisdom.
7 But I did not believe it until I came, and my eyes have seen that not even the half was told me. Thy wisdom and good exceeds the fame which I heard.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010