1And when the queenH4436 of ShebaH7614 heardH8085 of the fameH8088 of SolomonH8010 concerning the nameH8034 of the LORDH3068, she cameH935 to proveH5254 him with hard questionsH2420. 2And she cameH935 to JerusalemH3389 with a veryH3966 greatH3515 trainH2428, with camelsH1581 that bareH5375 spicesH1314, and veryH3966 muchH7227 goldH2091, and preciousH3368 stonesH68: and when she was comeH935 to SolomonH8010, she communedH1696 with him of all that was in her heartH3824. 3And SolomonH8010 toldH5046 her all her questionsH1697: there was not any thingH1697 hidH5956 from the kingH4428, which he toldH5046 her not. 4And when the queenH4436 of ShebaH7614 had seenH7200 all Solomon'sH8010 wisdomH2451, and the houseH1004 that he had builtH1129, 5And the meatH3978 of his tableH7979, and the sittingH4186 of his servantsH5650, and the attendanceH4612 of his ministersH8334, and their apparelH4403, and his cupbearersH8248, and his ascentH5930 by which he went upH5927 unto the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068; there was no more spiritH7307 in her. 6And she saidH559 to the kingH4428, It was a trueH571 reportH1697 that I heardH8085 in mine own landH776 of thy actsH1697 and of thy wisdomH2451. 7Howbeit I believedH539 not the wordsH1697, until I cameH935, and mine eyesH5869 had seenH7200 it: and, behold, the halfH2677 was not toldH5046 me: thy wisdomH2451 and prosperityH2896 exceedethH3254 the fameH8052 which I heardH8085 . 8HappyH835 are thy menH582, happyH835 are these thy servantsH5650, which standH5975 continuallyH8548 beforeH6440 thee, and that hearH8085 thy wisdomH2451. 9BlessedH1288 be the LORDH3068 thy GodH430, which delightedH2654 in thee, to setH5414 thee on the throneH3678 of IsraelH3478: because the LORDH3068 lovedH160 IsraelH3478 for everH5769, therefore madeH7760 he thee kingH4428, to doH6213 judgmentH4941 and justiceH6666. 10And she gaveH5414 the kingH4428 an hundredH3967 and twentyH6242 talentsH3603 of goldH2091, and of spicesH1314 veryH3966 great storeH7235, and preciousH3368 stonesH68: there cameH935 no more suchH1931 abundanceH7230 of spicesH1314 as these which the queenH4436 of ShebaH7614 gaveH5414 to kingH4428 SolomonH8010. 11And the navyH590 also of HiramH2438, that broughtH5375 goldH2091 from OphirH211, brought inH935 from OphirH211 greatH3966 plentyH7235 of almugH484 treesH6086, and preciousH3368 stonesH68. 12And the kingH4428 madeH6213 of the almugH484 treesH6086 pillarsH4552 for the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, and for the king'sH4428 houseH1004, harpsH3658 also and psalteriesH5035 for singersH7891 : there cameH935 no such almugH484 treesH6086, nor were seenH7200 unto this dayH3117. 13And kingH4428 SolomonH8010 gaveH5414 unto the queenH4436 of ShebaH7614 all her desireH2656, whatsoever she askedH7592, beside that which SolomonH8010 gaveH5414 her of his royalH4428 bountyH3027. So she turnedH6437 and wentH3212 to her own countryH776, she and her servantsH5650. 14Now the weightH4948 of goldH2091 that cameH935 to SolomonH8010 in oneH259 yearH8141 was sixH8337 hundredH3967 threescoreH8346 and sixH8337 talentsH3603 of goldH2091, 15Beside that he had of the merchantmenH582 H8446, and of the traffickH4536 of the spice merchantsH7402, and of all the kingsH4428 of ArabiaH6153, and of the governorsH6346 of the countryH776. 16And kingH4428 SolomonH8010 madeH6213 two hundredH3967 targetsH6793 of beatenH7820 goldH2091: sixH8337 hundredH3967 shekels of goldH2091 wentH5927 to oneH259 targetH6793. 17And he made threeH7969 hundredH3967 shieldsH4043 of beatenH7820 goldH2091; threeH7969 poundH4488 of goldH2091 wentH5927 to oneH259 shieldH4043: and the kingH4428 putH5414 them in the houseH1004 of the forestH3293 of LebanonH3844. 18Moreover the kingH4428 madeH6213 a greatH1419 throneH3678 of ivoryH8127, and overlaidH6823 it with the bestH6338 goldH2091. 19The throneH3678 had sixH8337 stepsH4609, and the topH7218 of the throneH3678 was roundH5696 behindH310: and there were staysH3027 on either side on the placeH4725 of the seatH7675, and twoH8147 lionsH738 stoodH5975 besideH681 the staysH3027. 20And twelveH8147 H6240 lionsH738 stoodH5975 there on the one side and on the other upon the sixH8337 stepsH4609: there was not the likeH3651 madeH6213 in any kingdomH4467. 21And all kingH4428 Solomon'sH8010 drinkingH4945 vesselsH3627 were of goldH2091, and all the vesselsH3627 of the houseH1004 of the forestH3293 of LebanonH3844 were of pureH5462 goldH2091; none were of silverH3701: it was nothingH3972 accountedH2803 of in the daysH3117 of SolomonH8010. 22For the kingH4428 had at seaH3220 a navyH590 of TharshishH8659 with the navyH590 of HiramH2438: onceH259 in threeH7969 yearsH8141 cameH935 the navyH590 of TharshishH8659, bringingH5375 goldH2091, and silverH3701, ivoryH8143, and apesH6971, and peacocksH8500. 23So kingH4428 SolomonH8010 exceededH1431 all the kingsH4428 of the earthH776 for richesH6239 and for wisdomH2451. 24And all the earthH776 soughtH1245 toH6440 SolomonH8010, to hearH8085 his wisdomH2451, which GodH430 had putH5414 in his heartH3820. 25And they broughtH935 every manH376 his presentH4503, vesselsH3627 of silverH3701, and vesselsH3627 of goldH2091, and garmentsH8008, and armourH5402, and spicesH1314, horsesH5483, and mulesH6505, a rateH1697 yearH8141 by yearH8141. 26And SolomonH8010 gathered togetherH622 chariotsH7393 and horsemenH6571: and he had a thousandH505 and fourH702 hundredH3967 chariotsH7393, and twelveH8147 H6240 thousandH505 horsemenH6571, whom he bestowedH5148 in the citiesH5892 for chariotsH7393, and with the kingH4428 at JerusalemH3389. 27And the kingH4428 madeH5414 silverH3701 to be in JerusalemH3389 as stonesH68, and cedarsH730 madeH5414 he to be as the sycomore treesH8256 that are in the valeH8219, for abundanceH7230. 28And SolomonH8010 had horsesH5483 broughtH4161 out of EgyptH4714, and linen yarnH4723: the king'sH4428 merchantsH5503 receivedH3947 the linen yarnH4723 at a priceH4242. 29And a chariotH4818 came upH5927 and went outH3318 of EgyptH4714 for sixH8337 hundredH3967 shekels of silverH3701, and an horseH5483 for an hundredH3967 and fiftyH2572: and so for all the kingsH4428 of the HittitesH2850, and for the kingsH4428 of SyriaH758, did they bring them outH3318 by their meansH3027.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 We have here an account of the visit which the queen of Sheba made to Solomon, no doubt when he was in the height of his piety and prosperity. Our Saviour calls her
the queen of the south, for Sheba lay south of Canaan. The common opinion is that it was in Africa; and the Christians in Ethiopia, to this day, are confident that she came from their country, and that Candace was her successor, who is mentioned
Acts 8:27. But it is more probable that she came from the south part of Arabia the happy. It should seem she was a queen regent, sovereign of her country. Many a kingdom would have been deprived of its greatest blessings if a Salique law had been admitted into its constitution. Observe,
I. On what errand the queen of Sheba came - not to treat of trade or commerce, to adjust the limits of their dominions, to court his alliance for their mutual strength or his assistance against some common enemy, which are the common occasions of the congress of crowned heads and their interviews, but she came, 1. To satisfy her curiosity; for she had heard of his fame, especially for wisdom, and she came to prove him, whether he was so great a man as he was reported to be,
1Kgs 10:1. Solomon's fleet sailed near the coast of her country, and probably might put in there for fresh water; perhaps it was thus that
she heard of the fame of Solomon, that he excelled in wisdom all the children of the east, and nothing would serve her but she would go herself and know the truth of the report. 2. To receive instruction from him. She came to
hear his wisdom, and thereby to improve her own (
Matt 12:42), that she might be the better able to govern her own kingdom by his maxims of policy. Those whom God has called to any public employment, particularly in the magistracy and ministry, should, by all means possible, be still improving themselves in that knowledge which will more and more qualify them for it, and enable them to discharge their trust well. But, it should seem, that which she chiefly aimed at was to be instructed in the things of God. She was religiously inclined, and had heard not only of the fame of Solomon, but
concerning the name of the Lord (
1Kgs 10:1), the great name of that God whom Solomon worshipped and from whom he received his wisdom, and with this God she desired to be better acquainted. Therefore does our Saviour mention her enquiries after God, by Solomon, as an aggravation of the stupidity of those who enquire not after God by our Lord Jesus Christ, though he, having lain in his bosom, was much better able to instruct them.
II. With what equipage she came, with a very great retinue, agreeable to her rank, intending to try Solomon's wealth and generosity, as well as his wisdom, what entertainment he could and would give to a royal visitant,
1Kgs 10:2. Yet she came not as one begging, but brought enough to bear her charges, and abundantly to recompense Solomon for his attention to her, nothing mean or common, but gold, and precious stones, and spices, because she came to trade for wisdom, which she would purchase at any rate.
III. What entertainment Solomon gave her. He despised not the weakness of her sex, blamed her not for leaving her own business at home to come so long a journey, and put herself and him to so much trouble and expense merely to satisfy her curiosity; but he made her welcome and all her train, gave her liberty to put all her questions, though some perhaps were frivolous, some captious, and some over-curious; he allowed her to
commune with him of all that was in her heart (
1Kgs 10:2) and gave her a satisfactory answer to
all her questions (
1Kgs 10:3), whether natural, moral, political, or divine. Were they designed to try him? he gave them such turns as abundantly satisfied her of his uncommon knowledge. Were they designed for her own instruction? (as we suppose most of them were), she received abundant instruction from him, and he made things surprisingly easy which she apprehended insuperably difficult, and satisfied her that there was
a divine sentence in the lips of this
king. But he informed her no doubt, with particular care, concerning God, and his law and instituted worship. He had taken it for granted (
1Kgs 8:42) that
strangers would hear of his great name, and would come thither to enquire after him; and now that so great a stranger came we may be sure he was not wanting to assist and encourage her enquiries, and give her a description of the temple, and the officers and services of it, that she might be persuaded to serve the Lord whom she now sought.
IV. How she was affected with what she saw and heard in Solomon's court. Divers things are here mentioned which she admired, the buildings and furniture of his palace, the provision that was made very day for his table (when she saw that perhaps she wondered where there were mouths for all that meat, but when she saw the multitude of his attendants and guests she was as ready to wonder where was the meat for all those mouths), the orderly sitting of his servants, every one in his place, and the ready attendance of his ministers, without any confusion, their rich liveries, and the propriety with which his cup-bearers waited at his table. These things she admired, as adding much to his magnificence. But, above all these, the first thing mentioned (which contained all) is his wisdom (
1Kgs 10:4), of the transcendency of which she now had incontestable proofs: and the last thing mentioned, which crowned all, is his piety, the
ascent by which he went up to the house of the Lord, with what gravity and seriousness, and an air of devotion in his countenance, he appeared, when he went to the temple to worship God, with as much humility then as majesty at other times. Many of the ancient versions read it, The
burnt-offerings which he offered in the house of the Lord; she observed with what a generous bounty he brought his sacrifices, and with what a pious fervour he attended the offering of them; never did she see so much goodness with so much greatness. Every thing was so surprising that there was no more spirit in her, but she stood amazed; she had never seen the like.
V. How she expressed herself upon this occasion. 1. She owned her expectation far out-done, though it was highly raised by the report she heard,
1Kgs 10:6,
1Kgs 10:7. She is far from repenting her journey or calling herself a
fool for undertaking it, but acknowledges it was well worth her while to come so far for the sight of that which she could not believe the report of. Usually things are represented to us, both by common fame and by our own imagination, much greater than we find them when we come to examine them; but here the truth exceeded both fame and fancy. Those who, through grace, are brought to experience the delights of communion with God will say that the one-half was not told them of the pleasures of Wisdom's ways and the advantages of her gates. Glorified saints, much more, will say that it was a true report which they heard of the happiness of heaven, but that the thousandth part was not told them,
1Cor 2:9. 2. She pronounced those happy that constantly attended him, and waited on him at table:
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants (
1Kgs 10:8); they may improve their own wisdom by hearing thine. She was tempted to envy them and to which herself one of them. Note, It is a great advantage to be in good families, and to have opportunity of frequent converse with those that are wise, and good, and communicative. Many have this happiness who know not how to value it. With much more reason may we say this of Christ's servants,
Blessed are those that dwell in his house, they will be still praising him. 3. She blessed God, the giver of Solomon's wisdom and wealth, and the author of his advancement, who had made him king, (1.) In kindness to him, that he might have the larger opportunity of doing good with his wisdom: He
delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel, 1Kgs 10:9. Solomon's preferment began in the prophet's calling him
Jedidiah, because the Lord loved him, 2Sam 12:25. It more than doubles our comforts if we have reason to hope they come from God's delight in us.
It was his pleasure concerning thee (so it may be read) to
set thee on the throne, not for thy merit's sake, but because it so seemed good unto him. (2.) In kindness to the people,
because the Lord loved Israel for ever, designed them a lasting bliss, long to survive him that laid the foundations of it. He has made thee king, not that thou mayest live in pomp and pleasure, and do what thou wilt, but
to do judgment and justice. This she kindly reminded Solomon of, and no doubt he took it kindly. Both magistrates and ministers must be more solicitous to do the duty of their places than to secure the honours and profits of them. To this she attributes his prosperity, not to his wisdom, for bread is not always
to the wise (
Qoh 9:11), but whoso
doeth judgment and justice, it shall be
well with him, Jer 22:15. Thus
giving of thanks must be
made for kings, for good kings, for such kings; they are what God makes them to be.
VI. How they parted. 1. She made a noble present to Solomon of
gold and spices, 1Kgs 10:10. David had foretold concerning Solomon that
to him should be given of the gold of Sheba, Pss 72:15. The present of gold and spices which the wise men of the east brought to Christ was signified by this,
Matt 2:11. Thus she paid for the wisdom she had learned and did not think she bought it dearly. Let those that are taught of God give him their hearts, and the present will be more acceptable than this of gold and spices. Mention is made of the great abundance Solomon had of his own, notwithstanding she presented and he accepted this gold. What we present to Christ he needs not, but will have us so to express our gratitude. The almug-trees are here spoken of (
1Kgs 10:11,
1Kgs 10:12) as extraordinary, because perhaps much admired by the queen of Sheba. 2. Solomon was not behind-hand with her:
He gave her whatsoever, she asked, patterns, we may suppose, of those things that were curious, by which she might make the like; or perhaps he gave her his precepts of wisdom and piety in writing,
besides that which he gave her of his royal bounty, 1Kgs 10:13. Thus those who apply to our Lord Jesus will find him not only greater than Solomon, and wiser, but more kind; whatsoever we ask, it shall be done for us; nay, he will, out of his divine bounty, which infinitely exceeds royal bounty, even Solomon's, do for us
more than we are able to ask or think. 14 We have here a further account of Solomon's prosperity.
I. How he increased his wealth. Though he had much, he still coveted to have more, being willing to try the utmost the things of this world could do to make men happy. 1. Besides the gold that came from Ophir (
1Kgs 9:28), he brought so much into his country from other places that the whole amounted, every year, to 666
talents (
1Kgs 10:14), an ominous number, compare
Revel 13:18, and
Ezra 2:13. 2. He received a great deal in customs from the merchants, and in land-taxes from the countries his father had conquered and made tributaries to Israel,
1Kgs 10:15. 3. He was Hiram's partner in a Tharshish fleet, of and for Tyre, which imported once in three years, not only gold, and silver, and ivory, substantial goods and serviceable, but apes to play with and peacocks to please the eye with their feathers,
1Kgs 10:22. I wish this may not be an evidence that Solomon and his people, being overcharged with prosperity, by this time grew childish and wanton. 4. He had presents made him, every year, from the neighbouring princes and great men, to engage the continuance of his friendship, not so much because they feared him or were jealous of him as because they loved him and admired his wisdom, had often occasion to consult him as an oracle, and sent him these presents by way of recompence for his advice in politics, and (whether it became his grandeur and generosity or no we will not enquire) he took all that came, even garments and spices, horses and mules,
1Kgs 10:24,
1Kgs 10:25. 5. He traded to Egypt for horses and linen-yarn (or, as some read it,
linen-cloth ), the staple commodities of that country, and had his own merchants or factors whom he employed in this traffic and who were accountable to him,
1Kgs 10:28,
1Kgs 10:28. The custom to be paid to the king of Egypt for exported chariots and horses out of Egypt was very high, but (as bishop Patrick understands it) Solomon, having married his daughter, got him to compound for the customs, so that he could bring them up cheaper than his neighbours, which obliged them to buy them of him, which he was wise enough no doubt to make his advantage of. This puts an honour upon the trading part of a nation, and sets a tradesman not so much below a gentleman as some place him, that Solomon, one of the greatest men that ever was, thought it no disparagement to him to deal in trade. In all labour there is profit.
II. What use he made of his wealth. He did not hoard it up in his coffers, that he might have it to look upon and leave behind him. He has, in his Ecclesiastes, so much exposed the folly of hoarding that we cannot suppose he would himself be guilty of it. No, God that had given him riches, and wealth, and honour, gave him also power to eat thereof, and to take his portion,
Qoh 5:19.
1. He laid out his gold in fine things for himself, which he might the better be allowed to do when he had before laid out so much in fine things for the house of God. (1.) He made 200 targets, and 300 shields, of beaten gold (
1Kgs 10:16,
1Kgs 10:17), not for service, but for state, to be carried before him when he appeared in pomp. With us, magistrates have
swords and
maces carried before them, as the Romans had their
rods and
axes, in token of their power to correct and punish the bad, to whom they are to be a terror. But Solomon had
shields and
targets carried before him, to signify that he took more pleasure in using his power for the defence and protection of the good, to whom he would be a praise. Magistrates are
shields of the earth. (2.) He made a stately throne, on which he sat, to give laws to his subjects, audience to ambassadors, and judgment upon appeals, (1Kgs:10:18-20). It was made of ivory, or elephants' teeth, which was very rich; and yet, as if he had so much gold that he knew not what to do with it, he
overlaid that with gold, the best gold. Yet some think he did not cover the ivory all over, but here and there. He rolled it, flowered it, or inlaid it, with gold. The stays or arms of this stately chair were supported by the images of lions in gold; so were the steps and paces by which he went up to it, to be a memorandum to him of that courage and resolution wherewith he ought to execute judgment, not fearing the face of man.
The righteous, in that post,
is bold as a lion. (3.) He made all his drinking vessels, and all the furniture of his table, even at his country seat, of pure gold,
1Kgs 10:21. He did not grudge himself what he had, but took the credit and comfort of it, such as it was. That is good that does us good.
2. He made it circulate among his subjects, so that the kingdom was as rich as the king; for he had no separate interests of his own to consult, but sought the welfare of his people. Those princes are not governed by Solomon's maxims who think it policy to keep their subjects poor. Solomon was herein a type of Christ, who is not only rich himself, but enriches all that are his. Solomon was instrumental to bring so much gold into the country, and disperse it, that
silver was nothing accounted of, 1Kgs 10:21. There was such plenty of it in Jerusalem that it was as the stones; and cedars, that used to be great rarities, were as common
as sycamore trees, 1Kgs 10:27. Such is the nature of worldly wealth, plenty of it makes it the less valuable; much more should the enjoyment of spiritual riches lessen our esteem of all earthly possessions. If
gold in abundance would make silver to seem so despicable, shall not wisdom, and grace, and the foretastes of heaven, which are far better than gold, make earthly wealth seem much more despicable?
Lastly, Well, thus rich, thus great, was Solomon, and thus did he
exceed all the kings of the earth, 1Kgs 10:23. Now let us remember, 1. That this was he who, when he was
setting out in the world, did not ask for the wealth and honour of it, but asked for
a wise and understanding heart. The more moderate our desires are towards earthly things the better qualified we are for the enjoyment of them and the more likely to have them. See, in Solomon's greatness, the performance of God's promise (
1Kgs 3:13), and let it encourage us to
seek first the righteousness of God's kingdom. 2. That this was he who, having tasted all these enjoyments, wrote a whole book to show the vanity of all worldly things and the vexation of spirit that attends them, their insufficiency to make us happy and the folly of setting our hearts upon them, and to recommend to us the practice of serious godliness, as that which is the whole of man, and will do infinitely more towards the making of us easy and happy than all the wealth and power that he was master of, and which, through the grace of God, is within our reach, when the thousandth part of Solomon's greatness is a thousand times more than we can ever be so vain as to promise ourselves in this world.
