Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on 1 Kings 10:2
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, etc.] With many of her courtiers and principal men, as well as with a large retinue of servants: with camels that bare spices; her country abounded both with camels and spices; (see Gill on “<236006>Isaiah 60:6”), (see Gill on “<240620>Jeremiah 6:20”), and as Pliny f210 observes, who says their spices used to be carried on camels, particularly frankincense, for which Sheba was famous, and is therefore called by him “regio thurifera”, the frankincense country f211, being to be had nowhere else; and Strabo f212 speaks of “cinamon, cassia”, and other spices here in such plenty, that the inhabitants burnt the wood of them for fuel; and Diodorus Siculus f213 represents this country as exceeding odoriferous, and as having besides the above spices, balsam, myrrh, calamus, costus, and others, in such abundance that they heated their ovens with them: and very much gold; (see <111010>1 Kings 10:10), the gold of Sheba is spoken of in (<197215>Psalm 72:15) and Pliny f214 observes, that the Sabeans are exceeding rich, as in other things, so in gold; and Diodorus Siculus f215 and Strabo f216 speak of gold found here in large lumps, very pure, and of a fine colour: and precious stones; as crystals, emeralds, beryls, and chrysolites, mentioned by Diodorus f217 as in those parts; and a late traveller says f218, that Arabia Felix abounds with balsam, myrrh, cassia, manna, dates, gold, frankincense, and pearl: and when she was come to Solomon; unto his palace, and admitted into his presence: she communed with him of all that was in her heart; which she had in her mind to discourse with him about, and which she had laid up in her memory for that purpose; and some things which she had kept to herself, and had never imparted to any before, as some think; all which she had full liberty from Solomon to propound unto him.
How to use this source
This excerpt is attributed to its named commentary. It is included as a historical study resource and should be evaluated in light of Scripture and other relevant evidence.
