1 Kings 10:26-29 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:26

And Solomon gathered together his chariots and horsemen, and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots [these words have an important bearing on 1 Kings 4:26 , where see note], and twelve thousand horsemen. [The question may suggest itself here, why did Solomon, who was a "man of peace," maintain such a formidable array of chariots and horsemen? For not only was it in contravention of Deuteronomy 17:16 (cf. 1 Samuel 8:11 ), but it was entirely unnecessary, especially for a nation... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:27

And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones [an obviously hyperbolical expression], and cedar trees made he to be as the sycamore trees [the שִׁקְמָה is the συκομωρέα of the New Testament ( Luke 19:4 ), i.e; as the name imports, the fig mulberry—the "sycamine tree" of Luke 17:6 would seem to denote the mulberry proper. Though now but comparatively rare in Palestine, it is clear that formerly it was very common (see, e . g ; Isaiah 9:10 , whence it appears... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:28

And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. [This is a difficult passage, and the difficulty lies in the word מִקְוֶה , here rendered "linen yarn." Elsewhere the word signifies, a congregation, or gathering, as of water ( Genesis 1:10 ; Exodus 7:19 ; Le 11:36). Consequently, Gesenius (with Vatablus, al .) would here interpret, "company." "And the company of kings' merchants took the company (of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:29

And a chariot [including perhaps the two or three horses (see note on 1 Kings 5:6 ) usually attached to a chariot, and the harness. רֶכֶב is used ( 2 Samuel 8:4 ; 2 Samuel 10:18 ; Ezekiel 39:20 ) for chariot and horses ] came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver [about £80 (Wordsworth, £35), but, as these figures show, the precise value cannot be ascertained with certainty. But it is quite clear that these amounts cannot have been the custom... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 10:26

See 1 Kings 4:26 note. Until the time of Solomon, war-chariots had not been in use among the Jews, except to a very small extent 1 Chronicles 18:4. Hence, it was necessary for him to put himself on an equality in this respect with neighboring powers.Cities for chariots - They were probably fortresses upon the borders of his territory, in which he maintained the standing army necessary for the support of his dominion. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 10:27

Made silver as stones - This strong hyperbole marks in the most striking way the great wealth and prosperity of the capital during Solomon’s reign. The lavish expenditure which impoverished the provinces, and produced, or helped to produce, the general discontent that led to the outbreak under Jeroboam, enriched the metropolis, which must have profited greatly by the residence of the court, the constant influx of opulent strangers, and the periodical visits of all Israelites not hindered by... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 10:28

The word translated “linen yarn” is thought now by Hebraists to mean “a troop” or “company.” If the present reading is retained, they would translate the passage - “As for the bringing up of Solomon’s horses out of Egypt, a band of the king’s merchants fetched a band (or troop) of horses at a price.” But the reading is very uncertain. The Septuagint had before them a different one, which they render “and from Tekoa.” Tekoa, the home of Amos Amos 1:1, was a small town on the route from Egypt to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 10:29

Taking the shekel at about three shillings of our money, six hundred silver shekels would be equal to about 90; and 150 shekels to 22 British pounds and 10 shillings. “Average” price seems to be in each case intended; and we may account for the comparatively high price of the chariot by supposing that by “chariot” is intended the entire equipage, including car, harness, and trained horses, of which there would be two at least, if not three. The “horses” mentioned separately from the chariots... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 10:26

1 Kings 10:26. Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen Ah! what availed thy boasted wisdom, Solomon, when thou forsookest the only true wisdom, obedience to the commandment of the Lord! Ah! what availed it that thou wast wiser than all the children of the east; that thou couldst speak of trees, from the cedar-tree that was in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop and of beasts, and of fowls, and of creeping things; when thou forgottest the beginning and the end of wisdom, the fear of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 10:27-28

1 Kings 10:27-28. The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones An hyperbolical expression, signifying a great plenty of it. Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn The two chief commodities of Egypt. The king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price Agreed on between Pharaoh and Solomon, who gave this privilege to his merchants for a tribute to be paid out of this commodity. Most think byssus, fine linen, is here meant, one of the principal of the Egyptian... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:26

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:27

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:28

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:29

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 10:26

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 10:27

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 10:28

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 10:29

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 10:26

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 10:27-28

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