2 Chronicles 9:1-12

The Queen of Sheba

1 ¹Now when ²the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind.

2 And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her.

3 And when ³the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,

4 the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more breath in her.

5 And she said to the king, "The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom,

6 but I did not believe the^[a] reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the report that I heard.

7 Happy are your wives!^[b] Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!

8 Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you ⁴and set you on his throne as king for the LORD your God! ⁵Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness."

9 Then she gave the king 120 talents^[c] of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10 Moreover, the servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon, ⁶who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and precious stones.

11 And the king made from the algum wood ⁷supports for the house of the LORD and for the king's house, lyres also and harps for the singers. There never was seen the like of them before in the land of Judah.

12 And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked ⁸besides what she had brought to the king. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.

2 Chronicles 9:1-12 Meaning and Commentary

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

Cross References

• 1. For ver. 1-12, see 1 Kings 10:1-13
• 2. [Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31]
• 3. [See ver. 1 above]
• 4. 1 Chronicles 29:23
• 5. 2 Chronicles 2:11
• 6. 2 Chronicles 8:18
• 7. [1 Kings 10:12]
• 8. [1 Kings 10:13]

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew their
• [b]. Septuagint (compare 1 Kings 10:8); Hebrew men
• [c]. A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms