1 Kings 10:20

_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._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

14-29 Solomon increased his wealth. Silver was nothing accounted of. 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 makes silver to be despised, shall not wisdom, and grace, and the foretastes of heaven, which are far better than gold, make gold to be lightly esteemed? See in Solomon's greatness the performance of God's promise, and let it encourage us to seek first the righteousness of God's kingdom. This was he, who, having tasted all earthly enjoyments, wrote a book, to show the vanity of all worldly things, the vexation of spirit that attends them, and the folly of setting our hearts upon them: and to recommend serious godliness, as that which will do unspeakably more to make us happy, that all the wealth and power he was master of; and...

Solomon’s throne, as described, is certainly grander than any of which we have a representation, either in Assyria or Egypt. Much more, then, would it transcend the thrones in inferior kingdoms....

EXPOSITION SOLOMON'S WEALTH, POMP, AND POWER. The visit of the Queen of Sheba, in itself a striking proof of the fame and greatness of Solomon, is followed by a description of his revenues, his throne, and various other particulars of his wealth and magnificence, some of which are related here because they were the products of the voyages of that same fleet which had been the means of acquainting the queen with Solomon and his glory. 1 KINGS 10:14 NOW THE WEIGHT OF GOLD THAT CAME TO SOLOMON IN ONE YEAR [probably one particular and exceptional year, probably also the year of the queen's visit, not year by year (Wordsworth, _al_.),_ _as the Vulgate (_per singulos annos_)._ _One fleet only came home from

AND TWELVE LIONS STOOD THERE ON THE ONE SIDE AND ON THE OTHER UPON THE SIX STEPS,.... There was a lion on each side of every step, a symbol of royal power, as before observed; so the Egyptians placed lions under the throne of Orus r: THERE WAS NOT THE LIKE MADE IN ANY KINGDOM; for the matter and form of it, for its grandeur and magnificence; there was none at least at that time, whatever has been since; for this is the first throne of ivory we read of. r Hori Apoll. Hieroglyph, l. 1. c. 17....

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

III. INDICATIONS OF SOLOMON'S GLORY 10:14-29 The account of the visit of the queen of Sheba is followed by a description of Solomon's revenues, his throne, and various other particulars of his wealth and magnificence. These notices are a continuation of 1 Kings 9:23-28 from which they have been separated by the queen of Sheba narrative. There is no inkling of criticism in these notices. On the contrary, it was probably the intent of the author to emphasize the fulfillment of the promise to Solomon (1 Kings 3:13) that he would be given riches and honor in addition to wisdom. In this section the author discusses (1) Solomon's enormous gold revenues (1 Kings 10:14-21); and (2) his wealth in substance ot

SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA 1. Sheba] the Sheba of Genesis 10:28 (in Arabia), not of Genesis 10:7 (in Africa). Arabia seems frequently to have been ruled by queens; more than one is mentioned in the Assyrian inscriptions. If Ophir was in Arabia (see on 1 Kings 9:28), it may have been through the traders at that port that the queen here alluded to had heard of Solomon. HARD QUESTIONS] These were probably of the nature of puzzles or riddles, the same word being used of Samson's riddle (Judges 14:12). Legend relates that one of the puzzles that Solomon was set to solve was how to distinguish between a bunch of natural and

GOD’S LESSONS FROM HISTORY 1 KINGS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 10 THE QUEEN OF SHEBA’S VISIT V1 The Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s fame and how he gave honour to the *Lord. So she came to test him with difficult questions. V2 She arrived in Jerusalem with a large group of servants. She brought camels that carried *spices and a large amount of gold and valuable stones. She met Solomon. Then she asked him all the questions that she could think of. V3 Solomon answered all her questions. None of her questions was too difficult for him. He explained everything to her. V4 The queen heard Solomon’s wisdom. She saw the palace that he had built. V5 She saw the food that people served at his table. She saw where his officials lived. She saw his servants and the clothes that