1 Kings – Chapter 10

Old Testament29 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And the queen of Saba having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions." — so begins 1 Kings 10. Solomon stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 29 verses, two threads run through the text: God's kingdom and kingship and wisdom for daily living. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1And the queen of Saba having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions.

2And entering into Jerusalem with a great train, and riches, and camels that carried spices, and an immense quantity of gold, and precious stones, she came to king Solomon, and spoke to him all that she had in her heart.

3And Solomon informed her of all the things she proposed to him: there was not any word the king was ignorant of, and which he could not answer her.

4And when the queen of Saba saw all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house which he had built,

5And the meat of his table, and the apartments of his servants, and the order of his ministers, and their apparel, and the cupbearers, and the holocausts, which he offered in the house of the Lord, she had no longer any spirit in her;

6And she said to the king: The report is true, which I heard in my own country,

7Concerning thy words, and concerning thy wisdom. And I did not believe them that told me, till I came myself, and saw with my own eyes, and have found that the half hath not been told me: thy wisdom and thy works exceed the fame which I heard.

8Blessed are thy men, and blessed are thy servants, who stand before thee always, and hear thy wisdom.

9Blessed be the Lord thy God, whom thou hast pleased, and who hath set thee upon the throne of Israel, because the Lord hath loved Israel for ever, and hath appointed thee king, to do judgment and justice.

10And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices a very great store, and precious stones: there was brought no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Saba gave to king Solomon.

11(The navy also of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir great plenty of thyine trees, and precious stones.

12And the king made of the thyine trees the rails of the house of the Lord, and of the king's house: and citterns and harps for singers: there were no such thyine trees as these brought nor seen unto this day.)

13And king Solomon gave the queen of Saba all that she desired, and asked of him: besides what he offered her of himself of his royal bounty. And she returned, and went to her own country, with her servants.

14And the weight of the gold that was brought to Solomon every year, was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold:

15Besides that which the men brought him that were over the tributes, and the merchants, and they that sold by retail, and all the kings of Arabia, and the governors of the country.

16And Solomon made two hundred shields of the purest gold: he allowed six hundred sicles of gold for the plates of one shield.

17And three hundred targets of fine gold: three hundred pounds of gold covered one target: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Libanus.

18King Solomon also made a great throne of ivory: and overlaid it with the finest gold.

19It had six steps: and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were two hands on either side holding the seat: and two lions stood, one at each hand,

20And twelve little lions stood upon the six steps, on the one side and on the other: there was no such work made in any kingdom.

21Moreover, all the vessels out of which king Solomon drank, were of gold: and all the furniture of the house of the forest of Libanus was of most pure gold: there was no silver, nor was any account made of it in the days of Solomon:

22For the king's navy, once in three years, went with the navy of Hiram by sea to Tharsis, and brought from thence gold, and silver, and elephants' teeth, and apes, and peacocks.

23And king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

24And all the earth desired to see Solomon's face, to hear his wisdom, which God had given in his heart.

25And every one brought him presents, vessels of silver and of gold, garments, and armour, and spices, and horses, and mules, every year.

26And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen, and he had a thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen: and he bestowed them in fenced cities, and with the king in Jerusalem.

27And he made silver to be as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones: and cedars to be as common as sycamores which grow in the plains.

28And horses were brought for Solomon out of Egypt, and Coa: for the king's merchants bought them out of Coa, and brought them at a set price.

29And a chariot of four horses came out of Egypt, for six hundred sicles of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. And after this manner did all the kings of the Hethites, and of Syria, sell horses.

Important Verses in 1 Kings 10

And the queen of Saba having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions.

1 Kings 10:1

Blessed be the Lord thy God, whom thou hast pleased, and who hath set thee upon the throne of Israel, because the Lord hath loved Israel for ever, and hath appointed thee king, to do judgment and justice.

1 Kings 10:9

And the king made of the thyine trees the rails of the house of the Lord, and of the king's house: and citterns and harps for singers: there were no such thyine trees as these brought nor seen unto this day.)

1 Kings 10:12

And all the earth desired to see Solomon's face, to hear his wisdom, which God had given in his heart.

1 Kings 10:24

Historical Context

1 Kings belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the exiles, shown why the kingdom fell: infidelity to the covenant. Chapter 10 of 22 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 29 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Solomon, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. It opens with the line: "And the queen of Saba having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions." The final verse reads: "And a chariot of four horses came out of Egypt, for six hundred sicles of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty.…" The wider setting of 1 Kings is this: First Kings moves from the glory of Solomon—his wisdom, his Temple—to the tragic division of the kingdom into Israel (north) and Judah (south), and the ministry of the prophet Elijah against the idolatry of Ahab and… The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Events from about 970 to 850 BC; final form during the Babylonian exile (6th century BC).

Who Wrote It

Unknown; tradition suggests Jeremiah or prophetic circles as compilers

When It Was Written

Events from about 970 to 850 BC; final form during the Babylonian exile (6th century BC)

Catholic Commentary

In this 29-verse narrative, the sacred author records events that advance the story of Solomon's wisdom and the divided kingdom. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And the queen of Saba having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions." The passage repeatedly touches on God's kingdom and kingship.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 1700). Here, the Temple prefigures Christ's body and the Church (CIC 756). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize God's kingdom and kingship as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that Wisdom comes from fearing the Lord. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, 1 Kings 10 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.

People in This Chapter

Solomon15 mentions

Reflection for Today

In 1 Kings Chapter 10, the Church invites us to listen attentively to God's Word within the broader narrative of Solomon's wisdom and the divided kingdom.

The Second Vatican Council reminded the faithful that Scripture should permeate Catholic spirituality (Dei Verbum, 21-26). 1 Kings Chapter 10 supports that call by drawing attention to humility before the mystery of God within the wider message that Wisdom comes from fearing the Lord.

As you continue through 1 Kings, carry this chapter's lesson into your family, parish, and work. Catholic faith is always ecclesial—God speaks to us as members of Christ's Body, not as isolated individuals.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1 Kings Chapter 10 about?

1 Kings 10 contains 29 verses. It opens with "And the queen of Saba having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions." and closes with "And a chariot of four horses came out of Egypt, for six hundred sicles of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty.…". The book as a whole is historical narrative with prophetic accounts.

What is a key verse in 1 Kings 10?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And the queen of Saba having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in 1 Kings Chapter 10?

This chapter mentions Solomon.

Who wrote 1 Kings and when?

Unknown; tradition suggests Jeremiah or prophetic circles as compilers. Events from about 970 to 850 BC; final form during the Babylonian exile (6th century BC).

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