X. In 1 Kings 10:1, the visit of the queen of Sheba is described graphically and with some detail; the remainder of the chapter returns to a series of brief notes on the government and wealth of Solomon.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA. — The name “Sheba” must be distinguished from _Seba_, or _Saba_ (which begins with a different Hebrew letter), (_a_) The name Seba denotes a Cushite race (Genesis 10:7), connected, in Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 45:14, with Egypt and Cush, and named with Sheba (“the kings of Sheba and Se... [ Continue Reading ]
SPICES. — The “spices” of Arabia were famous in all ages. Sheba is mentioned in Ezekiel 27:22 as trafficking with Tyre “in chief of all spices, and precious stones, and gold.” The spices of “the incensebearing sands” of Arabia are constantly dwelt upon both in Greek and Roman literature. Frankincens... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE QUEEN OF SHEBA HAD SEEN. — There is something curiously inartificial and true to nature in the accumulation of different impressions as made upon the imagination of the queen. First of all comes the primary impression of Solomon’s wisdom, known by his answering all her questions, and “s... [ Continue Reading ]
(6-9) AND SHE SAID. — These words (repeated almost word for word in 2 Chronicles 9:5) are clearly from some contemporary document. They breathe at once the spirit of Oriental compliment, and a certain seriousness of tone, as of a mind stirred by unusual wonder and admiration. It is worth notice that... [ Continue Reading ]
GOLD FROM OPHIR. — The insertion of this notice is obviously suggested by the mention of the gold and precious stones brought from Sheba. The wood of the “almug” tree, called (apparently more properly) the “algum” tree in 2 Chronicles 9:10, is (see Note on 1 Kings 9:25) the red sandal-wood found in... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL HER DESIRE. — The terms here employed indicate a position of inferiority, although well graced and honoured, in the queen of Sheba. Her present is of the nature of tribute. Solomon gives her of “his bounty,” both what she asked for (probably by praising it) and what else he would.... [ Continue Reading ]
TALENTS. — The word properly signifies a “circle,” or “globe,” and the talent (among the Hebrews and other Orientals, as among the Greeks) denoted properly a certain weight. (_a_) The ordinary talent of gold contained 100 “manehs,” or “portions” (the Greek _mna_, or _mina_), and each maneh (as is se... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOVERNORS OF THE COUNTRY. — The word “governor” (_pechah_) is supposed to be of foreign origin — possibly cognate to the Sanscrit word _paksha_ “friend.” It is used constantly of foreign officers, or satraps: as in 1 Kings 20:24, of the Syrian officers; in 2 Kings 18:24 and Isaiah 36:9, of the A... [ Continue Reading ]
The shields overlaid with gold — the larger called “targets,” and the lesser called “shields” — were evidently used for ornamenting the king’s palace, and (as we may gather from the notice in 2 Chronicles 12:11, of the brazen shields which superseded them) taken down and borne before the king on sol... [ Continue Reading ]
POUND — that is, _maneh_, equal (see 2 Chronicles 10:16) to one hundred shekels.... [ Continue Reading ]
IVORY. — This seems to have been brought in by the Tyrians (1 Kings 10:22), and it may be noted that the only other notice of ivory in the history is in the “ivory house” of Ahab (1 Kings 22:39), who was allied with Tyre. In Psalms 45:8 (presumably of the age of Solomon) we find mention of “ivory pa... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE WERE OF SILVER ... — See 2 Chronicles 9:27, “The king made silver in Jerusalem as stones.” The importation of silver (see 1 Kings 10:22) was by the navy of Tarshish; and the mention of the plentifulness of silver seems the reason for noticing the existence of this navy.... [ Continue Reading ]
A NAVY OF THARSHISH. — There seems little doubt that the Tarshish of Scripture is properly Tartessus in Spain, which name, indeed, is drawn from an Aramaic form of Tarshish. For (_a_) Tarshish is first noted in Genesis 10:4 as among the descendants of Javan, the son of Japhet, which probably points... [ Continue Reading ]
(23-25) ALL THE KINGS. — These verses indicate the character of the empire of Solomon, as a loosely-compacted group of tributary states round the dominant kingdom of Israel, kept to their allegiance mainly by the ascendency of his personal wisdom and ability, partly by the ties of commercial interco... [ Continue Reading ]
GATHERED TOGETHER CHARIOTS. — See above, 1 Kings 4:26. This gathering of chariots — the sign of military conquest and extended empire — is evidently noticed here in connection with the growth of commerce and wealth, as one of the powers which held Solomon’s kingdom together. Josephus (_Ant. viii._ 7... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE SILVER... AS STONES. — This influx of wealth is specially noted as enriching Jerusalem, probably without preventing the imposition of heavy burdens on the provinces. Hence the division of interest and allegiance manifested at the accession of Rehoboam. In the earlier years of the reign its pros... [ Continue Reading ]
LINEN YARN. — The introduction of this seems to be an error. If the reading of the Hebrew text is to stand, the sense appears to be, “And Solomon’s horses were brought from Egypt; a troop of the king’s merchants obtained a troop (of horses) at a fixed price.” The horses were brought up (that is) in... [ Continue Reading ]
A CHARIOT. — This is the chariot and its team of two or three horses; the “horse” is the charger. The price (though so far considerable as to indicate a large expenditure on the whole) shows that the supply was large, and the commerce regular. THE KINGS OF THE HITTITES, AND THE KINGS OF SYRIA — evid... [ Continue Reading ]