1 Kings 10 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter continues to describe Solomon’s reign as king of Israel. The author celebrates his wisdom, riches, and worldwide fame and trading operations. However, at the end of the chapter, the author begins to show how Solomon disobeyed Yahweh at the end of his reign. Solomon sent agents to Egypt to buy horses there, even though this was forbidden in [Deuteronomy 17:16](../deu/17/16.md). The next chapter will further describe how Solomon disobeyed Yahweh and brought great trouble on Israel. 1. The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon (10:1–13) 2. Solomon’s great wealth and wisdom (10:14–29)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

The Queen of Sheba

The Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon highlights his wealth and wisdom. Having learned of Solomon’s reputation, the Queen undertakes a long journey (probably from modern-day Yemen) to see whether he can answer some difficult questions that trouble her. Her visit shows how far his reputation, and with it the reputation of Yahweh, had spread. The Queen is so impressed by Solomon’s wisdom and wealth and by the splendor of his kingdom that she praises Yahweh. Her acknowledgment of Yahweh’s favor to Solomon and Israel brings glory to him and confirms the blessings that he promised to the Davidic line. This story underscores the global recognition of God’s blessing on Israel through Solomon’s reign, and it serves as a significant indication of his kingdom’s influence.

Sources of Solomon’s wealth

Solomon’s kingdom was strategically located at the crossroads of major trade routes, including those running through the Arabian Peninsula and up from Egypt. This gave him control over the movement of goods, including gold, spices, and other valuable commodities. He could therefore charge taxes, tolls, and duties. The author describes in [10:15](../10/15.md) how Solomon derived such income from “men of the searchers,” that is, men who traveled to distant lands to find goods for trade, and from “traders,” that is, local merchants who bought goods from traveling merchants and sold them within the country. He also describes how Solomon received income from the “kings of the Arab.” That phrase seems to refer to rulers of independent or semi-independent Arabian kingdoms located to the south and east of Israel. These kings apparently made gifts to Solomon from time to time in exchange for peaceful trade relations and as a sign of submission to his superior military and economic power. The 666 talents of gold that the author mentions in the previous verse might have been a fixed, yearly tax or tribute from Solomon’s main vassal states, while the gold from the Arabian kings came as gifts or offerings for trade access. The gifts from the Queen of Sheba, for example, would have been a significant, yet one-time, contribution to Solomon’s wealth, separate from his yearly tribute.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Ancient measurements of weight

In several places in this chapter, the author describes a weight of gold or silver using an ancient measurement such as the kikkar, mina, or shekel. In your translation, you could use the ancient measurement and spell these words the way they sound in your language. Alternatively, you could use the metric measurement given in the UST, or you could use the measurement that your language and culture customarily use. You could also use the ancient measurement and put a modern measurement in parentheses in the text or in a footnote. (See: translate-bweight)