19. There were six steps to the throne, and the throne had a back with a rounded top, and there were armrests on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms.
20. Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps—six on each side—nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.
21. All of King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the Forest House of Lebanon were of pure gold. (None was of silver—that did not count for anything in the days of Solomon.)
22. For the king had a Tarshish fleet at sea with Hiram’s fleet; once every three years the Tarshish fleet came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.
23. So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in wealth as well as in wisdom.
24. All the earth sought an audience with Solomon, to listen to his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
25. They brought, each man his gift—vessels of silver and gold, robes, weapons, spices, horses and mules—so much year by year.
26. Solomon accumulated chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
27. Also the king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees in the foothills.
28. Solomon’s horses were brought from Egypt and from Keveh. The king’s merchants would buy them from Keveh at a price
29. They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150; and in turn they were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.