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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 10:11

And the navy also of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir ,.... This perhaps was before Solomon was concerned with Hiram in navigation and merchandise; though in 2 Chronicles 9:10 both their servants are said to bring it; and it is here inserted perhaps to show that Solomon had not his gold, at least all of it, from the queen of Sheba; but much from Hiram, who fetched it from Ophir; and as this was in India, as observed on 1 Kings 9:28 , many writers make mention of gold in that part of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:12

And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house ,.... Or terraces, as in 2 Chronicles 9:11 , causeways; and means the ascent or causeway he made from his own house to the temple; the pavement of which, as Jarchi interprets the word here, was made of the wood of these trees; or the supports of it, or rather the rails on each side, on which men might stay themselves as they passed along, as Ben Gersom; and since this ascent was admired by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:13

And King Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire , whatsoever she asked ,.... Some curious things she saw, and was desirous of, she asked for, and had them: besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty ; of his own good will and pleasure, without asking: so she turned and went to her own country : the country of Sheba in Arabia Felix: she and her sergeants : the train or retinue she brought with her, which was large, 1 Kings 10:2 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:14

Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty and six talents of gold. From Ophir and Tarshish, and wherever he traded; which was of our money, according to Berewood F11 De Ponder. & Pret. c. 5. , 2,997,000 pounds; or as another learned man F12 Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. vol. 3. p. 580. , who makes it equal to 5,138,520 ducats of gold. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:15

Besides that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants ,.... What they paid him as a duty or custom for the importation of their goods: and of all the kings of Arabia ; who were subject to him, and paid him a yearly tribute, or at least made presents, see 1 Kings 4:21 . and of the governors of the country ; who were viceroys or deputy governors of countries conquered by his father, and who collected tribute from the people, and paid it to him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 10:11

Great plenty of almug trees - In the parallel place, 2 Chronicles 9:10 , 2 Chronicles 9:11 , these are called algum trees, the ם mem and the ג gimel being transposed; probably the latter is the more correct orthography. What the algum trees were we do not exactly know. The Vulgate calls it ligna thyina , the thya or lignum vitae wood; and Mr. Parkhurst thinks that the original אלגומים algumim , comes from אל al , not, and גם gem , to fill; because the lignum... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 10:13

All her desire whatsoever she asked - Some imagine she desired progeny from the wise king of Israel; and all the traditions concerning her state that she had a son by Solomon called Menilek, who was brought up at the Israelitish court, succeeded his mother in the kingdom of Saba, and introduced among his subjects the Jewish religion. See at the end of the chapter, 1 Kings 10:29 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 10:14

The weight of gold - was six hundred threescore and six talents - This would amount in our money to £4,683, 675 12s. 8 1/2d. sterling. This seems to be what he got annually of bullion; but independently of this, he had tribute of all the kings of Arabia, duties from merchantmen, and the traffic of spice merchants; see 1 Kings 10:25 . read more

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