Solomon answered all her questions without reservation. And when the queen of Sheba had experienced all of Solomonšs wisdom, and seen the house that he had built, and the food on his table, and his servant's quarters, and the service and uniforms of his ministers and cupbearers, and his offerings at the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit left in her.

And she said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own country of your acts and of your wisdom. I didn't believed what I was told until I came and saw it with my own eyes and they didn't tell me the half of your wisdom and prosperity. it surpass the fame I heard. Happy are your men, happy are your servants who stand continually before you, and who hear your wisdom. Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because the Lord loved Israel for ever he made you king, to do judgment and justice."

And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold (about 4.5 tons), and large amounts of precious stones and rare spices.

King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked for - then she turned to her own country with her servants.

Hiram's navy brought gold from Ophir, and large amounts of almug wood, and precious stones. The king made pillars for the house of the Lord and for the kingšs house of the almug trees. He also made harps and psalteries for singers.

Now Solomon took in taxes and tribute 666 talents of gold ( about 25 tons) each year. That would be about $300 million - not so much by today's standards, but a great deal then.

Among the things King Solomon had made for his palace of the Forest of Lebanon were two hundred large shields of hammered gold; seven and a half pounds of gold in each and three hundred shields of hammered gold, half the weight of the larger ones. He also had made a great throne of ivory overlaid it with the finest gold. Six steps went up to the throne and the top of the throne was rounded. There were armrests on either side and a lion stood on each side of the throne. Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one on either side. Nothing like made was ever seen in any other kingdom.

All of king Solomonšs goblets and other vessels of the house of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver - it was of little value in the days of Solomon.

The king had a fleet of ships docked in Tharshish with the navy of Hiram. Every three years the ships returned to Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, apes, and baboons.

King Solomon was richer and wiser than all the other kings in the world. Everyone sought Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. Year after year they brought presents; vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules.

Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen even though God had commanded the kings of Israel not to do so. He had fourteen hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen he kept at Jerusalem and special chariot cities.

The king was so rich he made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as common as sycamore trees.

To be continued

Be sure and come back next month to read the next story in The Life of Solomon

Old time literature, romance stories, fantasy stories, science fiction stories, and mystery stories in serial with new postings monthly by Antelope Publishing.