1 Kings 10:12

And the king made of the almug trees pillars [lit; props . In 2 Chronicles 9:11 we have a different word, מְסִלוֹת (cf. 20:31 , 20:32 ; 1 Samuel 6:12 , etc.), there translated stairs . The word in the text מִסְעָד is ἅπαξ λεγ . Keil understands "steps with bannisters;" Bähr (after Jarchi) "tesselated pavements;" Gesenius, "balusters;" Thenius, "divans;" Bottcher, "benches and similar moveables." But was not the pavement already laid, and of cedar; and would the sanctuary have divans, etc.?] for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries [also mentioned together ( Psalms 71:22 ; Psalms 108:2 ; cf. 3). They were stringed instruments, but their precise shape and character is quite uncertain. One species of sandalwood, or of wood closely allied to it, is said to have been much sought after for musical instruments] for the singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.