1 Kings 10:15

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 10:15

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1-18

The Queen of Sheba. The suggestiveness of Solomon's intercourse with surrounding nations. His magnanimity was as remarkable as his magnificence. His broad policy stood out in striking contrast with the narrowness of some of his contemporaries and successors. It was one evidence of his divinely inspired wisdom. In some respects his enlightenment puts to shame modern diplomacy. Trace his relations with the king of Tyre and the queen of Sheba. These were not exceptionally treated by the... 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 10:15

Beside that he had of the marchantmen [The root תּוּר signifies to wander or travel about . In Numbers 13:16 , Numbers 13:17 , it is used of spies . It may here be applied to persons who travelled for purposes of trade; but the versions differ very materially in their rendering of the word; the LXX . understanding it of tribute ( τῶν φόρων τῶν ὑποτεταγμένων ); the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic of artizans ; the Vulgate of ambassadors . And the word is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 10:15

There is no mention in the original of “spice merchants.” Two classes of traders are spoken of; but both expressions are general.Kings of Arabia - Rather, “kings of the mingled people” (compare Jeremiah 25:24). These were probably tribes half Jewish, half Arabian, on the borders of the western desert. They are regarded as Arabs by the author of Chronicles (marginal reference).Governors - The word used here is thought to be of Aryan origin. It appears to have been a title given by the Persians... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 10:15

1 Kings 10:15. Besides that he had of the merchant-men Who paid custom for the goods they brought from divers countries. Hebrew, מאנשׁי התרים , meanshee hattarim, from the men, the searchers. Merchants may be so called, because they search for commodities and articles of traffic. Or rather, the gatherers of the king’s revenues are intended, who used to search narrowly into all wares, that the king might not be defrauded of his rights. Of the traffic of the spice-merchants Or rather, of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1-29

Click image for full-size version9:26-11:43 OTHER FEATURES OF SOLOMON’S REIGNTrade, fame and wealth (9:26-10:29)Always alert in business dealings, Solomon saw the opportunity for further profits by cooperating with Hiram in trade transport. Goods from the Mediterranean were received at Hiram’s port of Tyre, taken overland to the Israelite port of Ezion-geber at the northern tip of the Red Sea, then shipped east, possibly as far as India. Since the Israelites were not a seafaring people, Solomon... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 10:1-29

3. Solomon’s greatness ch. 10This chapter summarizes with illustrations and statistics the wisdom, acceptance, and riches with which God blessed Solomon. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 10:14-29

Solomon’s wealth 10:14-29This pericope summarizes Solomon’s wealth as the previous one summarized his wisdom. God brought much wealth to Solomon, almost 25 tons of gold a year (1 Kings 10:14), plus many other riches."Those who would consider his income of 666 talents (ca. 21.6 tons) of gold exaggeration should compare this with amounts registered in ancient Egypt about this time, ’where gold is like dust in the land’ and Osorkon I in his first four years (ca. 924-920 BC) accumulated eighteen... read more

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