1 Kings — Chapter 10

📖 1 Kings — Chapter 10 (KJV)

Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.

Go to the study guide ↓

Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

1 Kings 10:1 ^RAnd when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

2 Chr 9:1-12; Matt 12:42

1 Kings 10:2 And she came to Jerusalem with ^Ra very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

2 Kgs 5:5,9; Isa 60:6-9

1 Kings 10:3 And Solomon told her all her ^Tquestions: there was not any thing ^Rhid from the king, which he told her not.

1 Kgs 10:1; 1 Kgs 3:12

words

1 Kings 10:4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and ^Rthe house that he had built,

1 Kgs 6:1-7

1 Kings 10:5 And ^Rthe meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the ^Tattendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his ^Tcupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.

1 Kgs 4:22-23

standing

butlers

1 Kings 10:6 And she said to the king, It was a true ^R^Treport that I heard in mine own land of thy ^Tacts and of thy wisdom.

2 Chr 9:5-6

word

sayings

1 Kings 10:7 Howbeit ^RI believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: ^Tthy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

Isa 64:4; Zech 9:17

thou hast added wisdom and goodness to

1 Kings 10:8 Happy are thy men, ^Rhappy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

2 Chr 9:7-8; Prov 3:13-14

1 Kings 10:9 ^RBlessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.

1 Kgs 5:7; Ps 72:17-19

1 Kings 10:10 And ^Rshe gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

1 Kgs 10:2; 1 Kgs 9:14

1 Kings 10:11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of ^R^Talmug trees, and precious stones.

2 Chr 2:8; 2 Chr 9:10-11

also called, algum trees

1 Kings 10:12 And the king made of the almug trees ^Tpillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, ^Rharps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.

1 Chr 23:5; 1 Chr 25:1-31

rails: Heb. a prop

1 Kings 10:13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba ^Rall her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her ^Tof his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

1 Kgs 10:2; 1 Kgs 9:1

according to the hand of king Solomon

1 Kings 10:14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

1 Kings 10:15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of ^Rall the kings of Arabia, and of the ^Tgovernors of the country.

1 Chr 9:24; 2 Chr 9:13-14

captains

1 Kings 10:16 And king Solomon made ^Rtwo hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.

1 Kgs 14:26-28; 2 Chr 9:15-16

1 Kings 10:17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them ^Rin the house of the forest of Lebanon.

1 Kgs 7:2

1 Kings 10:18 Moreover the king made ^Ra great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.

2 Chr 9:17-19; Ps 45:6

1 Kings 10:19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round ^Tbehind: and there were ^Tstays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.

on the hinder part thereof

hands

1 Kings 10:20 And twelve ^Rlions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not ^Tthe like made in any kingdom.

Gen 49:9; Num 23:24

1 Kings 10:21 And all king Solomon’s ^Rdrinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; ^Tnone were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

2 Chr 9:20-22

there was no silver in them

1 Kings 10:22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ^R^Tivory, and apes, and peacocks.

1 Kgs 10:18; Amos 3:15

elephants’ teeth

1 Kings 10:23 So king Solomon ^Rexceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

1 Kgs 3:12-13; 1 Kgs 4:29-34

1 Kings 10:24 And all the earth ^Tsought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, ^Rwhich God had put in his heart.

1 Kgs 3:9,12,28; Prov 2:6

sought the face of

1 Kings 10:25 And they brought ^Revery man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

1 Kgs 10:10; Judg 3:15

1 Kings 10:26 And ^RSolomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.

1 Kgs 4:26; Deut 17:16

1 Kings 10:27 And ^Rthe king ^Tmade silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.

2 Chr 1:15-17; 2 Chr 9:27

gave

1 Kings 10:28 ^TAnd ^RSolomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

Deut 17:16; 2 Chr 1:16-17

And the going forth of the horses which was Solomon’s

1 Kings 10:29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out ^Tby ^Rtheir means.

Hos 12:10; Mal 1:1

by their hand

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

1 Kings 10:1–10 — The queen of Sheba tests Solomon’s wisdom

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The queen comes with hard questions after hearing Solomon’s fame concerning the LORD. Seeing his wisdom and household, she acknowledges that the report understated what she found. She praises God for appointing him to do judgment and justice. The calling of a king remains service, not merely an impressive display.

Key Truth: Wisdom should lead people toward God and justice.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

1 Kings 10:11–22 — Treasures and royal splendor

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Imported timber and precious stones, golden shields, an ivory throne, and costly vessels display the kingdom’s abundance. Sea trade brings additional luxuries. The narrator records great wealth without saying that every increase in luxury is proof of spiritual faithfulness; the next chapter tests that assumption.

Key Truth: Material splendor is not a reliable measure of a faithful heart.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

1 Kings 10:23–29 — Wisdom, gifts, and accumulated horses

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Visitors seek God-given wisdom and bring annual gifts. Solomon gathers chariots and horsemen, and trade includes horses from Egypt. Read these details beside the law’s warnings concerning a king’s accumulation of horses and wealth. The chapter’s success must not be isolated from the demands of obedience.

Key Truth: Read prosperity alongside God’s commands rather than assuming it proves approval.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Deuteronomy 17:16 — The law for kings specifically warns about multiplying horses and returning toward Egypt for them.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

What impressive success might tempt you to overlook a command of God? Consider how gratitude can remain joined to humility and obedience.

Notes

Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.

My 1 Kings 10 notes

Loading your notes…

Chapter Navigation

Go to passage

← 1 Kings 9 | 1 Kings Contents | 1 Kings 11 →

1 Kings — Chapter 10