1 Kings10
New King James Version
1Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.
2She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.
3So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her.
4And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
5the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.
6Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.
7However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.
8Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!
9Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
10Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11Also, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought great quantities of almug wood and precious stones from Ophir.
12And the king made steps of the almug wood for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers. There never again came such almug wood, nor has the like been seen to this day.
13Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
14The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,
15besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country.
16And King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield.
17He also made three hundred shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. 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 pure gold.
19The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round at the back; there were armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests.
20Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.
21All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.
22For the king had merchant ships at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant ships came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.
23So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
24Now all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
25Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year.
26And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland.
28Also Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king’s merchants bought them in Keveh at the current price.
29Now a chariot that was imported from Egypt cost six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse one hundred and fifty; and thus, through their agents, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.
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