v1 - These 'hard sayings' or 'dark sayings' as they are elsewhere [e.g. Prov.1:6] are no problem to Solomon as he has wisdom from God for which he asked (and so can we - James 1:5). When we are confronted with hard sayings, what is our reaction - are we ready to give an answer? Psa. 49:4, Prov.1:5, Matt.13:11,35.

God had promised that Solomon would have riches, as well as wisdom (see  1Kin 3:13).  When all the world leaders came to hear his wisdom (1Kin 10:24,25), they brought gifts.  God was bringing His promise true.

Vs.26,28 The abundant wisdom that Yahweh gave to Solomon did not affect his free will choice to do good or evil.  Solomon chose to disobey Yahweh by amassing horses (Deut 17:16).  Later it is recorded that he disobeyed the command of Deut 17:17.  

His disobedience would lead to the downfall of the kingdom (1Kin 11:11).  Attached to the commands of Deut. 17:16,17 is the command for the king to write a copy of the Law and to read it every day (Deut 17:18,19). 

The lesson for us is clear: to read the Scriptures every day and apply them.  This way we can avoid the pitfalls of prideful flesh.

V.18 Of metallurgical interest: Solomon overlaid his ivory throne with gold.  The way this was done was to mix liquid gold with mercury to form a paste.  The paste was then applied to the object to be covered (in this case the ivory throne).  Eventually the mercury would evaporate leaving the film of gold securely adhered to the surface of the object.

10:1  The queen of Sheba was rather arrogant – seeking to ‘prove’ God’s king. That is to get him to demonstrate his knowledge. In actuality she ended up learning abut herself! She had ‘believed not’ but then realised that what Solomon represented was more than twice as much as she had heard :7

10:3 In saying "there was not anything hid from the king …" we see a picture of the reign of Christ where he will, as a faithful judge be fully aware of everything happening in his kingdom – Isa 11:3-4

This chapter, and the visit of the Queen of Sheba, are the pivotal point in Solomon's life. Little did the devout Queen realise what rot she had started in the heart of the King.

The woman who came to see Solomon came to see God's representative on earth. Ever since Israel had been brought out of Israel, God's plan had been to proclaim His own goodness to the nations through the ministration of His people. Israel were to be a Kingdom of Priests (Exo 19:6, Deut 26:18-19). The fulfilment of these promises was now. Solomon sat on a glorious throne by God's temple - not Israel's Temple - it was God's temple to the whole earth. So in v1 we read that she came to hear "concerning the LORD". She was in search of the one true God of the whole earth.

When Solomon saw her he was flattered on two counts. One, he was praised for his wisdom, and two, for his riches and majesty. But the awful mistake she made was to pay Solomon for it (1Kin 10:10). Solomon's joy ought to have been in seeing God's ways proclaimed to a Gentile by his God given wisdom. This is what her highest praise of him had been (v8). But instead, he seemed to pay more heed to her gift. His thoughts went to the amount of wealth he could accumulate simply by selling his gift of wisdom. Thus we have in v14 the famous number, representing his turning point, and in v24-25 the result. Solomon had set a fixed price on the gift of God.

10:5    In saying ‘there was no more spirit in her’ the Scriptures are telling us that the Queen of Sheba’s attitude had changed. She had come to test Solomon and having done so acknowledges his greatness. So she had become a submissive monarch – typical of those nations which will w be willing to be subject to Christ when he returns.

V.1 The Queen of Sheba came to Solomon.  Where was Sheba located?  Some believe it was the area of present-day Yemen; while others think that it was Ethiopia.  How did the Queen hear about Solomon? There was Hiram's trading fleet which would have carried news of Solomon on its travels (v.11).

10:6-7 The reaction of the Queen of Sheba is an indication of the glory of Solomon’s kingdom. Word had spread that it was so magnificent that the queen could not believe that anything could be so wonderful. Bu then she responds that what she had been told was nothing like as good as it actually was! Solomon’s kingdom is a foretaste of the kingdom of God when God will bless He land of Israel and the world so much – way beyond anything we can imagine!

Vs.1,2 There are two opinions as to where Sheba was located.  One opinion is that it was where present-day Yemen is situated. The other opinion is that it was where Ethiopia and Eritrea are today. The stronger archaeological evidence supports Yemen as being the location.

There is no sense from v.2 that the Queen of Sheba, with her very great train (KJV), came across the water from the Horn of Africa.  But, one can imagine this very great retinue (ESV) trekking through the desert to Jerusalem.

V.9 Both the Queen of Sheba and Hiram blessed the God of Israel (1Kin 5:7).  But, there is no further evidence as to whether they became converts to the faith of Israel.

V.10 A talent weighs approximately 132 lbs. Today’s price of gold is approximately $950 per ounce. 1 lb. of gold would be worth $15,200.  Therefore, 1 talent of gold would be worth $2,006,400.  And so, 120 talents would have today’s market value of $240,768,000. Add to that the value of the gems and spices, and I think Solomon would have received some very nice, expensive gifts - all tax free too.

V.14 The value of Solomon’s yearly acquisition of gold was worth, by today’s valuation, $1,603,514,800.

V.17 The phrase, three pound of gold (KJV) is incorrect.  It should be three minas (ESV) which is the equivalent of six pounds approximately; (60 minas = 1 talent).  And so, the value of one shield, by today’s price, would be worth $100,320.  Collectively, the 300 shields would be worth $30,096,000.

V.27 As a matter of interest, silver sells for $224 per lb. on today’s market.  But, it was so plentiful in Solomon’s day that it was not considered valuable.

10:22  Whilst we might think of a ‘navy’ as being fighting ships this was not so of Solomon’s navy. It was a merchant navy designed to bring the riches of the world to Solomon’ kingdom.

V.9 Not long after this point in time, at the end of the fifth year of Jehoiakim, or the beginning of his sixth year, the Babylonians would lay siege to Jerusalem, in 598 BC.  The first wave of exiles, including Jehoiakim and Daniel, would go to Babylon. 

Jeremiah would continue to prophesy in Jerusalem while Daniel was in Babylon.  Information on the Jerusalem situation would be given to the exiles, and exhortation to Jerusalem would be given via the prophets in Babylon.  

During the Babylonian siege, the people would become gaunt and weak through starvation.  Then something remarkable would happen - the Babylonians would leave.  At that time, the people in Jerusalem would probably recall the miracle of Jerusalem's delivery in the days of Hezekiah (Isa 37:35,36) and would think that Yahweh had likewise delivered them. 

Thus, Jeremiah's prophecy about Jerusalem's destruction would look foolish and the people would rejoice.  However, their jubilation would not last. 

The Babylonians had left to take care of the bothersome Egyptians.  The Babylonians would return in 587 BC and clobber Jerusalem in keeping with Jeremiah's predictions. 

36:21-24  Jehoiakim is behaving in the same cavalier way in which he had behaved in Jer 26:22-23

36:3  Notice God’s desire. He wishes to forgive – hence He is seeking Judah’s repentance. Are we so generous with those with whom we meet?

36:24 Contrast this action with that of his father Josiah when the newly found Book of the Law was read in his ears (1Kin 21:27)

Josiah had rent his garments in sorrow, but now the roll is rent in anger. Jehoiakim thus threw away his last offer of mercy. 

36:2 Jeremiah was confined. He was not a free man. However ‘the word of God is not bound’ – 2Tim 2:9 - so the faithful scribe is sent with the words.

36:16 That the scribes were ‘afraid’ indicates that there were some ho ‘trembled at the word’ – doubtless these were men who had been very familiar with the book of the law, copying it out. However they clearly knew what the king was like – hence the desire that he did not see the scroll and the advise that Jeremiah and Baruch should hide.

V.2 a roll (KJV) would consist of several parchments stitched together so that an extensive amount of writing could be made.  From the days of Josiah until today (ESV) covered about 58 years from his birth; or about 27 years from his death.

V.4 Baruch (means blessed) was a faithful scribe and attendant of Jeremiah.

Vs.5,6 Similarly, Jeremiah would later entrust Baruch’s brother Seraiah with taking his book to Babylon and reading it to the captives there (Jer 51:59-64).

V.10 Shaphan was the scribe to Josiah (2Kin 22:8-10).

V.19 The princes (officials) knew that this was the Word of God and feared the king’s adverse reaction to the prophet and scribe.

V.22 The ninth month (of the religious year) was equivalent to November/ December.

V.23 Jehudi did not cut the scroll independently.  He would act according to the wishes of the king.

V.26 The action of the princes in v.19 was supervised by Yahweh.

Vs.28,32 It is impossible to destroy the Word of God.  Many have tried to mute God’s Word over the centuries, but their efforts have all been unsuccessful.

The paralysed scribe

All the words that had caused men to want to kill Jeremiah, God now wanted him to write down. And Jeremiah asked Baruch to write it for him. Baruch would already know something of Jeremiah's message, I'm sure. So how did he feel about this request? And when, hours or days later it became painfully apparent that Jeremiahs words were slanderous, provocative and above all dangerous, how did he feel about being seen to write them? Maybe every day, when he met up with Jeremiah, he was increasingly fearful.

And the subject was upsetting too. Condemnation of his people, and judgement on his homeland. Pronouncement of doom, destruction, pain and misery for his loved ones, friends and acquantances. The misery would lift off the page as he wrote and settle upon him like a lead garment.

And then, when the ordeal was finally at an end, and Baruch felt he could go and get on with his life again; the shocking request: "Baruch, you know I'm unable to move about don't you? But these words can't just stay unread. People have to hear the word of the LORD so that they can repent and be saved. Please could you read it to them?" (v5-6). How did this scribe feel now as he imagined the mocking, his humiliation, his capture, torture and death at the hand of the Godless king? (v26).

But we're not left guessing. Chapter 45:3 tells us what he felt at this time: "Woe is me now! For the LORD has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing and find no rest". He was depressed by the message and burdened down by fear at the task he had been asked to carry out. When we look at the dates involved, v1 and v9, it could have been over a year before Baruch read out what he had written. Yet he went and did it. God had comforted him through a promise recorded in 45:5 "I will give your life to you as a prize wherever you go".

36:3,7 ‘It may be’ – God was still hoping that the people, led by the king, would repent. So we see the character of God as displayed to Moses –Exo 34:6-7 - in the way that he was dealing with these evil Jews in Jeremiah’s day.

"Baruch Bulla"

Jer 36:4 - papyrus documents used to be sealed with hardened clay impressions ("bullae", singular "bulla") which verified the validity of the documents. During the 1970's a bulla of Jeremiah's scribe was appropriated and verified.

These things all amount to the same thing. If you start to cut off all the flesh which causes you to offend, then you have to cut it all off. You have to cut your life off. The cup of Jesus was to cut off his life. The cross of Jesus was to die upon it. Were they prepared to do that?

In v24-27 Jesus gives them a hope. What is impossible with men, is possible with God. Through the cutting off of Jesus, they were to be allowed to forego the same. If only they would humble themselves, and forget their desires for grandure, they would be saved through him. Jesus tries to explain this in v43-45. God then provides a visual aid through blind Bartimaeus, who instead of trying to puff himself up in front of Jesus, cries out "Son of David, have mercy on me!" (v48). "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 18:14)

V43-44 Jesus is saying that in the kingdom over which he reigns, greatness is obtained by pursuing a course of action which is the exact opposite of that which is followed in the unbelieving world. Greatness consists in self giving, in the outpouring of the self in service to others, for the glory of God.

10:35Whereas Mark has the sons asking the question Matt 20:20has their mother asking the question. It appears that the boys got their mother to ask the question, possibly thinking that she would receive a more favourable answer than they would have received if they had asked directly.

10:21 Jesus’ ‘love’ for the young man did not cause Jesus to compromise himself by reducing the requirements for the man. We should remember that true love for man will cause us to teach the full gospel rather than compromise in order to pacify those with who we speak.

10:24   Jesus’ comment ‘how hard …’ echoes the words of the preacher – Prov 11:28

V.25 some believe that the eye of a needle refers to a gate in Jerusalem commonly known as Needle's Eye.  A camel, laden with goods, could not pass through this gate.  And so, the camel would have to be unloaded before it could pass through the gate.  Similarly, a rich man would have to divest himself of his wealth (or, rather, his love for wealth 1Tim 6:10) before he could enter the Kingdom of God.

10:3-9 Jesus’ approach to the trick question is instructive. Whilst his opponents used Scripture to advance their argument Jesus looked at the broader teaching of Scripture to put the quoted verse into a context which gave a clear explanation of the idea quoted by the Pharisees and other Scriptures as well. We do well in our discussion with others to not simply explain the verse that might be quoted to us but rather to lay out the whole counsel of the Scriptures.

V.2 It is important to understand the background of this question, and the reason the Pharisees posed it to Jesus.

Two prominent rabbis had established schools just prior to the time of Christ.  One was Shammai, and the other was Hillel.  Shammai had a strict interpretation of the Law, while Hillel was much more liberal.  Both rabbis had their own following. 

Thus, we see the Pharisees coming to Jesus, testing him on the question of divorce. Would he endorse Shammai who said that divorce was only valid if sexual immorality had occurred; or would he side with Hillel who allowed many reasons for divorce, some frivolous? 

Jesus, the greatest rabbi of all-time, endorsed neither but went straight to the scriptures.  His first words of reply were: What did Moses command you? (v.3). The Lord's foundation was always the Word of God - which should be ours, also (Deut 24:1-3). 

By the way, it was Hillel who won the historical battle in that his liberal ideas largely formed the direction which Judaism has taken until today.

10:17-18 The one who came running to Jesus was a genuine seeking for truth. We might think that such individuals, being few and far between, should be treated with great care lest we cause them to turn away from following Jesus. We don’t want to do anything to put them off from the message we have to give them. We might, therefore, avoid some points in discussion with them lest we offend them. Whilst that is good we should be aware of Jesus’ approach here. Jesus picked up on a couple of words ‘good master’ and rebuked the young man. We must be careful to ensure that we, in our enthusiasm to make our visitor comfortable, gloss over or avoid fundamental issues with them.