1Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. (Jud 14:12; 2Ch 9:1; Ps 72:10; Ps 72:15; Isa 60:6; Jer 6:20; Eze 27:22; Eze 38:13; Joe 3:8; Mt 12:42; Lu 11:31)2She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. (1Ki 10:10)3And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.4And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,5the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.6And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom,7but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard.8Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! (Pr 8:34)9Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” (2Sa 8:15; 1Ki 5:7; 2Ch 2:11; Ps 72:2)10Then she gave the king 120 talents[1] of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again came such an abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. (1Ki 10:2)11Moreover, the fleet of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a very great amount of almug wood and precious stones. (1Ki 9:27; 1Ki 9:28)12And the king made of the almug wood supports for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, also lyres and harps for the singers. No such almug wood has come or been seen to this day.13And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what was given her by the bounty of King Solomon. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.
Solomon’s Great Wealth
14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, (2Ch 9:13)15besides that which came from the explorers and from the business of the merchants, and from all the kings of the west and from the governors of the land.16King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold; 600 shekels[2] of gold went into each shield.17And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; three minas[3] of gold went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. (1Ki 7:2; 1Ki 14:26)18The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with the finest gold.19The throne had six steps, and the throne had a round top,[4] and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests,20while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom.21All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. (1Ki 10:17)22For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.[5] (Ge 10:4; 1Ki 22:48; 1Ch 1:7; 2Ch 20:36; Ps 48:7; Ps 72:10)23Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. (1Ki 3:12; 1Ki 4:30)24And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.25Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh,[6] spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.26And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. (1Ki 4:26; 1Ki 9:19; 2Ch 1:14; 2Ch 9:25)27And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. (1Ch 27:28)28And Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s traders received them from Kue at a price. (De 17:16; 2Ch 9:28)29A chariot could be imported from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver and a horse for 150, and so through the king’s traders they were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria. (Jud 1:26)
1 Kings 10
New International Version
The queen of Sheba visits Solomon
1When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.2Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan – with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones – she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind.3Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.4When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built,5the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at[1] the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.6She said to the king, ‘The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true.7But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.8How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!9Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.’10And she gave the king 120 talents[2] of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.11(Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almug-wood[3] and precious stones.12The king used the almug-wood to make supports[4] for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almug-wood has never been imported or seen since that day.)13King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.
Solomon’s splendour
14The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents,[5]15not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the territories.16King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels[6] of gold went into each shield.17He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three minas[7] of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.18Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with fine gold.19The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them.20Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.21All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days.22The king had a fleet of trading ships[8] at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.23King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.24The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.25Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift – articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.26Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses,[9] which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills.28Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue[10] – the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price.29They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty.[11] They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.
1 Kings 10
King James Version
1And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.2And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.3And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.4And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon' wisdom, and the house that he had built,5And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.6And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.7Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it : and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.8Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.9Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.10And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.11And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.12And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king' house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.13And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,15Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.16And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.17And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.18Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.19The 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.20And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.21And all king Solomon' drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.22For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.23So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.24And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.25And 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.26And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.27And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.28And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king' merchants received the linen yarn at a price.29And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
1 Kings 10
New International Reader’s Version
The queen of Sheba visits Solomon
1The queen of Sheba heard about how famous Solomon was. She also heard about how he served and worshipped the LORD. So she came to test Solomon with hard questions.2She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large group of attendants. Her camels were carrying spices, huge amounts of gold, and valuable jewels. She came to Solomon and asked him about everything she wanted to know.3Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything too hard for the king to explain to her.4So the queen of Sheba saw how very wise Solomon was. She saw the palace he had built.5She saw the food on his table. She saw his officials sitting there. She saw the robes of the servants who waited on everyone. She saw his wine tasters. And she saw the burnt offerings Solomon sacrificed at the LORD’s temple. She could hardly believe everything she had seen.6She said to the king, ‘Back in my own country I heard a report about you. I heard about how much you had accomplished. I also heard about how wise you are. Everything I heard is true.7But I didn’t believe those things. So I came to see for myself. And now I believe it! You are twice as wise and wealthy as people say you are. The report I heard doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story about you.8How happy your people must be! How happy your officials must be! They always get to serve you and hear the wise things you say.9May the LORD your God be praised. He takes great delight in you. He placed you on the throne of Israel. The LORD will love Israel for all time to come. That’s why he has made you king. He knows that you will do what is fair and right.’10She gave the king 4.5 tonnes of gold. She also gave him huge amounts of spices and valuable jewels. No one would ever bring to King Solomon as many spices as the queen of Sheba gave him.11Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir. From there they also brought huge amounts of almug wood and valuable jewels.12The king used the almug wood to make supports for the LORD’s temple and the royal palace. He also used it to make harps and lyres for those who played the music. That much almug wood has never been brought into Judah or seen there since that day.13King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted and asked for. That was in addition to what he had given her out of his royal riches. Then she left. She returned to her own country with her attendants.
Solomon’s greatness
14Each year Solomon received 24 tonnes of gold.15That didn’t include the money brought in by business and trade. It also didn’t include the money from all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the territories.16King Solomon made 200 large shields out of hammered gold. Each one weighed 7 kilograms.17He also made 300 small shields out of hammered gold. Each one weighed 2 kilograms. The king put all the shields in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.18Then he made a large throne. It was covered with ivory. And that was covered with fine gold.19The throne had six steps. Its back had a rounded top. The throne had armrests on both sides of the seat. A statue of a lion stood on each side of the throne.20Twelve lions stood on the six steps. There was one at each end of each step. Nothing like that throne had ever been made for any other kingdom.21All of King Solomon’s cups were made out of gold. All the things used in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were made out of pure gold. Nothing was made out of silver. When Solomon was king, silver wasn’t considered to be worth very much.22He had many ships that carried goods to be traded. His ships went to sea along with Hiram’s ships. Once every three years the ships returned. They brought gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.23King Solomon was richer than all the other kings on earth. He was also wiser than they were.24People from the whole world wanted to meet Solomon in person. They wanted to see for themselves how wise God had made him.25Year after year, everyone who came to him brought a gift. They brought gifts made out of silver and gold. They brought robes, weapons and spices. They also brought horses and mules.26Solomon had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept some of his horses and chariots in the chariot cities. He kept the others with him in Jerusalem.27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones. He made cedar wood as common there as sycamore-fig trees in the western hills.28Solomon got horses from Egypt and from Kue. The royal traders bought them from Kue at the current price.29They weighed out 7 kilograms of silver for a chariot from Egypt. And they weighed out almost 2 kilograms of silver for a horse. They also sold horses and chariots to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Arameans.