All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: The word vessels is a translation of a very general Hebrew term that may be rendered in a wide variety of ways from “utensils” to “armor” (see 1 Kgs 7.51). In this context the first reference is clearly to utensils used for drinking. The second occurrence may be translated by a more general term such as “utensils” (Good News Translation, New American Bible) since the text does not indicate what these vessels were or what their function was. New International Version speaks of “household articles.”

For the House of the Forest of Lebanon, see verse 17.

For pure gold, see the comments on these words in 1 Kgs 6.20.

None were of silver, it was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon: The pronoun it refers, of course, to silver. Although some biblical writings indicate that silver was a sign of wealth (Isa 60.17; Zech 9.3), the writer of this verse states that silver was not as highly valued as gold was in the time of Solomon. Compare New American Bible: “There was no silver, for in Solomon’s time it was considered worthless.” This overstatement is doubtless a way of highlighting the great wealth of the kingdom of Israel under Solomon.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .