1 Kings 10:14

Solomon's revenue, his magnificence and his traffic (2 Chronicles 9:13-24)

14. six hundred threescore and six talents of gold Taking the gold shekel at the value of £2, and 3000 shekels in one talent, the sum here spoken of would amount to nearly four millions of our money, which for the time of Solomon appears a very enormous revenue, especially when there are additions to be made to it, such as those spoken of in 1Ki 10:15; 1 Kings 10:22; 1 Kings 10:25. There can be no doubt that Solomon was one of the wealthiest monarchs in the East at that date. But the taxation must have been crushing, and with all this Oriental splendour and luxury there was rottenness within. Solomon was the Jewish Louis 14.