1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
8 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
9 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
10 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
12 And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound 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 best gold.
19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
21 And 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: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
25 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.
27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.
28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
Chapter 10 of the book of 1 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible is a continuation of the story of King Solomon, who succeeded his father David as the ruler of Israel. This chapter focuses on the visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon and the wealth and wisdom of Solomon. It also talks about the administrative and commercial activities of Solomon and the building of the Temple of the Lord. The main themes of this chapter include wisdom, wealth, and the glory of God. Through the story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, this chapter teaches us about the importance of seeking wisdom and giving glory to God in all our endeavors.
The chapter begins with the Queen of Sheba hearing about the fame and wisdom of Solomon. She decides to visit him with a great retinue, camels loaded with spices, gold, and precious stones. When she arrives, she tests Solomon with difficult questions and is amazed at his wisdom and understanding. She also witnesses the splendor of his palace and the food at his table. Impressed by all that she sees and hears, the Queen of Sheba praises Solomon and the God of Israel, saying, “Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighteth in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice” (1 Kings 10:9).
This visit of the Queen of Sheba serves as a testament to the wisdom and greatness of Solomon, and it also brings glory to God. The Queen of Sheba recognizes that it is God who has given Solomon his wisdom and has blessed him with wealth and power. This visit also serves as a reminder to us that when we seek wisdom and follow God’s ways, He will bless us and bring glory to Himself through our lives.
The chapter goes on to describe the great wealth and wisdom of Solomon. It says that “King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom” (1 Kings 10:23). He had a great throne made of ivory and gold, and he made drinking vessels and shields of gold for his palace. Silver was not considered valuable in his time because of the abundance of gold in his kingdom.
Moreover, the chapter talks about the wisdom of Solomon, which was not just limited to his understanding of the natural world but also extended to his understanding of spiritual matters. He was able to discern good from evil and to make just and wise decisions. This wisdom was a gift from God, as we see in 1 Kings 4:29-30, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.”
The wealth and wisdom of Solomon were not just for his personal gain but were also used for the benefit of his kingdom and people. He used his wisdom to judge and govern the people of Israel justly, and his wealth was used to build the Temple of the Lord, as we will see in the next section.
The building of the Temple of the Lord is a significant event in the history of Israel, and it is mentioned in several places in the Bible. In this chapter of 1 Kings, we see a detailed account of how Solomon built this magnificent temple, which was to be the house of God. The chapter begins by describing how Solomon received the cedar, cypress, and gold from Hiram, the king of Tyre, to build the temple. He also hired skilled workers and craftsmen from Tyre to help with the construction.
The temple was built according to the specifications given by God to David, Solomon’s father. It was a large and elaborate structure, with cedar beams, gold-plated walls, and a room called the Holy of Holies, where the ark of the covenant was placed. The temple was also adorned with cherubim, palm trees, and flowers, all made of pure gold. It took seven years to build the temple, and when it was completed, Solomon dedicated it to the Lord with sacrifices and offerings.
The building of the Temple of the Lord was a significant achievement for Solomon, but it was also a testament to the glory and faithfulness of God. The temple was a place where God’s presence dwelt among His people, and it was a symbol of His covenant with Israel. Through the building of the temple, Solomon was able to bring glory to God and fulfill the promise made to David, his father.
Apart from his wisdom and the building of the temple, this chapter also talks about the administrative and commercial activities of Solomon. He was a great ruler who governed his people efficiently and justly. He appointed twelve governors over Israel, and they were responsible for providing food and provisions for the king and his household. Solomon also had a great fleet of ships that sailed to Ophir and brought back gold, almug wood, and precious stones.
In addition to these activities, Solomon was also involved in trade and commerce, and he was known for his wealth and influence in the region. His kingdom prospered under his rule, and he was able to maintain peace and stability in the land. This chapter shows us that God not only blessed Solomon with wisdom and wealth but also gave him the ability to govern and manage his kingdom effectively.
Chapter 10 of 1 Kings is a chapter filled with lessons and teachings for us. It shows us the importance of seeking wisdom, giving glory to God, and using our blessings for the benefit of others. Through the story of the Queen of Sheba, we see that when we seek wisdom, we will be amazed at the greatness of God and His plans for us. The visit of the Queen of Sheba also serves as a reminder to give glory to God in all our achievements and to recognize that all our blessings come from Him.
The chapter also teaches us about the importance of using our wealth and resources for the glory of God. Solomon’s wealth and wisdom were not just for his personal gain but were used to build the Temple of the Lord and to govern his people justly. This shows us that our blessings are not meant to be hoarded but to be shared with others and used for the greater good.
Moreover, the building of the Temple of the Lord is a symbol of God’s faithfulness and His presence among His people. It also serves as a reminder to us that God always fulfills His promises and that He will be with us in all our endeavors. The temple was a place of worship and a reminder of God’s covenant with Israel, and it continues to hold significance for Christians today as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Finally, this chapter also teaches us about the importance of good governance and management. Solomon’s administrative and commercial activities show us that God blesses those who use their resources wisely and govern with justice and integrity. As followers of God, we are called to be good stewards of our blessings and to use them for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
Chapter 10 of 1 Kings in the KJV Holy Bible is a chapter that teaches us about the wisdom, wealth, and glory of Solomon. It also shows us how these blessings were used for the glory of God and the benefit of His people. Through the story of the Queen of Sheba, we learn the importance of seeking wisdom and giving glory to God in all our achievements. The building of the Temple of the Lord reminds us of God’s faithfulness and His presence among His people. This chapter serves as a reminder to us that when we seek God and follow His ways, He will bless us and use us for His purposes.
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