1 Kings 10:18-27

18The king also made a large ivory throne and covered it with fine gold.

19Six steps led to the throne. Carved into the back of the throne was a calf’s head. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. Two lions stood beside the armrests.

20Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

21All King Solomon’s cups were gold, and all the utensils for the hall ⌞which he called⌟ the Forest of Lebanon were fine gold. (Nothing was silver, because it wasn’t considered valuable in Solomon’s time.)

22The king had a fleet headed for Tarshish with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the Tarshish fleet would bring gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

23In wealth and wisdom King Solomon was greater than all the ⌞other⌟ kings of the world.

24The whole world wanted to listen to the wisdom that God gave Solomon.

25So everyone who came brought him gifts: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. This happened year after year.

26Solomon built up ⌞his army⌟ with chariots and war horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 war horses. He stationed ⌞some⌟ in chariot cities and ⌞others⌟ with himself in Jerusalem.

27The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills.