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1 Kings 10

Solomon’s international fame displays God-given wisdom, while the queen’s praise names justice and righteousness as the purpose of his kingship.

The queen of Sheba comes to Jerusalem with hard questions and a caravan loaded with gifts. Solomon answers her, and the wisdom and splendor of his court leave her astonished. She praises YHWH for placing him over Israel to uphold justice and righteousness. After her departure, the account catalogs Solomon’s gold, trade, and royal display. Visitors from across the earth seek the wisdom God has put in his heart, while his wealth and military resources grow.

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1When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the LORD’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.
2She came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.
3Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.
4When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
5the food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the LORD’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
7However, I didn’t believe the words until I came and my eyes had seen it. Behold, not even half was told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
8Happy are your men, happy are these your servants who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.
9Blessed is the LORD your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
10She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was there such an abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought in from Ophir great quantities of almug trees and precious stones.
12The king made of the almug trees pillars for the LORD’s house and for the king’s house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers; no such almug trees came or were seen to this day.
13King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, in addition to that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
15in addition to that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.
16King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler.
17He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas 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 finest gold.
20Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. Nothing like it was 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, because it was considered of little value in the days of Solomon.
22For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
23So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
24All the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.
25Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.
26Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen. He kept them in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
27The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
28The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
29A chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty shekels; and so they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.
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Key verses
1 Kings 10:1The queen’s visit begins with Solomon’s fame concerning YHWH’s name, linking her questions to Israel’s God.
1 Kings 10:9The queen attributes Solomon’s throne to YHWH’s love for Israel and identifies justice and righteousness as his royal task.
1 Kings 10:22The fleet’s recurring cargo shows the reach of Solomon’s trade and the abundance flowing into his kingdom.
Where this chapter reaches

2 Chronicles recounts the same visit from the queen of Sheba and the wealth surrounding Solomon’s throne, sharing both the event and its praise of God-given kingship. Matthew recalls her coming to hear Solomon’s wisdom when Jesus declares his own surpassing greatness.

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After reading the whole chapter

How does the queen’s description of kingship shape your reading of Solomon’s wealth and splendor?

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Questions people ask about 1 Kings 10

Who was the queen of Sheba in 1 Kings 10?

She is a foreign ruler who comes to test Solomon with hard questions after hearing of his fame concerning YHWH’s name. The chapter does not give her personal name or locate her kingdom. It describes her gifts, astonishment at Solomon’s wisdom and court, and praise of YHWH.

Why does 1 Kings 10 mention 666 talents of gold?

The number records the weight of gold Solomon received in one year, with other revenue listed in addition. It belongs to the chapter’s detailed account of royal wealth, alongside gold shields and an ivory throne overlaid with gold. The text gives no symbolic explanation for the number.

Does 1 Kings 10 say Solomon’s wealth proved God’s approval?

The chapter credits God with Solomon’s wisdom, and the queen praises YHWH for giving him the throne out of love for Israel. She also names justice and righteousness as his task. The account describes vast wealth without declaring that every royal acquisition or trade decision carried God’s approval.

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1 Kings · 22 chapters
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).