1 Kings 10:17–21

Next to the temple, Solomon's most important building was the house of the forest of Lebanon. It stood in Jerusalem, but its materials came down from Lebanon. This house was much larger than the temple. The temple was 60 cubits long by 20 cubits broad; the house of the forest of Lebanon was 100 cubits long by 50 cubits broad. Both were 30 cubits high. This great building held Solomon's 300 shields of beaten gold. They later became spoil for the Egyptians in the days of Rehoboam. All the vessels in it were of pure gold, and none of silver, for silver counted for nothing in the days of Solomon (1 Kings 10:17-21). There he also made a hall for the throne where he would judge, the hall of judgment (1 Kings 7:7). This suggests the righteous administration of our Lord Jesus in the great age of His kingdom.

"The house of the forest of Lebanon" is described for us in detail. It was much larger than the temple, though not as elaborate and costly. This house was the place of judgment and administration of Solomon's kingdom. So it speaks of the administration of the earthly kingdom of the Lord Jesus in the millennium. That is the 1000 years of His reign of righteousness and peace.

Verses 14 through 22 describe the riches and the splendour of the kingdom. Gold, the emblem of divine righteousness, stands out everywhere under Solomon's reign, from the temple to the throne. The throne was marvellous. No kingdom had ever made anything like it. It was the throne of righteousness and of power, and it carried the emblems of both.

Solomon made … shields of hammered gold, each weighing 3 minas of gold (6 pounds), and put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. This was symbolical of the protection of his kingdom in its administration.

Compare 1 Kings 10:17 with 2 Chronicles 9:16 and you see that a maneh equals 100 shekels. This is only probable, since the translators added the word "shekels". In Ezekiel 45:12 the maneh equals 60 shekels, because those would be shekels of the sanctuary… Translators render maneh as "pound" in 1 Kings 10:17, Ezra 2:69 and Nehemiah 7:71-72.

As we follow the history of his reign we find the love of riches growing upon Solomon. God was too kind to His frail servant, and it cost him his soul… Gold was so common that "he made 300 shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went into each shield" (1 Kings 10:17). These were surely not for use in war; they were just ornaments. But Rehoboam lost these costly ornaments in war. In his vanity he made shields of brass to replace them… Oh, the pitiful vanity of weak human nature! Appearances must be kept up even after the reality has gone.

Shields are for protection. Is there any real protection in our boasted claims of holiness as compared to a living faith in the Son of God?

Verses 14 through 22 describe the riches and the splendor of the kingdom. Gold, the emblem of divine righteousness, stands out everywhere under Solomon's reign, from the temple to the throne. The throne was marvelous: "There was not the like made in any kingdom." It was the throne of righteousness and of power, and it bore the emblems of these.

Six steps led up to the throne. It was rounded at the back and had arm rests on either side, and beside the arm rests were two lions. There were also two lions on each of the six steps, that is, 12 lions (v.20). These lions were part of the throne, and since the throne had six steps, all of these steps and lions were overlaid with gold. Nothing like this was true of any other kingdom. The gold speaks of the glory of God, which will indeed be supreme in the glorious high throne of the Lord Jesus in His kingdom.

The whiteness and smoothness of the ivory may show the perfection of Christ, without blemish or spot. Peter gives the same view when he speaks of Him as "without blemish or spot" (1 Peter 1:19).

So 12 lions stood on the steps, no doubt representing the 12 tribes of Israel.

The lion is described as "mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any" (Proverbs 30:30). This shows that the lion may be taken as a symbol of strength. In the same way the Lord is called the lion of the tribe of Judah. Attached to that name is the symbol of royalty, because Judah held the sceptre (Genesis 49:9-10; Revelation 5:5).

When Solomon was first made king, he had sat on his father's throne, as David himself had ordered (1 Kings 1:35). Now we see him on his own throne in this marvelous "house of the forest" adorned with six hundred shields of gold, where he judges in righteousness.

At present He is seated on His Father's throne, at His right hand, according to this word: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool" (Psalm 110:1). By these words God the Father expressed His complete satisfaction with the work the Son of Man accomplished. It is as though He were saying to Him: Take this supreme and glorious place, my Son, until I have prepared a throne for You. It must surpass every other throne. Never shall the like be made in any kingdom.

Solomon made a great throne of ivory, and Ahab made an ivory house, but the King of kings will have ivory palaces that will endure. The ivory throne of Solomon was never heard of again after it was built, and the ivory house of Ahab is only mentioned after he had died. But the ivory palaces of Christ will remain throughout the millennium. They will reflect the glory of the Great King, show the stability of His kingdom, and display the abundance of His resources.

Solomon also had a great throne of ivory overlaid with gold. This was in the House of the Forest of Lebanon, placed in a special Hall made for it, called the Hall of Judgment. A footstool of gold was fastened to the throne.

David himself gave the order: when Solomon rose to royal dignity, he sat on his father's throne. Now we see him on his own throne, in this marvellous "house of the forest" decorated with six hundred shields of gold. There he judges in righteousness.

Gold stands out everywhere under Solomon's reign, from the temple to the throne. It is the emblem of divine righteousness. The throne was marvellous: "Nothing like it was ever made for any kingdom." It was the throne of righteousness and of power, and it bore the emblems of these.

Scripture declares the lion "mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any" (Proverbs 30:30). This shows that the lion may be taken as a symbol of strength. As such the Lord is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Royalty belongs to that title too, for Judah held the sceptre.

On each side of the six steps a lion stood, so there were 12 lions on the steps, no doubt representing the 12 tribes of Israel.

The use of the number six in the description of Solomon's glories is noticeable. His ivory throne had six steps. In a single year he brought in 666 talents of gold. Each of his 200 shields took 600 shekels of gold. Six is the number of man, and expresses incompleteness and imperfection. The superman of the last days, who will win the world's admiration, has 666 as the number of his name (Revelation 13:18). Seven signifies completeness and perfection. Earth will never know that until the Man of God's eternal choice comes forth in His might.

Solomon had six steps to his great throne, but it was not high enough to save him from idolatry.

Nothing like this was true of any other kingdom. The gold speaks of the glory of God. That glory will be supreme in the glorious high throne of the Lord Jesus in His kingdom. His reign of great prosperity will be altogether for God's glory.

At present He is seated on His Father's throne, at His right hand, as this word says: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." By these words God the Father expressed His complete satisfaction with the work accomplished by the Son of Man. It is as though He were saying to Him: Take this supreme and glorious place, my Son, until I have prepared a throne for you. It must surpass every other throne. No throne like it will ever be made in any kingdom. Your victory over your enemies will be the first step by which you climb to that throne.

What riches and glory the king had! Everything was of gold. All the drinking vessels were of gold. Silver lost its value in his days; it was worth next to nothing. Compare this with what will take place in the coming kingdom of our Lord. "Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle" (Isaiah 55:13). "Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver, instead of wood, bronze, instead of stones, iron" (Isaiah 60:17).

Christ's authority will be for God's glory. So will the provision He makes for the people in the kingdom, even in regard to what they drink.

Silver was not used because it was worth less than gold. Silver speaks of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, putting emphasis on the great work He has accomplished for us. But Christ personally is greater than His work.

Next to the temple, Solomon's most important building was the house of the forest of Lebanon. It stood in Jerusalem, but he built it with materials brought down from Lebanon. This house was much larger than the temple. It held Solomon's 300 shields of beaten gold. All the vessels there "were of pure gold; none were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon." And "he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment" (1 Kings 7:7). This suggests the righteous administration of our Lord Jesus in the great kingdom age.

We can see in this name a beautiful image of this glorious reign. Lebanon faced Tyre and even belonged to it. So there was a relationship between this house and the nations in submission to the great king. It was there that Solomon sat as sovereign and judge of the nations as well as of his own people.

We notice that all this magnificent store of gold and silver and ivory was collected for his own pleasure and enjoyment. He was the centre around which everything revolved. How different he was to his father in this. David did collect immense stores of gold from his victorious campaigns. But he gathered it all to the Lord as his Centre, the Lord identified with His temple. Solomon was on quite different lines. All that he got he heaped up for his own benefit.

He had wealth beyond any monarch the world has ever seen. "Silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon." All that wealth could buy, all that power could command, all that wisdom could search out, he could enjoy and understand. "What, then, can the man do who comes after the king?" (Ecclesiastes 2:12).

Ask and you shall receive. Ask — you will never exhaust them, all the riches of His kingdom, those "unsearchable riches of Christ." His kingdom is not now of this world. So you will not carry out of His presence the earthly goods that were heaped on the queen. Those lesser treasures belong to the Messiah's coming reign on earth. Our goods, our treasures, are spiritual. The world despises them, but the Christian worthy of the name calls them the true riches.