Solomon's Riches and Fame

14 Solomon received twenty-five tons of gold in tribute annually. 15 This was above and beyond the taxes and profit on trade with merchants and assorted kings and governors. 16 King Solomon crafted two hundred body-length shields of hammered gold - seven and a half pounds of gold to each shield 17 - and three hundred smaller shields about half that size. He stored the shields in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. 18 The king built a massive throne of ivory accented with a veneer of gold. 19 The throne had six steps leading up to it, its back shaped like an arch. The armrests on each side were flanked by lions. 20 Lions, twelve of them, were placed at either end of the six steps. There was no throne like it in any of the surrounding kingdoms. 21 King Solomon's chalices and tankards were made of gold and all the dinnerware and serving utensils in the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold - nothing was made of silver; silver was considered common and cheap. 22 The king had a fleet of ocean-going ships at sea with Hiram's ships. Every three years the fleet would bring in a cargo of gold, silver, and ivory, and apes and peacocks. 23 King Solomon was wiser and richer than all the kings of the earth - he surpassed them all. 24 People came from all over the world to be with Solomon and drink in the wisdom God had given him. 25 And everyone who came brought gifts - artifacts of gold and silver, fashionable robes and gowns, the latest in weapons, exotic spices, and horses and mules - parades of visitors, year after year.

Solomon's Trade in Horses and Chariots

26 Solomon collected chariots and horses: fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses! He stabled them in the special chariot cities as well as in Jerusalem. 27 The king made silver as common as rocks and cedar as common as the fig trees in the lowland hills. 28 His horses were brought in from Egypt and Cilicia, specially acquired by the king's agents. 29 Chariots from Egypt went for fifteen pounds of silver and a horse for about three and three-quarter pounds of silver. Solomon carried on a brisk horse-trading business with the Hittite and Aramean royal houses.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 10:14-29

Commentary on 1 Kings 10:14-29

(Read 1 Kings 10:14-29)

Solomon increased his wealth. Silver was nothing accounted of. Such is the nature of worldly wealth, plenty of it makes it the less valuable; much more should the enjoyment of spiritual riches lessen our esteem of all earthly possessions. If gold in abundance makes silver to be despised, shall not wisdom, and grace, and the foretastes of heaven, which are far better than gold, make gold to be lightly esteemed? See in Solomon's greatness the performance of God's promise, and let it encourage us to seek first the righteousness of God's kingdom. This was he, who, having tasted all earthly enjoyments, wrote a book, to show the vanity of all worldly things, the vexation of spirit that attends them, and the folly of setting our hearts upon them: and to recommend serious godliness, as that which will do unspeakably more to make us happy, that all the wealth and power he was master of; and, through the grace of God, it is within our reach.