The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Kings 10
1 When the queen of Sheba heard of
the fame of Solomon concerning Yahweh’s
name, she came to testhimwithhard questions.
2 She 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.
3 Solomon answered all her questions.
There wasn’t anything hidden from the
king which he didn’t tell her.
4 When the queen of Sheba had seen all
the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he
had built,
5 the 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 Yahweh’s
house, there was no more spirit in her.
6 She said to the king, “It was a true
report that I heard in my own land of your
acts and of your wisdom.
7 However, 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.
8 Happy are your men, happy are these
your servants who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.
9 Blessed is Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne
of Israel. Because Yahweh loved Israel
forever, therefore he made you king, to do
justice and righteousness.”
10 She 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.
11 The fleet of Hiram that brought gold
from Ophir also brought in from Ophir
great quantities of almug trees† and precious stones.
12 The king made of the almug trees
pillars for Yahweh’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.
13 King 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.
14 Now the weight of gold that came
to Solomon in one year was six hundred
sixty-six talents‡ of gold,
15 in 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.
16 King Solomon made two hundred
bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred
shekels§ of gold went to one buckler.
17 He 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.
18 Moreover the king made a great
throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the
finest gold.
19 There 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.
20 Twelve lions stood there on the one
side and on the other on the six steps.
Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.
21 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, because it
was considered oflittle value in the days of
Solomon.
22 For the king had a fleet of ships of
Tarshishat sea withHiram’sfleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish came
bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
23 So King Solomon exceeded all the
kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
24 All the earth sought the presence of
Solomon to hear his wisdom which God
had put in his heart.
25 Year after year, every man brought his
tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold,
clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.
26 Solomon 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.
27 The king made silver as common as
stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the
lowland.
28 The horses which Solomon had were
brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each
drove at a price.
29 A 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.