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.

1 KINGS 14:26KJV
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1 Kings 14:26 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 14:26 mean?

1 Kings 14:26 describes how an enemy king took away all the treasures from the temple of the LORD and the royal palace in Jerusalem, including the gold shields that King Solomon had made. This verse shows that the wealth and splendor built up under Solomon were lost during the reign of his son.

This event happens when King Shishak of Egypt invades Jerusalem during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. The verse highlights the dramatic loss suffered by Judah, both in terms of material wealth and symbolic glory, as the treasures dedicated to God and the king are carried off by a foreign power.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 14:26

  • "Treasures" (אוֹצָר, 'otsar): This word refers to stored wealth or valuable items. Its use here emphasizes that not just ordinary goods, but the most precious things from both the temple and the palace, were taken.
  • "House" (בַּיִת, bayit): Used for both the "house of the LORD" (the temple) and the "king's house" (the palace), showing that both religious and royal centers were plundered.
  • "Shields" (מָגֵן, magen): These were not just military equipment but also symbols of royal prestige, especially since they were made of gold by Solomon. Their loss represents a decline in the kingdom’s honor and security.
  • "Gold" (זָהָב, zahav): The mention of gold underlines the richness of what was lost, making the defeat even more significant.

Why 1 Kings 14:26 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the loss was total—nothing of value was left behind, which marks a sharp contrast with the prosperity under Solomon.
  • It connects to the wider story of decline after Solomon’s reign, showing how quickly fortunes changed for Judah when they turned away from God.
  • The verse helps explain why later in the chapter, Rehoboam replaces the gold shields with bronze ones, symbolizing a downgrade in the kingdom’s status and resources.

Where else these words appear

“shields” Hebrew H4043 · used in 60 verses

  • Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:27 And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
  • Psalms 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

“treasures” Hebrew H214 · used in 70 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
  • 2 Chronicles 5:1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.
  • Isaiah 2:7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: