Dawn on the road climbing to Jerusalem from the south: a very long caravan of laden camels winds up through pale hills toward the city on its ridge, the temple's long stone roof catching the first light far off.

The Book of

1 Kings 10

A queen crosses the desert with hard questions and a caravan of gold. What will she find?

29 verses≈ 6 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–2Solomon's throneThe kingdom made secure
3–4WisdomA discerning heart
5–8The templeA house for the LORD's Name
9–11Glory and fallSolomon's heart turnsChapter 10
12–16Two kingdomsThe kingdom torn
17–19ElijahThe LORD, He is God
20–22AhabNaboth and Micaiah

The Queen of Sheba

Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.

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She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones.

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

The queen’s road and the fleet to Ophir

Sheba lay in the far southwest of Arabia, in what is now Yemen, where frankincense and myrrh grow. Its capital was beyond the bottom of this map, about 1,400 miles from Jerusalem by the caravan road up the length of Arabia: a journey of months. Solomon’s ships, sailing with Hiram’s, set out from Ezion-geber at the head of the Red Sea for Ophir. No one knows for certain where Ophir was; it may have been in southern Arabia, East Africa or farther away.

In a high hall of cedar beams and pale stone, the Queen of Sheba leans forward from her chair and asks a question; across a low table King Solomon listens and answers calmly, attendants and officials standing along the walls.

And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.

And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain.

Evening in a great cedar-pillared banqueting hall: Solomon's officials sit in order at long low tables while attendants in white and blue serve and cupbearers hold gold cups; the king sits at the far end, and the Queen of Sheba stands still at one side, watching.

When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built, the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

0:14

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told to me. Your wisdom and prosperity have far exceeded the report I heard.

How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!

1 Kings 10:9

Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again were spices in such abundance brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

(The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almug wood and precious stones. The king made the almug wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had such almug wood been brought in, nor has such been seen again to this day.)

King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.

Reflect

Not even half

The queen came a very long way to hear wisdom, and found that “not even half was told to me.” Jesus said that One greater than Solomon has come. What would it look like for you to seek Him with the same effort this week? Write down one way you will make time to listen to Him.

Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor

The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, not including the revenue from the merchants, traders, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.

Morning at Ezion-geber: a large Phoenician merchant ship with one mast and a furled square sail lies beached on the gravel while dockworkers carry ashore elephant tusks, silver ingots and chests of gold; apes sit in a wooden cage and peacocks stand tethered by the bales, red mountains behind.

For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

Question

Quick question

Solomon’s great throne of ivory and gold had six steps.

How many lions stood on the six steps of Solomon’s throne?

So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

1 Kings 10:24

Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.

Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.

Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. Likewise, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram.

Pray

The wisdom God puts in the heart

Thank God for the wisdom He gives, and for Christ, greater than Solomon, in whom all wisdom is found. Ask Him for a heart that holds riches lightly and gives generously, and for eyes to see where even His good gifts could pull you away from Him.

You’ve experienced

1 Kings 10

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A verse to carry with you

The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

1 Kings 10:24

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