1 Kings10
King James Version · Public Domain
1And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.
2And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
3And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
4And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
5And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her.
6And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
7Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
8Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
9Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
10And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
11And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
12And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
13And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
15Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
16And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
17And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
18Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.
19The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
20And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
21And 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 were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
22For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
23So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
24And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
25And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
26And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.
27And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.
28And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
29And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Kings 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon. (1–13). Solomon's wealth. (14–29).
vv1-13
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, that the thousandth part was not told them, 1Co 2:9. She 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.
vv14-29
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.
Key Words
מַלְכָּה: a queen
שְׁבָא: Sheba, the name of three early progenitors of tribes and of an Ethiopian district
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
שֵׁמַע: something heard, i.e. a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience
שְׁלֹמֹה: Shelomah, David's successor
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
נָסָה: to test; by implication, to attempt
חִידָה: a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim
יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Cross References
1 Kings 10Jesus cites the Queen of Sheba seeking Solomon's wisdom to condemn the Jews' unbelief.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The direct parallel account of the Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon.
Supported by JFB
Parallel Gospel reference to the Queen of the South rising in judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Fulfills God's promise to give Solomon unprecedented wisdom and riches.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Solomon's gathering of chariots and horses directly violates God's law for kings.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic fulfillment of kings of Sheba and Seba bringing gifts to the Messianic King.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The magi presenting gold and frankincense typologically echoes Sheba's royal tribute.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Highlights the special architectural ascent/entryway to the Temple that amazed the queen.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Saints in heaven will find the reality far exceeds any earthly reports.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels Hiram's blessing of Yahweh for giving David a wise son.
Supported by JFB
Solomon's golden shields are later captured by Shishak of Egypt under Rehoboam.
Supported by JFB
Prophecy of nations coming from Sheba bearing gold and incense praising Yahweh.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Establishes the background of the joint Ophir fleet bringing gold.
Supported by JFB
Parallel account detailing Solomon's accumulation of silver, chariots, and horses.
Supported by JFB
Warns kings against multiplying gold and silver excessively.
Supported by Matthew Henry