1 Kings 10:1-13

Expanded Bible

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon^(A)

10 When the queen of Sheba heard ·about [the reports about; or the fame of] Solomon ·because of [^Lfor; to] the ·reputation [name] of the Lord, she came to test him with ·hard questions [riddles]. ² She traveled to Jerusalem with a ·large group of servants [caravan; retinue] and camels carrying spices, ·jewels [precious stones], and ·much [immense quantities of] gold. When she came to Solomon, she talked with him about all she had in ·mind [^Lher heart], ³ and Solomon answered all her questions. Nothing was ·too hard for [hidden from; too obscure for] him to explain to her. ⁴ The queen of Sheba ·learned [perceived; observed; realized] that Solomon was very wise. She saw the ·palace [^Lhouse] he had built, ⁵ the food on his table, the ·accommodations [seating; organization] of his many ·officers [officials; servants], the ·palace [attending of his] servants, and their ·good clothes [robes]. She saw ·the servants who served him at feasts [his cupbearers] and the whole burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] he made in the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord. All these things ·amazed [overwhelmed; ^Ltook the spirit from] her.

⁶ So she said to King Solomon, “What I heard in my own country about your ·achievements [or words] and wisdom is true. ⁷ I could not believe it then, but now I have come and seen it with my own eyes. I was not told even half of it! Your wisdom and wealth are much greater than I had heard. ⁸ Your ·men and officers [or wives and servants] are very ·lucky [blessed; happy], because in always ·serving [standing before] you, they ·are able to hear [listen to] your wisdom. ⁹ ·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord your God, who ·was pleased to make you king [delighted in you and set you on the throne] of Israel. The Lord has ·constant [eternal; everlasting] love for Israel, so he made you king to ·keep [maintain; execute; administer] justice and ·to rule fairly [righteousness].”

¹⁰ Then she gave the king ·about nine thousand pounds [^Lone hundred and twenty talents] of gold and many spices and ·jewels [precious stones]. No one since that time has brought more spices than the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

¹¹ (Moreover, Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir, as well as much ·juniper wood [almug; red sandalwood] and ·jewels [precious stones]. ¹² Solomon used the ·juniper wood [almug; red sandalwood] to build supports for the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord and the ·palace [^Lking’s house], and to make harps and lyres for the ·musicians [singers]. Such fine ·juniper wood [almug; red sandalwood] has not been brought in or been seen since that time.)

¹³ King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted and asked for, in addition to what he had already given her ·of his wealth [according to his royal bounty; or out of his royal treasury]. Then she and her ·servants [attendants; retinue] returned to her own country.