1 Kings 10:21 NIV

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

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 10:21

1 Kings 10:21 . It was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon Comparatively, and about his palace; for it is not to be supposed that all his subjects had so much gold as to make no account of silver. But if gold in abundance would make silver seem so despicable, shall not wisdom and grace, and the foretastes of heaven, make gold seem much more so? 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

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 10:1-29

Solomon and the Queen of Sheba1. Sheba] the Sheba of Genesis 10:28 (in Arabia), not of Genesis 10:7 (in Africa). Arabia seems frequently to have been ruled by queens; more than one is mentioned in the Assyrian inscriptions. If Ophir was in Arabia (see on 1 Kings 9:28), it may have been through the traders at that port that the queen here alluded to had heard of Solomon.Hard questions] These were probably of the nature of puzzles or riddles, the same word being used of Samson’s riddle (Judges... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 10:21

(21) None were of silver . . .—See 2 Chronicles 9:27, “The king made silver in Jerusalem as stones.” The importation of silver (see 1 Kings 10:22) was by the navy of Tarshish; and the mention of the plentifulness of silver seems the reason for noticing the existence of this navy. read more