²⁰ Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any other kingdom. ²¹ All of Solomon’s drinking ·cups [goblets; vessels], as well as the ·dishes [utensils; vessels] in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon, were made of pure gold. Nothing was made from silver, because silver was ·not valuable [considered worthless/nothing] in Solomon’s time.

²² King Solomon also had ·many trading ships [^La fleet of ships of Tarshish] at sea, along with Hiram’s ships. Every three years the ·ships [^Lfleet of Tarshish] returned, bringing back gold, silver, ivory, apes, and ·baboons [or peacocks].