CHAPTER 10
Now when the queen
of Sheba
heard
about the fame
of Solomon
concerning the name
of the LORD,
she came
to test him
with difficult questions.
She arrived
in Jerusalem
with a very
large
caravan,
with camels
bearing
spices,
gold
in great
abundance,
and precious
stones.
So she came
to
Solomon
and spoke
to him
all
that
was
on
her mind.
the food
at his table,
the seating
of his servants,
the service
and attire
of his attendants
and cupbearers,
and the burnt offerings
he presented
at the house
of the LORD,
it took her breath
away.
But I did not
believe
these things
until
I came
and saw
with my own eyes.
Indeed,
not even
half
was told
to me.
Your wisdom
and prosperity
have far
exceeded
the report
I heard.
How blessed
are your men!
How blessed
are these
servants of yours
who stand
continually
before you
and hear
your wisdom!
Blessed
be
the LORD
your God,
who
has delighted
in you
to set
you on
the throne
of Israel.
Because of the LORD’s
eternal
love
for Israel,
He has made you
king
to carry out
justice
and righteousness."
Then she gave
the king
120
talents
of gold,
a great quantity of
spices,
and precious
stones.
Never
again
was such
an abundance
of spices
brought in
as those
the queen
of Sheba
gave
to King
Solomon.
(The fleet
of Hiram,
which
brought
gold
from Ophir,
also
brought
from Ophir
a great cargo
of almug
wood
and precious
stones.
The king
made
the almug
wood
into steps
for the house
of the LORD
and for the king’s
palace,
and into lyres
and harps
for the singers.
Never
before had such
almug
wood
been brought in,
nor has such
been seen
to
this
day.)
King
Solomon
gave
the queen
of Sheba
all
she desired—
whatever
she asked—
besides
what
he had given
her
out of his
royal
bounty.
Then she
left
and returned
to her own country,
along with her servants.
not including
the revenue
from the merchants,
traders,
and all
the Arabian
kings
and governors
of the land.
King
Solomon
made
two hundred
large shields
of hammered
gold;
six
hundred shekels
of gold
went
into
each
shield.
He also made three
hundred
small shields
of hammered
gold;
three
minas
of gold
went
into
each
shield.
And the king
put them
in the House
of the Forest
of Lebanon.
The throne
had six
steps
and a rounded
top
at the back
of the throne.
There were armrests
on both sides
of
the seat,
with a
lion
standing
beside
each armrest.
Twelve
lions
stood
on
the six
steps,
one at either end
of each step.
Nothing
like this
had ever been made
for any
kingdom.
All
of King
Solomon’s
drinking
cups
were gold,
and all
the utensils
of the House
of the Forest
of Lebanon
were pure
gold.
There was no
silver,
because it was accounted
as nothing
in the days
of Solomon.
For
the king had
the ships
of Tarshish
at sea
with
Hiram’s
fleet,
and once
every three years
the ships
of Tarshish
would arrive
bearing
gold,
silver,
ivory,
apes,
and peacocks.
The whole
world
sought
an audience
with Solomon
to hear
the wisdom
that
God
had put
in his heart.
Year
after year,
each visitor
would bring
his tribute:
articles
of silver
and gold,
clothing,
weapons,
spices,
horses,
and mules.
Solomon
accumulated
1,400
chariots
and 12,000
horses,
which he stationed
in the chariot
cities
and also with
him
in Jerusalem.
The king
made
silver
as common in Jerusalem
as stones,
and
cedar
as abundant
as sycamore
in the foothills.
A chariot
could be imported
from Egypt
for six
hundred shekels
of silver,
and a horse
for a hundred
and fifty.
Likewise,
they
exported them
to all
the kings
of the Hittites
and to the kings
of Aram.