2 Chronicles 9

The Queen of Sheba

1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. ¹ And she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind.

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

3 When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built,

4 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, the attire of his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented ^[a] at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

5 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words ^[b] and wisdom is true.

6 But I did not believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not half of the greatness of your wisdom was told to me. You have far exceeded the report I heard.

7 How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!

8 Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, He has made you king over them to carry out justice and righteousness.”

9 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, ^[c] a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10 (The servants of Hiram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum ^[d] wood and precious stones.

11 The king made the algum wood into steps ^[e] for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.)

12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—far more than she had brought the king. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.

Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor

13 The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, ^{[f] 2}

14 not including the revenue from the merchants and traders. And all the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold ^[g] went into each shield.

16 He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; three hundred shekels of gold ^[h] went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

17 Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.

18 The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest.

19 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.

20 All 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, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.

21 For the king had the ships of Tarshish ^[i] that went with Hiram’s ^[j] servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. ^[k]

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

23 All the kings of the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

24 Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.

25 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horses, ^[l] which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.

26 He reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates ^[m] to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.

27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills. ^[n]

28 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all the lands.

The Death of Solomon

29 As for the rest of the acts of Solomon, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Records of Nathan the Prophet, in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat? ³

30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

31 And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

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.

Cross References

• 1. (1 Kings 10:1–13)
• 2. (1 Kings 10:14–29)
• 3. (1 Kings 11:41–43)

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX and Syriac (see also 1 Kings 10:5); Hebrew and his stairway by which he went up
• [b]. Or your achievements
• [c]. 120 talents is approximately 4.52 tons or 4.1 metric tons of gold.
• [d]. Algum is probably a variant of almug; also in verse 11; see 1 Kings 10:11.
• [e]. Or gateways
• [f]. 666 talents is approximately 25.1 tons or 22.8 metric tons of gold.
• [g]. 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of gold.
• [h]. 300 shekels is approximately 7.5 pounds or 3.4 kilograms of gold.
• [i]. Or a fleet of trading ships; twice in this verse
• [j]. Hebrew Huram’s, a variant of Hiram’s
• [k]. Or baboons
• [l]. Or horsemen or charioteers
• [m]. Hebrew the River
• [n]. Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea

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