2 Chronicles 9:1-12

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.

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. (1 Kings 10:1–13)

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