1 Kings 10 Study Notes: The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon
The queen of Sheba travels to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions, finds his wisdom and court beyond all she had heard, and praises the LORD for making him king. The chapter then describes Solomon's vast gold, ivory throne, trade, chariots and horses.
General
Whom in Solomon’s court did Sheba’s queen call blessed, and why (1 Kings 10:8)?
Answer: His servants, who were always near him listening to his wisdom
After seeing Solomon’s court, the queen declared his men happy, especially the servants who were always in his presence, because they got to listen to his wisdom every day (10:8). To her, simply being close enough to take in the wisdom God had given the king was a great privilege. Proverbs speaks the same kind of blessing over the person who listens to wisdom and waits at its doors day after day (Proverbs 8:34). Jesus later called His own disciples blessed because they saw and heard what prophets and kings of earlier times had wanted to see and hear but could not (Luke 10:23-24).
- 1 Kings 10:8 (BSB)“How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!”The queen calls Solomon’s men and servants blessed because they hear his wisdom.
- Proverbs 8:34 (BSB)“Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.”Wisdom pronounces a blessing on the one who listens to her and waits daily at her doors.
- Luke 10:23-24 (BSB)“Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.””Jesus calls His disciples blessed for seeing and hearing what prophets and kings longed to see and hear.
Theological
On whom does Sheba’s queen pronounce a blessing in 1 Kings 10:8, and on what ground?
Answer: His servants, who were always near him listening to his wisdom
The queen pronounces Solomon’s men and servants blessed because they stand in his presence day by day and hear his wisdom (10:8). Constant access to God-given wisdom is itself counted a privilege, echoing the beatitude Wisdom speaks over the one who listens and watches daily at her doors (Proverbs 8:34). Jesus pronounces a greater blessing on His disciples, who see and hear what prophets and kings longed for (Luke 10:23-24).
- 1 Kings 10:8 (BSB)“How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!”The queen calls Solomon’s men and servants blessed because they hear his wisdom.
- Proverbs 8:34 (BSB)“Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.”Wisdom pronounces a blessing on the one who listens to her and waits daily at her doors.
- Luke 10:23-24 (BSB)“Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.””Jesus calls His disciples blessed for seeing and hearing what prophets and kings longed to see and hear.
General
After seeing Solomon’s wisdom and kingdom, what did Sheba’s queen say about the report she had heard (1 Kings 10:6-7)?
Answer: It was true, and the reality was far greater than the report
The queen saw Solomon’s wisdom, his palace, his table, his servants and attendants, and the offerings he made at the temple, and she was overwhelmed (10:4-5). She told Solomon that what she had heard at home was true, that she had not believed it until she saw it herself, and that she had not been told even half; his wisdom and prosperity went beyond the report (10:6-7). This is God’s promise of wisdom, riches and honor visibly fulfilled (3:13; 4:30).
- 1 Kings 10:6-7 (BSB)“She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told to me. Your wisdom and prosperity have far exceeded the report I heard.”The queen says the report she heard was true and fell short of the reality.
- 1 Kings 3:13 (BSB)“Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.”God had promised Solomon riches and honor beyond those of any other king.
- 1 Kings 4:30 (BSB)“Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.”Solomon’s wisdom exceeded that of the East and of Egypt.
Theological
How does Sheba’s queen evaluate the report she had heard about Solomon (1 Kings 10:6-7)?
Answer: It was true, and the reality was far greater than the report
Having observed Solomon’s wisdom, court and temple offerings (10:4-5), the queen confesses that the report was true, that her disbelief has been overturned by sight, and that not even half had been told her (10:6-7). The scene shows the visible fulfillment of God’s promise of wisdom together with riches and honor (3:13; 4:30).
- 1 Kings 10:6-7 (BSB)“She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told to me. Your wisdom and prosperity have far exceeded the report I heard.”The queen says the report she heard was true and fell short of the reality.
- 1 Kings 3:13 (BSB)“Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.”God had promised Solomon riches and honor beyond those of any other king.
- 1 Kings 4:30 (BSB)“Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.”Solomon’s wisdom exceeded that of the East and of Egypt.
General
Which part of the law for Israel’s king (Deuteronomy 17:16-17) does the account of Solomon’s horses and wealth bring to mind (1 Kings 10:26-28)?
Answer: The king was not to multiply horses, get them from Egypt, or hoard gold
Solomon gathered a great force of chariots and horses, imported his horses from Egypt and from Kue, and made silver as ordinary as rocks (10:26-28). Moses’ law for a future king had said he must not collect many horses or make the people return to Egypt for them, must not gather many wives, and must not pile up silver and gold for himself (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). The details of horses, imports from Egypt, and heaped-up silver and gold match the very things that law named. The next chapter shows where the related warning about many wives led (11:3-4).
- 1 Kings 10:26 (BSB)“Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.”Solomon gathers a large force of chariots and horses.
- 1 Kings 10:28 (BSB)“Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue.”Solomon’s horses are brought from Egypt and Kue.
- Deuteronomy 17:16 (BSB)“But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’”The law warned Israel’s king not to gather many horses or send people back to Egypt for them.
- Deuteronomy 17:17 (BSB)“He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.”The same law warned the king against many wives and great amounts of silver and gold.
Theological
Which royal law do the details of 1 Kings 10:26-28 echo?
Answer: The king was not to multiply horses, get them from Egypt, or hoard gold
The account records Solomon’s chariots and horses, his imports from Egypt and from Kue, and silver made as common as stones (10:26-28), the very items listed in the Mosaic law of the king: no multiplying of horses, no return to Egypt for more, no multiplying of wives, and no hoarding of wealth (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). Chapter 11 then shows the consequence of the clause about wives (11:3-4).
- 1 Kings 10:26 (BSB)“Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.”Solomon gathers a large force of chariots and horses.
- 1 Kings 10:28 (BSB)“Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue.”Solomon’s horses are brought from Egypt and Kue.
- Deuteronomy 17:16 (BSB)“But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’”The law warned Israel’s king not to gather many horses or send people back to Egypt for them.
- Deuteronomy 17:17 (BSB)“He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray. He must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.”The same law warned the king against many wives and great amounts of silver and gold.
General
True or False: Some of the queen of Sheba’s questions were too difficult for Solomon to answer (1 Kings 10:3).
Answer: False
This is false. The queen laid out everything she had in mind, and Solomon dealt with all of it; no question was beyond his ability to explain (10:2-3). This shows God keeping His promise at Gibeon to give Solomon a heart of wisdom and discernment unlike anyone else’s (3:12). The wisdom on display was a gift from the LORD, the source of all knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6).
- 1 Kings 10:3 (BSB)“And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain.”Solomon answers every question the queen puts to him.
- 1 Kings 3:12 (BSB)“behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.”God had promised Solomon a wise and discerning heart beyond any other.
- Proverbs 2:6 (BSB)“For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”Wisdom and understanding come from the LORD.
Theological
True or False: According to 1 Kings 10:3, Sheba’s queen posed at least one question that Solomon could not answer.
Answer: False
This is false. Solomon answered every one of her questions, and none was too hard for him to explain (10:3). His answers display the fulfillment of God’s Gibeon promise of an unrivaled discerning heart (3:12); the wisdom is the LORD’s gift (Proverbs 2:6).
- 1 Kings 10:3 (BSB)“And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain.”Solomon answers every question the queen puts to him.
- 1 Kings 3:12 (BSB)“behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.”God had promised Solomon a wise and discerning heart beyond any other.
- Proverbs 2:6 (BSB)“For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”Wisdom and understanding come from the LORD.
General
How does Jesus use the visit of Sheba’s queen in Matthew 12:42?
Answer: She will condemn His hearers, for Someone greater than Solomon has come
Jesus calls her the queen from the south and says she will stand up on judgment day and condemn His generation (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31). She journeyed from the far edges of the world to listen to Solomon (10:1; Matthew 12:42), yet many who stood in front of Jesus refused to listen to Him, though He is greater than Solomon. Jesus is the very wisdom of God; every treasure of wisdom and of knowledge is hidden in Him (Colossians 2:3). The queen’s eager journey is a rebuke to anyone who hears Christ and turns away.
- 1 Kings 10:1 (BSB)“Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.”The queen comes from far away to test Solomon.
- Matthew 12:42 (BSB)“The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.”Jesus says the Queen of the South will condemn His generation, because One greater than Solomon is here.
- Luke 11:31 (BSB)“The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.”Luke records the same saying of Jesus.
- Colossians 2:3 (BSB)“in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ.
Theological
What point does Jesus draw from Sheba’s queen in Matthew 12:42?
Answer: She will condemn His hearers, for Someone greater than Solomon has come
Jesus says the southern queen will stand up in the judgment and condemn His generation, since she traveled from the remotest lands to hear Solomon, while Someone greater than Solomon now stands among them (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31; 10:1). Christ surpasses Solomon as the one in whom every treasure of wisdom and of knowledge lies hidden (Colossians 2:3); a Gentile queen’s zeal for lesser wisdom indicts those who reject the greater.
- 1 Kings 10:1 (BSB)“Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.”The queen comes from far away to test Solomon.
- Matthew 12:42 (BSB)“The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.”Jesus says the Queen of the South will condemn His generation, because One greater than Solomon is here.
- Luke 11:31 (BSB)“The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.”Luke records the same saying of Jesus.
- Colossians 2:3 (BSB)“in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ.
General
According to Sheba’s queen, why had the LORD made Solomon king (1 Kings 10:9)?
Answer: Because of His lasting love for Israel, to do justice and righteousness
The queen does not only praise Solomon; she blesses the LORD his God, who took delight in Solomon and placed him on Israel’s throne (10:9). She says the LORD did this because of His everlasting love for Israel, and that Solomon was made king to do justice and righteousness. The king was given for the good of the people, and the reason lay in God’s love, just as Israel’s own choosing rested on God’s love rather than its greatness (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). This matches the psalm’s prayer for a king who judges rightly (Psalm 72:1-2) and the earlier sign that God had given Solomon wisdom for justice (3:28).
- 1 Kings 10:9 (BSB)“Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness.””The queen praises the LORD for setting Solomon on the throne.
- Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (BSB)“The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”The LORD’s choice of Israel rested on His own love, not on Israel’s greatness.
- Psalm 72:1-2 (BSB)“Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.”The psalm asks God to give the king His justice so he will judge the people rightly.
- 1 Kings 3:28 (BSB)“When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”Israel had seen that Solomon had God’s wisdom to administer justice.
Theological
What reason does Sheba’s queen give for the LORD’s placing Solomon on Israel’s throne (1 Kings 10:9)?
Answer: Because of His lasting love for Israel, to do justice and righteousness
The queen blesses the LORD, who delighted in Solomon and enthroned him, grounding it in His everlasting love for Israel and naming the purpose of kingship as the doing of justice and righteousness (10:9). Solomon’s enthronement, like Israel’s own election, is traced to God’s love rather than to merit (Deuteronomy 7:7-8), and the king’s calling is to administer God’s justice (Psalm 72:1-2; 3:28).
- 1 Kings 10:9 (BSB)“Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness.””The queen praises the LORD for setting Solomon on the throne.
- Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (BSB)“The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”The LORD’s choice of Israel rested on His own love, not on Israel’s greatness.
- Psalm 72:1-2 (BSB)“Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.”The psalm asks God to give the king His justice so he will judge the people rightly.
- 1 Kings 3:28 (BSB)“When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”Israel had seen that Solomon had God’s wisdom to administer justice.
General
What does the account of Solomon’s wealth say about silver in his days (1 Kings 10:21, 27)?
Answer: It was so plentiful it was treated as nothing, as common as stones
Gold was so abundant in Solomon’s court that his drinking cups and the vessels of his palace were gold, and silver was considered of no value in his day (10:21). Under the king, silver became as ordinary in Jerusalem as rocks, and cedar as plentiful as the sycamore trees of the lowlands (10:27). The picture is of overflowing wealth, the riches God promised at Gibeon (3:13). Jesus later spoke of Solomon’s glory as the measure of human splendor (Matthew 6:29).
- 1 Kings 10:21 (BSB)“All King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.”Silver is considered worthless in Solomon’s day.
- 1 Kings 10:27 (BSB)“The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.”Silver becomes as common as stones in Jerusalem.
- Matthew 6:29 (BSB)“Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.”Jesus refers to Solomon’s glory as the height of human splendor.
- 1 Kings 3:13 (BSB)“Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.”God had promised Solomon riches beyond any king of his time.
Theological
How does 1 Kings 10:21 and 27 describe the status of silver in Solomon’s reign?
Answer: It was so plentiful it was treated as nothing, as common as stones
So great was the gold in Solomon’s court that silver was reckoned as nothing (10:21), and the king made it as ordinary in the capital as rocks, with cedar as plentiful as lowland sycamores (10:27). This is the overflowing wealth promised at Gibeon (3:13); Jesus uses Solomon’s glory as the benchmark of human splendor (Matthew 6:29).
- 1 Kings 10:21 (BSB)“All King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.”Silver is considered worthless in Solomon’s day.
- 1 Kings 10:27 (BSB)“The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.”Silver becomes as common as stones in Jerusalem.
- Matthew 6:29 (BSB)“Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.”Jesus refers to Solomon’s glory as the height of human splendor.
- 1 Kings 3:13 (BSB)“Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.”God had promised Solomon riches beyond any king of his time.
General
True or False: Before Sheba’s queen went home, Solomon gave her everything she asked for, in addition to gifts from his own generosity (1 Kings 10:13).
Answer: True
This is true. The queen had presented Solomon with gold, abundant spices and gems (10:10). In return Solomon gave her whatever she wanted and asked for, on top of what he gave her from his own royal generosity, and then she went back to her own land with her servants (10:13). The exchange displays the riches and honor God had freely given Solomon (3:13), and it calls to mind the royal psalm’s prayer that rulers from Sheba would bring gifts to Israel’s king (Psalm 72:10).
- 1 Kings 10:10 (BSB)“Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again were spices in such abundance brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.”The queen gives Solomon gold, spices and precious stones.
- 1 Kings 10:13 (BSB)“King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.”Solomon gives the queen whatever she asks before she returns home.
- 1 Kings 3:13 (BSB)“Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.”God had given Solomon riches and honor he had not asked for.
- Psalm 72:10 (BSB)“May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.”The royal psalm pictures the kings of Sheba bringing gifts to Israel’s king.
Theological
True or False: According to 1 Kings 10:13, Solomon granted Sheba’s queen all she requested, beyond what he gave her from his royal bounty.
Answer: True
This is true. After her own gifts of gold, spices and jewels (10:10), the queen received from Solomon all she desired, in addition to his royal gifts, before returning home (10:13). The exchange displays the wealth and honor God had added to Solomon’s wisdom (3:13) and recalls the royal psalm’s hope of gifts from Sheba’s kings (Psalm 72:10).
- 1 Kings 10:10 (BSB)“Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again were spices in such abundance brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.”The queen gives Solomon gold, spices and precious stones.
- 1 Kings 10:13 (BSB)“King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.”Solomon gives the queen whatever she asks before she returns home.
- 1 Kings 3:13 (BSB)“Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.”God had given Solomon riches and honor he had not asked for.
- Psalm 72:10 (BSB)“May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.”The royal psalm pictures the kings of Sheba bringing gifts to Israel’s king.
General
What brought Sheba’s queen to Jerusalem (1 Kings 10:1)?
Answer: News of Solomon’s fame tied to the LORD’s name, so she set out to test him
Sheba’s queen learned of Solomon’s reputation, a fame the text links to the LORD’s name, and she traveled to Jerusalem to put him to the test with hard questions (10:1). Her visit is one example of what the previous chapters described: people from all nations coming to listen to the wisdom God had given Solomon (4:34). It also echoes Solomon’s prayer at the temple for foreigners who would come from distant lands because they had heard of God’s great name (8:41-42).
- 1 Kings 10:1 (BSB)“Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.”The queen of Sheba hears of Solomon’s fame and comes to test him.
- 1 Kings 4:34 (BSB)“So men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.”People from every nation were already coming to hear Solomon’s wisdom.
- 1 Kings 8:41-42 (BSB)“And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name— for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple,”Solomon had prayed for foreigners who would come from far away because they heard of God’s great name.
Theological
According to 1 Kings 10:1, what prompted the queen of Sheba’s visit?
Answer: News of Solomon’s fame tied to the LORD’s name, so she set out to test him
The queen heard of Solomon’s fame, which the text connects with the LORD’s name, and came to prove him with hard questions (10:1). Her visit exemplifies the international reach of God-given wisdom described in 4:34 and echoes Solomon’s dedication prayer for foreigners drawn from afar by the renown of God’s name (8:41-42).
- 1 Kings 10:1 (BSB)“Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.”The queen of Sheba hears of Solomon’s fame and comes to test him.
- 1 Kings 4:34 (BSB)“So men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.”People from every nation were already coming to hear Solomon’s wisdom.
- 1 Kings 8:41-42 (BSB)“And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name— for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple,”Solomon had prayed for foreigners who would come from far away because they heard of God’s great name.
General
According to 1 Kings 10:24, where did Solomon’s wisdom come from?
Answer: God had put it in his heart
Solomon outshone every king on earth in wealth and wisdom, and people from all over the world wanted an audience with him (10:23-24). The text is clear that the wisdom they came to hear was the wisdom God had placed in his heart (10:24), and visitors came with gifts every year (10:25). This is the fulfillment of what God promised at Gibeon, where He gave Solomon a wise heart and added riches he had not asked for (3:12-13). Wisdom is God’s gift, and He still gives it generously to those who ask Him (James 1:5).
- 1 Kings 10:23-25 (BSB)“So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.”The whole world seeks to hear Solomon’s God-given wisdom, and visitors bring tribute year after year.
- 1 Kings 3:12-13 (BSB)“behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.”At Gibeon God promised Solomon both wisdom and riches beyond any other king.
- James 1:5 (BSB)“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”God gives wisdom generously to those who ask Him.
Theological
What does 1 Kings 10:24 identify as the source of the wisdom the world came to hear?
Answer: God had put it in his heart
The narrator ascribes Solomon’s preeminence in wealth and wisdom to God, who put wisdom in his heart (10:23-24), drawing yearly tribute from visitors (10:25). This is the Gibeon promise fulfilled (3:12-13): wisdom granted by God, with riches added unasked. God remains the generous giver of wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5).
- 1 Kings 10:23-25 (BSB)“So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.”The whole world seeks to hear Solomon’s God-given wisdom, and visitors bring tribute year after year.
- 1 Kings 3:12-13 (BSB)“behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.”At Gibeon God promised Solomon both wisdom and riches beyond any other king.
- James 1:5 (BSB)“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”God gives wisdom generously to those who ask Him.