1 Kings 10

— great plenty of almug trees.] It is not well ascertained what description of tree is meant by this name. The Latin translators call it thyine wood. Respecting which Theophrastus says, that the thyon or thya tree grows near the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Africa, that it resembles the cypress trees in its boughs, leaves, stalks, and fruit; and that its wood never rots. It was in high esteem among the heathen, who frequently made of this wood the doors of their temples, and the images of their gods. It should be observed, however, that Josephus calls the almug trees of Solomon “pitch or torch trees:” but cautions us against supposing that the wood of them was like what was known in his time by that name; for it was, says he, rather like that of the fig tree, but more white and shining. Parkhurst.

— the king’s merchants received &c.] It is acknowledged by all interpreters that these words, and those which follow in the next verse, are very obscure. Bochart seems to have thrown the greatest light upon them, by taking the Hebrew word, translated linen yarn, to signify the toll or custom which was paid for horses brought out of Egypt. He translates the whole thus: “Horses were brought up to Solomon out of Egypt; and as to the toll or custom, the merchants of king Solomon hired it at a price, (that is, paid constantly a certain sum for it to the king of Egypt;) and a chariot coming out of Egypt went out for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150; and so to all the kings of the Hittites, and for the king of Syria, did they bring by their hands.” The sense of which words is plainly this, that good horses being found in those times in few countries but Egypt, Pharaoh would not suffer them to be carried from thence without a great tribute. Solomon therefore, bringing many thousand horses out of Egypt, prevailed with his father-in-law to free him from this grievous tribute, and to accept a fixed annual sum instead of it. Bp. Patrick. This interpretation of Bochart gives an easy sense to this otherwise very obscure passage. Pyle. Chap. XI. ver. 1. — loved many strange women.] Solomon committed no fault in marrying Pharaoh’s daughter, as she was a proselyte, according to the common opinion, to the Jewish religion. But, in marrying so many other women besides, he committed two sins against the law, the one in multiplying wives, and the other in marrying those of strange nations, who still retained their idolatrous religion. The Jews were permitted to marry wives of other nations, provided they embraced the Jewish religion; but they were most expressly forbidden to marry from the seven Canaanitish nations, even if they did embrace that religion, lest the venom of idolatry might lurk amongst them, and at last break out and infect them. Bp. Patrick. It was the charge of God to the kings of Israel, before they existed, that they should not multiply wives. Solomon had gone beyond the law, and now is ready to lose himself amongst a multiplicity of wives. O Solomon, where was thy wisdom, when thine affections ran away with thee into such wild voluptuousness? What availeth it thee to discourse of all things, when thou knowest not thyself? It is not of so much consequence to take heed, BUT king Solomon loved a many strange women, || together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

— his heart was not perfect with the Lord.] This expression means, not that he neglected to serve the Lord at all, but that he did not serve Him solely and entirely. Jos. Mede.

The meaning is, not that he forsook the true God, (see ver. 6,) but that he joined with His worship the worship of false gods. This no man of common sense could have done, who had so lately acknowledged in his prayer that there was no other God but the Lord, if his mind had not been enervated, and his understanding darkened by sensual pleasures. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 10:2

2.—she communed with him of all &c.] She had the liberty of propounding to him all questions respecting which she desired a solution, probably either in natural or divine things. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 10:3

3. — he had seven hundred wives, &c.] It was matter Solomon’s heart drawn to idolatry. God threateneth him.

mon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

c Judg. 2. 13.

1 Kings 10:4

4. — when Solomon was old.] This great offence of Solomon took place, it is thought, about the thirty-fourth year of his reign, when he was about fifty-four years of age. Dr. Hales.

How many have begun and proceeded well, who, like Solomon, have yet shamed themselves in the last stage. If God uphold us not, we cannot stand; if God uphold us, we cannot fall. When we are at the strongest, it is best to be weak in ourselves; and, when at our weakest, strong in Him, in whom we can do all things. Bp. Hall.

4. — his wives turned away his heart.] Here Solomon himself gives an unhappy example of idolatry in his own person, being seduced to idols by the charms and softnesses of his many heathen women. So fatal an evil is lust to the best understandings, which, whensoever it possesses them, it perfectly besots, and reigns over them with uncontrolled power. Abp. Tenison.

Solomon’s wives, gaining an ascendant over him, might abate his zeal against idolatry, and prevail with him for a publick toleration of their religion; they might obtain money of him for the making of their idols, the support of their priests, and the expense of their sacrifices; nay, and perhaps might sometimes persuade him, in complaisance, to go with them to their worship, or to partake of their lewd and riotous feasts; but that they should ever be able to alter his notions concerning the true God, or prevail with him to believe, that the images they worshipped, were informed with any kind of divinity, is a thing incredible. Stackhouse.

We should seriously consider how lamentably this prince, who had been enriched with so many graces,

Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, d which had appeared unto him twice,

1 Kings 10:5

5.—there was no more spirit in her.] She was transported beyond herself with admiration. Bp. Hall. She was perfectly astonished. This phrase very properly denotes a very high degree of astonishment. Pyle.

1 Kings 10:7

7. — the hill that is before Jerusalem.] The mount of Olives, distant about half a mile from Jerusalem to the east; so close to it, that all the inhabitants of the city could see what he did. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 10:9

9.—to do judgment and justice.] This was a most excellent admonition, both to the people and to the king that the people should feel their obligation to God, who had given them such a king; and that he should remember the end for which God had made him king, to be, to govern his people justly. Bp. Patrick.

9. — which had appeared unto him twice.] It is a sore aggravation of sin, when it is committed after great mercies and deliverances vouchsafed to us, because this is an argument of great ingratitude. God is greatly displeased when we are unthankful to the instruments of our deliverance, but much more, when we are ungrateful to Him, the Author of it. On this account, His anger was the greater against Solomon, for turning away from Him, who had appeared unto him twice. Abp. Tillotson.

1 Kings 10:11

11. And the navy also of Hiram.] There seems reason to conjecture that verse 13 ought to come before these two verses, 11 and 12: that so all that relates to the queen of Sheba may be concluded without any break. Howbigant.

The Phenicians are some of the most early navigators mentioned in history. Every circumstance in their character and situation was favourable to the commercial spirit. The territory which they possessed was neither large nor fertile. It was from commerce only that they could derive either opulence or power. Accordingly the trade carried on by the Phenicians of Sidon and Tyre was extensive and adventurous; not long confined to the countries bordering on the Mediterranean, but enlarged by the early acquisition of ports in the Arabian gulf: and both in their manners and policy they resembled the great commercial states of modern times more than any people in the ancient world. The Jews, by their vicinity to Tyre, had such an opportunity of observing the wealth, which flowed into that city from the lucrative commerce carried on by the Phenicians from their settlements in the Arabian gulf, as incited

Solomon’s gold. The throne of ivory. Before CHRIST about 993. prop. b 2 Chron. 9. 10. according to the hand of king Solomon. captains. in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.

11. — I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, &c.] How is the great and wise Solomon fallen! How should all men, and especially men of light and knowledge above others, take warning by this example, lest they also fall when they think they stand! Bp. Wilson.

d Chap. 3. 5. & 9. 2. e Chap. 6. 12. f Chap. 12. 15.

1 Kings 10:12

12. — pillars for the house of the Lord.] Or rather, “rails,” (as we translate in the margin of our Bible,) which were made on either side of the causeway, which went up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord. Bp. Patrick.

1 Kings 10:13

13. — all her desire, whatsoever she asked.] That the queen of Sheba should have asked for presents may appear strange at first sight; but the circumstance is perfectly agreeable to modern Eastern customs, which are derived, it is probable, from remote antiquity. Irwin and many other travellers have related, that principal persons in those countries not only expect presents, but will often, directly and without ceremony, ask for any thing which happens to please them; expecting that their request should be immediately complied with; and this practice is by no means held to be degrading, or a mark of rapacious meanness. Harmer.

1 Kings 10:14

14. Now the weight of gold &c.] It has pleased God, in these instances of Solomon’s greatness, honour, and riches, to convey to us the most sensible instruction; to point out the danger of riches, to shew how apt they are to become temptations to luxury and pride, how naturally they lead men to forget and forsake their God; and, in consequence, to teach us that they must ever be

1 Kings 10:18

18. — made a great throne of ivory.] We never read of ivory till about the time of Solomon, who perhaps brought elephants from India, or, at least, caused great quantities of ivory to be imported from thence. At this time it was as precious as gold: we must not suppose, therefore, that this throne of Solomon’s was entirely overlaid with gold, but only in particular places, that so the mixture of gold and ivory, which gave a lustre to each other, might make the throne look more beautiful. “There was not the like made in any kingdom,” ver. 20; of course, the sacred writer means, in those days. In afterages we read that the throne of the Parthian kings was of gold encompassed with four golden pillars beset with precious stones, and that the Persian kings sat in judgment under a golden vine, the bunches of whose grapes were made of several sorts of precious stones. This serves to illustrate the splendour of Eastern monarchs. Stackhouse, Bp. Patrick. — and overlaid it with the best gold.] It is by no means probable that he covered the ivory with gold; for in that case any common wood would have answered the purpose as well as ivory. It seems to be meant, that he inlaid it with gold, ornamenting and embossing parts of it; but not so as to conceal the whole. Script. illustr.

1 Kings 10:20

20. And twelve lions stood] An account is given by Sir Thomas Roe of a throne of the Mogul, much resembling this of Solomon: “He hath at Agra a most glorious throne within his palace, the ascent of which is by divers steps, covered with plates of silver; on the top of the ascent stand four lions upon pedestals of marble, which lions are all of massy silver, in part gilt. These lions support a canopy of fine gold, under which the Mogul sits when he appears in his greatest state and glory.” Fragments to Calmet.

1 Kings 10:21

21. — Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold.] The magnificence of the modern kings of Persia is astonishing, but perhaps not exceeding that of Solomon. One Of them, Shah Abbas, caused gold to the amount of Before CHRIST about 993. c Chap. 7. 2. on the kinder part thereof. hands. Solomon’s vessels. His chariots and horsemen Before CHRIST about 992. § Or, there was no silver in them. § Or, sleptants’ teeth. the face of. of Lebanon were of pure gold; ||none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

1 Kings 10:22

22. — a navy of Tharshish] In regard to the situation of Tharshish, we are here told that “the navy of Tharshish came once in three years, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, &c.” therefore any place in the Southern or great Indian ocean, at the distance of three years’ voyage from Ezion-gaber, according to the navigation of those times, which could best furnish the merchants with these commodities, may be guessed to be the Tharshish of the Holy Scriptures. Dean Prideaux. By the circumstance of the navy of Tharshish being here mentioned as joined with the navy of Hiram, (from Tyre,) and by the fact of Jonah’s taking ship at Joppa, to go to Tharshish, many conclude that Tharshish was in the Mediterranean, or, at least, in the Atlantic, sea. They that hold this opinion, suppose that either Carthage, or else Tartessus in Spain, was the old Tharshish. From Tartessus the merchants might fetch gold and silver, (for some hills and some rivers in Spain did, in those early times, produce gold,) and from Carthage the ivory, apes, and peacocks; and this trading from port to port might, in those times, make a three years’ voyage. But there are other passages, as chap. xxii. 4d, and 2 Chron. xx. 36, from which it would seem that Tharshish is spoken of in the Indian sea. Dr. Wall. — peacocks.] Some have rather understood the Hebrew word to mean “parrots.” Buctorf.

1 Kings 10:26

26. — chariots and horsemen.] It appears evident that, in David’s time, horses were not used in Israel; for Absalom, when he had lost the battle, fled upon a mule, to make his escape; and David ordered his own mule to carry Solomon to be anointed. It seems that the country did not produce horses; but Solomon, being able to afford large expenses, procured them from Egypt, and maintained, as is here mentioned, a great number of chariots and horsemen. Bp. Patrick. See notes at ver. 28, and chap. iv. 26.

1 Kings 10:27

27. — made silver to be — as stones.] To be as common as pebbles. Bp. Patrick. — to be as the sycomore trees] By the sycomore is here meant a tree called the Egyptian fig; its name denotes it to partake of the nature of the fig tree and the mulberry tree. It resembles the mulberry tree in its leaves, and the fig tree in its fruit. Its fruit resembles the fig in shape and size, and its taste is pretty much that of the wild fig. These sycomores were very common in Egypt, also in Judea; we read, Luke xix. 4, that Zaccheus climbed up into a sycomore tree, to see Jesus as He passed by. Sycomore trees appear to have furnished the more ordinary timber, as cedars did the most precious. See Isai. ix. 10. Calmet.

1 Kings 10:28

28. And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt.] See Deut. xvii. 16, and the note there. It is very much to be remarked, that, from the coming out of Egypt to the end of David’s reign, the people of Israel never suffered for want of force and strength in war. Troops, few in number, and seemingly unfit for action, supported neither by chariots nor by horsemen, proved an overmatch for royal armies. This may be verified in the instances of Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and of all others called forth by God to save His people. During this period also the kingdom of Israel was carried to its utmost height by David. He held the kings about him, how gallantly soever they and their troops were mounted, under tribute and subjection, though he himself rode on a mule, and provided no better equipage for his son on his coronation day; see chap. i. 33, 34. When David looked back and meditated on this state of things, he might well say, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God,” Psal. xx. 7. In the reign of Solomon things quickly changed. He married the daughter of the king of Egypt, and opened a commerce between that country and his own: and the next news we hear of him is, that he “had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen,” chap. iv. 26. They who succeeded him followed his example; and from this time the kings of Judah and Israel had, whenever they were able to keep them, a strength of chariots and horsemen. Let us now see what they got by this change: Solomon came to a kingdom firmly established, the princes round about him were tributary to him, and those at a distance feared and admired him: but troubles soon overtook him; the Edomite on one side, the king of Damascus on the other, insulted him: nor was he able with all his new forces to quell these upstart enemies. But the most remarkable event, and that which seems designed by Providence to humble the pride of Israel, was the division of the kingdom upon the death of Solomon, which produced a war of many years’ continuance between Israel and Judah, wherein their forces were employed, with various success, in weakening and destroying one another. During this time the king of Egypt, the country which had furnished Solomon with all his horses, came up against Jerusalem, and took it, and carried away all the treasures of the temple, and of the royal palace, which had been long gathering by David and Solomon: and Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, became servant to the king of Egypt, 2 Chron. xii. 8, 9. Thus did Solomon and his house prosper with their great strength of cha- Solomon’s wives and concubines. Before CHRIST about 992. the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price.