The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon

(1 Kings 10.1-13)

1The Queen of Sheba heard how famous Solomon was, so she went to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions. She took along several of her officials, and she loaded her camels with gifts of spices, jewels, and gold. When she arrived, she and Solomon talked about everything she could think of.9.1-9: Mt 12.42; Lk 11.31. 2He answered every question, no matter how difficult it was.

3-4The Queen was amazed at Solomon's wisdom. She was breathless when she saw his palace,9.3,4 his palace: Or “the temple”. the food on his table, his officials, all his servants in their uniforms, and the sacrifices he offered at the LORD's temple. 5She said:

Solomon, in my own country I had heard about your wisdom and all you've done. 6But I didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes! And there's so much I didn't hear about. You are greater than I was told. 7Your people and officials are lucky to be here where they can listen to the wise things you say.

8I praise the LORD your God. He is pleased with you and has made you king of Israel. God loves the people of this country and will never desert them, so he has given them a king who will rule fairly and honestly.

9The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon more than four thousand kilogrammes of gold, a large amount of jewels, and the best spices anyone had ever seen.

10-12In return, Solomon gave her everything she wanted—even more than she had given him. Then she and her officials went back to their own country.

Solomon's wealth

(1 Kings 10.14-29)

Hiram's and Solomon's sailors brought gold, juniper wood, and jewels from the country of Ophir. Solomon used the wood to make steps9.10-12 steps: Or “stools” or “railings”. for the temple and palace, and harps and other stringed instruments for the musicians. Nothing like these had ever been made in Judah.

13Solomon received almost twenty-three thousand kilogrammes of gold each year, 14not counting what the merchants and traders brought him. The kings of Arabia and the leaders of Israel also gave him gold and silver.

15Solomon made two hundred gold shields that weighed over three kilogrammes each. 16He also made three hundred smaller gold shields that weighed almost two kilogrammes, and he put these shields in his palace in Forest Hall.

17His throne was made of ivory and covered with pure gold. 18It had a gold footstool attached to it and arm rests on each side. There was a statue of a lion on each side of the throne, 19and there were two lion statues on each of the six steps leading up to the throne. No other throne in the world was like Solomon's.

20Solomon's cups and dishes in Forest Hall were made of pure gold, because silver was almost worthless in those days.

21Solomon had a lot of seagoing ships.9.21 seagoing ships: The Hebrew text has “ships of Tarshish”, which may have been a Phoenician city in Spain. “Ships of Tarshish” probably means large, seagoing ships. Every three years he sent them out with Hiram's ships to bring back gold, silver, and ivory, as well as monkeys and peacocks.9.21 peacocks: Or “baboons”.

22Solomon was the richest and wisest king in the world. 23-24Year after year, other kings came to hear the wisdom God had given him. And they brought gifts of silver and gold, as well as clothes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.

25Solomon had four thousand stalls for his horses and chariots, and he owned twelve thousand horses that he kept in Jerusalem and other towns.9.25: 1 K 4.26.

26He ruled all the nations from the River Euphrates in the north to the land of Philistia in the south, as far as the border of Egypt.9.26: Gn 15.18; 1 K 4.21.

27While Solomon was king, there was silver everywhere in Jerusalem, and cedar was as common as the sycamore trees in the western foothills. 28Solomon's horses were brought in from other countries, including Musri.9.28 Musri: See the note at 1.16,17.9.28: Dt 17.16.

The death of Solomon

Solomon dies

(1 Kings 11.41-43)

29Everything else Solomon did while he was king is written in the records of Nathan the prophet, Ahijah the prophet from Shiloh, and Iddo the prophet who wrote about Jeroboam son of Nebat. 30After Solomon had ruled forty years from Jerusalem, 31he died and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam then became king.