CHAPTER X _The queen of Sheba visits Solomon, and brings rich presents;_ _and tries him by hard questions, which he readily solves_, 1-3. _She expresses great surprise at his wisdom, his buildings, his_ _court, c. and praises God for placing him on the Jewish_ _throne_, 4-9. _She gives him ric... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:2. _SHE CAME TO JERUSALEM WITH - SPICES, C._] Those who contend that she was _queen_ of the Sabaeans, a people of Arabia Felix, towards the southern extremity of the Red Sea, find several proofs of their opinion: 1. That the Sabaeans abounded in riches and spices. _India mittit eb... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:3. _SOLOMON TOLD HER ALL HER QUESTIONS_] Riddles, problems, fables, apologues, c., formed the principal part of the wisdom of the East indeed they use and delight in them to the present day. See the case of Samson and his friends, Judges 14:12; Judges 14:14, and the notes there.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:4. _HAD SEEN ALL SOLOMON'S WISDOM_] By the answers which he gave to her subtle questions. _AND THE HOUSE THAT HE HAD BUILT_] Most probably his own house.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:5. _THE MEAT OF HIS TABLE_] The immense supply of all kinds of food daily necessary for the many thousands which were fed at and from his table. See 1 Kings 4:22-11, and the notes there. _AND THE SITTING OF HIS SERVANTS_] The various orders and distinctions of his officers. _THE A... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:8. _HAPPY_ ARE _THY MEN_] All these are very natural expressions from a person in her state of mind.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:10. _A HUNDRED AND TWENTY TALENTS OF GOLD_] The worth of these one hundred and twenty talents of gold, according to Mr. Reynolds, is equal to _£_843,905. 10_s_. 4 3/4_d_. of our British sterling. But the _spices_ and _precious stones_ might have been yet of more value. After this ve... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:13. _ALL HER DESIRE WHATSOEVER SHE ASKED_] Some imagine she desired progeny from the wise king of Israel; and all the traditions concerning her state that she had a son by Solomon called _Menilek_, who was brought up at the Israelitish court, succeeded his mother in the kingdom of S... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:14. _THE WEIGHT OF GOLD - WAS SIX HUNDRED THREESCORE AND SIX_ _TALENTS_] This would amount in our money to _£_4,683,675 12_s_. 8 1/2_d_. sterling. This seems to be what he got annually of _bullion_; but independently of this, he had _tribute_ of all the kings of Arabia, duties from... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:16. _SOLOMON MADE TWO HUNDRED TARGETS OF BEATEN GOLD_] I have already conjectured that the צנה _tsinnah_ might resemble the Highland targe or target, with a dagger projecting from the UMBO or centre.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:17. HE MADE _THREE HUNDRED SHIELDS_] The מגן _magen_ was a large shield by which the whole body was protected. Mr. Reynolds computes that the _two hundred targets_, on each of which were employed _three hundred_ shekels of gold, were worth _£_28,131 16_s_. 9 1/2_d_. And the _three... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:19. _THE THRONE WAS ROUND BEHIND: AND_ THERE WERE _STAYS ON_ _EITHER SIDE_] This description seems to indicate that the throne was in the form of one of our ancient _round-topped, two-armed_ chairs. This throne or chair of state was raised on a platform, the ascent to which consiste... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:22. _A NAVY OF THARSHISH_] For probable conjectures concerning this place, and the _three years' voyage_, see at the end of this and the preceding chapter. 1 Kings 10:29; _"_1 Kings 9:28_"_. _APES_] קפים _kophim_; probably a species of _monkey_ rather than _ape_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _SOLOMON EXCEEDED ALL THE KINGS OF THE EARTH FOR_ _RICHES_] Mr. Reynolds, stating the yearly tribute of Solomon, 666 talents of gold, at about four times as much as his father left him, hence reckons that he had _£_4,909,371 8_s_. 8_d_. each year, _£_94,410 19_s_. 9 1/4_d_. per week, £13,4... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _HE HAD A THOUSAND AND FOUR HUNDRED CHARIOTS_] 1 Kings 4:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _MADE SILVER - AS STONES_] He destroyed its value by making it so exceedingly plenty. _AS THE SYCAMORE TREES_] He planted many cedars, and doubtless had much cedar wood imported; so that it became as common as the _sycamore trees_, which appear to have grown there in great abundance. This... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:28. _HORSES BROUGHT OUT OF EGYPT_] It is thought that the first people who used horses in _war_ were the Egyptians; and it is well known that the nations who knew the use of this creature in battle had greatly the advantage of those who did not. God had absolutely prohibited horses... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 10:29. _A CHARIOT CAME UP - FOR SIX HUNDRED_ SHEKELS] This was the ordinary price of a _chariot_, as _a hundred and fifty shekels_ were for a _horse_. _KINGS OF THE HITTITES_] These must have been the remains of the original inhabitants of Canaan, who had gone to some other country, p... [ Continue Reading ]