1Kings 9:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do,
1Kings 9:2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.
When Solomon had finished all the building of the temple and his palace in accordance with all he had intended to do, the LORD appeared to him for the second time as he had in Gibeon. I think this means that this appearance was again in a dream at night.
1 Kings 3:5 “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.”
1Kings 9:3 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
The LORD affirmed to Solomon that He had heard his prayer and the requests that he had made. He assured Solomon that He had consecrated the temple he had constructed as a permanent place to honor His name. I liked a quote used by Guzik that applies to this verse: “Man builds; God hallows. This co-operation between man and God pervades all life. Man performs the outward and mechanical; God the inward and spiritual . . . We must be careful to do our part with reverence and godly fear, remembering that God must work in realms we cannot touch, and to issues we cannot reach, before our poor exertions can avail. (Meyer)”
The LORD promised Solomon that His eyes and heart would have a continual presence there.
I believe that God has removed His eyes as He said He would in the following verses if Israel chose to reject Him as their LORD. However, I think His heart is still connected to the temple mount and that He will one day redeem and restore it when He builds the millennial temple as described in Ezekiel’s last chapters and rules the whole world from the throne of David in Jerusalem.
The Chronicler adds a very significant statement from the LORD.
2 Chronicles 7:13–14 “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
These verses provide some very important truths and principles concerning how the LORD (who never changes) deals with His people. I believe we in the true church today are just as much a people called by His name as the Israelites. If we would humble ourselves and pray in repentance of our wicked ways, He will forgive us and heal our land as well. The big difference is that the church has become quite a minority in our country and is becoming fewer by the day it seems. As a nation, we have rebelled against the one true God and turned to worship and serve Satan as represented by “other gods.” We continue to declare what the LORD defines as sin to be right and reasonable. Personally, I just don’t believe there are enough true believers in the land to avert God’s judgment even if all true believers united in humble repentance before the LORD. Still, God did agree not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if He could find ten righteous men in the city. So we need to continue to humble ourselves and pray.
It should also be noted that the LORD uses His sovereign control over nature and all creation to accomplish His purposes. The resultant effect of sin on man and creation is the primary cause of evil and disaster in the world. But, the LORD does intervene when necessary to bring about judgment for sin.
1Kings 9:4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
1Kings 9:5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
The LORD told Solomon that if he would live before Him as his father David had, He would establish the throne of his rule over Israel forever—just as He had promised David. If the king continued to follow the LORD in faith and obedience, the nation of Israel would continue to have a descendant of David through Solomon ruling from the throne of David.
It’s interesting to note the LORD’s testimony concerning David. He described him as a man of “integrity of heart.” The words that stood out in the Hebrew for “integrity” included “completeness…simplicity.” David loved the LORD with his whole heart. That doesn’t mean that everything he did was pleasing to the LORD. It means, however, that David’s desire was to honor the LORD, and he quickly and sincerely repented when confronted with his sin. The LORD saw David as “upright,” a man that made good decisions more often than not. The LORD saw that David strove to obey His commands concerning his actions toward God and his actions toward men. Yes, David sinned; he failed miserably. Yet, he always responded in faith and repentance and the willingness to accept the LORD’s judgment regarding those failures.
That should be really encouraging to every believer today. We are all going to experience failures as we strive to serve the LORD in faith and obedience. We are even more blessed than was David. The Father looks at us through the filter of the shed blood of His Son and sees us clothed in His righteousness. As with David, He is ready to forgive every sin.
2 Corinthians 5:20–21 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1Kings 9:6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
1Kings 9:7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:
The LORD continued by warning Solomon that if he or his children after him did not continue to follow Him in faith and obedience and turned to follow “other gods” and worship them, He would remove the people of Israel from the land He had given them. The temple that had been consecrated to honor the LORD would be cast out of His sight, destroyed. Israel would become “an example to avoid and an object of scorn among all peoples.” (CJB)
History has certainly proven the truth of that promise.
1Kings 9:8 And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?
1Kings 9:9 And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.
The LORD warned that the temple, a place now so impressive, would cause everyone that saw it to be stunned and scornful as they wondered why the LORD had allowed such destruction in His land and to His house. The answer will be—Because they refused God as their LORD, the very God that brought their forefathers out of Egypt—because they had chosen to worship and serve false gods. The LORD would have to judge them for their sin.
Again, I like a quote from Guzik: “Under the Old Covenant, God promised to use Israel to exalt Himself among the nations one way or another. If Israel obeyed He would bless them so much that others had to recognize the hand of God upon Israel. If Israel disobeyed He would chastise them so severely that the nations would be astonished at the hard work of God among His disobedient people, and they would know that the Lord has brought all this calamity on them.”
1Kings 9:10 ¶ And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king’s house,
1Kings 9:11 (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
1Kings 9:12 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.
1Kings 9:13 And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.
1Kings 9:14 And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.
This section tells us that Solomon gifted Hiram, the king of Tyre, for supplying the cedar trees, fir trees and gold that was needed to complete the construction of the temple and his palace complex. Those projects took 20 years to complete. Solomon gave Hiram 20 cities in the Galilee region; but when Hiram came to see them, he was not pleased. “Cabul” means displeasing and dirty according to Hitchcock’s Dictionary.
The NIV Commentary adds this info: “These towns were in Galilee in the western part of the territory of Asher. They lay generally east and southeast of the city of Acco.”
The Chronicler tells us that Hiram gave them back to Solomon.
2 Chronicles 8:2 “That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.”
The gold that Hiram provided weighed in at 120 talents or 4-4.5 tons, depending on the source. It seems that the cities had been given to Hiram in exchange for the gold. Since Hiram was not pleased with the cities, Solomon had to establish a tax to repay Hiram for the gold.
1Kings 9:15 ¶ And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
1Kings 9:16 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
1Kings 9:17 And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether,
1Kings 9:18 And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,
1Kings 9:19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
The tax was implemented to pay for the building of the temple, the palace complex, Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor (a town on the northern boundary of Israel), Megiddo and Gezer. Gezer had been a present from Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. Solomon also had construction projects in Bethhoron the nether (on the way from Joppa to Jerusalem), Baalath, Tadmor in the wilderness (between Damascus and the Euphrates; most believe it is the same as Palmyra), and the storage cities in which he kept his chariots and horsemen. There were also other unnamed projects in Jerusalem, Lebanon and other areas under his rule.
1Kings 9:20 And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,
1Kings 9:21 Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.
1Kings 9:22 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
1Kings 9:23 These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.
Those living in Israel that were of other nationalities were essentially drafted to serve as laborers for his construction projects. Men of Israel served as soldiers, servants, supervisors, stewards over his chariots and as part of his cavalry. There were 550 chief officers that supervised all of Solomon’s work projects.
1Kings 9:24 But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.
Pharaoh’s daughter was brought up from the city of David to live in the house that Solomon had built for her. After that, he built Millo.
JFB notes that Millo was part of the fort of Jerusalem on Mount Zion.
2 Samuel 5:7–9 “Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David….So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.”
The NIV Commentary adds a bit more: ““Supporting terraces” is traditionally and generally known by the name “Millo” (basically a transliteration from the Hebrew). The most widely held view is that this consisted of architectural terracing and buttressing along the northeastern slope of the east hill of Jerusalem, the city of David. Such buttressing would have filled a considerable depression between the city of David and the temple and palace complex to the north. The purpose would have been to allow the construction of more buildings in the area and, perhaps more important, adequate fortifications as near to the water supply as possible.”
1Kings 9:25 And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the house.
Three times each year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar and incense upon the altar before the LORD. These offerings coincided with the feasts of unleavened bread, weeks, and tabernacles according to the Chronicler.
2 Chronicles 8:12–13 “Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch, Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.”
1Kings 9:26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
1Kings 9:27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
1Kings 9:28 And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
Solomon also built a navy of ships in Eziongeber, on the shore of the Red sea in the land of Edom. Hiram was known for his navy and sent some of his ships and seamen to work with the servants of Solomon and teach them. They traveled to Ophir and brought back 420 talents of gold.
The NIV Commentary adds this insight: “With Israel newly exercising control of the Negev as far as the Gulf of Aqaba, new possibilities opened up. Solomon made a treaty with Hiram of Tyre that was apparently mutually attractive. Both kings would be able to conduct extensive trade throughout the Red Sea area.”
JFB adds this note regarding Ophir: “A general name, like the East or West Indies with us, for all the southern regions lying on the African, Arabian, or Indian seas, in so far as at that time known.”
1Kings 10:1 ¶ And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
This chapter gives us the record of Solomon’s visit from the queen of Sheba. The Hebrew identifies Sheba as the land of the Sabeans in the district of Ethiopia. I have often heard her kingdom connected to the area known today as Yemen. The NIV Commentary provides more insight about this location: “It is the best-watered and most fertile area of Arabia. By employing an extensive irrigation system, it developed a strong agricultural economy. But its chief strength lay in its being a center of trade. Its location kept it fairly secure from the power struggles in the Fertile Crescent and at the same time enabled it to be a convenient trade depot for traffic involving Africa, India, and the Mediterranean countries. It was famous for its trade in perfumes, incense, gold, and precious stones.”
The queen determined to visit Solomon after hearing about his wisdom and how it was a gift from the LORD. The wording in verse 9 indicates that she recognized the LORD as his God—not hers. Her purpose was to test him and see if he lived up to his reputation.
“Hard questions” is defined as referencing a puzzle or riddle. JFB explains: “The Orientals delight in this species of intellectual exercise and test wisdom by the power and readiness to solve them.”
The NIV Commentary adds: “No doubt the ‘hard questions’ posed by the queen were not mere frivolous tests of mental quickness but a genuine seeking for truths hidden in some of the enigmatic sayings known to her.”
1Kings 10:2 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.
1Kings 10:3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
The queen didn’t come to visit empty-handed. She came with a large caravan of servants (and soldiers I am sure) to ensure her comfort and safety. She also brought camels loaded with gifts of spices, gold and precious stones—resources for which her nation was famous. When she met with Solomon, she talked with him about everything on her heart. Solomon answered all of her questions thoroughly.
1Kings 10:4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built,
1Kings 10:5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
The queen was left breathless—she was overwhelmed—after seeing proof of Solomon’s wisdom, the beauty and grandeur of his palace, the bounty of his table, the great number of ministers that ate at his table, the devotion of his personal servants, the quality of their clothing, and the burnt offerings he made to the LORD at the temple.
The IVP Commentary states: “It was a singular honor to eat at the king’s table and the number of persons who could be accommodated there was a sign of the power of the ruler….It was also a further expression of the wealth of his kingdom that he could continuously provide for these men.”
1Kings 10:6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
1Kings 10:7 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.
The queen told Solomon that the report she had heard of him and of his wisdom had not been exaggerated; it was true. She admitted that she had decided she must see for herself before believing it. Now that she had, she realized that the report had not come close to describing his wisdom and prosperity.
1Kings 10:8 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
1Kings 10:9 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
1Kings 10:10 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
The queen declared that those who served Solomon were certainly blessed to hear his wisdom. She praised “the LORD thy God” for showing His favor to Solomon by placing him on the throne of Israel. She even recognized that choice to be a sign of His love for Israel and His desire to see them ruled with justice and righteousness. Note that she didn’t identify the LORD as “our” God, but as “thy” God.
I liked Guzik’s application: “If we take the Queen of Sheba as an example of a seeker, we see that Solomon impressed her with his wealth and splendor, and also impressed her personally. But she returned home without an evident expression of faith in the God of Israel. This shows that impressing seekers with facilities and programs and organization and professionalism isn’t enough.”
This woman recognized what a blessing it was to serve such a good and wise king. We, as believers, are privileged to serve the best and wisest King. I think we sometimes lose sight of that blessing in light of the cares and distractions of this world. I am reminded of the truth of the words of an old hymn: “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”
The queen then gifted Solomon 120 talents of gold, a large quantity of spices and precious stones. It is stated that the gift of spices was without equal.
The IVP Commentary quantifies the gold as “amounting to nearly eight thousand pounds (four tons).” As I looked for today’s dollar equivalent, the amounts varied by source; but it seems clear that it would be over $100,000,000.
1Kings 10:11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
1Kings 10:12 And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
As he recorded the gift of the queen of Sheba, he was reminded of the tribute given by Hiram. He commissioned his navy to bring in gold from Ophir, as well as almug trees and precious stones.
JFB regarding the almug tree: “It is thought by some to be the sandalwood; by others, to be the deodar — a species of fragrant fir, much used in India for sacred and important works. Solomon used it for stairs in his temple and palace, but chiefly for musical instruments.”
1Kings 10:13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
Solomon did not allow the queen’s generosity to go unreciprocated. Not only did he answer all her questions, he also gifted her from his own treasuries. She then returned to her own country.
Guzik notes: “According to tradition – fanciful stories, perhaps – the Queen of Sheba wanted a son by Solomon, and he obliged her. Her child was named Menilek, and he became the ancestor of all subsequent Ethiopian monarchs.”
1Kings 10:14 ¶ Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
1Kings 10:15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
It is noted that Solomon received a tribute of 666 talents (22-25 tons) of gold each year. This didn’t even include what he received from merchantmen, the profit from trade with spice merchants, and the tribute from the kings of Arabia and governors throughout the land.
Guzik notes that this amount of gold would value just under $1,000,000,000,000 in 2015.
1Kings 10:16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
1Kings 10:17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
Solomon even used the gold to make targets (shields). He made 200 targets of beaten gold, using 600 shekels or 15 pounds of gold for each target. He also made 300 smaller targets of beaten gold, using 3 pounds of gold for each. He then put all the shields in “the house of the forest of Lebanon,” in the weapons depository.
The NIV Commentary notes: “These verses describe the ceremonial shields that Solomon kept in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. They were wood or basket-work, covered with gold plate instead of leather. The large shield was either oval or rectangular to cover the whole body. The small shield was carried by archers (2Ch 14:8). The weights per shield were about seven and one-half and three and three-fourths pounds respectively.”
1Kings 10:18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.
1Kings 10:19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
1Kings 10:20 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.
Solomon also made a large throne out of ivory and overlaid it with the best gold. The throne had six steps ascending to it, and its back was rounded. Armrests were on each side of the seat, and two lions stood on each side of the armrests. A lion also stood on each side of the six steps. There was not another throne like it in any kingdom.
Gill makes this comment concerning the lions: They were “expressive of majesty, and of undaunted courage and resolution to do justice, and of the danger such expose themselves to, who oppose magistrates in the discharge of their office; and in which Solomon was a type of Christ, the lion of the tribe of Judah; and for the same reasons were the like portraits on the steps, as follows.”
1Kings 10:21 And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
1Kings 10:22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
All of the drinking cups used by Solomon were made of gold, and all of the utensils in the house of the forest of Lebanon were made of pure gold. Silver wasn’t used because it was not valued in the days of Solomon since gold was so abundant.
King Solomon sent his navy out with Hiram’s navy every three years to bring back gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks from Tarshish. No one can positively identify where Tarshish was located, but three years was allowed for each trip.
1Kings 10:23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
1Kings 10:24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
1Kings 10:25 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
The writer declares that Solomon far surpassed other earthly kings in both wealth and wisdom. People came from all over the world to hear wisdom from Solomon—wisdom that God had put in his heart. Every person that came brought a gift—vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules. This continued from every year.
1Kings 10:26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.
As wise as Solomon was, he was not smart enough to obey the LORD’s command regarding the possession of horses.
Deuteronomy 17:14–16 “When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose….But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.”
Solomon assembled a cavalry of 1400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen and housed them in cities designated specifically for that purpose.
I would assume he reasoned to himself as many do today. Surely the LORD didn’t mean that for me. Times are different now. You can’t take the LORD’s word literally. And he was just as wrong as those who choose to put their own spin on God’s word today.
1Kings 10:27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.
Solomon’s actions caused silver to be no more valuable than stones and either planted and/or imported cedar trees so that they were as common as sycamore trees.
1Kings 10:28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
1Kings 10:29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
Again, in defiance of God’s word as recorded in the verses from Deuteronomy cited above, Solomon sent his people to Egypt to buy horses and linen yarn. He paid 600 shekels of silver for a chariot and 150 shekels for a horse. It seems that he bought them not only for himself, but to sell to the kings of the Hittites and Syrians as well.