She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. So she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.
Parallel translations
- WEB She came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.
- KJV And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB So she came to Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels carrying balsam oil and a very large quantity of gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke to him about everything that was in her heart.
- NLT She arrived in Jerusalem with a large group of attendants and a great caravan of camels loaded with spices, large quantities of gold, and precious jewels. When she met with Solomon, she talked with him about everything she had on her mind.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The queen arrived with a great caravan of spices, gold, and jewels, and opened her heart to Solomon. It shows the wealth and earnestness she brought to her inquiry.
Overview
Her lavish caravan demonstrated both Sheba's prosperity and the seriousness of her quest, as she laid out all her questions and concerns before the king. This royal pilgrimage to Jerusalem testifies to the international fame God's gift to Solomon had produced. It anticipates the scriptural vision of kings and nations bringing their treasures to honor the LORD's chosen king (Psalm 72:10).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Acts 25:23The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.
- 2 Kgs 5:5“Go now,” said the king of Aram, “and I will send you with a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
- Isa 60:6–9Caravans 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.
- Ps 4:4Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still. Selah
- 1 Kgs 10:10Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was such an abundance of spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
- 2 Kgs 5:9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
- 2 Kgs 20:13And Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
- Luke 24:15And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.
- Exod 25:6olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
- Gen 18:33When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.
- Job 4:2“If one ventures a word with you, will you be wearied? Yet who can keep from speaking?
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 10:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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