1
When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.
2
She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, very much gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she told him all that was in her heart.
3
And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not answer for the queen.
4
When the queen of Sheba saw all Solomon’s wisdom and the house that he had built,
5
the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the manner of his servants’ attendance and their clothing, his drink, and the burnt offerings that he regularly offered in the house of the LORD, the queen was astonished.
6
And she said to the king, “The report that I heard in my own land about you and about your wisdom was true indeed.
7
But I did not believe the words until I came and saw it with my own eyes; indeed, not even half was told me. In wisdom and prosperity you surpass the report that I heard.
8
Happy are your wives! Happy are these servants of yours, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!
9
Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel forever, he has made you king to do justice and righteousness.”
10
Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones; never again did such an abundance of spices come as that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11
Moreover, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a very great quantity of sandalwood and precious stones.
12
The king made the sandalwood into railings for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and also into harps and lyres for the singers; such sandalwood has not come nor been seen again to this day.
13
King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired and asked for, besides what he gave her according to the generosity befitting King Solomon. Then she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.
14
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents,
15
besides that which came from the merchants and from the traders and from all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land.
16
King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold he used for each large shield;
17
and he made three hundred small shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold he used for each small shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
18
The king also made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with fine gold.
19
The throne had six steps; at the back of the throne was a rounded top, and on both sides of the seat were armrests. Beside the armrests stood two lions,
20
while twelve lions stood there on the six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.
21
All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the furnishings of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; there was no silver, for silver was regarded as nothing in the days of Solomon.
22
For the king had at sea ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver and ivory, as well as apes and peacocks.
23
King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
24
The whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.
25
Each one brought his tribute: articles of silver and articles of gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, and so it was year by year.
26
Solomon also gathered chariots and horsemen, so that he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, all of whom were stationed in the chariot cities and near the king in Jerusalem.
27
The king made silver in Jerusalem as common as stones, and cedar trees as plentiful as the sycamore trees that grow in the lowland.
28
The horses for Solomon were brought from Egypt and from Keveh; the king’s merchants bought them from Keveh at the market price.
29
A chariot imported from Egypt cost six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse one hundred fifty shekels; and in the same way they were exported through them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.
👑💰🌍 Summary of 1 Kings 10 – Solomon’s Splendor and the Queen of Sheba
1 Kings 10 presents the height of King Solomon’s glory and wealth. He received a visit from the Queen of Sheba, who came to test his wisdom. Solomon’s riches, wisdom, and fame spread throughout the world. Yet this chapter is also a subtle warning about the danger of worldly success, which later led Solomon astray in the next chapter.
📌 1. The Visit of the Queen of Sheba (verses 1–13)
➡️ The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s wisdom and came bringing spices, gold, and precious stones
➡️ She asked difficult questions and was amazed at Solomon’s answers
➡️ She saw the palace, the food, the servants, and the worship in the house of God
➡️ She praised the LORD for Solomon’s wisdom and justice
➡️ She gave 120 talents of gold and very precious spices
🎯 Solomon’s glory should have directed people to the LORD, not to himself.
📌 2. Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor (verses 14–25)
➡️ Solomon’s gold income: 666 talents of gold per year (± 22.5 tons)
➡️ He made gold shields, an ivory throne overlaid with gold, and gold cups
➡️ Silver was regarded as of little value in those days
➡️ Everything in Solomon’s palace showed extraordinary splendor
➡️ Many nations came bringing tribute just to hear his wisdom
🎯 Wealth without spiritual restraint can become a subtle trap leading to pride.
📌 3. The Fleet and Global Wealth (verses 26–29)
➡️ Solomon built a fleet together with Hiram
➡️ It brought in gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks from Tarshish
➡️ He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen
➡️ He became a regional trade center (horses from Egypt and chariots from Kue)
🎯 Solomon became a center of the world — but the spiritual center must remain God, not power.
📖 Main Teaching
- True wisdom comes from God and must be used to glorify Him
- The LORD blesses abundantly, but abundance must be managed with humility
- Foreigners can come to know God through the testimony of His people’s lives
- Wealth and success must be accompanied by spiritual self-control
- Worldly glory is not a sure sign of God’s favor if it is not joined with faithfulness
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“The Queen of the South will rise… for she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom, and one greater than Solomon is here.”
➡️ Jesus declares that His wisdom is far greater than Solomon’s.
“Warn the rich in this world not to be proud…”
➡️ Wealth must be used for good and for the glory of God, not for pride.
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
➡️ Solomon began to show signs that his heart was inclined toward wealth.
“The wisdom from above… pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy…”
➡️ Divine wisdom produces godly character, not merely human admiration.
🕊️ “There was no more spirit in her because of Solomon’s wisdom.” – 1 Kings 10:5
🕊️ “Blessed be the LORD your God… who has set you on the throne of Israel.” – 1 Kings 10:9
🕊️ “King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.” – 1 Kings 10:23
🕊️ “Silver was not considered valuable… in Solomon’s days.” – 1 Kings 10:21
