1Ki 10 | MHM | STEP | Visit of the Queen of Sheba. This section tells the story of the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon when he was at the height of his wisdom and success. She came from the south—probably from the southern part of Arabia, though some believe it was Ethiopia. The Queen was a ruler in her own right, showing that God’s blessings can come to any nation, regardless of who leads it. Her visit was not for trade or politics, but to test Solomon’s wisdom and to learn about the Lord , whose name she had heard. v. 1 : The Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s wisdom and the fame of his God. She wanted to see if what she heard was true, so she came to test Solomon with hard questions . She also wanted to learn from him, especially about the things of God. Jesus later spoke of her as the "queen of the south" who wanted to know about God (Matthew 12:42 ).

‏ 1 Kings 10

Visit of the Queen of Sheba.

This section tells the story of the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon when he was at the height of his wisdom and success. She came from the south—probably from the southern part of Arabia, though some believe it was Ethiopia. The Queen was a ruler in her own right, showing that God’s blessings can come to any nation, regardless of who leads it. Her visit was not for trade or politics, but to test Solomon’s wisdom and to learn about the Lord, whose name she had heard.

v. 1: The Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s wisdom and the fame of his God. She wanted to see if what she heard was true, so she came to test Solomon with hard questions . She also wanted to learn from him, especially about the things of God. Jesus later spoke of her as the "queen of the south" who wanted to know about God (Matthew 12:42 ^a).

v. 2: The Queen arrived with a grand group of servants and valuable gifts, including gold, spices, and precious stones . She came prepared to reward Solomon for his time and to show respect. She was not coming as a beggar but as an equal, seeking wisdom at any cost.

v. 3: Solomon welcomed her warmly and answered all her questions, no matter how difficult they were . He did not criticize her for asking or for making such a long journey. Solomon shared his knowledge about all subjects, but especially about God and worship in the temple. He was glad to help someone truly seeking wisdom and truth (1 Kings 8:42 ^b).

v. 4-5: The Queen was amazed by everything she saw in Solomon’s court: his buildings, the food on his table, the way his officials served, and their beautiful clothing. She was most impressed by Solomon’s wisdom and his devotion to God when he went up to the house of the Lord. She saw that Solomon’s greatness was not just in riches, but in his piety and humble worship. She was so surprised that she could hardly speak.

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v. 6-7: The Queen admitted that what she had heard about Solomon was less than the truth. She said, "The half was not told me"(1 Kings 10:6-7 ^c). She was glad she made the journey and saw for herself. This shows that sometimes, the real experience is even greater than what we hear from others. The same is true about knowing God—when we experience His goodness, we find it is even better than we imagined (1 Corinthians 2:9 ^d).

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v. 8: She praised Solomon’s servants, calling them happy for being able to listen to his wisdom every day . She wished she could be one of them. It is a great blessing to be close to wise and good people. In the same way, those who serve Jesus are truly blessed (Blessed are those that dwell in his house, Psalm 84:4 ^e).

v. 9: The Queen blessed the Lord, who gave Solomon his wisdom and made him king. She knew that God’s love for Israel was the reason for Solomon’s success. She reminded Solomon that God made him king not just for his own pleasure, but to do justice and help his people. True leaders should focus on serving others, not just enjoying their position (2 Samuel 12:25; Jeremiah 22:15 ^f).

v. 10-12: The Queen gave Solomon a great gift of gold, spices, and precious stones (1 Kings 10:10 ^g). This fulfilled what was written: "To him shall be given of the gold of Sheba"(Psalm 72:15 ^h). The spices she brought were more than anyone had ever given before. The ships also brought special wood and gems, which Solomon used to make beautiful things for the temple and the palace (1 Kings 10:11-12 ⁱ). The Queen’s giving teaches us to give our best to God.

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v. 13: Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba everything she asked for and much more, showing his generosity and kindness . He may have given her advice, gifts, or even written teachings. This reminds us that Jesus, who is greater than Solomon, will always give more to those who seek Him—more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20 ^j).

Solomon's Wealth.

This section describes how Solomon became extremely rich and powerful. His wealth came from many sources, including trade, taxes, gifts, and wise business deals. Solomon used his riches to make beautiful things, to benefit his people, and to show his greatness. However, he later wrote that all this wealth cannot truly satisfy the soul, and that wisdom and knowing God are far more valuable.

v. 14: Every year, Solomon received 666 talents of gold from different sources . This huge amount came not only from Ophir (1 Kings 9:28 ^k), but also from other places. The number 666 is mentioned elsewhere in the Bible as well (Revelation 13:18; Ezra 2:13 ^l).

v. 15: Solomon also gained wealth through taxes from traders, merchants, and from the nations his father David had conquered. These countries now paid tribute to Solomon .

v. 16-17: With his gold, Solomon made 200 large shields and 300 smaller shields of beaten gold. These were not for battle, but for display during ceremonies, showing his power and wealth (1 Kings 10:16-17 ^m). Kings often showed their authority with symbols like these. The shields reminded everyone that Solomon’s rule was strong and protective.

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v. 18-20: Solomon made a grand throne of ivory covered with gold. The throne had six steps, and twelve golden lions stood beside the steps and at the sides of the throne. This showed his courage and reminded him to judge boldly, like a lion (1 Kings 10:18-20 ⁿ).

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v. 21: All Solomon’s drinking cups and dishes were made of pure gold. Even the items in his palace in the forest of Lebanon were gold. Silver was not considered valuable in Solomon’s days because there was so much gold .

v. 22: Solomon’s trading ships sailed with Hiram’s fleet. Every three years, they brought back gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks . These goods made Solomon’s court even richer and more impressive.

v. 23-24: Solomon became richer and wiser than all the other kings on earth. People from every nation came to hear his wisdom and brought him gifts every year—silver, gold, clothes, spices, horses, and mules (1 Kings 10:23-24 ^o).

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v. 25: The rulers and visitors who came to see Solomon gave him gifts as a sign of respect and to thank him for his advice and wisdom .

v. 26-29: Solomon gathered many chariots and horses. He traded horses and chariots with Egypt and other countries. Because he had married Pharaoh’s daughter, he could get these goods at lower prices, giving him the advantage in trade (1 Kings 10:26-29 ^p). This shows Solomon was not only wise in spiritual things but also skilled in business. In all labor there is profit.

Solomon did not keep all his wealth for himself. He used it to make his kingdom rich and strong. Silver became as common as stones in Jerusalem, and rare trees like cedar became as common as local trees (1 Kings 10:27 ^q). Even though Solomon was very rich, he later wrote in Ecclesiastes that wealth does not bring true happiness (Ecclesiastes 5:19 ^r). After experiencing all this, he taught that wisdom and a relationship with God are worth much more than gold (Proverbs 3:14 ^s), and that we should seek God’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33 ^t).