Solomon's Wealth and Glory
14The weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents,[] 15not counting what he collected from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the land. 16King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold. He put seven and a half pounds[] of gold into each large shield. 17He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold. He put almost four pounds[] of gold into each small shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. 18The king made a large ivory throne and overlaid it with fine gold.[] 19There were six steps to the throne. The throne had a rounded back and armrests on either side of the seat. Two lions were standing beside the armrests. 20Twelve lions were standing on the steps, one on each end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any kingdom. 21All of Solomon's drinking vessels were gold, and all of the utensils in the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold.[] No silver was used, because it was considered of little value in Solomon's days, 22because Solomon's merchant fleet[] was at sea with Hiram's fleet, and once every three years the fleet returned, carrying gold and silver, ivory, monkeys, and peacocks.[] 23King Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom. 24The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom which God put in his heart. 25They each brought gifts: articles of gold and silver, clothing, scents,[] spices, horses and mules, year after year. 26Solomon accumulated chariots and charioteers until he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand charioteers. He stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 27The king made silver as plentiful as stone in Jerusalem and cedar wood as abundant as sycamore trees in the Shephelah.[] 28Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue.[] The king's dealers bought them from Kue for the market price. 29A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred silver shekels and a horse for one hundred fifty. In this same way they were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.