1 KINGS CHAPTER 10 The queen of Sheba cometh to Jerusalem; admireth Solomon's wisdom and glory; giveth God thanks, and Solomon presents, 1 KINGS 10:1. His riches, 1 KINGS 10:11; targets, ivory throne, vessels, 1 KINGS 10:16; presents, chariots and horses, tribute, 1 KINGS 10:24. THE QUEEN OF SHEBA;... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. Of all the doubts and difficulties wherewith her mind was perplexed.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL HER QUESTIONS, Heb. _all her matters_; he satisfied her in all things she desired to know. There was not any thing she asked which Solomon did not both understand himself, and acquaint her with.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or, _the houses_, the singular number being put for the plural, to wit, both the temple and the king's house, in both which there were evidences of singular wisdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SITTING OF HIS SERVANTS, i.e. the order and manner in which his courtiers or other subjects (who all were his servants in a general sense) sat down at meals, at several tables in his court. THE ATTENDANCE OF HIS MINISTERS, to wit, upon the king, both at his table, and elsewhere in his court; and... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
I BELIEVED NOT THE WORDS which the reporters used concerning him; or, _the things_ reported; they seemed incredible, and above the perfection of human nature. PROSPERITY; or, _happiness_; or, _virtue_; Heb. _goodness_.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD THY GOD; he deserves all blessing and praise, for delighting to honour and advance so worthy a person. TO SET THEE ON THE THRONE OF ISRAEL; for it was God's special act to make him king rather than his elder brother. TO DO JUDGMENT AND JUSTICE, i.e. to execute just judgment among... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALMUG TREES, called also (by an inversion of the letters, which is usual among the Hebrews) _algum trees_, 2 CHRONICLES 2:8, 2 CHRONICLES 9:10; whereof there were some in Lebanon, 2 CHRONICLES 2:8, but the best sort came from Ophir, as is here said. PILLARS, or _supporters_, either for the ascent or... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which amounts to about two millions of our money. And this gold did not come from Ophir in India, or Tarshish; but from Arabia and Ethiopia, and other parts, which then were well replenished with gold, though since exhausted by the insatiable avarice of succeeding ages.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE MERCHANTMEN, Heb. _of the searchers_, or spies, i.e. either merchants, who use to inquire and search out commodities, and all advantages of trade; or rather, the publicans or gatherers of the king's revenues, who used to search narrowly into all wares and dealings, that the king might not be... [ Continue Reading ]
For pomp and magnificence, and (as may be thought from the use of the brazen shields, 1 KINGS 14:27,28) to be carried before him by his guard when he went abroad.... [ Continue Reading ]
THREE POUND, or, three hundred _shekels_, as it is expressed 2 CHRONICLES 9:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
OVERLAID IT; not wholly, but in part, here and there, which made it more beautiful to the eye. Probably the main substance of it was ivory, but some cavities were left in it which were filled with gold.... [ Continue Reading ]
ROUND BEHIND; made like the half of a circle. TWO LIONS: these and the following lions seem added, to express either the tribe from which Solomon sprung, compared to a lion, GENESIS 49:9; or rather, that majesty and power wherewith a prince is adorned and armed, which his subjects cannot resist; or... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comparatively; such hyperbolical expressions being frequent, both in Scripture and other authors.... [ Continue Reading ]
A NAVY OF THARSHISH; either, first, the ships of the sea, which may seem to be called Tarshish, as PSALMS 48:7 ISAIAH 60:9, from an eminent part of the sea near Judea, so called. Or rather, the ships that went to Tarshish; for Tarshish was the name of a certain place upon the sea, famous for its tra... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE EARTH, i.e. all the kings of the earth, (as it is expressed, 2 CHRONICLES 9:23) to wit, of those parts of the earth; which synecdoche is very frequent.... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOLOMON GATHERED TOGETHER CHARIOTS AND HORSEMEN; like a wise prince, in deep peace providing for war. A THOUSAND AND FOUR HUNDRED CHARIOTS: SEE POOLE ON "1 KINGS 4:26".... [ Continue Reading ]
SYCAMORE TREES were vile and common. See ISAIAH 9:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
HORSES AND LINEN YARN; the two chief commodities of Egypt. See PROVERBS 7:16 SONG OF SOLOMON 1:9 ISAIAH 3:23 EZEKIEL 27:7. THE KING'S MERCHANTS RECEIVED THE LINEN YARN FOR A PRICE; Solomon received them from Pharaoh at a certain price agreed between them, and gave this privilege to his merchants, fo... [ Continue Reading ]
A CHARIOT: this is not to be understood of the chariots and horses themselves, (for then all horses had been set at an equal price, which is most absurd,) but by a metonymy, for the lading of chariots and horses, which consisting of fine linen and silk, &c., were of great value; and the king's custo... [ Continue Reading ]