1 Kings 10

1Ki 10:1  And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

When the queen of Sheba heard - our Lord calls her queen of the south, Mat 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Luk 11:31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Our Savior mentions her inquiries after God, by Solomon, as showing the foolishness of those who inquire not after God, by our Lord Jesus Christ.

When the queen of Sheba heard -The queen of Sheba comes from the far south to delight herself in the wisdom of the head of God's people, and to be filled with wonder at the sight of his glory, and to praise the Lord who had raised him so high, and who had blessed the people in giving him to be their king. She also came with gifts; for the king's renown had spread into distant lands. Nevertheless, although it was a true report that she had heard, the sight of his glory went far beyond all that had been said of it.

when the queen of Sheba - Josephus calls her a queen of Egypt and Ethiopia; but Sheba was in the southern part of Arabia.

When the queen of Sheba heard -When the fame of Solomon's great wisdom came to the ears of the queen of Saba, possibly through the Ophir voyages, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem, to convince herself of the truth of the report which had reached her, by putting it to the test by means of enigmas.

concerning the name of the Lord - his knowledge of the true God, the favor he was in with Him, the excellent wisdom he had received from Him, and what he had done for His honor and glory:

Hard questions - Or “riddles” 1 Kings 10:1 And the queen of Saba heard of the name of Solomon, and the name of the Lord, and she came to try him with riddles. (Septuagint) though not exactly riddles in our sense. People of that area have always been fond of playing with words and testing each other’s wit and intelligence by verbal puzzles of various kinds. This spirit seems to have been particularly rife in Solomon’s time, for Josephus records other encounters with Hiram of Tyre and another Tyrian called Abdemonus.

to prove him with hard questions - in things natural, civil, and divine; to try whether he had such a share of knowledge and wisdom it was said he had, she posed him with enigmas, riddles, dark and intricate sayings, to unravel and tell the meaning of.

We feel the breath of a new era in the accounts of Solomon’s reign. One most striking peculiarity is the friendly intercourse with the nations around. The horizon has widened, and, instead of wars with Philistines and Ammon, we have alliances with Egypt, Tyre, and, in the present passage, with the queen of Sheba. The expansion was fruitful of both good and evil. It brought new ideas and much wealth; but it brought, too, luxury and idolatry. Still Israel was meant to be ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles,’ and in this picturesque story of the wisdom-seeking queen, we have the true relation of Israel to the nations in its purest form. The details of the narrative. Interesting as they are, need not occupy us long.

The queen had heard the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, by which seems to be meant his reputation of being gifted with deep knowledge of the divine character as revealed to him. The questions which occupy earnest souls in all lands and ages were stirring in the heart of this queen. The only way, in these old days, to learn the wisdom of the wise, was to go to them. Better than all her wealth was the eager woman’s thirst for truth. Surely it is a very unworthy and unlikely explanation of her ‘hard questions’ and purpose to suppose that she came only for a duel of wit,-to pose Solomon with half-playful riddles. The journey was too toilsome, the gifts too large, the accent of conviction in her subsequent words too grave, for that. She was a seeker after truth, and probably after God, and had known the torture of the eternal questions which rise in the mind, and, once having risen, leave no rest till they are answered.

1Ki 10:2  And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

she came to Jerusalem with a very great train - With many of her courtiers and principal men, as well as with a large retinue of servants: A royal equipage would be larger and more imposing than an ordinary caravan.

with camels that bare spices - her country abounded both with camels and spices;

and very much gold - the gold of Sheba is spoken of in Psa 72:15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.

1Ki 10:3  And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.

Solomon told her all her questions - Riddles, problems, fables, apologues, etc., formed the principal part of the wisdom of the region. Consider the case of Samson and his friends Jdg 14:12 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:  

Solomon told her all her questions = Answered them, told her the meaning of everything she inquired about, expounded her riddles, solved her objections, and gave her satisfaction in all things she proposed unto him:

there was not anything hid from the king, which he told her not - there was not anything, though ever so abstruse and difficult, but what he understood, and gave her a clear and plain solution of.

1Ki 10:4  And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,

Had seen all Solomon’s wisdom - By the answers which he gave to her subtle questions. which she perceived by his answers to things relative to all sorts of science, natural, civil, and divine:

And the house which he had built - She saw Solomon's palace, not the temple, and “the food of his table,” i.e., both the great variety of food that was placed upon the king's table (1Ki_5:2-3), and also the costly furniture of the table (1Ki_10:21), and “the seat of his retainers and the standing of his servants,” i.e., the places in the palace assigned to the ministers and servants of the king,

1Ki 10:5  And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.

And his ascent by which he went up - A rendering preferable to “the burnt-offering which he offered in.” The “ascent” was probably a private way by which the king passed from his palace on the western hill, across the ravine and up the eastern hill, to the west side of the temple area. An arched passageway that led from his palace to the temple is mentioned in 2Ki 16:18 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.

and his ascent by which he went up - the steps which he had made to go up from his palace to the temple; which were so curiously devised, and so artificially wrought, that it gave the queen, among other things, a sensible proof of his great wisdom, as well as of his religion and piety. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, and some others, render the words, "and the burnt offerings which he offered in the house of the Lord"; and so Josephus understood them; she was shown the service of the house of the Lord, as much as could be admitted, and perhaps was told the meaning of it; all which she saw, both in his own house, and in the house of God, and greatly surprised her:

Ascent - The word itself is difficult to translate. Strong’s Concordance H5930 Feminine active participle of H5927; a step or (collectively stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke): - ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to.

The meat of his table - The immense supply of all kinds of food daily necessary for the many thousands which were fed at and from his table.

so that there was no more spirit in her - she was overpowered with astonished; she had no power for a time to speak, what she saw and heard so affected her.

the attendance of his ministers - or the "standing" of those that waited, both at the king's table, and the tables of the lords, who each had their proper place and business assigned; so that the utmost decorum was observed, and no confusion or disorder to be seen:

and their apparel - which were likely distinct according to the posts and offices in which they were, and which no doubt were rich and splendid.

1Ki 10:6  And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.

it was a true report that I heard - which she was ready to call in question when she first heard it; at least she thought it was greatly exaggerated, but now she found it was strictly true.

1 Kings 10:6

It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom — The proofs she obtained of Solomon’s wisdom - not from his conversation only, but also from his works; the splendor of his palace; the economy of his kitchen and table; the order of his court; the gradations and gorgeous costume of his servants;

1Ki 10:7  Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it - That is, she did not believe the whole of what was related to her; somewhat of it she credited, and supposed there was something grand and extraordinary in it, or she would never have taken such a journey; but she did not believe that all could be true; she thought things were too much magnified:

thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard - the inward endowments of his mind, and the outward magnificence of his court, exceeded the relation of them to her;

1Ki 10:8  Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

1Ki 10:9  Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.

Blessed be the Lord thy God - This acknowledgment of the Lord falls below the confessions of Hiram 2Ch 2:12 Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom. and Cyrus Ezr 1:2-3 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. It does not imply more than an admission of His power as a local deity; namely, that He is the God of the Jews and of their country. It was common in that time to regard different gods as local or regional gods. It appears that she merely acknowledged the Lord as the regional God of Israel and nothing more.

therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice - not merely for the sake of honor and glory, much less to indulge to pleasure and luxury, and still less to oppression and tyranny; but to administer justice and judgment to the people, which is the principal end of government

Blessed be the Lord thy God — It is quite possible, as Jewish writers say, that this queen was converted, through Solomon’s influence, to the worship of the true God. But there is no record of her making any gift or offering in the temple.

1Ki 10:10  And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

A hundred and twenty talents of gold - That the gold of Sheba should be given to Solomon was prophesied by David in Ps 72 Psa 72:10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Psa 72:15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.

she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold - The same sum that Hiram sent him; this fulfilled the prophecy, so far as it respected Solomon, Psa_72:15.

1Ki 10:11  And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.

The navy of Hiram - Solomon’s navy in the Red Sea, which was chiefly manned by subjects of Hiram.

Almug trees - Possibly the sandal-wood tree (pterocarpus santalinus). The wood is very heavy, hard, and fine grained, and of a beautiful garnet color, which, according to the rabbinical writers, was the color of the algum. In the parallel place, 2Ch_9:10, 2Ch_9:11, these are called algum trees. The Septuagint translates it as hewn timber

the navy also of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir - it is here inserted perhaps to show that Solomon had not all of his gold from the queen of Sheba; but much from Hiram, who fetched it from Ophir;

1Ki 10:12  And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.

the king made of the almug trees pillars - Or terraces. In 2Ch_9:11, the word means causeways; and means the ascent or causeway he made from his own house to the temple; the pavement of which was made of the wood of these trees; or the supports of it, or rather the rails on each side; and since this ascent was admired by the queen of Sheba, it is particularly observed what wood it was made of, and from whence it came:

Pillars - The Hebrew word signifies ordinarily a “prop”. It is generally supposed to mean in this place a “railing,” or “balustrade,” a sense which connects and harmonizes the present passage with the parallel passage in 2Ch 9:11 And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah. where Solomon is said to have made of the almug-wood “stairs” for the temple and for his own house.

Harps - The Jewish harp was of a triangular shape, and had ordinarily ten strings. It probably resembled the more ancient harp of the Assyrians, which was played with a plectrum, as was the “kinnor.”

Psalteries - The psaltery, or viol, was a stringed instrument played with the hand; perhaps a lyre.

1Ki 10:13  And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

All her desire whatsoever she asked - Legends from Ethiopia claim that their imperial family is descended from the Queen of Sheba and Solomon, who had a son called Menilek I. Tradition credits him with bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia. There is nothing in the biblical account to give credence to those legends.

Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire — that is, Solomon not only gave his illustrious guest all the insight and information she wanted; but, he gave her ample remuneration for the presents she had brought.

1Ki 10:14  Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

Six hundred threescore and six talents of gold - Solomon’s annual revenue exceeded that of other regional empires very much greater in extent than his, and must have made him one of the richest, if not the very richest, of the monarchs of his time.

Six hundred threescore and six talents of gold – This seems to be what he got annually of bullion; but independently of this, he had tribute of all the kings of Arabia, duties from merchantmen, and the traffic of spice merchants. It includes all the branches of Solomon's revenue, whether derived from his commerce by sea and land or from the royal domains, or received in the form of presents from foreign princes, who either visited him like the queen of Saba or sent ambassadors to him, excepting the duties and tribute from conquered kings, which are specially mentioned in 1Ki_10:15. 

1Ki 10:15  Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

traffic of the spice merchants - There is no mention in the original of “spice merchants.” Two classes of traders are spoken of; but both expressions are general.

Besides that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffic of the spice merchants -  What they paid him as a duty or custom for the importation of their goods:

1Ki 10:16  And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.

two hundred targets of beaten gold - The “targets” seem to have been long shields protecting the whole body, while the “shields” of the next verse were bucklers of a smaller size, probably round, and much lighter. They may be compared with the Assyrian long shield, and the ordinary Assyrian round shield. As the amount of gold used in each of the larger shields was only 600 shekels and that used in the smaller ones was only half as much it is evident that the metal did not form the substance of the shields, but was laid as a coating or plating over them.

Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold - these were made of gold beaten with the hammer, or drawn into plates, being melted like wax; so the Carthaginians made shields of gold

six hundred shekels of gold went to one target - which is to be understood not of the weight, but of the price or value of them.

two hundred targets, six hundred shekels — These defensive arms were anciently made of wood and covered with leather; those were covered with fine gold. 600 shekels were used in the gilding of each target - 300 for each shield. They were intended for the state armory of the palace.

1Ki 10:17  And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

three pounds of gold went to one shield - these were but half the value of the former: These shields, together with the 500 taken by David from Hadadezer 2Sa_8:7 were hung round the outer walls of a building, reckoned as belonging to the “house of the Forest of Lebanon,” but separate from it, and called sometimes “the Tower of David” Son_4:4, or from its use “the armoury” Son_4:4; Isa_22:8. The practice of hanging shields outside walls for ornamentation seems to have existed at Tyre Eze_27:10-11, Rome, Athens, and elsewhere. Traces of it are thought to be found in the Assyrian sculptures.

1Ki 10:18  Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.

Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory - To sit on and judge his people; and ivory being white, may denote the purity, justice, and equity with which he judged; the white throne in Rev_20:11 may be an allusion to this; the ivory he had from Tarshish, 1Ki_10:22. It is, on the whole, probable that the substance of the throne was wood, and that the ivory, cut into thin slabs, and probably carved in patterns, was applied externally as a veneer. This is found to have been the practice in Assyria. The gold was possibly not placed over the ivory, but covered other parts of the throne.

a great throne of ivory — It seems to have been made not of solid ivory, but veneered. It was in the form of an armchair, with a carved back. The ascent to it was by six steps, on each of which stood lions, in place of a railing - while a lion, probably of gilt metal, stood at each side. A golden footstool is mentioned (2Ch_9:18) as attached to this throne, whose magnificence is described as unrivalled.

1Ki 10:19  The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.

The throne had six steps - Up to the footstool of the throne, which was of gold, 2Ch_9:18 and was high, that everyone in court might see him, and the better hear the sentence he gave: This throne or chair of state was raised on a platform, the ascent to which consisted of six steps.

there were stays on either side on the place of the seat - or "hands" such as the arms of a chair, to lean and rest upon:

two lions stood beside the stays - which were not only ornamental, and for support of the stays, but expressive of majesty, and of undaunted courage and resolution to do justice, and of the danger such expose themselves to, who oppose magistrates in the discharge of their office; and in which Solomon was a type of Christ, the lion of the tribe of Judah.

1Ki 10:20  And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.

And twelve lions stood - There was a lion on each side of every step, a symbol of royal power. Solomon’s throne, as described, is certainly grander than any of which we have a representation, either in Assyria or Egypt.

1Ki 10:21  And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

And all King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold - Such quantities of it were brought to him from Ophir, and paid to him in tribute, and given him as presents:

all the vessels of the forest of Lebanon - not only what were used in his palace at Jerusalem, but in his country house at some little distance:

none were of silver; it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon - to make plate of; or silver plate was but little esteemed, and scarce any use of it made in Solomon's palace.

1Ki 10:22  For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

This is given as the reason of the great plentifulness of silver in the time of Solomon. The “navy of Tharshish” (not the same as the navy of Ophir, 1Ki_9:26) must therefore have imported very large quantities of that metal.

1Ki 10:23  So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom - In which he was an eminent type of Christ; see Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

King Solomon was greater and richer – Although promised riches by the Lord in 1 Kings 3:13, Solomon went against the injunctions given to Moses by the Lord regarding future kings and what they were permitted to have. He multiplied to himself horses and wives. These proved to be his downfall later.

Deu 17:15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.

Deu 17:16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

Deu 17:17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

Deu 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:

Deu 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:

Deu 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

1Ki 10:24  And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart - For it was all of God.

1Ki 10:25  And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

They brought every man his present - This means tribute; and it shows us of what sort that tribute was, viz., vessels of gold and silver, probably ingots; garments of very rich stuffs; armor, for little of this kind was ever made in Judea; spices, which doubtless sold well in that country; horses, which were very rare; and mules, the most necessary animal for all the purposes of life. This is illustrated by Egyptian and Assyrian sculptures on slabs and obelisks. Tribute-bearers from the subject kings, bring not only the fixed rate of bullion, but a tribute in kind besides, consisting of the most precious products of their respective countries.

a rate year by year - everyone brought according to the commodities of his country; and they did yearly, out of great respect to him, and in veneration of him for his wisdom, and for the advantages they received by his wise counsels and instructions; besides, it was the custom of the middle eastern countries not to pay a visit, especially to great personages, without carrying a present.

1Ki 10:26  And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.

Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen - Both for war; for though it was a time of peace, he provided against the worst, lest an enemy should come upon him suddenly, and when unprepared: Until the time of Solomon, war-chariots had not been in use among the Jews, except to a very small extent 1Ch_18:4. Hence, it was necessary for him to put himself on an equality in this respect with neighboring powers.

Cities for chariots - They were probably fortresses upon the borders of his territory, in which he maintained the standing army necessary for the support of his dominion.

whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem - some of the horsemen were quartered in the cities where the chariots were placed, and some of them in Jerusalem, to be near the king's person, and to be a guard to him on occasion. Josephus says, half of them were in Jerusalem about the king, and the rest were dispersed through the king's villages.

1Ki 10:27  And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.

Made silver as stones - By the vast quantity he received from Tarshish; this is an hyperbolical expression: This strong image marks in the most striking way the great wealth and prosperity of the capital during Solomon’s reign.  

As the sycamore trees - The “sycomore-trees in the vale” are mentioned also in 1Ch_27:28. Like the olives and the vines, they were placed by David under a special overseer, on account of their value. The tree meant seems to be the sycomore proper, or “fig-mulberry,” which is still common in Palestine, and is highly esteemed both on account of its fruit and its timber.

As the sycamore trees - This is considered to be a tree that partakes of the nature of the fig tree, and of the mulberry. Of the former it has the fruit, and of the latter the leaves; that is, the fruit had a considerable resemblance to the fig, and the leaf to that of the mulberry tree: hence its name sycamore.

As the sycamore trees - In ancient times they abounded in the lowlands of Palestine to such an extent, that they were used as common building wood. According to 1Ch_27:28, the sycamore forests in the lowland of Judah were royal domains.

cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are the vale for abundance - not by the growth of them, but by the importation of them from the dominion of Hiram; this is said in the same figurative way; of the sycamore trees, The words of 1Ki_10:27, “Solomon made silver like stones in Jerusalem, and cedars like the sycamores in the lowland for abundance,” are a hyperbolical description of his collection of enormous quantities of precious metals and costly wood.

1Ki 10:28  And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

Out of Egypt –During the whole period of Egyptian prosperity the corps of chariots constituted a large and effective portion of the army. That horses were abundant in Egypt at the time of the Exodus is evident from Exo_9:3; Exo_14:9, Exo_14:23, Exo_14:28; Deu_17:16. That they continued numerous in later times appears from frequent allusions. The monuments show that the horse was employed by the Egyptians in peace no less than in war, private persons being often represented as paying visits to their friends in chariots.

Horses brought out of Egypt - It is thought that the first people who used horses in war were the Egyptians; and it is well known that the nations who knew the use of this creature in battle had greatly the advantage of those who did not. God had absolutely prohibited horses to be imported or used; but in many things Solomon paid little attention to the Divine command.

Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt - To mount his horsemen with, and draw his chariots; which seems contrary to the command in Deu_17:16.

And linen yarn - The original word is hard to be understood.

The versions are all puzzled with it: the Vulgate and Septuagint make it a proper name: 1 Kings 10:28 And the goings forth of Solomon's horsemen [was] also out of Egypt, and the king's merchants [were] of Thecue; and they received them out of Thecue at a price. (Septuagint) Some think it signifies a tribute: Some suppose that the word signifies the string or cord by which one horse’s head is tied to the tail of another; and that the meaning is, Solomon brought droves of horses, thus tied, out of Egypt.

1Ki 10:29  And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.

The kings of the Hittites - The kings intended were probably Solomon’s vassals, whose armies were at his disposal if he required their aid.

Kings of the Hittites - These must have been the remains of the original inhabitants of Canaan, who had gone to some other country, probably Syria, and formed themselves into a principality there. It seems that neither horses nor chariots came out of Egypt but by means of Solomon’s servants.