1 Kings 10:25

_AND THEY BROUGHT EVERY MAN HIS PRESENT, VESSELS OF SILVER, AND VESSELS OF GOLD, AND GARMENTS, AND ARMOUR, AND SPICES, HORSES, AND MULES, A RATE YEAR BY YEAR._ They brought every man his present - i:e., to him as their feudal superior. No doubt, the making of presents is in the East an established custom of social life. Not only when going into the presence of a superior is it usual to pay such a compliment, but even in familiar visits among inferior people the presentation of some gift-even a flower or fruit-some token of regard, is expected; and the visitor who should omit or neglect the observance of this mark of civility would incur the suspicion of intending to affront or defraud the person on whom he waited. But the presents described in this verse as brought to Solomon by foreign prince, were of a totally different character from the conventional tokens of civil contact. They wer...

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...

Verse 25. _THEY BROUGHT EVERY MAN HIS PRESENT_] This means _tribute_; and it shows us of what sort that tribute was, viz., _vessels_ of _gold_ and _silver_, probably _ingots; garments_ of very rich stuffs; _armour_, for little of this kind was ever made in Judea; _spices_, which doubtless sold well in that country; _horses_, which were very rare; and _mules_, the most _necessary_ animal for all the purposes of life....

HIS PRESENT - i. e., his tribute (1 Kings 4:21 note). A statement illustrated by Egyptian and Assyrian sculptures on slabs and obelisks. Tribute-bearers from the subject kings, bring not only the fixed rate of bullion, but a tribute in kind besides, consisting of the most precious products of their respective countries....

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 THEY BROUGHT EVERY MAN HIS PRESENT,.... To recommend them, and introduce them into his presence: VESSELS OF SILVER, AND VESSELS OF GOLD, AND GARMENTS, AND ARMOUR, AND SPICES, AND HORSES, AND MULES, A RATE YEAR BY YEAR; everyone brought according to the commodities of his country; and they did yearly, out of great respect to him, and in veneration of him for his wisdom, and for the advantages they received by his wise counsels and instructions; besides, it was the custom of the eastern countries not to pay a visit, especially to great personages, without carrying a present....

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

BROUGHT. kept bringing....

_they brought every man his present_ After the fashion in royal visits, but the close of the verse indicates that these gifts were from tributaries and came in at fixed times. _vessels of silver_ These do not appear in the LXX., which also omits any notice of -armour," and for -spices" gives στακτὴ καὶ ἡδύσματα. _garments_ Changes of raiment formed a very common gift in the East, and were highly valued. Josephus describes those given to Solomon as ἁλουργεῖς ἐσθῆτες, -purple-dyed garments," perhaps because Tyre was famous for such dyeing....