The Queen of Sheba
1The queen of Sheba10:1 2Ch 9:1; Mt 12:42 heard about Solomon’s fame10:1–10 2Ch 9:1–12 connected with the name of the Lord and came to test him with difficult questions.10:1 Jdg 14:12–14
2She came to Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels bearing10:2 Gn 24:10 spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones.10:2 1Kg 10:10 She came to Solomon and spoke to him about everything that was on her mind.
3So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her.
5the food at his table,10:5 1Kg 4:22–23 his servants’ residence, his attendants’ service and their attire, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he offered at the Lord’s temple, it took her breath away.
6She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and about your wisdom is true.
7But I didn’t believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half. Your wisdom and prosperity far exceed the report I heard.10:7 1Ch 29:25
11In addition, Hiram’s fleet that carried gold from Ophir brought from Ophir a large quantity of almug10:11 = algum in 2Ch 2:8; 9:10–11 wood and precious stones.10:11 1Kg 9:27–28
12The king made the almug wood into steps for the Lord’s temple and the king’s palace and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before did such almug wood arrive, and the like has not been seen again.
13King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba her every desire — whatever she asked — besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she, along with her servants, returned to her own country.10:12–13 2Ch 9:11–12
Solomon’s Wealth
14The weight10:14–25 2Ch 9:13–24 of gold that came to Solomon annually was twenty-five tons,10:14 Lit 666 talents
16King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; fifteen pounds10:16 Lit 600 (shekels) of gold went into each shield.
18The king also made a large ivory throne and overlaid it with fine gold.
19The throne had six steps; there was a rounded top at the back of the throne, armrests on either side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.
20Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps, one at each end. Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.
21All of King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon10:21 1Kg 7:2–5 were pure gold.10:21 1Kg 9:28 There was no silver, since it was considered as nothing in Solomon’s time,
22for the king had ships of Tarshish10:22 Jnh 1:3 at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.10:22 Or baboons10:22 1Kg 9:26–28; 22:48
24The whole world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.10:24 1Kg 3:28; 10:1
25Every man would bring his annual tribute: items10:25 Or vessels, or weapons of silver and gold, clothing, weapons,10:25 Or fragrant balsam spices, and horses and mules.10:23–25 2Ch 9:22–24
26Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen10:26 1Kg 4:26 and stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.10:26 1Kg 9:19
27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones,10:27 Dt 17:17 and he made cedar10:27 1Kg 5:10; 2Ch 1:15 as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills.
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