1 Kings 9:15-10:13

New International Version

¹⁵ Here is the account of the forced labor King Solomon conscripted^(A) to build the Lord’s temple, his own palace, the terraces,^[a](B) the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor,^(C) Megiddo and Gezer.^{(D) 16} (Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter,^(E) Solomon’s wife. ¹⁷ And Solomon rebuilt Gezer.) He built up Lower Beth Horon,^{(F) 18} Baalath,^(G) and Tadmor^[b] in the desert, within his land, ¹⁹ as well as all his store cities^(H) and the towns for his chariots^(I) and for his horses^[c]—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.

²⁰ There were still people left from the Amorites, Hittites,^(J) Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites^(K) (these peoples were not Israelites). ²¹ Solomon conscripted the descendants^(L) of all these peoples remaining in the land—whom the Israelites could not exterminate^[d](M)—to serve as slave labor,^(N) as it is to this day. ²² But Solomon did not make slaves^(O) of any of the Israelites; they were his fighting men, his government officials, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and charioteers. ²³ They were also the chief officials^(P) in charge of Solomon’s projects—550 officials supervising those who did the work.

²⁴ After Pharaoh’s daughter^(Q) had come up from the City of David to the palace Solomon had built for her, he constructed the terraces.^(R)

²⁵ Three^(S) times a year Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar he had built for the Lord, burning incense before the Lord along with them, and so fulfilled the temple obligations.

²⁶ King Solomon also built ships^(T) at Ezion Geber,^(U) which is near Elath^(V) in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.^{[e] 27} And Hiram sent his men—sailors^(W) who knew the sea—to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s men. ²⁸ They sailed to Ophir^(X) and brought back 420 talents^[f] of gold,^(Y) which they delivered to King Solomon.

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon^(Z)

10 When the queen of Sheba^(AA) heard about the fame^(AB) of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.^{(AC) 2} Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan^(AD)—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. ³ Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. ⁴ When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, ⁵ the food on his table,^(AE) the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at^[g] the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.

⁶ She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. ⁷ But I did not believe^(AF) these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth^(AG) you have far exceeded the report I heard. ⁸ How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear^(AH) your wisdom! ⁹ Praise^(AI) be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love^(AJ) for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice^(AK) and righteousness.”

¹⁰ And she gave the king 120 talents^[h] of gold,^(AL) large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

¹¹ (Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir;^(AM) and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood^[i] and precious stones. ¹² The king used the almugwood to make supports^[j] for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.)

¹³ King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.