1 Kings10
New American Standard
1Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon in relation to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with riddles.
2So she came to Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels carrying balsam oil and a very large quantity of gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke to him about everything that was in her heart.
3And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was concealed from the king which he did not explain to her.
4When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,
5and the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings which he offered at the house of the Lord, she was breathless.
6Then she said to the king, “It was a true story that I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.
7But I did not believe the stories until I came and my own eyes saw it all. And behold, the half of it was not reported to me. You have exceeded in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.
8Blessed are your men, and blessed are these servants of yours who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom!
9Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to put you on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loves Israel forever, He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
10Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very large amount of balsam oil and precious stones. Never again did such a large quantity of balsam oil come in as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.
11And the ships of Hiram as well, which brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir a very great number of almug trees and precious stones.
12The king made from the almug trees supports for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, and lyres and harps for the singers; such almug trees have not come in again, nor have they been seen to this day.
13And King Solomon granted the queen of Sheba everything she desired, whatever she requested, besides what he gave her in proportion to his royal bounty. Then she departed and went to her own land together with her servants.
14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,
15besides that from the traders, and the wares of the merchants and all the kings of the Arabs and the governors of the country.
16King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold, using six hundred shekels of gold on each large shield.
17And he made three hundred small shields of beaten gold, using three minas of gold on each shield; and the king put them in the house of the timber of Lebanon.
18Moreover, the king made a large throne of ivory and overlaid it with fine gold.
19There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its back, and armrests on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.
20Twelve 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.
21Now all King Solomon’s drinking utensils were of gold, and all the utensils of the house of the timber of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered as amounting to anything in the days of Solomon.
22For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s ships; once every three years the ships of Tarshish would come carrying gold and silver, ivory, monkeys, and peacocks.
23So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom.
24And all the earth was seeking the attention of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
25And they were bringing, everyone, a gift: articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, balsam oil, horses, and mules, so much year by year.
26Now Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
27And the king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
28Also Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s merchants acquired them from Kue for a price.
29A chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for 150; and by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of the Arameans.
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