1 Kings 10:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom.

NIV: Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.

NASB: Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom.

CSB: Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps, one at each end. Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.

NLT: There were also twelve other lions, one standing on each end of the six steps. No other throne in all the world could be compared with it!

KJV: And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.

NKJV: Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

First Kings 10:14–22 describes God's second blessing on Solomon: wealth (2 Chronicles 9:13–21). Solomon humbly asked for wisdom, so God promised him riches and honor, as well (1 Kings 3:12–13). In one year, Solomon accumulates billions of dollars in gold. Once every three years, his sea merchants also bring back silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. Sadly, Solomon's foolish son Rehoboam will lose much of the gold to the Egyptians (1 Kings 14:25–26).

God blesses Solomon with wisdom, riches, and honor (2 Chronicles 9). The queen of Sheba arrives and witnesses Solomon's greatness. She immediately praises God for blessing Israel with a wise king. Solomon earns the honor of foreign rulers who bring gifts and wives (1 Kings 11:3). He proves to be a shrewd investor, sending sea merchants out with Hiram of Tyre to bring back treasure, and trading Egypt's horses and chariots to northern nations. Yahweh (Exodus 3:15) gives Solomon foreign wealth, honor, and women, but it isn't enough. He betrays God and accumulates foreign idols as well (1 Kings 11:1–8).

First Kings 10 describes the fulfillment of God's promise to give Solomon wisdom, wealth, and honor in 1 Kings 3:5–15 (2 Chronicles 9). The chapter also foreshadows Judah's future. The queen of Sheba worships Yahweh while Solomon's wives will entice him into idolatry (1 Kings 11:1–8). Solomon's son will reject his officials' wise counsel; he'll lose half the kingdom (1 Kings 12:1–24) and Solomon's riches (1 Kings 14:25–26). Jehoshaphat will try to replicate Solomon's sea trade and fail (1 Kings 22:48–50). And the Babylonians will "honor" Hezekiah's wealth by planning to steal it (2 Kings 10:12–19). God's blessings are good, but we can always tarnish them.

This was originally the first half of a combined text. First Kings records the end of David's reign and the rule of Solomon. After this, the kingdom is split in two. The northern nation of Israel no longer submits to the king of the southern nation, called Judah. The prophet Elijah first appears in this book. The kings mostly fail to honor the Lord. They participate in idolatry and other sins. This will eventually result in their conquest and exile, as depicted throughout the books of Chronicles.

Accessed 9/6/2026 4:22:26 AM