Chapter LX.
SOLOMON’S MAGNIFICENCE.— HIS APOSTASY AND ITS PUNISHMENT.
[3 Kings 9 — 11. 2 Paralip. 9.]
BESIDES the Temple which he erected to the Lord, Solomon built for himself a palace[1] of wonderful magnificence. His throne was of ivory, overlaid with the finest gold. It had six steps, and at the two ends of each step there stood a lion: six to the right and six to the left — in all twelve lions. But the top of the throne was round and had a large lion, well made, on either side. And Solomon made two hundred shields of the purest gold and hung them in his palace.
All the vessels out of which the king drank were of gold, and all the furniture of his house was likewise of gold. In the days of Solomon there was no silver; no account was made of it, because the royal fleet brought from foreign countries[2] riches of all kinds and precious metals in abundance. Solomon built several new cities; he beautified and strengthened Jerusalem, so that, with few exceptions, it surpassed all the cities of that time in beauty and splendour.
And Solomon reigned from the Euphrates to the confines of Egypt, and he was at peace with his neighbours on every side, and each man rested without fear under his own vine and fig-tree. Kings from far and near showed Solomon respect[3] and sent him presents. The queen of Saba[4] came herself from her far distant land to behold his magnificence and hear the words of his wisdom. When she had seen and heard, her spirit failed and she said to the king: “The report is true which I heard in my own country, but I would not believe. Blessed are thy servants who stand before thee and hear thy wisdom.” Thus did Solomon exceed all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom[5].
- ↑ Palace. Or castle.
- ↑ Foreign countries. Especially from India and Spain.
- ↑ Respect. And desired to see him.
- ↑ Saba. In Arabia.
- ↑ Wisdom. Solomon's wisdom is shown forth in his written books, namely Canon of Holy Scripture. The first of the three contains wise sayings and rules of life; the second preaches the vanity of all earthly things; and the third sings of the love of God for His spouse the Church.
