2 Chronicles 9

The Queen of Sheba

1 The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, so she came to test Solomon with difficult questions at Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke with him about everything that was on her mind.

2 So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for Solomon to explain to her.

3 When the queen of Sheba observed Solomon's wisdom, the palace he had built,

4 the food at his table, his servants' residence, his attendants' service and their attire, his cupbearers and their attire, and the burnt offerings he offered at the Lord's temple, it took her breath away.

5 She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your words and about your wisdom is true.

6 But I didn't believe their reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half of your great wisdom! You far exceed the report I heard.

7 How happy are your men.^[a] How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom.

8 May the Lord your God be praised! He delighted in you and put you on His throne as king for the Lord your God. Because Your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, He has set you over them as king to carry out justice and righteousness."

9 Then she gave the king four and a half tons^[b] of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There never were such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10 In addition, Hiram's servants and Solomon's servants who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones.

11 The king made the algum wood into walkways for the Lord's temple and for the king's palace and into harps and lyres for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.

12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba her every desire, whatever she asked-far more than she had brought the king. Then she, along with her servants, returned to her own country.^[c]

Solomon's Wealth

13 The weight of gold that came to Solomon annually was 25 tons,^[d]

14 besides what was brought by the merchants and traders. All the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15 King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold; 15 pounds^[e] of hammered gold went into each shield.

16 He made 300 small shields of hammered gold; about eight pounds^[f] of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.^[g]

17 The king also made a large ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold.

18 The throne had six steps; there was a footstool covered in gold for the throne, armrests on either side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.

19 Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps, one at each end. Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.

20 All of King Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, since it was considered as nothing in Solomon's time,

21 for the king's ships kept going to Tarshish with Hiram's servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.^[h][i]

22 King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and wisdom.

23 All the kings of the world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.

24 Each of them would bring his own gift-items^[j] of silver and gold, clothing, weapons,^[k] spices, and horses and mules-as an annual tribute.^[l]

25 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.^[m] He stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

26 He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and as far as the border of Egypt.^[n]

27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills.

28 They were bringing horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all the countries.^[o]

Solomon's Death

29 The remaining events of Solomon's [reign], from beginning to end, are written about in the Events of Nathan the Prophet, the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat.^[p]

30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for 40 years.

31 Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam became king in his place.^[q]

2 Chronicles 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

The queen of Sheba. (1-12) Solomon's riches, and his death. (13-31)

Verses 1-12 ( 1 Kings 10 ) our Saviour has proposed it as an example in seeking after him, ( Matthew 12:42 ) , we must not pass it over without observing, that those who know the worth of true wisdom will grudge no pains or cost to obtain it. The queen of Sheba put herself to a great deal of trouble and expense to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and yet, learning from him to serve God, and do her duty, she thought herself well paid for her pains. Heavenly wisdom is that pearl of great price, for which, if we part with all, we make a good bargain.

Verses 13-31 The imports here mentioned, would show that prosperity drew the minds of Solomon and his subjects to the love of things curious and uncommon, though useless in themselves. True wisdom and happiness are always united together; but no such alliance exists between wealth and the enjoyment of the things of this life. Let us then acquaint ourselves with the Saviour, that we may find rest for our souls. Here is Solomon reigning in wealth and power, in ease and fulness, the like of which could never since be found; for the most known of the great princes of the earth were famed for their wars; whereas Solomon reigned forty years in profound peace. The promise was fulfilled, that God would give him riches and honour, such as no kings have had or shall have. The lustre wherein he appeared, was typical of the spiritual glory of the kingdom of the Messiah, and but a faint representation of His throne, which is above every throne. Here is Solomon dying, and leaving all his wealth and power to one who he knew would be a fool! ( ecclesiastes 2:18 ecclesiastes 2:19 ) . This was not only vanity, but vexation of spirit. Neither power, wealth, nor wisdom, can ward off or prepare for the stroke of death. But thanks be to God who giveth the victory to the true believer, even over this dreaded enemy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX, Old Lat read wives; 1 Kg 10:8
• [b]. Lit 120 talents
• [c]. 1 Kg 10:1-13
• [d]. Lit 666 talents
• [e]. Lit 600 (shekels)
• [f]. Lit 300 (shekels)
• [g]. 1 Kg 7:2-5
• [h]. Or baboons
• [i]. 1 Kg 10:14-22
• [j]. Or vessels, or weapons
• [k]. Or fragrant balsam; LXX reads resin (oil of myrrh)
• [l]. 1 Kg 10:23-25
• [m]. 1 Kg 4:26
• [n]. Gn 15:18; 1 Kg 4:21
• [o]. 2 Ch 1:14-17; Dt 17:16; 1 Kg 10:26-29
• [p]. 2 Ch 12:15; 13:22
• [q]. 1 Kg 11:41-43

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 9 & 10

The ninth chapter is the same with 1Ki 10:1-29 excepting 2Ch 9:26, which agrees with 1Ki 4:21,29-31, the same with 1Ki 11:41-43, only in 2Ch 9:29 it is more largely expressed that the acts of Solomon's reign were written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer, against Jeroboam the son of Nebat; or rather "concerning Jeroboam", as the Septuagint and some other versions {b}, in which Iddo is called Joel; and by Theodoret said to be the same that prophesied of Jeroboam and his altar, \\see Gill on "1Ki 13:1"\\; the books mentioned are since lost.

{b} le peri Sept. de, Junius & Tremellias, Piscator. 19324-950110-2138-2Ch9.2