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.
Parallel translations
- 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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 25:23So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
- 2 Kgs 5:5The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
- Isa 60:6–9A multitude of camels will cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of Yahweh.
- Ps 4:4Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.
- 1 Kgs 10:10She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was there such an abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
- 2 Kgs 5:9So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
- 2 Kgs 20:13Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the storehouse of his precious things, the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, or in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them.
- Luke 24:15While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them.
- Exod 25:6oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,
- Gen 18:33Yahweh went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
- Job 4:2“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself 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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