Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
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 10:21

And all King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold ,.... Such quantities of it were brought to him from Ophir, and paid to him in tribute, and given him as presents: and all the vessels of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold ; not only what were used in his palace at Jerusalem, but in his country house at some little distance: none were of silver; it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon ; to make plate of; or silver plate was but little esteemed, and scarce any use... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:22

For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish, with the navy of Hiram ,.... Tharshish was not the place the navy went from, but whither it went to, as appears from 2 Chronicles 9:21 and designs not Tarsus in Cilicia; nor Tartessus in Spain, or Gades, or which was however near it; though it appears from Strabo F19 Corinthiaca, sive, l. 2. p. 136. and Mela F20 Ut supra. (Navigat. l. 5. c. 20.) that the Phoenicians were acquainted with those parts, and were possessed of them; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:23

So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. In which he was an eminent type of Christ; see Ephesians 3:8 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 10:22

A navy of Tharshish - For probable conjectures concerning this place, and the three years' voyage, see at the end of this, 1 Kings 10:29 ; (note) and the preceding chapter, 1 Kings 9 (note). Apes - קפים kophim ; probably a species of monkey rather than ape. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 10:23

Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches - Mr. Reynolds, stating the yearly tribute of Solomon, 666 talents of gold, at about four times as much as his father left him, hence reckons that he had £4,909, 371 8s. 8d. each year, £94,410 19s. 9 1/4d. per week, £13,487 5s. 8d. per day, taking each day, week, and year, one with another. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:14-29

The Decline and Fall of Solomon. The fall of Solomon, in itself one of the most portentous facts in Scripture history, is rendered doubly suggestive and admonitory by a consideration of the way in which it was brought about. It was not that he succumbed to some fierce onslaught of temptation; it was no terrible rush of passion—no sudden guilty love of "fair idolatresses," as some have held—wrought his ruin; on the contrary, his decline in piety was so gradual and slow as to be almost... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:21

And an king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold [as were those of Assyria and Babylon. This lavish display of wealth was characteristic of Oriental courts. Rawlinson quotes Chardin's description of the splendour of the court of Persia, " Tout est d'or massif ," etc; and adds, "Both Symes and Yule note a similar use of gold utensils by the king of Ava"], and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold [ סָגוּר ; see on 1 Kings 6:20 . LXX . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:22

For [Reason why silver was so lightly esteemed. It was because of the prodigious quantity both of gold and silver brought in by the fleet] the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish [It has been much disputed I incline (with Rawlinson, al .) to think there were two separate navies, for the following reasons: read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:23

So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and wisdom [Cf. 1 Kings 3:13 . "There is something ominous of evil here. Riches are put before wisdom. This was not the case in the beginning of Solomon's reign ( 1 Kings 3:11 )"—Wordsworth. read more

Group of Brands