INTRODUCTION
1 Kings 10 continues to show the ambiguous character of Solomon?s reign. On the one hand, Solomon attracts the notice of Gentile rulers who seek to learn wisdom. On the other hand, Solomon continues to violate the laws of kingship by multiplying gold and guns. Corruption is spreading in the kingdom, and it will eventually lead to an explosion that will divide Israel in two.
THE TEXT
?Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart . . . .?E(1 Kings 10:1-29).
STRUCTURE
This section of 1 Kings actually begins at 9:26-28. There, the writer refers to Solomon?s fleet of ships and Hiram?s cooperation with Solomon?s trading ventures, particularly his trade in gold. This theme recurs in 10:11 and 22. Thus, the chapter goes from 9:26-10:22.
Internally, this section is arranged as modified chiasm:
A. Ships, Hiram, gold, 9:26-28
B. Sheba, 10:1-10
A?E Ships, Hiram, gold, 10:11-12
B?E Sheba, 10:13
C. Sol?s gold, 10:14-17
D. Sol?s throne, 10:18-20
C?E Sol?s gold, 10:21
A??. Sol?s trading and ships, 10:22
B??. Rulers other than Sheba seek Solomon, 10:23-25
The passage highlights Solomon?s repeated contacts with Gentile rulers who come to hear and see Solomon?s wisdom. Solomon is engaged in a kind of ?sapiential evangelism,?Eevangelism by wisdom. As the nations ?hear?Eof Solomon (10:1, 6, 7, 8, 24), they come to confess Israel?s ?Shema?E(?Hear,?EDeuteronomy 6), that Solomon?s God is the One God. At the center is the glory of Solomon?s throne, which is greater than anything among the Gentiles. Through wisdom, Solomon?s throne is exalted above the thrones of the Gentiles. In response, the Gentiles bring their treasures, especially gold (9:28; 10:2, 10, 14, 16, 18, 21, 22, 25), to Jerusalem as tribute to the king of Israel (10:25; cf. Psalm 72:10-11).
VISIT FROM SHEBA
The Queen of Sheba comes to Solomon primarily to ?test him with riddles?E(10:1; cf. Judges 14:10-20). Solomon fully satisfies her, answering every question, addressing all the things that were on her heart (vv. 2-3). But what seems to impress her more than Solomon?s wisdom in answering questions is his wisdom displayed in his management of his household and kingdom. After attending a state dinner at Solomon?s palace, ?there was no more spirit in her?E(v. 5). Solomon?s wisdom is manifested in a sevenfold manner: his house, his food, the seating arrangements, the ?standing?Eof his table servants, the attire of his table servants, his cupbearers, and the ?ascent?Ein the house of Yahweh (vv. 4-5). Solomon?s banquet is a banquet of wisdom, and it provokes an exclamation of faith (vv. 6-9), faith expressed in tribute of 120 talents of gold.
It is clear from this passage that Solomon?s wisdom has an aesthetic dimension. What overwhelms the Queen of Sheba and leads her to praise Israel?s God is not only Solomon?s prudence, but the skill his shows in glorifying and beautifying his kingdom. Israel is a light to the nations by teaching truth; but Israel is a light to the nations also by embodying the glory and beauty of her Lord.
SOLOMON, YAHWEH?S SON
Verses 14-21 describe the furnishings of two of Solomon?s houses (cf. 1 Kings 7:1-8). The House of the Forest of Lebanon contains 200 large ceremonial golden shields and 300 smaller shields (vv. 16-17). In addition, all the plates and cups of this house are gold (v. 21), as in the Holy Place of the temple, to which the House of the Forest corresponds.
Solomon constructs a glorious throne, which is placed in the Hall of the Throne (7:7) and which corresponds to the Most Holy Place where Yahweh is enthroned above the cherubim. The throne is like a holy mountain, with six steps leading to a seventh level, where the throne is set (v. 19). Each step is guarded by two ?cherubic?Elion figures, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, all of which are represented as being like Judah the ?lion?s whelp?E(Genesis 48:9). The fact that Solomon rules over the lions shows that he is Adam, who has subdued the wild beasts. It is not clear what the ?round top to the throne?E(v. 19) is, but perhaps it represents the firmament canopy above the king. Solomon does not, like Yahweh, sit on the circle of the heavens; but he?s awfully close.
GOLD AND GUNS
The abundance of gold should already have alerted us to something amiss in Solomon?s kingdom (cf. Deuteronomy 17). That suspicion is confirmed by the references to horses and chariots at the end of chapter 10. He is not only multiplying horses and chariots, but importing them from Egypt, precisely what Deuteronomy 17:16 forbids: The king ?shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiple horses.?E
Verse 29 is particularly damning. We earn that Solomon not only imported horses from Egypt, but also exported horses and chariots to Hittites and kings of Arameans. Hittites have already been mentioned in 9:20 as descendants of people that Israel failed to destroy. Solomon provides horses for Canaanites, and Solomon apparently contributes to making the Hittites a regional power (cf. 2 Kings 7:6). Even worse, Solomon exports arms to the Arameans. During the following century, Aram emerges as a constant treat to Israel (cf. 1 Kings 11:23-25; 20; 22; 2 Kings 5; 7). Solomon, the wisest man in the world, funds his enemies.