INTRODUCTION: The queen of Sheba hears of Solomon’s great acts and wisdom and comes to see it for herself. When she arrives, she claims that she had not even heard the half of Solomon’s true greatness.

1. THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA (1 Kings 10:1-13 [1] And 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] And she came to Jerusalem with a 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. [3] And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. [4] And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, [5] And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. [6] And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. [7] Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. [8] Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. [9] Blessed 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. [10] And she 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. [11] And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. [12] And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. [13] And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
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1. She Visited Solomon and His Kingdom (1 Kings 10:1-5 [1] And 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] And she came to Jerusalem with a 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. [3] And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. [4] And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, [5] And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
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1. The fame of King Solomon (1 Kings 10:1And 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.
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1. Concerning the name of the Lord
1. The false report of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:9And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
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2. The authority of David over Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
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3. Solomon built the temple unto the name of the Lord (1 Kings 5:5And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
   See All...; 1 Kings 8:20And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
   See All...; 2 Chronicles 2:1And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
   See All..., 4; 2 Chronicles 6:10The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
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2. To be proven with hard questions
1. So did the Jewish religious leaders with Jesus (Matthew 22:15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
   See All..., 22-23, 33-35, 46)
2. We are commanded to be ready to answer the questions given to us (Colossians 4:6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
   See All...; 1 Peter 3:15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
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2. The visit of the queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:2-3 [2] And she came to Jerusalem with a 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. [3] And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
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1. She came to Jerusalem with a very great train (1 Kings 10:2And she came to Jerusalem with a 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.
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2. NOTE: Sheba is a kingdom in Saudi Arabia known for its many spices.
3. She spoke with Solomon of all that was in her heart (1 Kings 10:2And she came to Jerusalem with a 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.
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4. Solomon told her all her questions (1 Kings 10:3And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
   See All...). Certainly, Solomon answered her questions; but this wording seems to go further. Perhaps, he even told her what her questions were.
5. Solomon hid nothing from her (1 Kings 10:3And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
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3. The admiration of the queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:4-5 [4] And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, [5] And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
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1. She saw all the wisdom and riches of Solomon (1 Kings 10:4-5 [4] And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, [5] And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
   See All...a).
2. She had no more spirit in her (1 Kings 10:5And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
   See All...b); that is, she no longer had the energy to attempt to stump Solomon with a hard question (compare Joshua 5:1And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
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2. She Reported on the Greatness of Solomon (1 Kings 10:6-9 [6] And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. [7] Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. [8] Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. [9] Blessed 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.
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1. The report she heard was true (1 Kings 10:6And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
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2. The half had not been told (1 Kings 10:7Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
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1. Concerning Solomon’s wisdom
2. Concerning Solomon’s prosperity
3. The happiness of those around Solomon (1 Kings 10:8Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
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1. Happy are thy men.
2. Happy are these, thy servants.
4. Blessed is the God of Solomon (1 Kings 10:9Blessed 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.
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1. He delighted in Solomon.
2. He set Solomon on the throne.
3. He loves Israel for ever (Deuteronomy 7:6-8 [6] For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. [7] The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: [8] But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
   See All...; 1 Chronicles 17:22For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.
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4. He made Solomon king that he might do judgment and justice.
3. She and Solomon Exchanged Gifts (1 Kings 10:10-13 [10] And she 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. [11] And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. [12] And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. [13] And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
   See All...).
1. The queen of Sheba gave gifts to Solomon (1 Kings 10:10And she 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.
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1. 120 talents of gold (same as the gift of Hiram – 1 Kings 9:14And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.
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2. Abundance of spices
3. Precious stones
2. Solomon received treasures from the navy of Hiram (1 Kings 10:11And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
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1. A great plenty of almug trees
2. Precious stones
3. Solomon made use of the almug trees (1 Kings 10:12And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
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1. For pillars
1. In the house of the Lord
2. In the king’s house
2. For musical instruments
1. Harps
2. Psalteries
4. Solomon gave gifts to the queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:13And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
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1. He gave her all her desire (Psalm 37:4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
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2. He gave her whatsoever she asked (John 14:13-14 [13] And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
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3. He gave her of his royal bounty (Ephesians 3:20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
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4. She turned and went to her own country.
2. THE RICHES OF THE REIGN OF SOLOMON (1 Kings 10:14-29 [14] Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, [15] Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country. [16] And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target. [17] And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. [18] Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold. [19] The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. [20] And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom. [21] And 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 were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. [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, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. [23] So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. [24] And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. [25] And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. [26] And Solomon 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. [27] And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. [28] And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. [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 by their means.
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1. Solomon’s Gold (1 Kings 10:14-15 [14] Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold, [15] Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
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1. An annual income of 666 talents of gold (1 Kings 10:14Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
   See All...); this matches the number of the beast (Revelation 13:17-18 [17] And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [18] Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
   See All...) and points to the later part of Solomon’s reign.
2. Further income from various sources (1 Kings 10:15Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
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2. Solomon’s Shields (1 Kings 10:16-17 [16] And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target. [17] And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
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1. Two hundred targets (1 Kings 10:16And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
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1. A target was a larger shield made to cover the whole body; it was used by the heavy infantry (2 Chronicles 14:8And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.
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2. The gold targets and shields were obviously used for decoration.
2. Three hundred shields (1 Kings 10:17And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
   See All...); smaller shields used by the archers
3. Solomon’s Throne (1 Kings 10:18-20 [18] Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold. [19] The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. [20] And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
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1. A great throne of ivory (1 Kings 10:18Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.
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1. The word ivory is used 13 times in the Bible.
2. It is not used in the temple nor is it found in the New Jerusalem.
2. Overlaid with the best gold (1 Kings 10:18Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.
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3. Six steps up to the throne (1 Kings 10:19-20 [19] The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. [20] And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
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1. Two lions beside the two stays, or armrests (1 Kings 10:19The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
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2. Twelve lions (six on each side) on each side of the steps (1 Kings 10:20And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
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4. Solomon’s Drinking Vessels (1 Kings 10:21And 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 were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
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1. All of Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold.
2. All the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of gold.
5. Solomon’s Navy (1 Kings 10:22-23 [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, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. [23] So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
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1. A navy of Tharshish (1 Kings 10:22For 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, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
   See All...; 2 Chronicles 9:21For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
   See All...; 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 [35] And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly: [36] And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongaber. [37] Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
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2. The exceeding riches of Solomon (1 Kings 10:23So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
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6. Solomon’s Wisdom (1 Kings 10:24-25 [24] And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. [25] And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
   See All...)
1. All the earth sought to hear Solomon’s wisdom (1 Kings 10:24And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
   See All...).
2. All the earth brought gifts to Solomon (1 Kings 10:25And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
   See All...).
7. Solomon’s Armory (1 Kings 10:26-29 [26] And Solomon 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. [27] And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. [28] And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. [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 by their means.
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1. The chariots of Solomon (1 Kings 10:26And Solomon 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.
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1. 1400 chariots
2. 12,000 horsemen
3. He established chariot cities (1 Kings 9:17-19 [17] And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether, [18] And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land, [19] And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
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2. The abundance of Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 10:27And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.
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3. The products of Egypt (1 Kings 10:28And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
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1. Horses (Deuteronomy 17:15-17 [15] Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. [16] But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. [17] Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
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2. Linen
4. The prices of Egypt (1 Kings 10:29And 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 by their means.
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CONCLUSION: Solomon’s riches and fame continue to increase. So much so, that people from every nation travel to hear Solomon’s wisdom and to see his greatness.