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| 1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. |
Queen of Sheba – Presumed to have been a Negress. In modern times the Emperor of Abyssinia claimed to be a descendant of Solomon by this Queen. R3043:1
A more-than-ordinarily brilliant woman. R2067:2
She came – From far-off southern Arabia, a journey of 1500 miles. R2067:2, R5722:1
Thus she put to shame the people of Israel who later disregarded the superior wisdom of Jesus, the greater than Solomon. PD44/53
At about the middle, or 20th year, of Solomon's reign, when he was in all his glory. R5722:1, R2067:2
Hard questions – Probably relating to the sciences, arts, wise government, and respecting God and the future life. R2067:2, R3284:5, R5722:4
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| 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. |
She came – A journey of 1500 miles, to Jerusalem and back, consuming five months. R5722:1, R3284:2
Spices – From India. R2067:5
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| 3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. |
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| 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, |
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| 5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. |
His ascent – The corridor, or grand stairway, which led from his house to the Temple was a marvel of architecture. R3284:6, R5722:1
Spirit in her – It took her breath away. R3284:6
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| 6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. |
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| 7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. |
I believed not – Reports of Solomon's greatness. R3284:2
Mine eyes have seen it – The appreciation of values depends much upon the eye. So the eyes of our understanding must be opened truly to appreciate spiritual things. PD44/53
Half was not told – Applies (though not as an antitype) to the Gospel Church. Once afar off, they come and confess that the half was never told them of the riches of divine grace in our Lord. R2068:4
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath in reservation for them that love him." (1 Cor. 2:9) R3285:2
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| 8 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. |
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| 9 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. |
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| 10 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. |
120 talents of gold – Estimated at $3,000,000. R2067:5
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| 11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. |
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| 12 And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. |
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| 13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants. |
All her desire – Richly rewarded by having her every inquiry answered and by seeing the Temple built to the glory of God. R2067:5
Of his royal bounty – It was a custom for kings and princes to give presents according to their wealth, and Solomon was no doubt more wealthy than the queen. R2067:6
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| 14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, |
The weight of gold – King Solomon's annuity is supposed to have been more than ten million dollars. R4722:3
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| 15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. |
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| 16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target. |
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| 17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. |
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| 18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold. |
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| 19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
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| 20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom. |
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| 21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. |
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| 22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. |
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| 23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. |
Solomon exceeded – In glory, attracting the wonder and admiration of the world. C244
Illustrates the tendencies of wisdom and riches to lead imperfect men away from God, the source of wisdom and riches. R4297:3
Solomon typified the Church glorified. PD44/53
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| 24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. |
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| 25 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. |
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| 26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem. |
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| 27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. |
Made silver ... as stones – The glitter of success held the nation loyal to him, notwithstanding the fact that it was achieved by oppressive measures. R2324:1
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| 28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. |
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| 29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means. |
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