1 Kings 10
The Queen of Sheba's Visit
1When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the LORD’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.
2She came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.
3Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.
4When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
5the food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the LORD’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
6She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
7However, I didn’t believe the words until I came and my eyes had seen it. Behold, not even half was told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
8Happy are your men, happy are these your servants who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.
9Blessed is the LORD your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
10She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was there such an abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought in from Ophir great quantities of almug trees and precious stones.
12The king made of the almug trees pillars for the LORD’s house and for the king’s house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers; no such almug trees came or were seen to this day.
13King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, in addition to that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
Solomon's Wealth and Splendor
14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
15in addition to that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.
16King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler.
17He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas 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 finest gold.
19There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were armrests on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.
20Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.
21All 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, because it was considered of little value in the days of Solomon.
22For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
23So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
24All the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.
25Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.
26Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen. He kept them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
27The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
28The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
29A chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty shekels; and so they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.
The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon after hearing reports of his wisdom and wealth, testing him with difficult questions and marveling at his court's splendor. Solomon answers all her inquiries and displays such magnificence that she declares the reports she heard were only half the truth, praising both Solomon and the LORD who established him. The chapter concludes with detailed descriptions of Solomon's extraordinary annual income, golden shields, ivory throne, and international trade networks that brought unprecedented wealth to Israel.
Context
This chapter represents the pinnacle of Solomon's reign following the temple's completion, showcasing the fulfillment of God's promises before the decline that begins in chapter 11.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3The Queen's Arrival and TestingThe Queen of Sheba comes with a great caravan to test Solomon's renowned wisdom with hard questions.
- 4-9The Queen's Amazement and PraiseOverwhelmed by Solomon's wisdom and palace splendor, she declares the reports understated his greatness and blesses the LORD.
- 10-13Exchange of Royal GiftsThe queen presents Solomon with gold, spices, and precious stones, receiving generous gifts in return before departing.
- 14-22Solomon's Annual WealthDescription of Solomon's massive gold income and his creation of golden shields and ceremonial items.
- 23-25Solomon's International ReputationKings from all nations seek Solomon's wisdom and bring tribute, enhancing his wealth and influence.
- 26-29Solomon's Military and Commercial PowerDetails of Solomon's chariot forces, horse trading, and control of international commerce routes.
The Queen of Sheba's Visit
10:1–10:13The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon to test his wisdom with difficult questions and is overwhelmed by his knowledge, wealth, and the magnificence of his court. She praises both Solomon and the Lord, and they exchange lavish gifts.
person_contrast
Solomon's wisdom here uniquely manifests through material abundance rather than judicial decisions, as the Queen of Sheba measures his divine gift by his palace's splendor and servants' prosperity.
Solomon's Wealth and Splendor
10:14–10:29This passage describes Solomon's immense wealth, including gold, ivory, and exotic goods from international trade, demonstrating God's blessing and Israel's prosperity under his reign. Solomon's riches and wisdom exceeded all other kings, drawing tribute and visitors from across the known world.
person_contrast
Solomon's annual gold intake of 666 talents creates an ominous numerical echo that later biblical writers would associate with ultimate worldly power and its spiritual dangers.
1 Kings 10:1
2 Chronicles 9:1lexicalWhen the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a…
2 Chronicles 9:3lexicalWhen the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
2 Chronicles 9:12lexicalKing Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, more than that which she had brought to the…
2 Chronicles 9:9lexicalShe gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was neve…
1 Kings 10:2
2 Chronicles 9:1lexicalWhen the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a…
2 Chronicles 9:9lexicalShe gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was neve…
2 Chronicles 32:27lexicalHezekiah had exceedingly great riches and honor. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious…
Ezekiel 27:22lexical“‘“The traders of Sheba and Raamah were your traders. They traded for your wares with the best of all spices, all precio…
2 Chronicles 9:10lexicalThe servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious st…
1 Kings 10:4
2 Chronicles 9:3lexicalWhen the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
2 Chronicles 9:12lexicalKing Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, more than that which she had brought to the…
2 Chronicles 9:9lexicalShe gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was neve…
2 Chronicles 9:1lexicalWhen the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a…
1 Kings 10:9
2 Chronicles 9:8lexicalBlessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you and set you on his throne to be king for the LORD your God, because y…
Isaiah 58:2lexicalYet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways. As a nation that did righteousness, and didn’t forsake the ordinanc…
1 Kings 10:10
2 Chronicles 9:9lexicalShe gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was neve…
2 Chronicles 9:1lexicalWhen the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a…
2 Chronicles 32:27lexicalHezekiah had exceedingly great riches and honor. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious…
2 Samuel 12:30lexicalHe took the crown of their king from off his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones;…
1 Chronicles 20:2lexicalDavid took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious st…
1 Kings 10:11
2 Chronicles 9:10lexicalThe servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious st…
1 Chronicles 20:2lexicalDavid took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious st…
2 Chronicles 32:27lexicalHezekiah had exceedingly great riches and honor. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious…
2 Samuel 12:30lexicalHe took the crown of their king from off his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones;…
2 Chronicles 9:9lexicalShe gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was neve…
1 Kings 10:12
2 Chronicles 9:11lexicalThe king used algum tree wood to make terraces for the LORD’s house and for the king’s house, and harps and stringed ins…
1 Chronicles 15:16lexicalDavid spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed instrum…
2 Chronicles 5:12lexicalalso the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brothers, arra…
2 Samuel 6:5lexicalDavid and all the house of Israel played before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps,…
1 Kings 10:13
2 Chronicles 9:12lexicalKing Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, more than that which she had brought to the…
2 Chronicles 9:9lexicalShe gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was neve…
2 Chronicles 9:1lexicalWhen the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a…
2 Chronicles 9:3lexicalWhen the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
1 Kings 10:14
2 Chronicles 9:13lexicalNow the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
2 Samuel 12:30lexicalHe took the crown of their king from off his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones;…
1 Chronicles 20:2lexicalDavid took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious st…
1 Chronicles 22:14lexicalNow, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the LORD’s house one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million tal…
1 Chronicles 21:25lexicalSo David gave to Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place.
1 Kings 10:17
2 Chronicles 9:16lexicalHe made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. The king put them in the…
2 Chronicles 9:20lexicalAll King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure…
1 Kings 10:18
2 Chronicles 9:17lexicalMoreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
1 Kings 10:19
2 Chronicles 9:18lexicalThere were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and armrests on either…
2 Chronicles 9:19lexicalTwelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. There was nothing like it made in any other…
1 Kings 10:20
2 Chronicles 9:19lexicalTwelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. There was nothing like it made in any other…
2 Chronicles 9:18lexicalThere were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and armrests on either…
1 Kings 10:21
2 Chronicles 9:20lexicalAll King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure…
2 Chronicles 5:1lexicalThus all the work that Solomon did for the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his fathe…
1 Kings 7:51lexicalThus all the work that King Solomon did in the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things which David his…
Isaiah 29:17lexicalIsn’t it yet a very little while, and Lebanon will be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field will be regar…
2 Chronicles 9:16lexicalHe made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. The king put them in the…
1 Kings 10:22
2 Chronicles 9:21lexicalFor the king had ships that went to Tarshish with Huram’s servants. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish came b…
1 Kings 9:27lexicalHiram sent in the fleet his servants, sailors who had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
Ezekiel 38:13lexicalSheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all its young lions, will ask you, ‘Have you come to take the plunder?…
Isaiah 60:9lexicalSurely the islands will wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far away, their silver and…
Jeremiah 10:9lexicalThere is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the engraver and of…
1 Kings 10:23
2 Chronicles 9:22lexicalSo King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
2 Chronicles 1:11lexicalGod said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, honor, or the life of those…
1 Kings 10:25
2 Chronicles 9:24lexicalThey each brought tribute: vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules every year.
Isaiah 66:20lexicalThey shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to the LORD, on horses, in chariots, in litter…
2 Kings 20:13lexicalHezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the storehouse of his precious things—the silver, the gold, the spices, a…
2 Chronicles 32:27lexicalHezekiah had exceedingly great riches and honor. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious…
Isaiah 39:2lexicalHezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, the gold, the spices, and…
1 Kings 10:26
2 Chronicles 1:14lexicalSolomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he p…
2 Chronicles 9:25lexicalSolomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen that he stationed in the chariot…
1 Samuel 13:5lexicalThe Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and…
1 Kings 9:19lexicalall the storage cities that Solomon had, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomo…
1 Kings 9:22lexicalBut of the children of Israel Solomon made no bondservants; but they were the men of war, his servants, his princes, his…
1 Kings 10:27
2 Chronicles 9:27lexicalThe king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as abundant as the sycamore trees that a…
2 Chronicles 1:15lexicalThe king made silver and gold to be as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars to be as common as the sycamore…
1 Chronicles 27:28lexicalOver the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite. Over the cellars of oi…
1 Kings 10:29
2 Chronicles 1:17lexicalThey imported from Egypt then exported a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver and a horse for one hundred fifty. The…
2 Samuel 15:1lexicalAfter this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.
2 Kings 7:6lexicalFor the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots and the sound of horses, even the noise of a…
Isaiah 2:7lexicalTheir land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures. Their land also is full of horses, n…
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