the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more breath in her.
The queen of Sheba travelled a long way on the strength of a report. Verse 5 lists what she found in Solomon's court, and it left her with nothing to say.
Every Detail Carried the King's Stamp
The list moves from the grand to the small: the food, the seating, the waiters, even what the staff wore. One writer traces the list and shows why even its smallest items matter.
William Kelly"When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon" (that is the attractive object) ... "his cup-bearers also, and their apparel" (for even the least and lowest things bore the stamp of his royal grandeur) — "and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD" — (for this was the grandest of all) — "there was no more spirit in her."
The cupbearer's job was more than ceremony:
Morrish Bible DictionaryAnother name for 'butler.' He handed the cup to the king, and he was responsible for making sure there was nothing harmful in it.
Seated Before Sent
The order of the phrases matters. Sitting comes before serving, and clothing follows both.
Leslie M. Grant"The seating of his servants" comes before service, because the Lord first seats us in godly order to receive instruction before we serve. Then the verse notes "the service of his waiters." The order in this service must have been planned wisely too, and believers today will serve well when they serve under the authority of the Lord Jesus.
Commenting on their clothing, the same writer moves from what Solomon's staff wore to what God gives believers to wear:
"Their apparel" was fitting for the presence of the king. Scripture tells us what is the clothing of believers: "And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30). This is a lovely answer to the prayer of the Psalmist, "Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us" (Ps. 90:17).
note needed — ESV "favor" loses the clothing picture the writer builds on
The Climbing Way to the House of the Lord
The last item in the verse differs between translations. The ESV has Solomon's burnt offerings at the house of the LORD; older translations read "his ascent by which he went up to the house of the LORD." Commentators follow that ascent and look for its meaning rather than its design.
Leslie M. GrantWe know of no record of what this ascent was like, but its spiritual meaning matters more. It speaks of the truth of the Lord's ascension to glory, and, connected with this, of the coming of the Lord to take His saints to their heavenly home. Solomon's own house speaks of the Church in its order on earth, but the temple (the house of the Lord) is a picture of the Father's house (John 14:2).
Hearing Satisfied Her, Seeing Emptied Her
Her breath failed only after Solomon had answered her questions.
W. W. FeredayWhat the Queen heard satisfied her; but what she saw overwhelmed her. She found herself standing before the man whom God had exalted. She saw his glory and majesty. She saw the dignity and happiness of those who served him, and there was no more spirit in her. In the same way, our need drew us to the Christ of God. His revelations of grace set our consciences at rest and settled all our problems. Then, no longer troubled by a sense of need and danger, we were free to gaze on Christ Himself.
A Rich Woman with an Empty Heart
She did not come to Jerusalem because she lacked luxury. She had all of it already.
The Christian's FriendThe queen of the south had every royal honour upon her and every royal resource around her. She could command the pleasures people long for, and she clearly had the health and the ability to enjoy them. The world was at her disposal, but the world had left her with an aching, craving heart.
Filled, and Sent Home to Tell
What she saw shaped what she asked for next.
J. T. MawsonShe made her requests under the influence of his greatness. We can be sure that the main thing she asked for was this: that she might show her people how great the king was, in whose presence she had stood.
The Chapter That Follows
The splendour she saw did not hold. Writers point to the jolt between this chapter and the next:
W. W. Fereday1 Kings 10 tells us of the visit of the Queen of Sheba with her spiritual difficulties, which Solomon was enabled to clear up by the grace of God given to him. His majesty, wisdom, the Temple and the King's ascent to it, and the happiness of all his servants overwhelmed her... "But" — terrible words — 1 Kings 11 tells us of Solomon's host of unholy women.
Summary
- Detail — Nothing in Solomon's court was filler: "even the least and lowest things bore the stamp of his royal grandeur."
- Order — Seating comes before service: the Lord seats us to listen before He sends us out to work.
- Ascent — Kelly called the climb to the house of the LORD "the grandest of all." Others read it as a picture of Christ's ascension and of His people going home.
- Breathless — Her questions were answered first. Only then did the king himself take her breath away.
- Errand — A heart the world had left aching went home full, and went home to tell.