1 Kings 10:17 kjv
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.
1 Kings 10:17 nkjv
He also made three hundred shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
1 Kings 10:17 niv
He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three minas of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
1 Kings 10:17 esv
And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
1 Kings 10:17 nlt
He also made 300 smaller shields of hammered gold, each weighing nearly four pounds. The king placed these shields in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
1 Kings 10 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 10:14 | The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents... | Solomon's annual gold intake. |
| 1 Ki 10:16 | King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold... six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. | Companion verse: larger shields. |
| 1 Ki 10:23 | So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. | Summary of Solomon's unparalleled wealth. |
| 2 Chr 9:15-16 | King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold... also three hundred smaller shields... | Parallel account of Solomon's gold shields. |
| Deut 17:17 | He shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. | Divine command against king's accumulating excessive wealth. |
| 1 Ki 11:3-4 | For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart... and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD... | Solomon's unfaithfulness despite his great wealth. |
| 1 Ki 14:25-26 | In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. He took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away everything. He also took away all the shields of gold that Solomon had made. | The loss of the very shields described in 1 Ki 10:17. |
| 2 Chr 12:9-10 | When he carried away the treasures... he also took away the gold shields that Solomon had made. King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze... | Replacement of gold shields with bronze, indicating decline. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. | Contrasting human military might with divine trust. |
| Prov 11:4 | Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. | The ultimate worthlessness of earthly riches. |
| Prov 23:5 | When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for it makes wings for itself, like an eagle that flies toward heaven. | The fleeting nature of wealth. |
| Matt 6:19-20 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal... | Jesus' teaching on temporary earthly vs. eternal heavenly treasures. |
| Jer 17:5 | Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD." | Warning against trusting in human resources and might. |
| Isa 31:1 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD! | Condemnation of relying on external strength over God. |
| Zeph 1:18 | Their silver and gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath. | Material possessions offer no deliverance from judgment. |
| Jas 5:3 | Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you... | Condemnation of misused wealth and its decaying nature. |
| 2 Cor 8:9 | For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. | Jesus' example of divesting Himself of glory for spiritual wealth. |
| Rev 18:16-17 | "Woe, woe, the great city, clothed in fine linen... for in one hour all this wealth has been laid waste." | Prophetic lament over the destruction of material wealth. |
| Zech 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!... Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey... | Contrasts a king's material display with the humble Messiah. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God is the source of true provision, not material wealth. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. | Trust in God, not earthly displays, leads to divine favor. |
1 Kings 10 verses
1 Kings 10 17 Meaning
1 Kings 10:17 details the acquisition and display of Solomon's immense wealth, specifically the crafting of three hundred shields of beaten gold, each requiring three minas of gold, and their placement in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. This verse showcases the unprecedented opulence and power of Solomon's kingdom, a symbol of its zenith under his rule, demonstrating both his splendor and an underlying reliance on material might rather than solely on God.
1 Kings 10 17 Context
1 Kings chapter 10 recounts the zenith of Solomon's reign, focusing extensively on his unparalleled wisdom and extraordinary wealth. The preceding verses (1 Ki 10:1-13) detail the Queen of Sheba's visit, who was utterly astonished by Solomon's wisdom and splendor, affirming that "the half was not told." Verses 14-29 further elaborate on Solomon's vast riches, accumulated through various means like annual tribute, merchant trade, and tribute from subjugated kings. The creation of these gold shields (along with the larger ones in v. 16) is presented as a prime example of this unmatched affluence. They were displayed prominently in his grand palace, the House of the Forest of Lebanon, emphasizing the security and magnificence of his court. Historically, such elaborate displays served as statements of power and prestige in the ancient Near East, signaling a king's dominion and the prosperity of his kingdom. Within the biblical narrative, however, this very display subtly sets the stage for a critical theological reflection on Solomon's reign, foreshadowing how his accumulation of wealth and glory eventually led to a departure from the Lord's commands, ultimately contributing to the division of the kingdom.
1 Kings 10 17 Word analysis
- three hundred: (Hebrew: שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת - shᵉlosh me'ōṯ) Signifies a significant, substantial quantity, indicating an extensive collection of these valuable items. Its large number emphasizes the abundance of Solomon's resources.
- shields: (Hebrew: מָגִנִּים - māginnim, plural of magen) This refers to a type of shield, likely smaller and lighter than the "large shields" (צִנּוֹת - tzinnōṯ) mentioned in 1 Ki 10:16. The magen was typically a circular shield carried on the arm, perhaps more for personal protection or ceremonial display for guards. In this context, given the material, they were almost certainly ceremonial, for pomp and splendor, rather than practical warfare.
- beaten gold: (Hebrew: זָהָב שָׁחוּט - zahab shāḥūṭ) This specifies that the gold was hammered thin into sheets rather than cast. "Beaten" indicates the skill of the craftsmen and the purity of the gold, making it pliable. Gold, being a soft metal, further suggests these were not practical weapons of war but ornamental pieces, intended for show, possibly adorning the king's bodyguards or serving as wall decorations within the palace.
- three minas of gold: (Hebrew: שְׁלֹשֶׁת מָנֶה זָהָב - shᵉloshēṯ māneh zahab) A mina (מָנֶה - maneḥ) was a unit of weight, equivalent to approximately 50 shekels. Thus, each shield contained about 150 shekels of gold. Considering a shekel of gold was about 0.4 troy ounces, each shield would weigh approximately 60 troy ounces or around 5 pounds of solid gold. This is an immense value for each of 300 items, further stressing the unprecedented scale of Solomon's wealth.
- went into each shield: This phrase denotes the precise amount of gold material used in the fabrication of each individual shield. It highlights the extravagant cost and luxurious composition of these military accoutrements.
- the king: Referring to Solomon. His agency in creating and displaying these items underscores his central role in the nation's prosperity and its ultimate turn toward materialism.
- put them: Indicating an intentional arrangement or placement. The act signifies pride and desire for display.
- House of the Forest of Lebanon: (Hebrew: בֵּית יַעַר הַלְּבָנוֹן - bēyṯ yaʿar haLəvānōn) This was one of Solomon's magnificent royal buildings within his palace complex in Jerusalem, built largely of cedar wood from Lebanon, giving it the appearance of a forest of pillars. It served as an armory, a throne room, and a hall of judgment, but more significantly, a grand reception and display hall. Placing the shields here was a public exhibition of his power, wealth, and might. It also housed various valuable items and state treasures.
- "three hundred shields of beaten gold": This phrase cumulatively emphasizes an astounding quantity of exceptionally valuable items. It showcases not only Solomon's immense access to resources but also the skilled labor force available to him for such grand projects. The focus is on sheer abundance and luxury.
- "three minas of gold went into each shield": This specifies the remarkable individual value of each shield. It provides a tangible measure of the extravagance, highlighting that this was not merely a large collection but one comprised of individually precious pieces, indicating lavishness in construction.
- "And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon": This part describes the location and purpose of these shields. They were not for battlefield use, but for display within the king's palace complex, a statement of power and prestige visible to all. The palace itself, built with lavish cedar from Lebanon, complemented the splendor of the gold.
1 Kings 10 17 Bonus section
The total value of the gold shields mentioned in 1 Kings 10:16-17 is astronomical. For the 200 large shields (600 shekels of gold each) and 300 smaller shields (3 minas/150 shekels of gold each), this amounts to (200 600) + (300 150) = 120,000 + 45,000 = 165,000 shekels of gold. Converting this to modern equivalents reveals an almost unfathomable amount of wealth. This unparalleled accumulation of gold was enabled by Solomon's expansive trade networks, his wisdom which attracted tributes from foreign kings, and likely extensive mining operations within or allied territories. The account of these shields underscores a significant shift from the reigns of Saul and David. While David acquired wealth, his focus remained on the Ark of the Covenant and building the temple. Solomon's focus, while including the temple, increasingly shifted towards personal luxury and state apparatus, a departure that ultimately weakened the spiritual foundations of the kingdom. This episode also stands as a biblical critique of human endeavors that prioritize outward show and material accumulation over spiritual obedience and trust in the Lord.
1 Kings 10 17 Commentary
1 Kings 10:17 is a concise yet powerful testament to King Solomon's legendary wealth and opulence. These three hundred gold shields, each a significant financial undertaking, symbolize the zenith of Israel's material prosperity under his reign. While seemingly a benign detail of royal administration, their production and display resonate with deeper theological implications. The sheer volume and material cost speak to Solomon's accumulating vast treasures, a direct divergence from the Mosaic injunction for future kings not to multiply gold and silver (Deut 17:17). These are not shields for battle, being made of soft, beaten gold, but rather objects of ceremonial pomp, intended to impress and symbolize military strength, wealth, and prestige. Their placement in the House of the Forest of Lebanon underscores their purpose as a magnificent, public display of power rather than a functional armory. The subsequent history reveals the ephemeral nature of such earthly glory, as these very shields were later plundered by Pharaoh Shishak, forcing Solomon's successor, Rehoboam, to replace them with inferior bronze copies (1 Ki 14:25-26, 2 Chr 12:9-10). Thus, this verse encapsulates both the peak of Solomon's kingdom and subtly foreshadows the fragility and impermanence of wealth amassed apart from faithful adherence to divine principles, contrasting human pride in material things with true security in God.