20. Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.
21. All king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver, because it was considered of little value in the days of Solomon.
22. For the king had a fleet of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
23. So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
24. All the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
25. Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armour, spices, horses, and mules.
26. Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he kept in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
27. The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.