1 Kings 10:21–22 tells us something more of the use that Solomon made of the massive quantities of gold that he acquired. The drinking vessels that were in use on Solomon’s table were made of gold, and even those that merely sat on display in the House of the Forest of Lebanon were also made of gold. Noteworthy is the fact that the writer tells us specifically that silver was not employed in this way, and he tells us that silver was accounted to be of no value at the time of Solomon.
One commentator points out a fact that might otherwise have escaped our notice. He suggests that this statement indicates a devaluation of the money of the kingdom of Israel.1 The scholar tells us that such an effect was not uncommon in the ancient Near East. What would be the result of this? Not all of the people of Israel possessed gold in quantities to be able to transact all their business in this commodity. Therefore, it is suggested by this scholar that the proliferation of gold and Solomon’s possession was not a help to the ordinary subject of the kingdom. Solomon’s personal wealth might have contributed to poverty among his subjects.
21 Toutes les coupes du roi Salomon étaient d'or, et toute la vaisselle de la maison de la forêt du Liban était d'or pur. Rien n'était d'argent: on n'en faisait aucun cas du temps de Salomon.