World English Bible
- When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the LORD’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.
- 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.
- Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.
- When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
- 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 the LORD’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
- She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
- 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.
- Happy are your men, happy are these your servants who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.
- Blessed 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.”
- 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.
- The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought in from Ophir great quantities of almug trees and precious stones.
- The 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.
- 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.
- Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
- 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.
- King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler.
- 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.
- Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.
- 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.
- Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.
- 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 of little value in the days of Solomon.
- For 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.
- So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
- All the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.
- Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.
- 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.
- The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
- The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
- 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.
Day 10 in our journey through 1 Kings
“For when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was
on her mind.”
—1 Kings 10:2, New International Version
Solomon’s kingdom, now at its peak, hums with international trade. The copper mines of Timna and the incense roads that snake up from Arabia are busy. Ships hug the Red Sea coast, bound for Ophir. Into this center of wealth rides an impressive visitor: a queen from Sheba—most likely the Sabaean kingdom of southwest Arabia (modern Yemen). Archaeologists still find inscriptions in Old South-Arabian script that speak of a wealthy incense empire; 1 Kings 10 feels like their historical echo.
Western readers often imagine a lone camel. Ancient reliefs, however, picture large caravans guarded by soldiers, singers, and scribes. This is a royal delegation, and its purpose is not only trade but the search for wisdom.
Cross-references:
• Isaiah 60:1-6 – Nations bringing gold and incense to Zion
• Psalm 72:10-15 – Kings of Sheba presenting gifts
• Matthew 12:42 – “A greater than Solomon is here”
The text says the queen came “to test him with hard questions.” In Hebrew, ḥîdōt means riddles, enigmas, moral problems—exactly the type of wisdom literature we see in Proverbs. When Solomon answers, the queen is left literally “without breath” (Hebrew lōʾ-nāʾ bāh rûaḥ). The storyteller uses a pun: Solomon, whose name is built on shalom (peace/wholeness), leaves her ruach (breath/spirit) suspended.
Theological theme: God’s wisdom is missionary. When the covenant people embody wisdom, the nations take notice. It is a living preview of Isaiah 2:2-3—“all nations will stream to the mountain of the Lord.”
Patristic insight: Origen saw the queen as an image of the Gentile church, drawn to the true King by the scent of divine wisdom.
The queen’s testimony uses covenant language: “Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you…” She speaks the divine name (YHWH), something only a few Gentiles do in the Old Testament (see Rahab, Ruth, Naaman). Solomon’s court, for a moment, becomes a mission field.
Literary note: Verses 6-9 form a miniature chiasm, centering on v 7 (“I did not believe… until I came and saw”). The structure highlights the move from hearsay to personal encounter—core to biblical faith.
Suggested hymn: “Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun” (Isaac Watts, 1719). Its verses echo Psalm 72 and the scene in 1 Kings 10.
Gold from Ophir. Algum wood. Ivory, apes, and peacocks (the Hebrew tukkīyīm may mean “baboon” rather than “peacock”). The author lists 666 talents of gold per year—about 25 metric tons. The number is meant to dazzle, but attentive readers recall Deuteronomy 17:16-17, where Israel’s king is warned not to multiply horses, wives, or wealth. The narrator, with subtle irony, leaves us uneasy.
Historical voices:
• John Chrysostom cautioned that “riches are like water in one’s hand;
they soon slip away unless they irrigate the poor.”
• John Calvin wrote that God’s gifts “must be ladders to heaven, not
chains to earth.”
Archaeological touchpoint: Large ivory panels found at Samaria (9th century BC) match the luxury described. They whisper of a culture on the brink of idolatry.
Spiritual practice: Inventory your “thrones of ivory and gold.” Ask, Does my abundance lead others to praise God, or does it insulate me from need?
Jesus cites this chapter directly: “The Queen of the South will rise…
for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom,
and now something greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42, New
International Version). The comparison works in two ways:
1. If the queen crossed deserts for wisdom, how much more should we draw
near to Christ.
2. Solomon’s splendor points beyond itself to the coming Kingdom where
all treasures are laid at the feet of the Lamb (Revelation
21:24-26).
Lord Jesus, greater than Solomon,
breathe Your Spirit of wisdom into us today.
May our lives draw seekers from far and near,
and may our wealth—whether coins, skills, or time—
become incense that rises to Your throne.
Keep us in humble awe, that we may steward glory
without losing our first love.
In Your matchless name we pray. Amen.