2 Chronicles 9 Study Notes

9:13-16 Solomon, as we have seen (2:18; 8:7-8), used slave labor for his building projects and even instituted forced labor among the Israelites (10:4). He hoarded the accumulating amount of gold and devised an ingenious method of storing it by molding it into shields that covered the walls of his palace. People could admire it, but he had quick access to it if he needed it.

9:17-21 The Chronicler sees Solomon’s wealth and his splendor as evidence of God’s blessing (1:12). His acquisitions included ornate furniture and exotic animals, most coming to him as profit from his partnership with Hiram. Even the grandiose attitude that permeates this description was supposed to demonstrate to the Gentile world the reality of the Lord’s blessings of his king. But this does not mean that Solomon’s policies, such as those that led to the devaluation of precious metals, were wise over the long haul. The overabundance of silver and gold in Jerusalem probably created a shortage in other lands, and it was only a brief time before someone attempted to restore balance (12:9).

9:22-24 Even Solomon’s legendary wisdom led to an increase in his wealth. Some of this wisdom has been preserved for us in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Of particular note, given Solomon’s extraordinary wealth is that, at the end of his life he was so devoted to material acquisitions, he said, “Absolute futility. Everything is futile” (Ec 1:2).

9:25-28 On Solomon’s accumulation of horses and chariots, see note at 1:16-17.

9:29-31 The Chronicler applies his standard summary of the life and rule of a king to Solomon, just as he had done for David (1Ch 29:26-30). If we compare Solomon’s final notice with David’s, we see that Solomon’s obituary carries neither praise nor condemnation. Even though the Chronicler did not dwell on Solomon’s shortcomings as the writer of 1 Kings did, he was certainly aware of them. He chose to focus on Solomon the temple builder rather than on Solomon the man. The temple that he built was of greater significance than the king himself.