Definition: And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Kings 14:26. It’s a pretty significant passage about how King Solomon was instructed to manage his wealth and power. Here's a simple explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse tells us that after Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, he made a huge amount of gold and precious jewels – think tons of coins, bracelets, goblets, and more. He essentially removed all of this wealth from his palace. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD…” : This means he stopped using these riches for religious purposes – like building altars and offering sacrifices to God. It was a focus on worship, not material possessions. “…and the treasures of the king’s house…” : This refers to the wealth he accumulated as King Solomon, which included all his gold, silver, and precious stones. “He even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.” - This is the crucial part. Solomon created a massive collection of incredibly valuable shields of gold – they were like giant, ornate golden shields used for ceremonial purposes. He completely destroyed them! What's the point? This verse is about prudence and responsibility . It’s a reminder that wealth should be used wisely and not become an obsession. It emphasizes the importance of focusing on spiritual things rather than material possessions – because, in the end, God’s blessings are far greater than earthly treasures. In short: King Solomon took away all his enormous wealth to show that he was prioritizing God's will over personal gain. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you some context about the time period this verse came from? Discuss what this verse might mean in a broader spiritual sense?