1 Kings 10: The queen of Sheba visits Solomon, and Solomon's wealth
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What happens?
The queen of Sheba hears of Solomon's fame and comes to Jerusalem with a great caravan to test him with hard questions; Solomon answers them all, and when she has seen his wisdom, his house and his court, she says the report was true and not even half had been told her, and she blesses Yahweh his God. She gives the king gold, spices and precious stones, and he gives her all she asks before she goes back to her own land. The chapter tells of Solomon's riches: six hundred sixty-six talents of gold in one year, shields of gold, a great throne of ivory, ships of Tarshish, chariots and horses, and silver as common in Jerusalem as stones.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. The queen of Sheba speaks to Solomon in verses 6 to 9; her blessing of Yahweh in verse 9 is her own words. Verse 24, that God had put wisdom in Solomon's heart, is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning Yahweh’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.
In plain English: When the queen of Sheba heard the report about Solomon, concerning the name of Yahweh (literally: to the name of Yahweh), she came to test him with hard questions (or: riddles).
The Hebrew word: "Hard questions" is chidah, the word for Samson's riddle in the note on . The dictionary gives it as "a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum". This Bible says "riddle" or a longer form in 13 of the 17 verses that use it.
Good to know: "Concerning Yahweh's name" is literally "to the name of Yahweh", and the text does not explain it. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "the name of Solomon, and the name of the Lord". The dictionary gives Sheba as the name of "an Ethiopian district", among others; the text does not say where her land was. In Jesus speaks of "the Queen of the South", who "came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon".
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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.
In plain English: She came to Jerusalem with a very great company (this Bible: caravan), with camels carrying spices, very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.
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3Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.
In plain English: Solomon answered (literally: told her) all her questions (literally: words). Nothing was hidden from the king that he did not tell her.
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4When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
In plain English: When the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
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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 Yahweh’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
In plain English: the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance (literally: the standing) of his officials and their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to Yahweh's house (or: the burnt offerings he offered at Yahweh's house; see the note), she was left breathless (literally: there was no more breath in her; this Bible: spirit).
The Hebrew word: "His ascent" is olah, which the dictionary gives as "a step", or stairs, and usually an offering "going up in smoke", that is, a burnt offering (see the note on ). This Bible says "burnt" in 257 of the 262 verses that use it, and "ascent" only here.
What changes: Read as "his ascent", the queen saw the way, or the stairs, by which Solomon went up to Yahweh's house; has "his ascent" too, with another word, aliyah, which the dictionary gives as "a stair-way". Read as "his burnt offerings", she saw the offerings he offered there, and the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "his whole-burnt-offering which he offered in the house of the Lord".
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6She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
In plain English: She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own land about your acts (literally: your words) and your wisdom was true.
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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.
In plain English: But I did not believe the words until I came and saw it with my own eyes. Look, not even half of it was told to me! Your wisdom and prosperity (literally: wisdom and good) are greater than the report I heard.
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8Happy are your men, happy are these your servants who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.
In plain English: Happy are your men (see the note), happy are these servants of yours who stand before you always and hear your wisdom.
Good to know: The Hebrew here has "your men", and also has "Happy are your men". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "Blessed are thy wives".
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9Blessed 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.”
In plain English: Blessed is Yahweh your God, who delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel. Because Yahweh loved Israel forever, he made you king, to do justice and righteousness."
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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.
In plain English: She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a very great amount of spices, and precious stones. Never again did such a great amount of spices come as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
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11The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought in from Ophir great quantities of almug trees and precious stones.
In plain English: Hiram's fleet, which brought gold from Ophir, also brought from Ophir a great many almug trees (see the note) and precious stones.
The Hebrew word: "Almug" is almuggim, which the dictionary gives as "almug (i.e. probably sandle-wood) sticks". It is in only 2 verses of the Bible: here and verse 12. and tell the same story with algummim, "algum": nearly the same letters, with two of them the other way round. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "hewn timber".
What changes: Read with the dictionary, it is probably sandalwood. Read as Brenton has it, it is timber cut and shaped. The text does not say what kind of tree it was.
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12The 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.
In plain English: From the almug wood the king made supports (or: railings; this Bible: pillars) for Yahweh's house and for the king's house, and also harps and stringed instruments (or: lyres) for the singers. No almug wood like it has come or been seen to this day.
The Hebrew word: "Pillars" is mis'ad, which the dictionary gives as "a balustrade (for stairs)", a railing. It is in only this verse of the Bible. has "terraces", and the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "buttresses".
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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.
In plain English: King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all that she wanted, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon gave her out of his royal generosity (literally: according to the hand of King Solomon). Then she turned and went back to her own land, she and her servants.
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14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
In plain English: The weight of the gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
Good to know: This is the text's own number, and gives the same. Six hundred sixty-six is also a number in and .
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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.
In plain English: besides what came from the traders (literally: the men of the merchants) and from the business of the merchants, and from all the kings of the mixed people (or: of Arabia; see the note), and from the governors of the land.
The Hebrew word: "The mixed people" is ha-erev. With the vowel marks printed here it reads erev, which the dictionary gives as "a mixture". The same letters read arav mean Arabia, and the STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "the Arabs". has "All the kings of Arabia".
What changes: Read as "the mixed people", these are kings of mixed peoples. Read as "Arabia", they are the kings of Arabia. Either way, what they brought was besides the gold of verse 14.
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16King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler.
In plain English: King Solomon made two hundred large shields (this Bible: bucklers) of hammered (this Bible: beaten) gold. Six hundred shekels of gold went into each large shield.
The Hebrew words: "Bucklers" here is tsinnah, which the dictionary gives as "a (large) shield". "Shields" in verse 17 is magen, which the dictionary gives as "a shield (i.e. the small one or buckler)". So the two hundred were the large shields, and the three hundred the small ones.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers. and also have two hundred large shields of six hundred shekels each, and three hundred shields, but "three hundred shekels of gold" for each where verse 17 here has "three minas". The dictionary gives a mina as "a fixed weight or measured amount". says that later the king of Egypt took away "all the gold shields which Solomon had made".
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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.
In plain English: He 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.
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18Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.
In plain English: The king also made a great throne of ivory and covered (this Bible: overlaid) it with the finest gold.
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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.
In plain English: The throne had six steps. The top of the throne was round at the back (see the note). There were armrests (literally: hands) on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.
The Hebrew words: "Round" is agol, which the dictionary gives as "circular". The same letters can be read egel, "a (male) calf", and the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "calves in bold relief to the throne behind it". does not speak of the top, but has "a footstool of gold".
What changes: Read as "round", the back of the throne had a rounded top. Read as "calf", the top at the back of the throne was a calf's head. The text does not say more.
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20Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.
In plain English: Twelve lions stood there on the six steps, on the one side and on the other. Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.
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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.
In plain English: All King Solomon's drinking cups were of gold, and all the objects (this Bible: vessels) of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver, because silver was thought of as nothing in the days of Solomon.
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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.
In plain English: For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish (see the note) at sea with Hiram's fleet. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.
The Hebrew words: The dictionary gives Tarshish as "a place on the Mediterranean", and also as a name for a trading ship "(as if for or from that port)". "Peacocks" is tukki, which the dictionary gives as "some imported creature, probably a peacock". It is in only 2 verses of the Bible: here and .
What changes: Read as a place, these were ships that sailed to Tarshish, as 2 Chronicles 9:21 has it: "ships that went to Tarshish". Read as a kind of ship, they were large trading ships, wherever they sailed. The text does not say where Tarshish was.
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23So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
In plain English: So King Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
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24All the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.
In plain English: All the earth wanted to see Solomon (literally: sought Solomon's face), to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.
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25Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.
In plain English: Year after year, each one brought his gift (this Bible: tribute): objects of silver and of gold, clothing, weapons (this Bible: armor), spices, horses and mules.
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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.
In plain English: Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen (or: horses). He kept them (literally: led them) in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
The Hebrew word: "Horsemen" is parash, which the dictionary gives as "a steed", and also "a driver (in a chariot)": so it can mean horses or the men who drive them.
Good to know: These are the text's own numbers. says "Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen", and has "four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "four thousand mares for his chariots" here. The text does not explain how the numbers fit together.
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27The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
In plain English: The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as many as the sycamore trees in the lowland (or: the Shephelah).
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28The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
In plain English: Solomon's horses were brought out of Egypt, and the king's merchants took them in droves, each drove at a price (or: brought out of Egypt and from Kue; the king's merchants took them from Kue at a price; see the note).
The Hebrew word: "In droves" is miqveh, which the dictionary gives as "a collection, i.e. ... (of men and horses) a caravan or drove". The STEPBible meaning for this verse reads the same word as a place name, Kue, and has "brought out of Egypt and from Kue. The king's merchants purchased them from Kue".
What changes: Read as "droves", the king's merchants bought the horses in herds, each herd at a price. Read as Kue, the horses came from Egypt and from the land of Kue, and the merchants bought them there. The text does not say where Kue was.
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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.
In plain English: A chariot came up out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty. In the same way they brought them out (literally: by their hand) to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria (literally: Aram).
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