SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA 1. Sheba] the Sheba of Genesis 10:28 (in Arabia), not of Genesis 10:7 (in Africa). Arabia seems frequently to have been ruled by queens; more than one is mentioned in the Assyrian inscriptions. If Ophir was in Arabia (see on 1 Kings 9:28), it may have been through the... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS ASCENT, etc.] perhaps better, 'his burnt offering which he offered in.'... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD] cp. the language of the Phoenician Hiram (1 Kings 5:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
ALMUG TREES] conjectured to be sandal wood. 2 Chronicles 9:10 has 'algum trees.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PILLARS] RM 'a railing,' or balustrade for the staircase: cp. 2 Chronicles 9:11. HARPS.. PSALTERIES] The former probably had a square frame, with the soundbox at the base; the latter may have been triangular in shape, with the sound-box forming one of the sides.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGS OF ARABIA] RV 'kings of the mingled people,' i.e. the population of mixed descent which lived on the confines of the kingdom. The same word is used of the 'mixed multitude' that came up with Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 12:38).... [ Continue Reading ]
TARGETS] large shields. _Shekels'_] a shekel was 224 grains. The shields were probably overlaid with the gold, not made of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
POUND] Heb. _maneh_. This contained 50 shekels. THE HOUSE.. LEBANON] see on 1 Kings 7:2. The shields here described were taken away by Shishak in the reign of Rehoboam(1 Kings 14:26).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TOP OF THE THRONE] perhaps a canopy over the throne, of which the stays were the arms.... [ Continue Reading ]
A NAVY OF THARSHISH] better, 'Tharshish ship,' i.e. a stoutly-built vessel, such as was accustomed to voyage to Tartessus in Spain, or perhaps Tarsus in Cilicia, but which Solomon probably sent to Ophir (see 1 Kings 9:26; 1 Kings 10:11), since Ezion-geber was his port.... [ Continue Reading ]
SYCOMORE TREES] not the English sycamore, but a kind of fig-tree. IN THE VALE] RV 'in the lowland,' i.e. the downs between the hills of Judah and the coast.... [ Continue Reading ]
HORSES.. EGYPT] The Jews depended upon Egypt for horses not only at this time, but also in the reign of Hezekiah (Isaiah 31:1; Isaiah 36:9), and at a still later date (Ezekiel 17:15). LINEN YARN] This should probably be rendered 'droves,' and connected with the following clause—'and in droves the ki... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HITTITES] This people were probably of Mongolian race, and drew their origin from Cappadocia. They came in contact with Israel chiefly on its northern border (Judges 1:26). BY THEIR MEANS] Heb. 'in their hand,' i.e. with them. Solomon's merchants conducted the profitable traffic in horses betwe... [ Continue Reading ]