1 Kings 10:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard.

NIV: But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.

NASB: But I did not believe the stories until I came and my own eyes saw it all. And behold, the half of it was not reported to me. You have exceeded in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.

CSB: But I didn’t believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half. Your wisdom and prosperity far exceed the report I heard.

NLT: I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of it! Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told.

KJV: Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

NKJV: However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.

First Kings 10:1–10 displays Solomon's first gift from God, wisdom (1 Kings 3:12), to the queen of Sheba (2 Chronicles 9:1–9). The queen presents gifts of spices, gold, and precious stones. In return, Solomon answers all her questions. Solomon's wisdom, riches, and royal court take the queen's breath away. She blesses the God of Israel for giving the nation a wise and just king, fulfilling Solomon's prayer that foreigners would fear Yahweh (1 Kings 8:41–45).

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.