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From the moment Solomon took the throne, God blessed him more than any other monarch before or after him with wisdom, knowledge, riches, possessions, and honour. And his rule and jurisdiction were extensive including “over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt” (2 Chron. 9:26). Solomon became so famous that all the other kings and queens ruling at the time brought him gifts and “sought his presence to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind” (2 Chron. 9:23). One of these monarchs was the Queen of Sheba who was so stunned by “the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, [that] there was no more breath in her” (2 Chron. 9:1-4).
“And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.”
2 Chronicles 9:23
And it’s no wonder because according to the Bible, the amount of gold that Solomon took in year by year was 666 talents (2 Chron. 9:13) which is equivalent to approximately 50,000 lbs![1] And this didn’t even include the gold brought to him by explorers and merchants. Some of this gold was used to make shields. In fact, Solomon made 200 large shields that were composed of 600 shekels of gold each which is equal to roughly 14 pounds per shield. And he also made 300 smaller shields composed of 300 shekels of gold each—or 7 lbs a piece. Solomon “also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. Nothing like it was ever made for any kingdom. 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.” And “Silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships…used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.” (vv.17-21) As the Chronicler noted in 2 Chronicles 9:27, Solomon “made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone.”
Solomon’s splendor was great indeed! And yet, that splendor is nothing compared to that of the ultimate and eternal King and Lord, Jesus Christ, whom Solomon merely prefigured. Solomon may have made silver as common as stone. But in heaven, it is gold that’s as common as stone. The streets are paved with it, after all! And this scene in the Bible of the Queen of Sheba and all the other rulers of the earth coming from far and wide to little old Jerusalem with gifts to hear Solomon’s wisdom and witness his greatness, not only reminds us of the magi bringing baby Jesus gifts but also prefigures a future time the Bible seems to point to when people will come to Jerusalem again to witness the wisdom and splendor of an even greater King who rules not just part of the world but all of it (E.g., Micah 4)! Because He is not only a King but God Himself. Christ Jesus the Lord!
Ryan Hembree is a daily co-host, speaker, and writer of Bible Discovery. He also hosts a YouTube channel that shows the unity of the Bible and how science and Scripture fit together. Ryan also has an honorary Masters of Ministry in Creation Science from Phoenix University of Theology.
[1] A talent was approximately 75 pounds or 34 kilograms. So, 666 x 75 = 49,950 lbs.
