1Kings 10:5 - Prayer Tents

1Kings 10

Visit of the Queen of Sheba

10When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, which brought honor to the name of the LORD

, she came to test him with hard questions.H4436H7614H8085H8088H8010H8034H3068H935H5254H24202She arrived in Jerusalem with a large group of attendants and a great caravan of camels loaded with spices, large quantities of gold, and precious jewels. When she met with Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.H935H3389H3966H3515H2428H1581H5375H1314H3966H7227H2091H3368H68H935H8010H1696H38243Solomon had answers for all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.H8010H5046H1697H1697H5956H4428H50464When the queen of Sheba realized how very wise Solomon was, and when she saw the palace he had built,H4436H7614H7200H8010H2451H1004H11295she was overwhelmed. She was also amazed at the food on his tables, the organization of his officials and their splendid clothing, the cup-bearers, and the burnt offerings Solomon made at the Temple of the LORD.H3978H7979H4186H5650H4612H8334H4403H8248H5930H5927H1004H3068H73076She exclaimed to the king, "Everything I heard in my country about your achievements

and wisdom is true!H559H4428H571H1697H8085H776H1697H24517I didn't believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of it! Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told.H539H1697H935H5869H7200H2677H5046H2451H2896H3254H8052H80858How happy your people

must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom!H835H582H835H5650H5975H8548H6440H8085H24519Praise the LORD your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king so you can rule with justice and righteousness."H1288H3068H430H2654H5414H3678H3478H3068H160H3478H5769H7760H4428H6213H4941H666610Then she gave the king a gift of 9,000 pounds

of gold, great quantities of spices, and precious jewels. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.H5414H4428H3967H6242H3603H2091H1314H3966H7235H3368H68H935H1931H7230H1314H4436H7614H5414H4428H801011(In addition, Hiram's ships brought gold from Ophir, and they also brought rich cargoes of red sandalwood

and precious jewels.H590H2438H5375H2091H211H935H211H3966H7235H484H6086H3368H6812The king used the sandalwood to make railings for the Temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and to construct lyres and harps for the musicians. Never before or since has there been such a supply of sandalwood.)H4428H6213H484H6086H4552H1004H3068H4428H1004H3658H5035H7891H935H484H6086H7200H311713King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba whatever she asked for, besides all the customary gifts he had so generously given. Then she and all her attendants returned to their own land.H4428H8010H5414H4436H7614H2656H7592H8010H5414H4428H3027H6437H3212H776H5650

Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor

14Each year Solomon received about 25 tons

of gold.H4948H2091H935H8010H259H8141H8337H3967H8346H8337H3603H209115This did not include the additional revenue he received from merchants and traders, all the kings of Arabia, and the governors of the land.H582H8446H4536H7402H4428H6153H6346H77616King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold, each weighing more than fifteen pounds

.H4428H8010H6213H3967H6793H7820H2091H8337H3967H2091H5927H259H679317He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold, each weighing nearly four pounds

. The king placed these shields in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.H7969H3967H4043H7820H2091H7969H4488H2091H5927H259H4043H4428H5414H1004H3293H384418Then the king made a huge throne, decorated with ivory and overlaid with fine gold.H4428H6213H1419H3678H8127H6823H6338H209119The throne had six steps and a rounded back. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, and the figure of a lion stood on each side of the throne.H3678H8337H4609H7218H3678H5696H310H3027H4725H7675H8147H738H5975H681H302720There were also twelve other lions, one standing on each end of the six steps. No other throne in all the world could be compared with it!H8147H6240H738H5975H8337H4609H3651H6213H446721All of King Solomon's drinking cups were solid gold, as were all the utensils in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. They were not made of silver, for silver was considered worthless in Solomon's day!H4428H8010H4945H3627H2091H3627H1004H3293H3844H5462H2091H3701H3972H2803H3117H801022The king had a fleet of trading ships

that sailed with Hiram's fleet. Once every three years the ships returned, loaded with gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.H4428H3220H590H8659H590H2438H259H7969H8141H935H590H8659H5375H2091H3701H8143H6971H850023So King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on earth.H4428H8010H1431H4428H776H6239H245124People from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him.H776H1245H6440H8010H8085H2451H430H5414H382025Year after year everyone who visited brought him gifts of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.H935H376H4503H3627H3701H3627H2091H8008H5402H1314H5483H6505H1697H8141H814126Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses

. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem.H8010H622H7393H6571H505H702H3967H7393H8147H6240H505H6571H5148H5892H7393H4428H338927The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah

.H4428H5414H3701H3389H68H730H5414H8256H8219H723028Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt

and from Cilicia; the king's traders acquired them from Cilicia at the standard price.H8010H5483H4161H4714H4723H4428H5503H3947H4723H424229At that time chariots from Egypt could be purchased for 600 pieces of silver

, and horses for 150 pieces of silver. They were then exported to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.H4818H5927H3318H4714H8337H3967H3701H5483H3967H2572H4428H2850H4428H758H3318H3027