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1 Kings 10
1When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the LORD’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.
2She came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.
3Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from the which he didn’t tell her.
4When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
5the food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the LORD’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
6She said to the , “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
7However, I didn’t the words until I came and my eyes had seen it. Behold, not even half was told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
8Happy are your men, happy are these your servants who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.
9Blessed is the LORD your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the of Israel. Because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and .”
10She gave the one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was there such an abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought in from Ophir great quantities of almug trees and precious stones.
12The made of the almug trees pillars for the LORD’s house and for the king’s house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers; no such almug trees came or were seen to this day.
13 Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her , whatever she asked, in addition to that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
15in addition to that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.
16 Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler.
17He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went to one shield; and the put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
18Moreover the made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.
19There were six steps to the , and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were armrests on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.
20Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.
21All 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, because it was considered of little value in the days of Solomon.
22For the had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
23So Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
24All the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.
25Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.
26Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen. He kept them in the chariot cities and with the at Jerusalem.
27The made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.
28The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The ’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
29A chariot was imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty shekels; and so they exported them to all the of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.
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Questions this passage answers
Does God provide for my needs?
Scripture says yes, and it is careful about the word need. God promises to supply what his people need, often daily rather than in advance, and he does not promise surplus, comfort or the removal of hard seasons. Paul, who wrote that God will supply every need, also wrote that he had learned to be hungry.
What does the Bible say about fear?
Scripture never tells a frightened person that fear is imaginary. It says do not be afraid hundreds of times, and almost always attaches a reason rather than a technique: I am with you, I have redeemed you, you are of more value than sparrows. It also distinguishes the fear that must go from the fear of the Lord, which is commanded and which shrinks every smaller fear.
What does the Bible say about anxiety?
Scripture treats anxiety with far more tenderness than most Christians expect. It names it honestly, traces it to a divided and overloaded heart, and answers it with the character of God rather than with willpower. The command not to be anxious always comes attached to a reason and to an action, never as a bare demand to feel differently.
What does the Bible say about loneliness?
Scripture treats loneliness as a real ache rather than a spiritual failure. It says the first thing God called not good was a man being alone, that many of his most faithful servants were profoundly lonely, that his own presence is promised and sufficient, and that he ordinarily answers isolation by placing people in families and congregations rather than by removing the need.