1 Kings 10:13-23

13 King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested, besides * what he gave her according to his royal bounty. Then she turned and went to her own land together with her servants.

Wealth, Splendor and Wisdom

14 ¹Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 * * talents of gold,

15 besides * that from the traders * and the wares of the merchants and all the kings of the ²Arabs and the governors of the country.

16 ³King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 * shekels of gold on each large shield.

17 He made ⁴ 300 * shields of beaten gold, using three minas of gold on each shield, and ⁵ the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

18 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ⁶ivory and overlaid it with refined gold.

19 There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and arms on each side of the seat *, and two lions standing beside the arms.

20 Twelve * lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom.

21 All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.

22 For ⁷the king had at sea the ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.

23 ⁸So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

1 Kings 10:13-23 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 9:13-28
• 2. 2 Chronicles 9:14
• 3. 1 Kings 14:26-28; 2 Chronicles 12:9, 10
• 4. 1 Kings 14:26
• 5. 1 Kings 7:2
• 6. 1 Kings 10:22; 2 Chronicles 9:17; Psalms 45:8
• 7. 1 Kings 9:26-28; 1 Kings 22:48; 2 Chronicles 20:36
• 8. 1 Kings 3:12, 13; 1 Kings 4:30

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "the hand of King Solomon"
• [b] Lit "she and"
• [c] Or "traffic"
• [d] Lit "he brought up"
• [e] Lit "he brought up"
• [f] Lit "hands"
• [g] Lit "on this side and on this at the place of the seat"
• [h] Lit "hands"
• [i] Lit "anything"