1 Kings 10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 10

Still Solomon looks great, and every thing in this chapter adds to his magnificence. We read nothing indeed of his charity, of no hospitals he built, or alms-houses; he made his kingdom so rich that it did not need them; yet, no question, many poor were relieved from the abundance of his table. A church he had built, never to be equalled; schools or colleges he need not build any, his own palace is an academy, and his court a rendezvous of wise and learned men, as well as the centre of all the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1-13

We have here an account of the visit which the queen of Sheba made to Solomon, no doubt when he was in the height of his piety and prosperity. Our Saviour calls her the queen of the south, for Sheba lay south of Canaan. The common opinion is that it was in Africa; and the Christians in Ethiopia, to this day, are confident that she came from their country, and that Candace was her successor, who is mentioned Acts 8:27. But it is more probable that she came from the south part of Arabia the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 10:14-29

We have here a further account of Solomon's prosperity. I. How he increased his wealth. Though he had much, he still coveted to have more, being willing to try the utmost the things of this world could do to make men happy. 1. Besides the gold that came from Ophir (1 Kgs. 9:28), he brought so much into his country from other places that the whole amounted, every year, to 666 talents (1 Kgs. 10:14), an ominous number, compare Rev. 13:18; Ezra 2:13. 2. He received a great deal in customs from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 10 This chapter contains an account of the queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon to her great satisfaction, 1 Kings 10:1 , of Solomon's merchandise and riches, and the magnificence of his court, 1 Kings 10:14 , of the rich presents sent to him, and of the purchase of chariots and horses, and other things, he made, 1 Kings 10:24 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon ,.... Josephus F21 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 6. sect. 2, 5. calls her a queen of Egypt and Ethiopia; but Sheba was in the southern part of Arabia Felix; her name with the Ethiopians is Maqueda F23 Ludolf. Ethiop. Hist. l. 2. c. 3. , and with the Arabic geographer F24 Clim 1. par. 6. Belequis. Some F25 Vid. Coryli Disser. de Reg. Austral. c. l. sect. 1, 2. think that Sheba, or Saba, is not the name of a country, but of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:2

And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train ,.... With many of her courtiers and principal men, as well as with a large retinue of servants: with camels that bare spices ; her country abounded both with camels and spices; See Gill on Isaiah 60:6 ; see Gill on Jeremiah 6:20 , and as Pliny F6 Nat. Hist. l. 12. c. 14. observes, who says their spices used to be carried on camels, particularly frankincense, for which Sheba was famous, and is therefore called by him "regio... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:3

And Solomon told her all her questions ,.... Answered them, told her the meaning of everything she inquired about, expounded her riddles, solved her objections, and gave her satisfaction in all things she proposed unto him: there was not anything hid from the king, which he told her not ; there was not anything, though ever so abstruse and difficult, but what he understood, and gave her a clear and plain solution of. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:4

And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom ,.... Which she perceived by his answers to things relative to all sorts of science, natural, civil, and divine: and the house that he had built ; the singular for the plural, "house for houses"; the house of the Lord, his own house, that for Pharaoh's daughter, and the house of the forest of Lebanon; in all which there appeared not only surprising grandeur and magnificence, but exquisite art and skill; there was a great display... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:5

And the meat of his table ,.... The various sorts of it, the different dishes, and the multitude of them; see 1 Kings 4:22 . and the sitting of his servants ; at table, either with him, or at tables by themselves, yet in his presence; for these were his nobles and courtiers, who were placed in order, according to their rank and degree, which showed wisdom: and the attendance of his ministers ; or the "standing" F17 מעמך "statum", Tigurine version, Vatablus, Junius &... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:6

And she said to the king ,.... When she was a little come to herself: it was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom ; which she was ready to call in question when she first heard it; at least she thought it was greatly exaggerated, but now she found it was strictly true. read more

Group of Brands