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 traffick 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 armour, 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 sycomore 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.

1And when the Queene of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, concerning the Name of the Lord; shee came to prooue him with hard questions.

2And she came to Ierusalem with a very great traine, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when shee was come to Solomon, she communed with him, of all that was in her heart.

3And Solomon tolde her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which hee told her not.

4And when the Queene of Sheba had seene all Solomons wisedome, and the house that he had built,

5And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his seruants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparell, and his cup bearers, and his ascent by which hee went vp vnto the house of the Lord: there was no more spirit in her.

6And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine owne land, of thy actes and of thy wisedome.

7Howbeit, I beleeued not the words, vntill I came and mine eyes had seene it: and beholde, the halfe was not told me: thy wisedom and prosperitie exceedeth the fame which I heard.

8Happie are thy men, happy are these thy seruants, which stand continually before thee, and that heare thy wisedom.

9Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loued Israel for euer, therefore made he thee King, to doe iudgement and iustice.

10And she gaue the king an hundred and twentie talents of gold, and of spices very great store, & precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices, as these, which the Queene of Sheba gaue to king Solomon.

11And the nauie also of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir, great plentie of Almug trees, and precious stones.

12And the king made of the Almug trees, pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the Kings house, Harpes also and Psalteries for singers: there came no such Almug trees, nor were seene vnto this day.

13And king Solomon gaue vnto the Queene of Sheba, al her desire whatsoeuer she asked, besides that which Solomon gaue her of his royall bountie: so she turned and went to her owne countrey, she and her seruants.

14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one yere, was sixe hundred, threescore & six talents of gold,

15Besides that he had of the merchant men, and of the traffique of the spicemerchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the gouernours of the countrey.

16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten golde: sixe hundred shekels of golde went to one target.

17And 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 forrest of Lebanon.

18 Moreouer the king made a great throne of yuorie, and ouerlaide it with the best gold.

19The throne had sixe steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stayes on either side on the place of the seate, and two lyons stood beside the stayes.

20And twelue lions stood there on the one side and on the other vpon the sixe steps: there was not the like made in any kingdome.

21 And all king Solomons drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forrest of Lebanon were of pure gold, none were of siluer, it was nothing accounted of in the dayes of Solomon.

22For the king had at sea a nauie of Tharshish, with the nauie of Hiram: once in three yeeres came the nauie of Tharshish, bringing golde and siluer, yuorie, and apes, and peacocks.

23So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth, for riches and for wisedome.

24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to heare his wisedom which God had put in his heart.

25And they brought euery man his present, vessels of siluer, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate yeere by yeere.

26 And Solomon gathered together charets and horsemen. And hee had a thousand and foure hundred charets, and twelue thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for charets, and with the king at Ierusalem.

27And the king made siluer to be in Ierusalem as stones, and Cedars made he to be as the Sycomore trees, that are in the vale for abundance.

28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarne: the kings merchants receiued the linen yarne at a price.

29And a charet came vp and went out of Egypt for sixe hundred shekels of siluer, and an horse for an hundred and fiftie: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their meanes.

I == Judg 14:12 ; 2nd Chr 9:1-9 ; Prov 1:6 ; Matt 12:42 ; Luke 11:31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V == 1st Chr 26:16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIII == Prov 8:34

IX == 2nd Xam 8:15 ; 1st Kings 5:7 ; Ps 72:2 ; Prov 8:15

 

 

X == Ps 72:10 , 15

 

 

 

XI == 1st Kings 9:27 ; 2nd Chr 2:8 ; 9:10-11

XII == 2nd Chr 9:10-11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XV == 2nd Chr 9:24 ; Ps 72:10

 

 

 

 

XVII == 1st Kings 7:2 ; 14:26

 

XVIII == 2nd Chr 9:17-19

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXI == 2nd Chr 9:20-22

 

 

 

XXII == Gen 10:4 ; 2nd Chr 20:36

 

 

XXIII == 1st Kings 3:12-13 ; 4:30

 

 

 

 

 

XXVI == Deut 17:16 ; 1st Kings 4:26 ; 2nd chr 1:14 ; 9:25

 

 

XXVII == 2nd Chr 1:15-17

 

 

XXVIII == Deut 17:16 ; 2nd Chr 1:16 ; 2nd Chr 1:16 ; 9:28 ; Ezek 27:7

XXIX == Josh 1:4 ; 2nd Kings 7:6

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon's fame, came to test him with subtle questions.

2 She arrived in Jerusalem with a very numerous retinue, and with camels bearing spices, a large amount of gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and questioned him on every subject in which she was interested.

3 King Solomon explained everything she asked about, and there remained nothing hidden from him that he could not explain to her.

4 When the queen of Sheba witnessed Solomon's great wisdom, the palace he had built,

5 the food at his table, the seating of his ministers, the attendance and garb of his waiters, his banquet service, and the holocausts he offered in the temple of the LORD, she was breathless.

6 "The report I heard in my country about your deeds and your wisdom is true," she told the king.

7 "Though I did not believe the report until I came and saw with my own eyes, I have discovered that they were not telling me the half. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report I heard.

8 Happy are your men, happy these servants of yours, who stand before you always and listen to your wisdom.

9 Blessed be the LORD, your God, whom it has pleased to place you on the throne of Israel. In his enduring love for Israel, the LORD has made you king to carry out judgment and justice."

10 Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty gold talents, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again did anyone bring such an abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

11 Hiram's fleet, which used to bring gold from Ophir, also brought from there a large quantity of cabinet wood and precious stones.

12 With the wood the king made supports for the temple of the LORD and for the palace of the king, and harps and lyres for the chanters. No more such wood was brought or seen to the present day.

13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she desired and asked for, besides such presents as were given her from Solomon's royal bounty. Then she returned with her servants to her own country.

14 The gold that Solomon received every year weighed six hundred and sixty-six gold talents,

15 in addition to what came from the Tarshish fleet, from the traffic of merchants, and from all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country.

16 Moreover, King Solomon made two hundred shields of beaten gold (six hundred gold shekels went into each shield)

17 and three hundred bucklers of beaten gold (three minas of gold went into each buckler); and he put them in the hall of the Forest of Lebanon.

18 The king also had a large ivory throne made, and overlaid it with refined gold.

19 The throne had six steps, a back with a round top, and an arm on each side of the seat. Next to each arm stood a lion;

20 and twelve other lions stood on the steps, two to a step, one on either side of each step. Nothing like this was produced in any other kingdom.

21 In addition, all King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the utensils in the hall of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. There was no silver, for in Solomon's time it was considered worthless.

22 The king had a fleet of Tarshish ships at sea with Hiram's fleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish ships would come with a cargo of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

23 Thus King Solomon surpassed in riches and wisdom all the kings of the earth.

24 And the whole world sought audience with Solomon, to hear from him the wisdom which God had put in his heart.

25 Each one brought his yearly tribute: silver or gold articles, garments, weapons, spices, horses and mules.

26 Solomon collected chariots and drivers; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand drivers; these he allocated among the chariot cities and to the king's service in Jerusalem.

27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as numerous as the sycamores of the foothills.

28 Solomon's horses were imported from Cilicia, where the king's agents purchased them.

29 A chariot imported from Egypt cost six hundred shekels, a horse one hundred and fifty shekels; they were exported at these rates to all the Hittite and Aramean kings.

v 1-3. Comparing with Matt. 12:42, “south land and uttermost”, Sheba is modern day Yemen in Arabia, 1200 miles from Jerusalem, but she probably heard of him via his fleet to Ophir. Her ancestry would trace back to Sheba son of Joktan, son of the patriarch Eber, line of Shem, Gen. 10:28. Their kingdom was called the kingdom of Sheba for centuries. The Queen no doubt followed the camel caravan route along the gulf to get to Jerusalem. She wanted to test Solomon with questions and riddles, and received a perfect answer for everything.

v 4,5. After seeing all these things, we would say she was “flabbergasted”.

 

v 6-8. She had been skeptical of the stories she had heard, but found out they were all an understatement. Solomon’s people were all happy at first, but she did not see the conscripted laborers or those who were becoming burdened down with taxes.

 

v 9. Even though probably a pagan, she acknowledged that Solomon was made king, not just for his own pleasure, but because God loved Israel. She was probaboy converted. The ascent by which Solomon went up, 2 Chronicles 9:14, was by way of he altar for sin offeeing. 
v 10. It is common yet today for visiting monarchs to bring gifts to their host. These gifts and the camel train of verse 2 indicate her own wealth. Her gift of gold was some four and one half tons (?), so imagine the size of the camel caravan.
v 11,12. These statements may indicate the two leaders developed a trading agreement. Almug wood is tight grain, strong, beautiful, black outside, red inside. He made harps, psaltries and pillars from it  (Also terraces, 2 Chr. 9:11.)

v 13. There was an exchange of gifts before she returned home.

v 14,15. God said not to multiply gold, but Solomon imported about 25 tons (?) annually. This didn’t include other merchandise or taxes.

 

v 16,17. The targets or bucklers were small round shields. They and the large shields of gold would have been for parade use only.

 

v 18-22. The inlaid ivory arm chair like throne was overlaid with gold, but not covering the ivory.  It was an extravagance of less comfort than a pine bench. Perhaps the lions were to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Silver became common as stones, v 27, and insignificant to the large amount of gold. The “pets” probably ran loose.

 

 

 

 

v 23-25. All who came to hear Solomon’s wisdom contributed to his wealth.

 

 

 

v 26-29. Solomon amassed horses and chariots, giving Israel an advantage over enemies, but God wanted them to rely on him, so He forbade it in Deut. 17:16. Horse buying for profitable resale became another one of his pursuits. He paid Egypt 15 pounds of silver for a chariot and three and three quarter pounds for a horse.