Rashi on Tanakh1 Kings 10

And his elevated ramp by which he would go up to the Beis Hamikdosh of Adonoy. By means of a passageway that he had prepared from his house to the Beis Hamikdosh, by which he would go up to the House of God.¹Alternatively, ועולתו אשר יעלה עליו refers to the sacrifices that Shlomo offered in the Beis Hamikdosh, described above in 9:25.—Targum

Coral. Corail, in O.F.

A pathway to the Beis Hamikdosh of Adonoy. But in Divrei Hayomim it is written, “paths [מסילות] to the House of Adonoy.”²II Divrei Hayomim 9:11. I therefore say, that this support [מסעד] is an expression of a pavement.

For the singers. For the Leviyim.

Gave to the queen of Sheva. This giving refers only to the teaching of wisdom.

All that she desired. (He had relations with her and Nevuchadnetzar was born, and he later destroyed the Beis [Hamikdosh] that had stood 410 years in the territory of all the twelve tribes. Rabbi Yitzchok [Luria] of blessed memory) [He gave her more,] in addition to giving her gifts and delicacies that are found here but are not found in her place.³Alternatively, Shlomo gave her gifts of intellectual wisdom by answering all the problems and questions that she had asked, in addition to solving the riddles that she had posed to him.—Ralbag

Six hundred sixty-six. Chirom gave him 120 [talents], the Queen of Sheva 120, the ships of Tarshish brought from Ophir 420, totaling 660 [talents]. I do not know from where the other six came. It is written in Divrei Hayomim that [the ships brought] from Ophir 450 [talents],⁴See II Divrei Hayomim 8:18. however it does not include the 120 talents of Chirom. We can resolve the contradictions that the extra 30 were from the 120 of Chirom, because Chirom’s servants were in Ophir with his servants.

This was in addition [to the gold that came from] traveling merchants. Merchants would bring him who visited the land on business.⁵Alternatively, retailers who sell small quantities, spy [=תרים] out the land to determine where to do business.—Metzudas Tzion

Spice dealers. Spice dealers who would carry spices from one city to another.

And all the subordinate kings. [Targum] Yonoson rendered, “and all dependent upon his support,”⁶Alternatively, Arab kings.—Metzudas Tzion an expression of guarantee, [i.e.,] kings who were allies and were dependent upon his support, garantie, in O.F.

Full shields. [A body shield that] encircles the person on three sides. This is the meaning of the verse in the Book of Tehillim, “as a body shield, with good, will You shall surround him.”⁷Tehillim 5:13.

Six hundred. Six manim, for [a piece of] gold is a dinar.

Soft gold. It is soft and easy to flatten out.⁸This type of gold can be spun like thread [חוט]. See Maseches Yoma 44b-45a.

Glittering gold. Sparkling like pearls.

Six steps. Steps by which to go up [to it], and the top of the throne, was circular, where the king sits.

From behind. The throne was wide, and the steps were to the front and to the width, to the back was the seat, higher than the throne, was a round place.⁹A circular dome protruded from above the throne above the king’s head.—Metzudas Dovid

And there were arm-rests on each side. On which to support his arms, like two gold rails from end to end, extending on the right and on the left.

There were two lions. Of gold. The entire plan of the throne is described in the Aggadah of Megillas Esther.¹⁰Esther Rabboh 1:12.

None of them were made of silver, as [silver] was not considered of value. There was no silver in any of them because it was not valuable.

Ships of Tarshish. [Targum Yonoson rendered,] “ships of Africa.”

Ivory, monkeys, and peacocks. [Targum Yonoson rendered,] ivory, monkeys and peacocks.

Weapons. Weapons.

Fourteen hundred chariots. But in Divrei Hayomim it states, “seventeen hundred.”¹¹II Divrei Hayomim 1:14. Rashi apparently had a different version of the text than ours. Our text in Divrei Hayomim reads, “fourteen hundred chariots.” Thus there is no discrepancy between the texts. Therefore I say that fourteen hundred were in the chariot cities, and three hundred were with the king in Yerusholayim. And this is the explanation in Divrei Hayomim, “and he stationed them in the chariot cities, and with the king there were other chariots in Yerusholayim.” And while here, this is the explanation, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king; and in Yerusholayim [were additional ones].

He placed them. And he led them.¹²Alternatively, he stationed them.—Metzudas Dovid.

As stones. But above it states, “of no value.”¹³Above v. 21. Our Rabbis explained that one refers to the time before Shlomo married Pharaoh’s daughter, and one refers to the time after Shlomo wedded Pharaoh’s daughter.¹⁴See Maseches Sanhedrin 21b. After Shlomo married Pharaoh’s daughter and began to go astray, the nation became less prosperous and silver regained some value.

The source of the horses that Shlomo possessed. Was from Egypt.

A privileged cartel. The gathering of horse dealers was in Egypt. Shlomo’s merchants bought [the rights] from the king of Egypt, because no person could export horses from there except through them. This is what I heard. Therefore, there is a “zakef gadol”¹⁵I.e., a cantillation signifying a pause. on “ומקוה,” to denote that the word מקוה stands by itself and is not connected with what follows it.¹⁶Alternatively, מקוה is linen thread [thread=תקוה, See Yehoshua 2:18], i.e. Egypt exported two items for Shlomo, horses and linen thread—Radak. Or מקוה [=מן קוה], i.e., they brought horses from a region called קוה.—Metzudas Dovid

And a single horse for one hundred fifty. We deduce that a chariot consisted of four horses.¹⁷If a single horse was exported for 150 silver pieces, and a chariot was exported for 600 silver pieces, obviously a chariot consisted of four horses. And for these prices [they sold] to all the kings of the Chitim and Aram.

Through them. Through Shlomo’s merchants, they exported them from Egypt.