Verse 1

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

(a) Josephus says that she was Queen of Ethiopia, and that Sheba was the name of the chief city of Meroe, which is an island of the Nile.

Verse 5

And the b 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.

(b) That is, the whole order, and trade of his house.

Verse 8

Happy [are] thy men, happy [are] these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, [and] that hear thy c wisdom.

(c) But much more happy are they, who hear the wisdom of God revealed in his word.

Verse 9

Blessed be the LORD thy God, which d 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 e judgment and justice.

(d) It is a chief sign of God's favour, when godly and wise rulers fit in the throne of justice.

(e) This is the reason kings are appointed.

Verse 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 f country.

(f) That is, Arabia, which for the great abundance of all things was called Happy.

Verse 19

The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne [was] round behind: and [there were] g stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.

(g) As the chair bows, or places to lean upon.

Verse 22

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

(h) By Tharshish is meant Cilicia, which was abundant in the variety of precious things.