1 Kings 10:28 Meaning: Why Solomon Brought Horses from Egypt
The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
And the horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt; and the king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
And the outgoing of the horses that king Solomon hath is from Egypt, and from Keveh; merchants of the king take from Keveh at a price;
And the exportation of horses that Solomon had was from Egypt: a caravan of the king's merchants fetched a drove [of horses], at a price.
Meaning in one sentence
Solomon imported horses from Egypt against God's command. This verse invites us to examine where we place our trust instead of in the Lord.
Context
This verse sits near the end of a long description of Solomon's wealth and wisdom. The chapter has told us about his gold, his throne, his trade routes, and the tribute that came year after year. Now the focus narrows to horses and chariots. Solomon kept 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he bought many of those horses from Egypt. That detail matters. Years earlier, God had told Israel's kings not to multiply horses or send people back to Egypt for them (Deuteronomy 17:16). So this verse is not just a shipping note; it points to a quiet drift from God's instructions, hidden inside all that success.
Key Words
The Hebrew word behind 'brought out' is motsa, which means an export or source. It is the same word used for a spring of water or a mine of silver. Solomon’s horses had their source in Egypt, the very place God had told them not to return to for military strength. The 'merchants' are socharim, from a verb that means to go about trading. These were professional dealers who moved goods on a large scale. And the 'price' is mechir, a fair market price. Nothing shady. But that is the point: the transaction was legal, efficient, and ordinary. Solomon built a system that looked sensible. The problem was not the price he paid in silver. The problem was the cost of trusting in horses and chariots instead of the Lord who brought Israel out of Egypt in the first place.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse differently. Matthew Henry, a Reformed commentator, saw it as evidence that Solomon disregarded God's command against multiplying horses from Egypt. Adam Clarke, a Methodist scholar, said the same, noting that God had banned it and Solomon 'paid little attention' to the rule. The Cambridge Bible agrees the verse records the import of horses but points out the Hebrew word for 'droves' is uncertain. Some older translations (like the KJV) read 'linen yarn' here, thinking Solomon also traded in Egyptian linen. Modern scholars mostly agree the word means a string of horses. Both readings show the same basic reality: Solomon built his military strength on Egyptian resources. History has held both that God judges disobedience and that He still works through flawed leaders.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that this verse is simply a business record with no moral weight. The King James Version even mentions 'linen yarn,' which led some readers to think Solomon was just trading fabric. In fact, the word is almost certainly 'drove' or 'troop' of horses. The verse highlights that Solomon was importing horses from Egypt, the very thing God had forbidden in Deuteronomy 17:16. It is a quiet but serious warning about trusting human resources instead of obeying God's word.
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to the places you instinctively look for security. When you feel anxious about finances, do you turn to a second job or a savings plan before you turn to prayer? When you need wisdom, do you trust your own experience more than God's commands? Solomon's horses look like good strategy, but they led him away from simple trust in the Lord. You can ask God to show you one area where your 'Egypt' feels safer than His word. Then choose this week to obey Him there, even if the human logic seems weaker. He is the one who brought you out of slavery. He can take care of the rest.
Main takeaway: God's commands protect us from relying on human strength instead of trusting Him as our true source of security.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Solomon was a very wise and rich king. But God told him not to buy horses from Egypt. Solomon did it anyway. We should obey God even when we think we know a better way.
For ages 9, 12
Solomon had a lot of horses and chariots, and he bought many of them from Egypt. But God had told Israel's kings not to do that, because He wanted His people to trust in Him, not in armies or money. Sometimes we also trust in things like popularity, video games, or our own skills more than we trust God. This verse reminds us to check our hearts and put God first.
Questions People Ask
Why was God against Solomon buying horses from Egypt?
God had already told Israel's kings not to multiply horses or cause the people to go back to Egypt for them (Deuteronomy 17:16). Egypt was the place of slavery, and God wanted His people to trust in Him, not in military power or alliances. Buying horses from Egypt looked wise, but it showed a lack of faith.
What does 'each drove at a price' mean?
A drove is a group or string of horses. The verse means the king's merchants bought these droves of horses for a set price. The Hebrew word 'mechir' means a fair market price. It was a normal business transaction, but the problem was the location and the intent behind it.
Some translations say 'linen yarn' instead of 'droves'. Which is correct?
The Hebrew word 'mikveh' (from the root meaning 'to string together') was long debated. Older translations like the KJV guessed 'linen yarn' because Egypt was famous for linen. But most modern scholars agree it means a troop or drove of horses. The parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 1:16 supports this reading.
Was Solomon disobeying God by importing horses?
Most Christian commentators believe Solomon was violating the command in Deuteronomy 17:16. He was not supposed to multiply horses, especially from Egypt. The narrative in 1 Kings doesn't condemn him directly here, but it sets up the later account of his heart turning away from the Lord. The detail functions as a quiet warning.
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