1 Kings 10:15
in 1 Kings 10not including the revenue from the merchants, traders, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
besides that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mingled people, and of the governors of the country.
KJV
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.
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This verse in 1 Kings 10
Commentary
5 notes on this verseBesides 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: and of all the kings of Arabia; who were subject to him, and paid him a yearly tribute, or at least made presents, see 1Ki 4:21. and of the governors of the country; who were viceroys or deputy governors of countries conquered by his father, and who collected tribute from the people, and paid it to him.
This site's exposition
six hundred threescore and six talents
on 1 Kings 10:14-15
The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year is six hundred threescore and six talents, a number some modern teachers set beside the six hundred sixty six of Rev 13:18, a connection worth naming as theirs and not the text's own comment. That annual total does not even count the separate streams the next verse lists, the merchantmen, the spice traders, the kings of Arabia, and the country's own governors, each bringing tribute on top of the temple-metal weight. Kings states the number and moves on; the moral weight falls later when the same gold sits beside the wives who turn the king's heart at 11:1-8.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Merchant-men - Hebrew. of the searchers; either merchants, who use to search out commodities: or, the gatherers of the king's revenues, who used to search narrowly into all wares, that the king might not be defrauded of his rights. Spice-merchants - Or rather, of the merchants in general, as the word is often used.
He was Hiram's partner in a Tharshish fleet, of and for Tyre, which imported once in three years, not only gold, and silver, and ivory, substantial goods and serviceable, but apes to play with and peacocks to please the eye with their feathers,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
There is no mention in the original of “spice merchants.” Two classes of traders are spoken of; but both expressions are general. Kings of Arabia - Rather, “kings of the mingled people” (compare Jer 25:24). These were probably tribes half Jewish, half Arabian, on the borders of the western desert. They are regarded as Arabs by the author of Chronicles (marginal reference). Governors - The word used here is thought to be of Aryan origin. It appears to have been a title given by the Persians to petty governors, inferior to the great satraps of provinces.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
This was in addition [to the gold that came from] traveling merchants. Merchants would bring him who visited the land on business. 5 Alternatively, retailers who sell small quantities, spy [=תרים] out the land to determine where to do business.—Metzudas Tzion
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Six hundred sixty-six. Chirom gave him 120 [talents], the Queen of Sheva, the ships of Tarshish brought from Ophir, totaling 660 [talents]. I do not know from where the other six came.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לְבַד֙ | levad | <to> apart | H905 → | 200 times |
| מֵאַנְשֵׁ֣י | meanshei | from [the] men of | H582 → | 566 times |
| הַתָּרִ֔ים | hatarim | the merchants | H8446 → | |
| וּמִסְחַ֖ר | umischar | and [the] merchandise of | H4536 → | |
| הָרֹכְלִ֑ים | harokhelim | the traders | H7402 → | |
| וְכָל־ | vekhol | and all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| מַלְכֵ֥י | malkhei | [the] kings of | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| הָעֶ֖רֶב | haerev | the Arab[s] | H6152 → | |
| וּפַח֥וֹת | ufachot | and [the] governors of | H6346 → | |
| הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
לְבַד֙<to> apart
levadH905 →200 times
מֵאַנְשֵׁ֣יfrom [the] men of
meansheiH582 →566 times
הַתָּרִ֔יםthe merchants
hatarimH8446 →
וּמִסְחַ֖רand [the] merchandise of
umischarH4536 →
הָרֹכְלִ֑יםthe traders
harokhelimH7402 →
וְכָל־and all
vekholH3605 →5413 times
מַלְכֵ֥י[the] kings of
malkheiH4428 →2525 times
הָעֶ֖רֶבthe Arab[s]
haerevH6152 →
וּפַח֥וֹתand [the] governors of
ufachotH6346 →
הָאָֽרֶץ׃the land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 72:10May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
it leads to
- Isaiah 60:6
Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
- Psalms 68:29
Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.
- Isaiah 49:7
Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes…
- 1 Kings 10:1
Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions.
- Psalms 45:12
The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; men of wealth will seek your favor.
- Isaiah 60:6
Through
Isaiah 21:13This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 25:23–24
Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair;
- Jeremiah 25:23–24
Through
Galatians 4:25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
it leads to
- Psalms 68:17
The chariots of God are tens of thousands— thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.
- Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you…
- Psalms 68:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 1 Kings
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil, The Books of the Kings and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.