1 Kings 10:29 kjv
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.
1 Kings 10:29 nkjv
Now a chariot that was imported from Egypt cost six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse one hundred and fifty; and thus, through their agents, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.
1 Kings 10:29 niv
They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.
1 Kings 10:29 esv
A chariot could be imported from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver and a horse for 150, and so through the king's traders they were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.
1 Kings 10:29 nlt
At that time chariots from Egypt could be purchased for 600 pieces of silver, and horses for 150 pieces of silver. They were then exported to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.
1 Kings 10 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 17:16 | "Only he must not acquire many horses for himself...nor cause the people to return to Egypt to acquire more horses..." | Direct command against multiplying horses from Egypt |
| 1 Ki 4:26 | "Solomon also had 4,000 stalls for his horses and chariots..." | Solomon's abundance of horses & chariots |
| 2 Chr 1:16 | "And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen..." | Parallel passage on Solomon's military might |
| 2 Chr 1:17 | "And they brought up, and fetched forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver..." | Direct parallel confirming the trade |
| Isa 30:16 | "You said, 'No! We will flee upon horses' – therefore you shall flee! And, 'We will ride upon swift steeds' – therefore swift will be your pursuers!" | Prophetic warning against trust in horses |
| Ps 20:7 | "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." | Contrast reliance on earthly power vs. God |
| Ps 33:17 | "A war horse is a false hope for salvation; and by its great strength it cannot rescue." | Emphasizes futility of trust in military might |
| Prov 21:31 | "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord." | Divine sovereignty over military outcomes |
| Isa 31:1 | "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help...who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong..." | Prophetic rebuke against reliance on Egypt |
| Hos 14:3 | "Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses..." | Call to repentance, rejecting military power |
| Mic 5:10 | "I will cut off your horses from among you and destroy your chariots." | Future judgment removing military might |
| Zech 9:10 | "I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off..." | Messianic era of peace, end of war armaments |
| Judg 1:19 | "The LORD was with Judah...but could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain, because they had chariots of iron." | Chariots as significant military advantage |
| Deut 20:1 | "When you go out to battle against your enemies...do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." | Trust in God over military strength |
| Isa 2:7 | "Their land is full of silver and gold...Their land is also full of horses, and there is no end to their chariots." | Critique of Israel's material prosperity |
| Exod 14:7-9 | "He took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt... Pharaoh's horses and his chariots..." | Reminder of God's defeat of Egyptian military might |
| Hag 2:8 | "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts." | Divine ownership of wealth, beyond human accumulation |
| Acts 7:22 | "Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in his words and deeds." | Contrast with Solomon using Egyptian 'wisdom' differently |
| Mt 6:19-21 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." | Spiritual wealth vs. earthly riches |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare...For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." | Danger of material accumulation |
1 Kings 10 verses
1 Kings 10 29 Meaning
This verse details Solomon's thriving and lucrative trade in horses and chariots imported from Egypt. It specifies the prices for these military assets – 600 shekels of silver for a chariot and 150 shekels for a horse – and reveals Solomon's role as a major intermediary, reselling these highly valued goods to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria. The verse underscores the vast scale of his wealth, international influence, and the military power of his kingdom, demonstrating his success as a dominant economic force in the ancient Near East.
1 Kings 10 29 Context
This verse appears at the apex of Solomon's reign, immediately following the account of the Queen of Sheba's visit, which marvels at the unparalleled extent of his wisdom, wealth, and glory (1 Kings 10:1-25). Verses 26-29, particularly 28 and 29, conclude this section on Solomon's material splendor by focusing on his massive acquisition of horses and chariots from Egypt. This information highlights Solomon's impressive economic and military power, portraying Israel at its zenith of worldly success and influence. However, for the original Israelite audience familiar with the Mosaic Law, it subtly alludes to a significant deviation from God's commands regarding the conduct of a king, specifically concerning the multiplication of horses and reliance on Egypt (Deut 17:16). This undercurrent suggests a future spiritual vulnerability despite current earthly prosperity.
1 Kings 10 29 Word analysis
- And a chariot: Hebrew merkavah (מֶרְכָּבָה). This term denotes a military vehicle, usually pulled by two horses, representing significant power and mobility in ancient warfare. It underscores Solomon's investment in state-of-the-art military technology of his day.
- came up and went out: The verbs indicate active procurement and subsequent export, suggesting a systematic trade operation rather than mere domestic acquisition. This "going out" highlights Solomon's role as a merchant and distributor.
- of Egypt: Hebrew Mitzrayim (מִצְרַיִם). Egypt was renowned in the ancient Near East for its high-quality horses and advanced chariot manufacturing. This sourcing signifies Solomon's access to prime military resources and a strong trade relationship, which, however, contradicted the Mosaic prohibition against returning to Egypt for horses (Deut 17:16).
- for six hundred shekels of silver: A very substantial sum, indicating the high value and strategic importance of a war chariot. Silver was a standard medium of exchange, and this price highlights the vast wealth circulating in Solomon's kingdom.
- and a horse: Hebrew sus (סוּס). Essential for military operations, often used in pairs for chariots. The price of 150 shekels for a horse aligns with two horses per chariot (2 x 150 = 300, plus 300 for the chariot itself), which seems to be implied by some interpretations.
- a hundred and fifty: This price, one-quarter of the chariot's price (if a chariot used 4 horses, or if this referred to a singular horse without implied pairing), or one-quarter of the chariot's base price for each horse (suggesting the 600 shekels covers chariot + 4 horses). The most common understanding is that 2 horses costing 150 shekels each were paired with a 300-shekel chariot to make up the total 600 shekels.
- and so for all the kings of the Hittites: Hebrew Malkhei ha-Khittim (מַלְכֵי הַחִתִּים). The Hittite Empire was a significant power to the north of Israel, a major military player in the region. This demonstrates the broad reach of Solomon's commercial influence and the strategic importance of his trade network for regional powers.
- and for the kings of Syria: Hebrew Malkhei Aram (מַלְכֵי אֲרָם). Various Aramean kingdoms existed to Israel's northeast. Trading with them shows Solomon's control over key trade routes and his commercial leverage over neighboring states, some of whom would later become adversaries.
- they brought them out by their means: Hebrew b'yadhem (בְּיָדָם), meaning "by their hand" or "by their agency/means." This indicates that Solomon's own merchants or officials facilitated this import and export trade. It implies a systematic, organized commercial enterprise, rather than just simple purchases. It confirms Solomon's active role as a dominant middleman, controlling a valuable regional commodity.
1 Kings 10 29 Bonus section
- Iron Age Economy: In the Iron Age (c. 1200-600 BCE), horses and chariots were apex military technology, equivalent to modern tanks or fighter jets. Controlling their supply from Egypt (the primary producer) gave Solomon immense power and wealth.
- "Solomon's Folly": Many biblical scholars view Solomon's actions in accumulating wealth, multiplying horses from Egypt, and having numerous foreign wives (1 Ki 10:26-29, 1 Ki 11:1-8) as direct violations of Deuteronomic law (Deut 17:14-20). This period, though glorious in terms of earthly prosperity, paradoxically marks the beginning of Solomon's spiritual decline and sets the stage for the kingdom's later troubles.
- The Silk Road of Antiquity: Solomon's control of these trade routes for such valuable goods hints at a sophisticated trade network across the ancient Near East, solidifying Israel's central position economically and politically. He functioned as a crucial nexus for military technology.
- Literary Foreshadowing: The consistent emphasis on Solomon's wealth, particularly his horses and chariots, serves as a literary device throughout Kings, setting up a theological commentary on the king's obedience (or lack thereof) to divine instruction, leading to future consequences.
1 Kings 10 29 Commentary
1 Kings 10:29 offers a precise economic snapshot of Solomon's kingdom at its zenith, demonstrating unparalleled wealth and geopolitical influence through control of critical trade routes for military goods. While outwardly portraying Solomon's magnificence, the mention of horses and chariots from Egypt immediately resonates with the specific Deuteronomic injunction against such acquisitions (Deut 17:16). This implicit theological critique highlights that Solomon's human wisdom and reliance on wealth and military might, despite God's initial blessing, gradually diverged from divine principles. His vast commercial success in this strategic commodity inadvertently sowed seeds of spiritual compromise by accumulating resources specifically forbidden to the king of Israel, foreshadowing the eventual decline and division of the kingdom due to faithlessness and a trust in worldly power over the covenant relationship with God. This verse serves as a subtle, yet powerful, warning against the intoxicating allure of prosperity and the dangers of earthly security overshadowing spiritual obedience.