Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 1 Kings · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
BVt the Queen of Saba hearing of the fame of Solomon, in the name of the Lord, V. 1.came, &c.] Who this Queen was, is not agreed amongst Expositours. Comestor, Scholast. hist.whom many follow, saith, that she was Queen of Saba in Ethiopia, and he that wrote the Patriarks travels, saith the same, describing that Saba as the Metropolitan city of the kingdome, shewing also the great heat of that countrey, as lying in a torrid zone under the signe Taurus, being 964. miles from Ierusalem. He also alledgeth Pliny, saying, that this kingdome was sometime ruled by Kings, but since by Queens, whereof this was one, and Candaces, Act. 8. called the Queen of Ethipia another. And the writers of the Ethiopian history do not only affirm, Gentbrard. Barrius.that she was the Queen of Ethiopia, but also that she was gotten with childe by Solomon, and had a sonne first called Melech or Meiler, then David, who was the first King of the Abyslens, which kingdom is called the kingdom of Prester-Iohn, from whom all the rest ever since descended, and that she had a train of 12000. Israelites sent home with her by Solomon, who dwelt in that countrey thence-forth, of every tribe 1000. Of these the Ethiopians hold themselves to have descended, and accordingly are circumcised, not for any necessity, which they hold to bee hereof unto salvation, but for distinction from other nations, and to shew the stock of which they came. Iosephus saith, that shee was Queen of Ethiopia and Egypt, and that before her for 1300. yeares, 330. Kings reigned successively Ioseph. antiq. lib. 8. c. 2.in Egypt after Minaeus the builder of Memphis, being every one called by the name of Pharaoh, which signifieth a King in the Egyptian tongue; and herein he saith, that he followed Herodotus, saying, that after these, a Queen called Nicaule reigned, next unto that Pharaoh, who was father in law to Solomon, and that after him none was called Pharaoh more, as he saith, that he found in Hebrew commenters. But neither doth Herodotus call her Nicaule, but Nitacris and Genebrard, Makeda. And Pliny saith, that a Queen reigned in Meroe in the time of Nero called Plin. lib. 6. c. 25.Cand…ce, which had a long time been the common name of the Queens of Ethiopia, which countrey was anciently governed by Queens. And it is manifestly false, that he saith of none called by the name of Pharaoh, after Solomons time, because we read of Pharaoh Necho after this a long time, who slew Iosiah, and of Pharoah in the dayes of Hezekiah, by whom Sanneherib upbraided him; see also, Esa. 9. …. 30. 2. Ier. 4. Ezek. 31. 38. P. Martyr assenteth rather to them, who think that by P. Martyr.this Saba is meant the country of the Sabeans; that is, Arabia Foelix because that is farre South from Ierusalem, and alone yeeldeth frankincense and other most sweet spices according to Virgil, India mittit Obur, molles suá thura Sabaei, and Solis est that ea virga Sabaeis. And this country is thought to have been called Seba foreign from worshipping, because sweet perfumes were used in the worship of God; and this Queen is said to have brought upon Camels much sweet odours. By others it is thought to have had the name from Seba the son of Cham, who built this Patriarcks travels. Gen. 10.city, being the Metropolitan of Arabia Foelix, and lyeth Southeast from Ierusalem, much farther then Saba in Ethiopia, viz 1248 miles, according to Ortelius, 12000 miles; and this Queen is said by Christ to have come from the South to hear the wisdom of Solomon, calling her the Queen of the South, and from the farthest part of the earth; and Herodotus saith, that Arabia is the farthest of all the countries that is inhabited Herodotus lib. 3.Southward, wherein only Frankincense, Myrrhe, Cinamon, and Cassia, grow; and herein they doe so abound, that the fragrant smell thereof extends to such as travaile farre of from it upon the sea. And whereas this may seem to make against it, that shee brought with her abundance of gold which Ethiopia yeeldeth, and not Arabia: the same Herodotus farther describeth this as the richest of all countries, affirming that there groweth in it gold which is called foreign, that is, without fire, because it is pure without trying in the fire; and it is of the bigness of chesnuts, and to shew the riches of the country, they abound especially in Saba with golden and silver vessells, both cups and pots; and the very feet of their beds are of silver, and great pillers supporting galleries, are headed some with gold, and some with silver. And Strabo setteth forth this country as most rich in gold and silver and precious stones, in so much that the very walls of the dwelling houses of the inhabitants are covered with them as with a crust. Whereas Kings are said to have reigned in Arabia, and not Queens; this being a thing peculiar to Ethiopia to be governed by the Queens. It may be answered, that the Queen who came to Solomon might be the wife of the King of Arabia, who of all Kings is reported to be most miserable for this, that he may never goe out of his palace, and if he at any time doth, the people are ready to stone him; wherefore the Queen with his permission might doe that which he could not: viz. come to Ierusalem, to see Solomon, of whose incomparable wisdome and magnificence, they had heard so much. These objections thus answered, and the reasons brought before considered, this last opinion seemeth to me rather to be preferred. And whereas the first goeth on with a colourable history of this Queens having a child by Solomon, whose race continueth to this day; it is most improbable, because this Queen is said to have come to Ierusalem in the name of the Lord, intimating her to be godly, and her blessing of God, when shee saw Solomons magnificence shewed no lesse: and lastly Christs praising of her, and therefore doubtlesse shee would not consent to so great a wickednesse, neither would such a King being yet godly, offer it to her a stranger, to the great scandall of the true religion, being enough to breed a distast thereof in all her followers. But what was it that drew this Queen from so farre a country; the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, of which there are divers expositions of divers, as of Dionysius, according to the will of the Lord. Hugo, being inspired by the Spirit of God. Vatablus, Hearing of those things which he did by the helpe of God and not of Idols Caietan, That he attained to so great wisedome by the singular gift of God and not by humane help of study. To spare the alleadging of more, I think nothing else is meant, but his fame for divine knowledge extraordinarily by the Lord conferred upon him. For although he excelled in all manner of knowledge, yet this was it which moved a godly Queen to come so farre unto him, and not so much to heare him speaking of things naturall, in the knowledge of which shee had doubtlesse many Philosophers about her, that were excellent. Now this Queen is said to have come with a great traine, and to have brought with her very much gold, sweet odours and precious stones to give, as is by and by said, that she did to Solomon, when V. 23, &c.he had satisfied her in all her questions, and shee had been ravished both with his wisdome and magnificence, viz. 120 talents of gold, and so much sweet odours, as were never more brought thither after. Comestor saith also that she gave him the root of balsam which the wicked Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, afterwards took away; ex Iosepho. Iosephus telleth out of one Dio an historian, that which no way agreeth with the sacred histories viz. that one Abemdon, a Tyrian, propounded some questions to Solomon, at which he stuck. And on the other side this is as little to be credited, which Cedrenus reporteth of this Queens trying of King Solomon after all her questions resolved; by apparelling some boyes and girles alike, and requiring him to distinguish between the sexes, which he did by causing water to be brought, and them to wash their faces with it; which the boyes did roughly and stoutly, but the girles tenderly and fearfully. In what yeare of Solomons reign shee came to Ierusalem is not set down, and therefore divers conjecture diversly; some as Marinus Victorinus in the fourth: some as Genebrard, in the forty one, others in the twenty, or twenty four, or twenty eight. But if things be set down in order, as I see not any reason why we should think otherwise, it must needs be after the 24 year, because he did not begin to build, till the 4 year of his reign; and 20 yeares were expired, before his buildings were all finished; and after this ships were built in Eziongeber, and thither the King went to see their setting forth, and they returned again laden with gold after 3 yeares, and after all this it is said that this Queene came, wherefore it must needs be in the 28 year at the least. And what stay shee made in Ierusalem is likewise uncertain; although some say a yeare. But in all that time it is not to be doubted, but that Solomon entertained her most royally, and v. 13. it is said that he gave her all that she desired, and moreover out of his kingly bounty, which what it was is not easie to conjecture, but it may be conceived, that he was not behinde hand with her in royall munificence, he being the richest of all kings. If then we shall measure his guifts by those, that some other Princes have given, they exceeded. Socrates Rhodius reporteth of Cleopatra a Queen, that when she went to meet Anthony in Cilicia, she entertained him and his followers with a most sumptuous feast, in a room, where the walles were hanged with purple and gold hangings, and all the vessels were gold, adorned with pretious stones most curiously wrought, and 12. sumptuous tables admirably furnisht, so that Anthony and his friends wondred at the richnesse thereof, she smiling said, that she would give him all. And the next day entertained him and his captains where all things were much more costly, so that the first seemed nothing in comparison of this, but all those riches were likewise by her given to him and them, and when they departed, she gave to his captains horse-litters and horses to carry them, and to the rest of his followers, horses trapped with silver. Mystically, by this Queen understand the Church, which hearing of Christs wisdome and miracles, commeth to him from farre, and having a taste thereof doth more admire him, and giveth to the honour of him aboundance of most pretious things, and receiveth according to all her desire of him againe, so Rab. Maurus. Now in speaking of the treasure given by the Queen of Saba to Solomon, lest it should be thought, saith Martyr, P. Martyr.that these and the guifts brought him by others were his onelyonly riches, the sacred history saith, v. 11. 12. that he had a Navie, which brought gold from Ophir, and V. 11, 12.Almuggum trees, and pretious stones. But what these Almuggums were being so called in the Hebrew, is not agreed amongst Expositours. Some render the word corrall, as R. Solomon and Kimhi. And whereas this seemeth to make against it that corrall is no wood, but stone, they answer, that whilst it is in the water it branches and berries, as a tree, but being taken out turneth into a stone. And whereas it seemeth improbable, because he made thereof not onelyonly props or pillars for the house of the Lord, and the kings house, but also instruments of musick, they answer, that seeing such instruments have been made of Alablaster in later times, it is not improbable, that they should then be made of corrall.
Some by Almuggum understand some extraordinary Pine wood, which shined, as the Greek translatours; some ligna hebeni, which grew onelyonly in India, and is very hard, some the Tyne tree, as Iunius, who saith, it is a most excellent wood, as appeareth, Apoc. 18. 12. Plin. l. 13. c. 15. And he rejecteth that of corrall, because it is unfit for such uses, neither was there any need to fetch it so farre off, seeing it grew aboundantly in the Mediterranean and red sea, which were near.
Lastly, some think them to be ligna praesilica, which are of a pumy colour, and most durable. That of Iunius is followed by the vulgar Latin, and Pellican, and Hugo, who saith, that it was a kinde of wood like a white thorn, that would not putrifie, round and white, that of the Greeks by Iosephus. And Lyra saith, that of these were made not only props for strength, but stairs to go up to the house of the Lord, and props, whereby they were supported. Let the Reader understand by these Almuggums which of the before nominated he pleaseth, for my part I think, no man hath guessed rightly, for the text saith, that there were no more such Almuggums seen unto this day, but the particulars before commemorated are by some seen and well known to this day, my judgement therefore is, that it was an excellent kinde of wood found in India by a speciall providence for service about the temple, but although some of the same kinde continue still, yet they could never be found out more, so that it is vain to expound them by the names of other trees, which are found in divers places. For the fable mentioned by Comestor here Schol. histor.of this Queens writing back to Solomon, it is so palpable an invention, that it is not worth the naming, that she feared to tell him of one thing by word of mouth, which she saw in the temple; viz. a piece of wood, upon which one should one day be hanged, which would turn to the ruine of the Iewish nation, wherefore Solomon took it away and hid it in the ground; but afterwards, no man knowes how, it was seen swimming in the pool of Bethesda, and gave a sanative vertue to those waters, to heal all manner of diseases, and lastly, of it was made the crosse, upon which Christ was hanged.
Whereas before Solomons treasure, which came in yearly in gold was spoken of, and before that, ch. 9. ult. 420. talents at one time; here all his revenues in gold V. 14.put together, are said to be 666. talents, besides that which came in from Merchants and the Kings and Lords of Arabia: and then is shewed, to what use he put some of this gold, viz. to make shields 200. putting 600. shekels in each one of them, and 300. lesser, putting 3. pounds in each of them, that is, 300. shekels, and these he placed in the forrest of Lebanon, not for any service in warre, but for ornament and state.
Moreover King Solomon made an Ivory throne, and covered it with pure gold V. 18. P. Martyr.There were 6. steps unto it, and it was round behinde, &c.] Martyr thinketh, that it was not all covered with gold, but so as that the ivory might be seen between for the greater lustre, and he will have all the parts figurative; the ivory and gold shewing the incorruprion, that should be in Kings. Rabanus and Pellican by the ivory Rabanus. Pellican.understand chastity and discretion, because the elephant, of whose bones it is made, is the most understanding of all other beasts, and so chat, as that he coupleth not, but with his own female; and is a great enemy to incontinency in others, and when his female is great with young, he coupleth no more with her, till sh: hath brought forth. The 6. steps up to the throne also, saith Martyr, shewed, that as the King is lifted up above others in dignity, so he should excell them all in vertue, the round figure above his head, the perfection and single meaning of the King free from all fraud and guile, the two stayes for his armes, that he by incouraging the good on the right side and punishing the evill on the left, should uphold the common-wealth; the two lions there his strength and courage to execute what be decreeth, and the 6. and 6. lions on either side of the steps, his ministers, who should like wise be couragious in the said execution. And this is by Rabanus applied unto the Church, in which Christ sitteth, shining by his miracles as with gold and ivory, being also chaste and incorruptible, ascended unto by the doctrine of the 12. Apostles, set forth by 12. lions, and because the Church doth herein excell all other sects, it is said there was not the like in any other nation. 2 Chron. 9. 16. there is further supplied a foot-stool of gold, to shew that the Church treadeth worldly riches under her foot, by lightly esteeming them, and so should Kings do, and not coveteously by oppressing their subjects, gather worldly riches, or to set forth their pomp.
Moreover all the drinking vessels of King Solomon were of gold, &c. for the kings V. 21.navie of Tarshish went with Hirams navie, which came once in three yeares, &c,] 2 Chron. 9. 21. it is saio, the kings navie went to Tarshish with Hirams servants, &c. Iunius, for Tarshish, hath the ocean, according to the signification of the word, for Junius.here by is sometime set forth a pretious stone of the colour of an Hiacinth, that is, sky-coloured, of which colour the ocean is. But this is rejected by Martyr, (who P. Martyr.yet acknowledgeth, that this word Tarshish is sometime put for the sea) because Tarshish is twice in one verse, and if it should be expounded by the Sea, it is in the first place, redundant, there being the word foreign went to sea. Wherefore he rather thinketh, that by Tarshish is meant some place in India, or Ophir, which was before spoken of, and the rather, because this voyage is of the same time, viz. three yeares, and this I embrace as most probable, although there be a Tarshish also in Cilicia, not sarre from Palestine, which some think is meant, and the Chald. Paraphr. expounds it by Africa, but the one was too near to require so long a time of travell, neither did it naturally yeild such treasures, and the other is not famous for yeilding so much gold neither, and the sea is not so great between it and Asia, that ships should need to be so long in that voyage. And these ships are said to have brought not onelyonly gold and silver, but also ivory, apes and peacocks for ornament and delight. Of Ophir and Tarshish see more upon 1 King. 22. 49. 50.
Here the wisdome of Solomon is extolled above that of all other men, as Chro. 4. 31, 32. and it is said, that all sought unto him therefore, and brought him guifts V. 23.therefore from year to year, that is, not as som think by way of tribute, for that is a due and no guift, but out of their great affection towards him, and the good and pleasure, which they reaped by him, there were every year some comming unto him from all parts round about with such guifts, and it is to be thought, that the same princes came oftner with their presents. Whereas it is said, All the earth sought to hear the wisdome of Solomon, it is to be understood of parts far and near, and not of every part without exception. And herein Solomon typified Christ, to whom the people resorted in great frequency, going after him to hear him into wildernesses and desert places, and so should we by resorting to hear his ministers, and we should bring our guifts, that is, give almes to his poor members and communicate of our goods to his ministers, and use our worldly goods to his glory.
So that Solomon had 1400. chariots, and 12000. horsemen.] But of this see before V. 26.ch. 4. 26.
And Solomon made silver in Ierusalem as the stones in the street, and cedars as sycamores.] V. 27.This is spoken hyperbollically to shew the great aboundance. The wood of sycamores, according to Theophrastus is of much use, being black and hard, and partakes of the fig and the mulbery, having therefore this compound name. Galen saith, the fruit hath a taste partaking of both, Cornel. Celsus, that the fruit groweth not upon the boughs, but upon the body of the tree, and never ripeneth, but being cut with iron, then it ripeneth within four dayes, and being taken off, other fruit groweth four times in the year, and being cut this tree is always green, neither becometh it seare, but by covering it with water.
And the going out of horses, which Solomon had, was out of Egypt, and the V. 28.congregation of Merchants of the king received the congregation at a price. And a chariot ascended and came out of Egypt at 600. pieces of silver, and so to all the kings of the Hittites and Aramites, they came by their hand.] Thus word for word out of the Hebrew. Here is shewed, how Solomon came to abound in horses, although his own countrey brought forth none, yet Egypt the countrey of his father in law abounded with them, and Martyr thinketh it is here meant, that he had the profit P. Martyr.of the encrease of horses there by his guift, not only for his own use, but also to sell them by his Merchants to other Princes, whereby much silver also came in. Iunius, that he took a tribute for horses of all that carried them between Syria and Junius.the red Sea, because that way lay through his dominions. And the word expounded, congregation, he expoundeth silks and other merchandize, for which also he took a tribute upon the same occasion. The vulgar Latin, agreeably also to the Hebrew, renders the words other wise thus. And horses were brought to Solomon out of Egypt and Choah, the Merchants of the king took them from Choah at a price, and a quadriga, that is, a chariot drawn by 4. came and ascended out of Egypt at 600. shekles, an horse at 150. OnelyOnly the last words differ from the Hebrew, After this manner, all the kings of the Hittites and Aramites sold them. For Hebr. it is as before, so they came to all the kings of the Hittites and Aramites by their hand. Here the word Choah, as Lyra hath it, is taken for the proper name of a place which signifieth a congregation. But the sense is better, if it be taken properly, and we understand not here, either as Martyr, that Solomon had the horses of Egypt by the guift of Pharaoh, or as Innius, a tribute out of them for their passage, but only his merchants had the sole buying of them both for his use, and to vend them for his benefit to other Princes, and this benefit was not small, seeing they were sold at 150. shekles an horse, that is, according to Budaeus, at 60. crownes.
Thus it is commonly held, but forasmuch as the kings merchants took them at this great prlce, and so put them off again; I cannot see, how any such benefit should redound unto him, but rather, that it is meant, his horses were none of the meanest sort, but most excellent, being so high prized and the choice of all in the land of Egypt, seeing they came first into the hands of his Merchants, and so the drift of this place, is to set forth his royall magnificence, as in other things, so in his horses. Touching the silks, of which Iunius, rendred in our new translation linnen, seeing the scope of this place, is to speak of the place from whence Solomons horses came, and of linnen or silk nothing is said before or after, neither is any price thereof mentioned, it doth not agree to expound the word thus, as if Solomon had the benefit of all the chief Merchandize in Egypt, which it availed Pharaoh much to keepe to maintaine his owne state, but rather as was before said.