20 Twelve e lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other ; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom . 21 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 was of silver ; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon . 22 For the king had at sea the ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram ; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver , ivory and apes and peacocks . 23 So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom . 24 All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon , to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart . 25 They brought every man his gift , articles of silver and gold , garments , weapons , spices , horses , and mules , so much year by year .
26 Now Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen ; and he had 1,400 e e chariots and 12,000 e e horsemen , and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem . 27 The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem , and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland . 28 Also Solomon's import of horses was from Egypt and Kue , and the king's merchants procured them from Kue for a price . 29 A chariot was imported e from Egypt for 600 e shekels of silver , and a horse for 150 e ; and by the same means e they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of the Arameans .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 10:20-38
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.