American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
1 Kings 10
1
And 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.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Matthew 12:42
Luke 11:31
Psalm 72:15
Genesis 10:28
Genesis 10:7
Psalm 72:10
Psalm 49:4
Jeremiah 6:20
References Lord
Isaiah 60:6
Job 28:28
2
And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bore 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.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 25:23
3
And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
4
And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 12:42
5
And 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 to the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 26:16
6
And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
7
However, I believed not the words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: your wisdom and prosperity exceeds the fame which I heard.
Reference
8
Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, which stand continually before you, and that hear your wisdom.
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 8:34
9
Blessed be the LORD your God, which delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he you king, to do judgment and justice.
Reference
Blessing
1 Kings 5:7
Judgment
Isaiah 42:1
Light
Psalm 22:8
Psalm 18:19
Love
2 Chronicles 2:11
References God
1 Chronicles 17:22
Righteousness
Psalm 72:2
2 Samuel 8:15
2 Samuel 23:3
10
And 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.
Reference
Kingdom
Psalm 72:10
1 Kings 9:14
Parallel theme
1 Kings 10:2
Matthew 2:11
Psalm 72:15
Exodus 30:34
Genesis 43:11
11
And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
12
And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen to this day.
13
And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever 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.
Reference
14
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred three score and six talents of gold,
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 9:28
15
Beside that he had of the merchants, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
16
And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
17
And 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.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 7:2
19
The 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.
20
And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
Reference
21
And all 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: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
Reference
22
For 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.
Reference
📍 Tarshish
Kingdom
Psalm 72:10
Parallel theme
1 Kings 22:48
Psalm 48:7
Genesis 10:4
Isaiah 23:10
Isaiah 23:6
Isaiah 23:1
Isaiah 60:9
Isaiah 66:19
Isaiah 2:16
23
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
24
And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 3:9
1 Kings 3:12
Proverbs 2:6
Daniel 2:21
References God
James 1:5
1 Kings 3:28
Daniel 1:17
Daniel 5:11
Daniel 2:23
25
And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
26
And 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.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Chronicles 9:25
Parallel theme
1 Kings 4:26
Deuteronomy 17:16
References Jerusalem
1 Kings 9:19
27
And 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.
📍 Shephelah
28
And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
Reference
📍 Kue
29
And 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.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 1:4
Summary of 1 Kings 10
This chpter represents the highest point of Solomon's earthly success.
The chapter begins with the Queen of Sheba traveling to Jerusalem after hearing about Solomon's wisdom. She tests him with difficult questions and discovers that his wisdom, organization, and prosperity exceed even the reports she had received.
She recognizes that Solomon's greatness comes from God and praises the Lord for blessing Israel with such a wise king.
The second half of the chapter describes the incredible wealth of Solomon's kingdom. Gold, silver, precious materials, horses, and international gifts flow into Jerusalem. Solomon's throne, palace, military strength, and trading networks demonstrate that Israel has become a powerful kingdom among the nations.
Yet beneath the glory are early signs of future trouble. Solomon's wealth, military expansion, and foreign relationships begin moving beyond simple blessing into excessive accumulation.
The chapter presents a powerful lesson:
God can bless people greatly, but blessings must always remain under God's authority.
Solomon's wisdom was a gift from God, but maintaining that wisdom required continued humility and obedience.
The chapter begins with the Queen of Sheba traveling to Jerusalem after hearing about Solomon's wisdom. She tests him with difficult questions and discovers that his wisdom, organization, and prosperity exceed even the reports she had received.
She recognizes that Solomon's greatness comes from God and praises the Lord for blessing Israel with such a wise king.
The second half of the chapter describes the incredible wealth of Solomon's kingdom. Gold, silver, precious materials, horses, and international gifts flow into Jerusalem. Solomon's throne, palace, military strength, and trading networks demonstrate that Israel has become a powerful kingdom among the nations.
Yet beneath the glory are early signs of future trouble. Solomon's wealth, military expansion, and foreign relationships begin moving beyond simple blessing into excessive accumulation.
The chapter presents a powerful lesson:
God can bless people greatly, but blessings must always remain under God's authority.
Solomon's wisdom was a gift from God, but maintaining that wisdom required continued humility and obedience.