Keraia
1 Kings 10

1 Kings 10:11

The Queen of Sheba · 1 Kings 10:1–13
Read 1 Kings 10

Translations

Modern
(The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almug wood and precious stones.
Traditional
And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
Literal
(And the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir very much almug wood, and precious stones.
Latin
(Sed et classis Hiram, quæ portabat aurum de Ophir, attulit ex Ophir ligna thyina multa nimis, et gemmas pretiosas.

Original

Hebrew
English
(The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almug wood and precious stones.

Notes

1 Kings 10:11

Sandalwood is a reddish-brown wood from India, prized for its fragrant essential oil. Ancient tablets from Ras Shamra and Alalakh show it was also valued for making high-quality furniture and musical instruments.

1 Kings 10:10–12

  • Solomon had a lot of gold during his reign. The queen's gifts added to what Solomon already had from his trade with Hiram of Tyre. He used the gold wisely (see 1 Kings 6:20–22, 28, 30, 32, 35; 7:49–51; 10:18, 21).

  • Arabian traders sold spices like frankincense and myrrh. Both were used for medicine; frankincense was also used in holy incense (Exodus 30:34–38; Leviticus 2:2), and myrrh was used for perfume and embalming the dead. Wise men from the east gave these spices and gold to Jesus (Matthew 2:1–11).

1 Kings 10:1–13

The queen of Sheba visited to see if the stories about Solomon’s wisdom were true (1 Kings 10:1, 3, 6–7). She might have also been interested in trade partnerships (1 Kings 10:2, 10, 13). Solomon achieved everything because of his wisdom from God, as the queen of Sheba confirms in her main speech (1 Kings 10:6–9).

Theme notes and profiles

Solomon Solomon’s Wisdom

Events

Parallels

2 Chronicles 9:1–12

People

Hiram: King of Tyre, ally of David and Solomon

Places

Ophir: A region known for its gold

Glossary

Almug Ezion-Geber India Jerusalem Kings, Books of First and Second Minerals and Metals Ophir (Place) Proverbs, Book of Sandalwood Sheba (Place) Solomon (Person)

Topics

Algum: Also Called Almug, Trees of Ophir and Lebanon Commerce: Carried on by Means of Ships Diplomacy: Solomon, in his Alliance with Hiram Exports: from Ophir of Gold Gold: from Ophir Gold: Imported by Solomon Hiram: Called Huram, King of Tyre: Makes Presents of Gold and Sailors to Solomon Navy: Hiram's Ophir: A Country Celebrated for Its Gold and Other Valuable Merchandise: Products of, Used by Solomon and Hiram Precious Stones: Brought from Ophir Queen of Sheba, Visits Solomon Ship used in Commerce with Ophir Solomon is Visited by the Queen of Sheba Solomon: Commerce of Stones: Precious: Ophir Trees: Almug or Algum Tyre: City of Commerce of Women: Queen of Sheba