1-а царів 10:16

Solomon had 500 ornamental shields made, 200 larger ones (צנּים, scuta, targets), and 300 smaller (מגנּים, clypei). These shields, like all the shields of the ancients, were made of wood or basket-work, and covered with gold plate instead of leather (see my bibl. Archol. ii. pp. 296ff.). שׁחוּט זהב does not mean aurum jugulatum, i.e., gold mixed with metal of a different kind, but, as Kimchi has shown, aurum diductum, beaten gold, from שׁחט, to stretch; since Solomon would certainly use pure gold for these ornamental shields. "Six hundred shekels of gold he spread upon one target," that is to say, he used for gilding one target. Six hundred shekels would weigh about 17 1/2 lbs., so that the value of the gold upon a target would be more than 5000 thalers (750), supposing that the Mosaic shekel is meant. But this is rendered doubtful by the fact that the gold upon the small shields is estimated at three minae. If, for example, the three minae are equal to three hundred shekels, according to Ch2 9:16, as is generally assumed, a hundred shekels are reckoned as one mina; and as the mina only contained fifty Mosaic shekels, according to Eze 45:12, the reference must be to shekels after the king's weight (Sa2 14:26), which were only half the sacred shekels (see my bibl. Archol. ii. p. 135). Consequently the gold plate upon one target was not quite 9 lbs., and that upon a shield not quite 4 1/2 lbs. These shields were intended for the body-guard to carry on state occasions (Kg1 14:27-28; Ch2 12:10), and were kept in the house of the forest of Lebanon (Kg1 7:2).

Still Solomon looks great, and every thing in this chapter adds to his magnificence. We read nothing indeed of his charity, of no hospitals he built, or alms-houses; he made his kingdom so rich that it did not need them; yet, no question, many poor were relieved from the abundance of his table. A church he had built, never to be equalled; schools or colleges he need not build any, his own palace is an academy, and his court a rendezvous of wise and learned men, as well as the centre of all the circulating riches of that part of the world. I. What abundance of wisdom there was there appears from the application the queen of Sheba made to him, and the great satisfaction she had in her entertainment there (Kg1 10:1-13), and others likewise (Kg1 10:24). II. What abundance of wealth there was there appears here by the gold imported, with other things, yearly (Kg1 10:14, Kg1 10:15), and in a triennial return (Kg1 10:22). Gold presented (Kg1 10:25), and gold used in targets and shields (Kg1 10:16, Kg1 10:17), and vessels (Kg1 10:21). A stately throne made (Kg1 10:18-20). His chariots and horsemen (Kg1 10:26). His trade with Egypt (Kg1 10:28, Kg1 10:29). And the great plenty of silver and cedars among his people (Kg1 10:27). So that, putting all together, it must be owned, as it is here said (Kg1 10:23), that "king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches, and for wisdom." Yet what was he to the King of kings? Where Christ is, by his word and Spirit, "Behold, a greater than Solomon is there."

10:16-17 Although such shields were typically designed to accommodate infantry (large shields) or archers (smaller shields), these shields probably had ceremonial uses.