2 Chronicles
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2 Chronicles 9
2 Chronicles 9
Commentary · verses 1-31
1And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great train, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
1And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
Commentary · verse 1
The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon and came to test him with hard questions. She shared all of her heart with him: see also 1 Kings 10.
2And Solomon told her all her questions; and there was not anything hid from Solomon which he told her not.
3And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, 4and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, his cupbearers also, and their apparel, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of Jehovah; there was no more spirit in her.
5And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom.
2And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.
3And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,
4And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
5And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:
Commentary · verses 2-5
She knew what she heard was true because she saw it for herself.
6Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: thou exceedest the fame that I heard.
6Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.
Commentary · verse 6
However, she even said what she heard was only half the greatness because he exceeded the fame she heard.
7Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, that stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.
8Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who delighted in thee, to set thee on his throne, to be king for Jehovah thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do justice and righteousness.
7Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.
8Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.
Commentary · verses 7-8
The Queen of Sheba had faith. She knew that God set Solomon over Israel to do Justice and Righteousness - God's Nature. Notice, a queen from another nation recognized Israel as being established forever and that the key principles were Right and Just.
Doctrines on this passage
9And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
9And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.
Commentary · verse 9
The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon 9,000 pounds of gold.
10And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, that brought gold from Ophir, brought algum-trees and precious stones.
11And the king made of the algum-trees terraces for the house of Jehovah, and for the king’s house, and harps and psalteries for the singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.
12And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.
13Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold,
10And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.
11And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king’s palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.
12And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.
13Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;
Commentary · verses 10-13
In one year, Solomon received about 25 tons of gold, which in those days was 666 talents of gold. Solomon appeared to have used all the gold he had for the temple. Now, after the temple was built, he was violating the Law by multiplying gold to himself: Deuteronomy 17:17. How fitting the amount of gold that helped to violate the Law after the dedication of the temple was 666 talents. The same as the number of the beast from Revelation 13:18.
14besides that which the traders and merchants brought: and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
14Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
Commentary · verses 15-28
Verses 15-28: examples of king Solomon's wealth and prosperity.
15And king Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one buckler.
15And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
Commentary · verse 15
The "bucklers" were large shields (also translated as "targets"). They were made of gold, each one weighing about fifteen pounds.
16And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
16And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
Commentary · verse 16
Each one of these shields of gold weighed about 4 pounds.
17Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
18And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays.
19And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
20And all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: silver was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
21For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
22So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
17Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
18And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays:
19And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.
20And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
21For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
22And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
Commentary · verse 22
Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
23And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
23And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.
Commentary · verse 23
All the kings of the earth sought Solomon's presence because of his wisdom that God gave him.
24And they brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
25And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
26And he ruled over all the kings from the River even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
27And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
28And they brought horses for Solomon out of Egypt, and out of all lands.
24And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
25And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
26And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
27And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.
28And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.
Commentary · verse 28
Again, these were the laws from Deuteronomy 17 that Solomon violated. However, nothing had been mentioned yet about the hundreds of wives and concubines that Solomon had, which would eventually turn his heart from God.
29Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
29Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not 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?
Commentary · verse 29
The Book of Nathan the prophet, the prophecy of Ahijah, and the visions of Iddo the seer??? The prophecy of Ahijah was in 1 Kings 11:29-30; 14:1-18. The visions and stories of Iddo were also referred to in 2 Chronicles 12:15; 13:22.
30And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
31And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
30And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
31And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
Commentary · verses 30-31
Again, it appeared the Books of Chronicles documented the king's actions as king. Apparently, the only actions Solomon took as king were building the temple, amassing wealth, and being recognized by other kingdoms as superior. His wives and heart turning from God and punishment were personal issues.
Commentary · verse 31
2 Chronicles 7-9 covered Solomon's amassing wealth and fame immediately after the dedication of the temple and before he died.
This chapter covered more of king Solomon's achievements.