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1 Kings 10:1-29 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And when the queen H4436 of Sheba H7614 heard H8085 of the fame H8088 of Solomon H8010 concerning the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 she came H935 to prove H5254 him with hard questions. H2420

2 And she came H935 to Jerusalem H3389 with a very H3966 great H3515 train, H2428 with camels H1581 that bare H5375 spices, H1314 and very H3966 much H7227 gold, H2091 and precious H3368 stones: H68 and when she was come H935 to Solomon, H8010 she communed H1696 with him of all that was in her heart. H3824

3 And Solomon H8010 told H5046 her all her questions: H1697 there was not any thing H1697 hid H5956 from the king, H4428 which he told H5046 her not.

4 And when the queen H4436 of Sheba H7614 had seen H7200 all Solomon's H8010 wisdom, H2451 and the house H1004 that he had built, H1129

5 And the meat H3978 of his table, H7979 and the sitting H4186 of his servants, H5650 and the attendance H4612 of his ministers, H8334 and their apparel, H4403 and his cupbearers, H8248 and his ascent H5930 by which he went up H5927 unto the house H1004 of the LORD; H3068 there was no more spirit H7307 in her.

6 And she said H559 to the king, H4428 It was a true H571 report H1697 that I heard H8085 in mine own land H776 of thy acts H1697 and of thy wisdom. H2451

7 Howbeit I believed H539 not the words, H1697 until I came, H935 and mine eyes H5869 had seen H7200 it: and, behold, the half H2677 was not told H5046 me: thy wisdom H2451 and prosperity H2896 exceedeth H3254 the fame H8052 which I heard. H8085

8 Happy H835 are thy men, H582 happy H835 are these thy servants, H5650 which stand H5975 continually H8548 before H6440 thee, and that hear H8085 thy wisdom. H2451

9 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 which delighted H2654 in thee, to set H5414 thee on the throne H3678 of Israel: H3478 because the LORD H3068 loved H160 Israel H3478 for ever, H5769 therefore made H7760 he thee king, H4428 to do H6213 judgment H4941 and justice. H6666

10 And she gave H5414 the king H4428 an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 talents H3603 of gold, H2091 and of spices H1314 very H3966 great store, H7235 and precious H3368 stones: H68 there came H935 no more such H1931 abundance H7230 of spices H1314 as these which the queen H4436 of Sheba H7614 gave H5414 to king H4428 Solomon. H8010

11 And the navy H590 also of Hiram, H2438 that brought H5375 gold H2091 from Ophir, H211 brought in H935 from Ophir H211 great H3966 plenty H7235 of almug H484 trees, H6086 and precious H3368 stones. H68

12 And the king H4428 made H6213 of the almug H484 trees H6086 pillars H4552 for the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and for the king's H4428 house, H1004 harps H3658 also and psalteries H5035 for singers: H7891 there came H935 no such almug H484 trees, H6086 nor were seen H7200 unto this day. H3117

13 And king H4428 Solomon H8010 gave H5414 unto the queen H4436 of Sheba H7614 all her desire, H2656 whatsoever she asked, H7592 beside that which Solomon H8010 gave H5414 her of his royal H4428 bounty. H3027 So she turned H6437 and went H3212 to her own country, H776 she and her servants. H5650

14 Now the weight H4948 of gold H2091 that came H935 to Solomon H8010 in one H259 year H8141 was six H8337 hundred H3967 threescore H8346 and six H8337 talents H3603 of gold, H2091

15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, H582 H8446 and of the traffick H4536 of the spice merchants, H7402 and of all the kings H4428 of Arabia, H6152 and of the governors H6346 of the country. H776

16 And king H4428 Solomon H8010 made H6213 two hundred H3967 targets H6793 of beaten H7820 gold: H2091 six H8337 hundred H3967 shekels of gold H2091 went H5927 to one H259 target. H6793

17 And he made three H7969 hundred H3967 shields H4043 of beaten H7820 gold; H2091 three H7969 pound H4488 of gold H2091 went H5927 to one H259 shield: H4043 and the king H4428 put H5414 them in the house H1004 of the forest H3293 of Lebanon. H3844

18 Moreover the king H4428 made H6213 a great H1419 throne H3678 of ivory, H8127 and overlaid H6823 it with the best H6338 gold. H2091

19 The throne H3678 had six H8337 steps, H4609 and the top H7218 of the throne H3678 was round H5696 behind: H310 and there were stays H3027 on either side on the place H4725 of the seat, H7675 and two H8147 lions H738 stood H5975 beside H681 the stays. H3027

20 And twelve H8147 H6240 lions H738 stood H5975 there on the one side and on the other upon the six H8337 steps: H4609 there was not the like H3651 made H6213 in any kingdom. H4467

21 And all king H4428 Solomon's H8010 drinking H4945 vessels H3627 were of gold, H2091 and all the vessels H3627 of the house H1004 of the forest H3293 of Lebanon H3844 were of pure H5462 gold; H2091 none were of silver: H3701 it was nothing H3972 accounted H2803 of in the days H3117 of Solomon. H8010

22 For the king H4428 had at sea H3220 a navy H590 of Tharshish H8659 with the navy H590 of Hiram: H2438 once H259 in three H7969 years H8141 came H935 the navy H590 of Tharshish, H8659 bringing H5375 gold, H2091 and silver, H3701 ivory, H8143 and apes, H6971 and peacocks. H8500

23 So king H4428 Solomon H8010 exceeded H1431 all the kings H4428 of the earth H776 for riches H6239 and for wisdom. H2451

24 And all the earth H776 sought H1245 to H6440 Solomon, H8010 to hear H8085 his wisdom, H2451 which God H430 had put H5414 in his heart. H3820

25 And they brought H935 every man H376 his present, H4503 vessels H3627 of silver, H3701 and vessels H3627 of gold, H2091 and garments, H8008 and armour, H5402 and spices, H1314 horses, H5483 and mules, H6505 a rate H1697 year H8141 by year. H8141

26 And Solomon H8010 gathered together H622 chariots H7393 and horsemen: H6571 and he had a thousand H505 and four H702 hundred H3967 chariots, H7393 and twelve H8147 H6240 thousand H505 horsemen, H6571 whom he bestowed H5148 in the cities H5892 for chariots, H7393 and with the king H4428 at Jerusalem. H3389

27 And the king H4428 made H5414 silver H3701 to be in Jerusalem H3389 as stones, H68 and cedars H730 made H5414 he to be as the sycomore trees H8256 that are in the vale, H8219 for abundance. H7230

28 And Solomon H8010 had horses H5483 brought H4161 out of Egypt, H4714 and linen yarn: H4723 the king's H4428 merchants H5503 received H3947 the linen yarn H4723 at a price. H4242

29 And a chariot H4818 came up H5927 and went out H3318 of Egypt H4714 for six H8337 hundred H3967 shekels of silver, H3701 and an horse H5483 for an hundred H3967 and fifty: H2572 and so for all the kings H4428 of the Hittites, H2850 and for the kings H4428 of Syria, H758 did they bring them out H3318 by their means. H3027

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Kings 10

Commentary on 1 Kings 10 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 10

Still Solomon looks great, and every thing in this chapter adds to his magnificence. We read nothing indeed of his charity, of no hospitals he built, or alms-houses; he made his kingdom so rich that it did not need them; yet, no question, many poor were relieved from the abundance of his table. A church he had built, never to be equalled; schools or colleges he need not build any, his own palace is an academy, and his court a rendezvous of wise and learned men, as well as the centre of all the circulating riches of that part of the world.

  • I. What abundance of wisdom there was there appears from the application the queen of Sheba made to him, and the great satisfaction she had in her entertainment there (v. 1-13), and others likewise (v. 24).
  • II. What abundance of wealth there was there appears here by the gold imported, with other things, yearly (v. 14, 15), and in a triennial return (v. 22). Gold presented (v. 25), and gold used in targets and shields (v. 16, 17), and vessels (v. 21). A stately throne made (v. 18-20). His chariots and horsemen (v. 26). His trade with Egypt (v. 28, 29). And the great plenty of silver and cedars among his people (v. 27). So that, putting all together, it must be owned, as it is here said (v. 23), that "king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches, and for wisdom.' Yet what was he to the King of kings? Where Christ is, by his word and Spirit, "Behold, a greater than Solomon is there.'

1Ki 10:1-13

We have here an account of the visit which the queen of Sheba made to Solomon, no doubt when he was in the height of his piety and prosperity. Our Saviour calls her the queen of the south, for Sheba lay south of Canaan. The common opinion is that it was in Africa; and the Christians in Ethiopia, to this day, are confident that she came from their country, and that Candace was her successor, who is mentioned Acts 8:27. But it is more probable that she came from the south part of Arabia the happy. It should seem she was a queen regent, sovereign of her country. Many a kingdom would have been deprived of its greatest blessings if a Salique law had been admitted into its constitution. Observe,

  • I. On what errand the queen of Sheba came-not to treat of trade or commerce, to adjust the limits of their dominions, to court his alliance for their mutual strength or his assistance against some common enemy, which are the common occasions of the congress of crowned heads and their interviews, but she came,
    • 1. To satisfy her curiosity; for she had heard of his fame, especially for wisdom, and she came to prove him, whether he was so great a man as he was reported to be, v. 1. Solomon's fleet sailed near the coast of her country, and probably might put in there for fresh water; perhaps it was thus that she heard of the fame of Solomon, that he excelled in wisdom all the children of the east, and nothing would serve her but she would go herself and know the truth of the report.
    • 2. To receive instruction from him. She came to hear his wisdom, and thereby to improve her own (Mt. 12:42), that she might be the better able to govern her own kingdom by his maxims of policy. Those whom God has called to any public employment, particularly in the magistracy and ministry, should, by all means possible, be still improving themselves in that knowledge which will more and more qualify them for it, and enable them to discharge their trust well. But, it should seem, that which she chiefly aimed at was to be instructed in the things of God. She was religiously inclined, and had heard not only of the fame of Solomon, but concerning the name of the Lord (v. 1), the great name of that God whom Solomon worshipped and from whom he received his wisdom, and with this God she desired to be better acquainted. Therefore does our Saviour mention her enquiries after God, by Solomon, as an aggravation of the stupidity of those who enquire not after God by our Lord Jesus Christ, though he, having lain in his bosom, was much better able to instruct them.
  • II. With what equipage she came, with a very great retinue, agreeable to her rank, intending to try Solomon's wealth and generosity, as well as his wisdom, what entertainment he could and would give to a royal visitant, v. 2. Yet she came not as one begging, but brought enough to bear her charges, and abundantly to recompense Solomon for his attention to her, nothing mean or common, but gold, and precious stones, and spices, because she came to trade for wisdom, which she would purchase at any rate.
  • III. What entertainment Solomon gave her. He despised not the weakness of her sex, blamed her not for leaving her own business at home to come so long a journey, and put herself and him to so much trouble and expense merely to satisfy her curiosity; but he made her welcome and all her train, gave her liberty to put all her questions, though some perhaps were frivolous, some captious, and some over-curious; he allowed her to commune with him of all that was in her heart (v. 2) and gave her a satisfactory answer to all her questions (v. 3), whether natural, moral, political, or divine. Were they designed to try him? he gave them such turns as abundantly satisfied her of his uncommon knowledge. Were they designed for her own instruction? (as we suppose most of them were), she received abundant instruction from him, and he made things surprisingly easy which she apprehended insuperably difficult, and satisfied her that there was a divine sentence in the lips of this king. But he informed her no doubt, with particular care, concerning God, and his law and instituted worship. He had taken it for granted (ch. 8:42) that strangers would hear of his great name, and would come thither to enquire after him; and now that so great a stranger came we may be sure he was not wanting to assist and encourage her enquiries, and give her a description of the temple, and the officers and services of it, that she might be persuaded to serve the Lord whom she now sought.
  • IV. How she was affected with what she saw and heard in Solomon's court. Divers things are here mentioned which she admired, the buildings and furniture of his palace, the provision that was made very day for his table (when she saw that perhaps she wondered where there were mouths for all that meat, but when she saw the multitude of his attendants and guests she was as ready to wonder where was the meat for all those mouths), the orderly sitting of his servants, every one in his place, and the ready attendance of his ministers, without any confusion, their rich liveries, and the propriety with which his cup-bearers waited at his table. These things she admired, as adding much to his magnificence. But, above all these, the first thing mentioned (which contained all) is his wisdom (v. 4), of the transcendency of which she now had incontestable proofs: and the last thing mentioned, which crowned all, is his piety, the ascent by which he went up to the house of the Lord, with what gravity and seriousness, and an air of devotion in his countenance, he appeared, when he went to the temple to worship God, with as much humility then as majesty at other times. Many of the ancient versions read it, The burnt-offerings which he offered in the house of the Lord; she observed with what a generous bounty he brought his sacrifices, and with what a pious fervour he attended the offering of them; never did she see so much goodness with so much greatness. Every thing was so surprising that there was no more spirit in her, but she stood amazed; she had never seen the like.
  • V. How she expressed herself upon this occasion.
    • 1. She owned her expectation far out-done, though it was highly raised by the report she heard, v. 6, 7. She is far from repenting her journey or calling herself a fool for undertaking it, but acknowledges it was well worth her while to come so far for the sight of that which she could not believe the report of. Usually things are represented to us, both by common fame and by our own imagination, much greater than we find them when we come to examine them; but here the truth exceeded both fame and fancy. Those who, through grace, are brought to experience the delights of communion with God will say that the one-half was not told them of the pleasures of Wisdom's ways and the advantages of her gates. Glorified saints, much more, will say that it was a true report which they heard of the happiness of heaven, but that the thousandth part was not told them, 1 Co. 2:9.
    • 2. She pronounced those happy that constantly attended him, and waited on him at table: "Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants (v. 8); they may improve their own wisdom by hearing thine.' She was tempted to envy them and to which herself one of them. Note, It is a great advantage to be in good families, and to have opportunity of frequent converse with those that are wise, and good, and communicative. Many have this happiness who know not how to value it. With much more reason may we say this of Christ's servants, Blessed are those that dwell in his house, they will be still praising him.
    • 3. She blessed God, the giver of Solomon's wisdom and wealth, and the author of his advancement, who had made him king,
      • (1.) In kindness to him, that he might have the larger opportunity of doing good with his wisdom: He delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel, v. 9. Solomon's preferment began in the prophet's calling him Jedidiah, because the Lord loved him, 2 Sa. 12:25. It more than doubles our comforts if we have reason to hope they come from God's delight in us. It was his pleasure concerning thee (so it may be read) to set thee on the throne, not for thy merit's sake, but because it so seemed good unto him.
      • (2.) In kindness to the people, because the Lord loved Israel for ever, designed them a lasting bliss, long to survive him that laid the foundations of it. "He has made thee king, not that thou mayest live in pomp and pleasure, and do what thou wilt, but to do judgment and justice.' This she kindly reminded Solomon of, and no doubt he took it kindly. Both magistrates and ministers must be more solicitous to do the duty of their places than to secure the honours and profits of them. To this she attributes his prosperity, not to his wisdom, for bread is not always to the wise (Eccl. 9:11), but whoso doeth judgment and justice, it shall be well with him, Jer. 22:15. Thus giving of thanks must be made for kings, for good kings, for such kings; they are what God makes them to be.
  • VI. How they parted.
    • 1. She made a noble present to Solomon of gold and spices, v. 10. David had foretold concerning Solomon that to him should be given of the gold of Sheba, Ps. 72:15. The present of gold and spices which the wise men of the east brought to Christ was signified by this, Mt. 2:11. Thus she paid for the wisdom she had learned and did not think she bought it dearly. Let those that are taught of God give him their hearts, and the present will be more acceptable than this of gold and spices. Mention is made of the great abundance Solomon had of his own, notwithstanding she presented and he accepted this gold. What we present to Christ he needs not, but will have us so to express our gratitude. The almug-trees are here spoken of (v. 11, 12) as extraordinary, because perhaps much admired by the queen of Sheba.
    • 2. Solomon was not behind-hand with her: He gave her whatsoever, she asked, patterns, we may suppose, of those things that were curious, by which she might make the like; or perhaps he gave her his precepts of wisdom and piety in writing, besides that which he gave her of his royal bounty, v. 13. Thus those who apply to our Lord Jesus will find him not only greater than Solomon, and wiser, but more kind; whatsoever we ask, it shall be done for us; nay, he will, out of his divine bounty, which infinitely exceeds royal bounty, even Solomon's, do for us more than we are able to ask or think.

1Ki 10:14-29

We have here a further account of Solomon's prosperity.

  • I. How he increased his wealth. Though he had much, he still coveted to have more, being willing to try the utmost the things of this world could do to make men happy.
    • 1. Besides the gold that came from Ophir (ch. 9:28), he brought so much into his country from other places that the whole amounted, every year, to 666 talents (v. 14), an ominous number, compare Rev. 13:18, and Ezra 2:13.
    • 2. He received a great deal in customs from the merchants, and in land-taxes from the countries his father had conquered and made tributaries to Israel, v. 15.
    • 3. He was Hiram's partner in a Tharshish fleet, of and for Tyre, which imported once in three years, not only gold, and silver, and ivory, substantial goods and serviceable, but apes to play with and peacocks to please the eye with their feathers, v. 22. I wish this may not be an evidence that Solomon and his people, being overcharged with prosperity, by this time grew childish and wanton.
    • 4. He had presents made him, every year, from the neighbouring princes and great men, to engage the continuance of his friendship, not so much because they feared him or were jealous of him as because they loved him and admired his wisdom, had often occasion to consult him as an oracle, and sent him these presents by way of recompence for his advice in politics, and (whether it became his grandeur and generosity or no we will not enquire) he took all that came, even garments and spices, horses and mules, v. 24, 25.
    • 5. He traded to Egypt for horses and linen-yarn (or, as some read it, linen-cloth), the staple commodities of that country, and had his own merchants or factors whom he employed in this traffic and who were accountable to him, v. 28, 29. The custom to be paid to the king of Egypt for exported chariots and horses out of Egypt was very high, but (as bishop Patrick understands it) Solomon, having married his daughter, got him to compound for the customs, so that he could bring them up cheaper than his neighbours, which obliged them to buy them of him, which he was wise enough no doubt to make his advantage of. This puts an honour upon the trading part of a nation, and sets a tradesman not so much below a gentleman as some place him, that Solomon, one of the greatest men that ever was, thought it no disparagement to him to deal in trade. In all labour there is profit.
  • II. What use he made of his wealth. He did not hoard it up in his coffers, that he might have it to look upon and leave behind him. He has, in his Ecclesiastes, so much exposed the folly of hoarding that we cannot suppose he would himself be guilty of it. No, God that had given him riches, and wealth, and honour, gave him also power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, Eccles. 5:19.
    • 1. He laid out his gold in fine things for himself, which he might the better be allowed to do when he had before laid out so much in fine things for the house of God.
      • (1.) He made 200 targets, and 300 shields, of beaten gold (v. 16, 17), not for service, but for state, to be carried before him when he appeared in pomp. With us, magistrates have swords and maces carried before them, as the Romans had their rods and axes, in token of their power to correct and punish the bad, to whom they are to be a terror. But Solomon had shields and targets carried before him, to signify that he took more pleasure in using his power for the defence and protection of the good, to whom he would be a praise. Magistrates are shields of the earth.
      • (2.) He made a stately throne, on which he sat, to give laws to his subjects, audience to ambassadors, and judgment upon appeals, v. 18-20. It was made of ivory, or elephants' teeth, which was very rich; and yet, as if he had so much gold that he knew not what to do with it, he overlaid that with gold, the best gold. Yet some think he did not cover the ivory all over, but here and there. He rolled it, flowered it, or inlaid it, with gold. The stays or arms of this stately chair were supported by the images of lions in gold; so were the steps and paces by which he went up to it, to be a memorandum to him of that courage and resolution wherewith he ought to execute judgment, not fearing the face of man. The righteous, in that post, is bold as a lion.
      • (3.) He made all his drinking vessels, and all the furniture of his table, even at his country seat, of pure gold, v. 21. He did not grudge himself what he had, but took the credit and comfort of it, such as it was. That is good that does us good.
    • 2. He made it circulate among his subjects, so that the kingdom was as rich as the king; for he had no separate interests of his own to consult, but sought the welfare of his people. Those princes are not governed by Solomon's maxims who think it policy to keep their subjects poor. Solomon was herein a type of Christ, who is not only rich himself, but enriches all that are his. Solomon was instrumental to bring so much gold into the country, and disperse it, that silver was nothing accounted of, v. 21. There was such plenty of it in Jerusalem that it was as the stones; and cedars, that used to be great rarities, were as common as sycamore trees, v. 27. 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 would make silver to seem so despicable, shall not wisdom, and grace, and the foretastes of heaven, which are far better than gold, make earthly wealth seem much more despicable?

Lastly, Well, thus rich, thus great, was Solomon, and thus did he exceed all the kings of the earth, v. 23. Now let us remember,

  • 1. That this was he who, when he was setting out in the world, did not ask for the wealth and honour of it, but asked for a wise and understanding heart. The more moderate our desires are towards earthly things the better qualified we are for the enjoyment of them and the more likely to have them. See, in Solomon's greatness, the performance of God's promise (ch. 3:13), and let it encourage us to seek first the righteousness of God's kingdom.
  • 2. That this was he who, having tasted all these enjoyments, wrote a whole book to show the vanity of all worldly things and the vexation of spirit that attends them, their insufficiency to make us happy and the folly of setting our hearts upon them, and to recommend to us the practice of serious godliness, as that which is the whole of man, and will do infinitely more towards the making of us easy and happy than all the wealth and power that he was master of, and which, through the grace of God, is within our reach, when the thousandth part of Solomon's greatness is a thousand times more than we can ever be so vain as to promise ourselves in this world.