1 And when the queen H4436 of Sheba H7614 heard H8085 of the fame H8088 of Solomon H8010 concerning the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 she came H935 to prove H5254 him with hard questions. H2420
2 And she came H935 to Jerusalem H3389 with a very H3966 great H3515 train, H2428 with camels H1581 that bare H5375 spices, H1314 and very H3966 much H7227 gold, H2091 and precious H3368 stones: H68 and when she was come H935 to Solomon, H8010 she communed H1696 with him of all that was in her heart. H3824
3 And Solomon H8010 told H5046 her all her questions: H1697 there was not any thing H1697 hid H5956 from the king, H4428 which he told H5046 her not.
4 And when the queen H4436 of Sheba H7614 had seen H7200 all Solomon's H8010 wisdom, H2451 and the house H1004 that he had built, H1129
5 And the meat H3978 of his table, H7979 and the sitting H4186 of his servants, H5650 and the attendance H4612 of his ministers, H8334 and their apparel, H4403 and his cupbearers, H8248 and his ascent H5930 by which he went up H5927 unto the house H1004 of the LORD; H3068 there was no more spirit H7307 in her.
6 And she said H559 to the king, H4428 It was a true H571 report H1697 that I heard H8085 in mine own land H776 of thy acts H1697 and of thy wisdom. H2451
7 Howbeit I believed H539 not the words, H1697 until I came, H935 and mine eyes H5869 had seen H7200 it: and, behold, the half H2677 was not told H5046 me: thy wisdom H2451 and prosperity H2896 exceedeth H3254 the fame H8052 which I heard. H8085
8 Happy H835 are thy men, H582 happy H835 are these thy servants, H5650 which stand H5975 continually H8548 before H6440 thee, and that hear H8085 thy wisdom. H2451
9 Blessed H1288 be the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 which delighted H2654 in thee, to set H5414 thee on the throne H3678 of Israel: H3478 because the LORD H3068 loved H160 Israel H3478 for ever, H5769 therefore made H7760 he thee king, H4428 to do H6213 judgment H4941 and justice. H6666
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Kings 10
Commentary on 1 Kings 10 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 10
Still Solomon looks great, and every thing in this chapter adds to his magnificence. We read nothing indeed of his charity, of no hospitals he built, or alms-houses; he made his kingdom so rich that it did not need them; yet, no question, many poor were relieved from the abundance of his table. A church he had built, never to be equalled; schools or colleges he need not build any, his own palace is an academy, and his court a rendezvous of wise and learned men, as well as the centre of all the circulating riches of that part of the world.
1Ki 10:1-13
We have here an account of the visit which the queen of Sheba made to Solomon, no doubt when he was in the height of his piety and prosperity. Our Saviour calls her the queen of the south, for Sheba lay south of Canaan. The common opinion is that it was in Africa; and the Christians in Ethiopia, to this day, are confident that she came from their country, and that Candace was her successor, who is mentioned Acts 8:27. But it is more probable that she came from the south part of Arabia the happy. It should seem she was a queen regent, sovereign of her country. Many a kingdom would have been deprived of its greatest blessings if a Salique law had been admitted into its constitution. Observe,
1Ki 10:14-29
We have here a further account of Solomon's prosperity.
Lastly, Well, thus rich, thus great, was Solomon, and thus did he exceed all the kings of the earth, v. 23. Now let us remember,