1 Kings 10:11

_AND THE NAVY ALSO OF HIRAM, THAT BROUGHT GOLD FROM OPHIR, BROUGHT IN FROM OPHIR GREAT PLENTY OF ALMUG TREES, AND PRECIOUS STONES._ Almug trees - or algum. Parenthetically, along with the valuable presents of the queen of Sheba, is mentioned a foreign wood, which was brought in the Ophir ships. It is thought by some to be the sandal-wood, the produce of a low shrub, resembling the privet, remarkable for the fragrance of the central parts of the stem near the root, and brought from some district of India, where it is still very abundant; by others, supposed to be the Deodar (Cedrus deodara), a species of fragrant fir, much used in India for sacred and important works. Solomon used it as well-fitted by its red colour to be ornamental for stairs in his temple and palace (2 Chronicles 9:11), but chiefly for musical instruments, 'Sandal-wood is found indigenous on the

1-13 The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to hear his wisdom, thereby to improve her own. Our Saviour mentions her inquiries after God, by Solomon, as showing the stupidity of those who inquire not after God, by our Lord Jesus Christ. By waiting and prayer, by diligently searching the Scriptures, by consulting wise and experienced Christians, and by practising what we have learned, we shall be delivered from difficulties. Solomon's wisdom made more impression upon the queen of Sheba than all his prosperity and grandeur. There is a spiritual excellence in heavenly things, and in consistent Christians, to which no reports can do justice. Here the truth exceeded; and all who, through grace, are brought to commune with God, will say the one half was not told them of the pleasures and the advantages of wisdom's ways. Glorified saints, much more, will say of heaven, that the thousandth part was...

Verse 1 Kings 10:11. _GREAT PLENTY OF ALMUG TREES_] In the parallel place, 2 Chronicles 9:10, these are called _algum trees_, the ם _mem_ and the ג _gimel_ being transposed; probably the latter is the more correct orthography. What the _algum trees_ were we do not exactly know. The _Vulgate_ calls it _ligna thyina_, the _thya_ or _lignum vitae_ wood; and Mr. Parkhurst thinks that the original אלגומים _algumim_, comes from אל _al,_ _not_, and גם _gem, to fill_; because the lignum vitae is of so close a texture that it can imbibe no water, and cannot be affected by wet weather. The _Septuagint_ translate it ξυλα πυκινα, _pine_ _timber_; the _Syriac_ [Syriac] _kaise dakisotho_, probably _cypress_ wo...

THE NAVY OF HIRAM - i. e., Solomon’s navy in the Red Sea, which was chiefly manned by subjects of Hiram. (see the marginal reference). ALMUG-TREES - Probably the sandal-wood tree (pterocarpus santalinus). The wood is very heavy, hard, and fine grained, and of a beautiful garnet color, which, according to the rabbinical writers, was the color of the algum. One of the names of the red sandal-wood, in its own native country (India) is “valguka,” a word of which “algum” is a natural corruption....

EXPOSITION THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA.—The last words of the preceding chapter spoke of Solomon's fleet, of its voyages, and the treasures it brought home. The historian now proceeds to tell of one result to which these voyages led. The fame of the king and his great undertakings was so widely diffused, and excited so much wonder and curiosity, that a queen of Arabia came, among others, to see the temple and the palaces and the many marvels of Solomon's city and court. The prediction of Solomon's prayer (1 Kings 8:42) has soon had a fulfilment. 1 KINGS 10:1 AND WHEN THE QUEEN OF SHEBA [There is no good ground for doubting that

AND THE NAVY ALSO OF HIRAM THAT BROUGHT GOLD FROM OPHIR,.... This perhaps was before Solomon was concerned with Hiram in navigation and merchandise; though in 2 Chronicles 9:10 both their servants are said to bring it; and it is here inserted perhaps to show that Solomon had not his gold, at least all of it, from the queen of Sheba; but much from Hiram, who fetched it from Ophir; and as this was in India, as observed on 1 Kings 9:28, many writers make mention of gold in that part of the world, as Diodorus Siculus w, Strabo x, Dionysius y, Curtius z, Pliny a, and others: and this navy also BROUGHT IN FROM OPHIR GREAT PLENTY OF ALMUG TREES: or algum trees, by transposition of letters, 2 Chron

6. SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA: HIS GREAT RICHES AND SPLENDOUR CHAPTER 10 _ 1. The visit of the Queen (1 Kings 10:1)_ 2. Solomon's enormous wealth (1 Kings 10:14) 3. the targets and shields (1 Kings 10:16) 4. The ivory throne (1 Kings 10:18) 5. The abundance of gold and the depreciation of silver (1 Kings 10:21) 6. The greatest living monarch (1 Kings 10:23) 7. His chariots and hors

1 KINGS 10. VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA. By Sheba or Saba a district in S. Arabia is meant. The Sabæ ans were known to the Israelites as exporters of gold (Isaiah 60:6; Psalms 72:15); Ezekiel (Ezekiel 27:23) says that they dealt extensively with Tyre. In Job (Job 1:15; Job 6:19), they are represented as marauders. The civilisation of Arabia was considerable, and much light has been thrown on it by scholars like Hommel and Glaser. Our Lord calls the queen of Sheba the queen of the south (Mat

NAVY ALSO OF HIRAM. Joined with Solomon (1 Kings 10:22; 1 Kings 9:27; 1 Kings 9:28). OPHIR. See note on 2 Chronicles 8:18....

AND THE NAVY ALSO OF HIRAM, &C.— Parkhurst thinks, that the אלמגים _almugim, thya,_ or _lignumvitae tree,_ is so called from אל _al, not,_ and גם _gem, to fill,_ because it is of so close a texture, as _not to imbibe water,_ nor be affected by the wet and weather. See Dr. Shaw's Travels, p. 422. REFLECTIONS.—The spreading fame of Solomon brought to his court a vast resort of strangers. Among the most distinguished of which, we must reckon the queen of Sheba. 1. She came with a vast retinue, and the richest presents, to converse with a person of whom she had heard such wonders, to prove him by hard questions, to gain advice in her difficulties, and especially to inquire concerning the name of the Lord who had bestowed on Solomon such uncommon wisdom. _Note;_ (1.) Wisdom can never be too dearly bought, or too far fetched. (2.) If her solicitude to inquire after God was so commendable, how...