2 Chronicles 9:1-31 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

¹ And when the queen ^H4436 of Sheba ^H7614 heard ^H8085 of the fame ^H8088 of Solomon, ^H8010 she came ^H935 to prove ^H5254 Solomon ^H8010 with hard questions ^H2420 at Jerusalem, ^H3389 with a very ^H3966 great ^H3515 company, ^H2428 and camels ^H1581 that bare ^H5375 spices, ^H1314 and gold ^H2091 in abundance, ^H7230 and precious ^H3368 stones: ^H68 and when she was come ^H935 to Solomon, ^H8010 she communed ^H1696 with him of all that was in her heart. ^H3824

² And Solomon ^H8010 told ^H5046 her all her questions: ^H1697 and there was nothing hid ^H5956 from Solomon ^H8010 which he told ^H5046 her not.

³ And when the queen ^H4436 of Sheba ^H7614 had seen ^H7200 the wisdom ^H2451 of Solomon, ^H8010 and the house ^H1004 that he had built, ^H1129

⁴ And the meat ^H3978 of his table, ^H7979 and the sitting ^H4186 of his servants, ^H5650 and the attendance ^H4612 of his ministers, ^H8334 and their apparel; ^H4403 his cupbearers ^H8248 also, and their apparel; ^H4403 and his ascent ^H5944 by which he went up ^H5927 into the house ^H1004 of the LORD; ^H3068 there was no more spirit ^H7307 in her.

⁵ And she said ^H559 to the king, ^H4428 It was a true ^H571 report ^H1697 which I heard ^H8085 in mine own land ^H776 of thine acts, ^H1697 and of thy wisdom: ^H2451

⁶ Howbeit I believed ^H539 not their words, ^H1697 until I came, ^H935 and mine eyes ^H5869 had seen ^H7200 it: and, behold, the one half ^H2677 of the greatness ^H4768 of thy wisdom ^H2451 was not told ^H5046 me: for thou exceedest ^H3254 the fame ^H8052 that I heard. ^H8085

⁷ Happy ^H835 are thy men, ^H582 and happy ^H835 are these thy servants, ^H5650 which stand ^H5975 continually ^H8548 before ^H6440 thee, and hear ^H8085 thy wisdom. ^H2451

⁸ Blessed ^H1288 be the LORD ^H3068 thy God, ^H430 which delighted ^H2654 in thee to set ^H5414 thee on his throne, ^H3678 to be king ^H4428 for the LORD ^H3068 thy God: ^H430 because thy God ^H430 loved ^H160 Israel, ^H3478 to establish ^H5975 them for ever, ^H5769 therefore made ^H5414 he thee king ^H4428 over them, to do ^H6213 judgment ^H4941 and justice. ^H6666

⁹ And she gave ^H5414 the king ^H4428 an hundred ^H3967 and twenty ^H6242 talents ^H3603 of gold, ^H2091 and of spices ^H1314 great ^H3966 abundance, ^H7230 and precious ^H3368 stones: ^H68 neither was there any such spice ^H1314 as the queen ^H4436 of Sheba ^H7614 gave ^H5414 king ^H4428 Solomon. ^H8010

¹⁰ And the servants ^H5650 also of Huram, ^H2361 and the servants ^H5650 of Solomon, ^H8010 which brought ^H935 gold ^H2091 from Ophir, ^H211 brought ^H935 algum ^H418 trees ^H6086 and precious ^H3368 stones. ^H68

¹¹ And the king ^H4428 made ^H6213 of the algum ^H418 trees ^H6086 terraces ^H4546 to the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 and to the king's ^H4428 palace, ^H1004 and harps ^H3658 and psalteries ^H5035 for singers: ^H7891 and there were none such ^H1992 seen ^H7200 before ^H6440 in the land ^H776 of Judah. ^H3063

¹² And king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 gave ^H5414 to the queen ^H4436 of Sheba ^H7614 all her desire, ^H2656 whatsoever she asked, ^H7592 beside that which she had brought ^H935 unto the king. ^H4428 So she turned, ^H2015 and went away ^H3212 to her own land, ^H776 she and her servants. ^H5650

¹³ Now the weight ^H4948 of gold ^H2091 that came ^H935 to Solomon ^H8010 in one ^H259 year ^H8141 was six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 and threescore ^H8346 and six ^H8337 talents ^H3603 of gold; ^H2091

¹⁴ Beside that which chapmen ^H582 ^H8446 and merchants ^H5503 brought. ^H935 And all the kings ^H4428 of Arabia ^H6152 and governors ^H6346 of the country ^H776 brought ^H935 gold ^H2091 and silver ^H3701 to Solomon. ^H8010

¹⁵ And king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 made ^H6213 two hundred ^H3967 targets ^H6793 of beaten ^H7820 gold: ^H2091 six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 shekels of beaten ^H7820 gold ^H2091 went ^H5927 to one ^H259 target. ^H6793

¹⁶ And three ^H7969 hundred ^H3967 shields ^H4043 made he of beaten ^H7820 gold: ^H2091 three ^H7969 hundred ^H3967 shekels of gold ^H2091 went ^H5927 to one ^H259 shield. ^H4043 And the king ^H4428 put ^H5414 them in the house ^H1004 of the forest ^H3293 of Lebanon. ^H3844

¹⁷ Moreover the king ^H4428 made ^H6213 a great ^H1419 throne ^H3678 of ivory, ^H8127 and overlaid ^H6823 it with pure ^H2889 gold. ^H2091

¹⁸ And there were six ^H8337 steps ^H4609 to the throne, ^H3678 with a footstool ^H3534 of gold, ^H2091 which were fastened ^H270 to the throne, ^H3678 and stays ^H3027 on each side of the sitting ^H3427 place, ^H4725 and two ^H8147 lions ^H738 standing ^H5975 by ^H681 the stays: ^H3027

¹⁹ And twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 lions ^H738 stood ^H5975 there on the one side and on the other upon the six ^H8337 steps. ^H4609 There was not the like made ^H6213 in any kingdom. ^H4467

²⁰ And all the drinking ^H4945 vessels ^H3627 of king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 were of gold, ^H2091 and all the vessels ^H3627 of the house ^H1004 of the forest ^H3293 of Lebanon ^H3844 were of pure ^H5462 gold: ^H2091 none were of silver; ^H3701 it was not any ^H3972 thing accounted ^H2803 of in the days ^H3117 of Solomon. ^H8010

²¹ For the king's ^H4428 ships ^H591 went ^H1980 to Tarshish ^H8659 with the servants ^H5650 of Huram: ^H2361 every three ^H7969 years ^H8141 once ^H259 came ^H935 the ships ^H591 of Tarshish ^H8659 bringing ^H5375 gold, ^H2091 and silver, ^H3701 ivory, ^H8143 and apes, ^H6971 and peacocks. ^H8500

²² And king ^H4428 Solomon ^H8010 passed ^H1431 all the kings ^H4428 of the earth ^H776 in riches ^H6239 and wisdom. ^H2451

²³ And all the kings ^H4428 of the earth ^H776 sought ^H1245 the presence ^H6440 of Solomon, ^H8010 to hear ^H8085 his wisdom, ^H2451 that God ^H430 had put ^H5414 in his heart. ^H3820

²⁴ And they brought ^H935 every man ^H376 his present, ^H4503 vessels ^H3627 of silver, ^H3701 and vessels ^H3627 of gold, ^H2091 and raiment, ^H8008 harness, ^H5402 and spices, ^H1314 horses, ^H5483 and mules, ^H6505 a rate ^H1697 year ^H8141 by year. ^H8141

²⁵ And Solomon ^H8010 had four ^H702 thousand ^H505 stalls ^H723 for horses ^H5483 and chariots, ^H4818 and twelve ^H8147 ^H6240 thousand ^H505 horsemen; ^H6571 whom he bestowed ^H3240 in the chariot ^H7393 cities, ^H5892 and with the king ^H4428 at Jerusalem. ^H3389

²⁶ And he reigned ^H4910 over all the kings ^H4428 from the river ^H5104 even unto the land ^H776 of the Philistines, ^H6430 and to the border ^H1366 of Egypt. ^H4714

²⁷ And the king ^H4428 made ^H5414 silver ^H3701 in Jerusalem ^H3389 as stones, ^H68 and cedar trees ^H730 made ^H5414 he as the sycomore trees ^H8256 that are in the low plains ^H8219 in abundance. ^H7230

²⁸ And they brought ^H3318 unto Solomon ^H8010 horses ^H5483 out of Egypt, ^H4714 and out of all lands. ^H776

²⁹ Now the rest ^H7605 of the acts ^H1697 of Solomon, ^H8010 first ^H7223 and last, ^H314 are they not written ^H3789 in the book ^H1697 of Nathan ^H5416 the prophet, ^H5030 and in the prophecy ^H5016 of Ahijah ^H281 the Shilonite, ^H7888 and in the visions ^H2378 of Iddo ^H3260 the seer ^H2374 against Jeroboam ^H3379 the son ^H1121 of Nebat? ^H5028

³⁰ And Solomon ^H8010 reigned ^H4427 in Jerusalem ^H3389 over all Israel ^H3478 forty ^H705 years. ^H8141

³¹ And Solomon ^H8010 slept ^H7901 with his fathers, ^H1 and he was buried ^H6912 in the city ^H5892 of David ^H1732 his father: ^H1 and Rehoboam ^H7346 his son ^H1121 reigned ^H4427 in his stead.

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 9 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Chapter 9

Solomon here continues to appear great both at home and abroad. We had this account of his grandeur, 1 Ki. 10. Nothing is here added; but his defection towards his latter end, which we have there (ch. 11), is here omitted, and the close of this chapter brings him to the grave with an unstained reputation. Perhaps none of the chapters in the Chronicles agree so much with a chapter in the Kings as this does with 1 Ki. 10 verse for verse, only that the first two verses there are put into one here, and verse 25 here is taken from 1 Ki. 4:26, and the last three verses here from 1 Ki. 11:41-43. Here is,

I. The honour which the queen of Sheba did to Solomon, in the visit she made him to hear his wisdom (v. 1-12).
II. Many instances given of the riches and splendour of Solomon's court (v. 13-28).
III. The conclusion of his reign (v. 29-31).

2Ch 9:1-12

This passage of story had been largely considered in the Kings; yet, because our Saviour has proposed it as an example to us in our enquiries after him (Mt. 12:42), we must not pass it over without observing briefly,

1. Those who honour God he will honour, 1 Sa. 2:30. Solomon had greatly honoured God, in building, beautifying, and dedicating the temple; all his wisdom and all his wealth were employed for the making of that a consummate piece: and now God made his wisdom and wealth to redound greatly to his reputation. The way to have both the credit and comfort of all our endowments and all our enjoyments is to consecrate them to God and use them for him.
2. Those who know the worth of true wisdom will grudge no pains nor 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 which is a good bargain to purchase by parting with all that we have.
3. As every man has received the gift so he ought to minister the same for the edification of others, as he has opportunity. Solomon was communicative of his wisdom and willing to teach others what he knew himself. Being taught of God, freely he had received, and freely he gave. Let those that are rich in wisdom, as well as wealth, learn to do good and be ready to distribute. Give to every one that asketh.
4. Good order in a family, a great family, especially in the things of God, and a regular discharge of the duties of religious worship, are highly expedient, and to be much admired wherever found. The queen of Sheba was exceedingly affected to see the propriety with which Solomon's servants attended him and with which both he and they attended in the house of God. David's ascent to the house of the Lord was also pleasant and interesting, Ps. 42:4.
5. Those are happy who have the opportunity of a constant converse with such as are knowing, wise, and good. The queen of Sheba thought Solomon's servants happy who continually heard his wisdom; for, it seems, even to them he was communicative. And it is observable that the posterity of those who had places in his court were willing to have the names of their ancestors forgotten, and thought themselves sufficiently distinguished and dignified when they were called the children of Solomon's servants (Ezra 2:55; Neh. 7:57); so eminent were they that it was honour enough to be named from them.
6. We ought to rejoice and give God thanks for the gifts, graces, and usefulness, of others. The queen of Sheba blessed God for the honour he put upon Solomon, and the favour he did to Israel, in advancing him to the throne, v. 8. By giving God the praise of the prosperity of others, we share in the comfort of it; whereas, by envying the prosperity of others, we lose the comfort even of our own. The happiness of both king and kingdom she traces up to the fountain of all bliss, the divine favour: it was because thy God delighted in thee and because he loved Israel. Those mercies are doubly sweet in which we can taste the kindness and good will of God as our God.
7. It becomes those that are wise and good to be generous according to their place and power. The queen of Sheba was so to Solomon, Solomon was so to her, v. 9, 12. They both knew how to value wisdom, and therefore were neither of them covetous of their money, but cultivated the acquaintance and confirmed the friendship they had contracted by mutual presents. Our Lord Jesus has promised to give us all our desire: Ask, and it shall be given you. Let us study what we shall render to him, and not think any thing too much to do, or suffer, or part with, for him.

2Ch 9:13-31

We have here Solomon in his throne, and Solomon in his grave; for the throne would not secure him from the grave. Mors sceptra ligonibus aequat-Death wrenches from the hand the sceptre as well as the spade.

I. Here is Solomon reigning in wealth and power, in ease and fulness, such as, for aught I know, could never since be paralleled by any king whatsoever. I cannot pretend to be critical in comparing the grandeur of Solomon with that of some of the great princes of the earth. But I may observe that the most illustrious of them were famed for their wars, whereas Solomon reigned forty years in profound peace. Some of those that might be thought to vie with Solomon affected retirement, kept people in awe by keeping them at a great distance; nobody must see them, or come near him, upon pain of death: but Solomon went much abroad, and appeared in public business. So that, all things considered, the promise was fulfilled, that God would give him riches, and wealth, and honour, such as no kings have had, or shall have, ch. 1:12.
- 1. Never any prince appeared in public with great splendour than Solomon did, which to those that judge by the sight of the eye, as most people do, would very much recommend him. He had 200 targets and 300 shields, all of beaten gold, carried before him (v. 15, 16), and sat upon a most stately throne, v. 17-19. There was not the like in any kingdom. 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. Solomon's pomp was all artificial; and therefore our Saviour prefers the natural beauty of the lilies of the field before it. Mt. 6:29, Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.
- 2. Never any prince had greater plenty of gold and silver, though there were no gold or silver mines in his own kingdom. Either he made himself master of the mines in other countries, and, having a populous country, sent hands to dig out those rich metals, or, having a fruitful country, he exported the commodities of it and with them fetched home all this gold that is here spoken of, v. 13, 14-21.
- 3. Never any prince had such presents brought him by all his neighbours as Solomon had: All the kings of Arabia, and governors of the country, brought him gold and silver (v. 14), not as tribute which he extorted from them, but as freewill offerings to procure his favour, or in a way of exchange for some of the productions of his husbandry, corn or cattle. All the kings of the earth brought him presents, that is, all in those parts of the world (v. 24, 28), because they coveted his acquaintance and friendship. Herein he was a type of Christ, to whom, as soon as he was born, the wise men of the east brought presents, gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Mt. 2:11), and to whom all that are about him must bring presents, Ps. 76:11; Rom. 12:1.
- 4. Never any prince was so renowned for wisdom, so courted, so consulted, so admired (v. 23): The kings of the earth (for it was too great a favour for common persons to pretend to) sought to hear his wisdom-his natural philosophy, or his skill in physic, or his state policy, or his rules of prudence for the conduct of human life, or perhaps the principles of his religion, and the reasons of it. The application which they then made to Solomon to hear his wisdom will aggravate, shame, and condemn, men's general contempt of Christ and his gospel. Though in them are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, yet none of the princes of this world desire to know them, for they are foolishness to them, 1 Co. 2:8, 14.
II. Here is Solomon dying, stripped of his pomp, and leaving all his wealth and power, not to one concerning whom he knew not whether he would be a wise man or a fool (Eccles. 2:19), but who he knew would be a fool. This was not only vanity but vexation of spirit, v. 29-31. It is very observable that no mention is here made of Solomon's departure from God in his latter days, not the least hint given of it,
- 1. Because the Holy Ghost would teach us not to take delight in repeating the faults and follies of others. If those that have been in reputation for wisdom and honour misbehave, though it may be of use to take notice of their misconduct for warning to ourselves and others, yet we must not be forward to mention it, once the speaking of it is enough; why should that unpleasing string be again struck upon? Why can we not do as the sacred historian here does, speak largely of that in others which is praise-worthy, without saying any thing of their blemishes, yea, though they have been gross and obvious? This is but doing as we would be done by.
- 2. Because, though he fell, yet he was not utterly cast down. His sin is not again recorded, because it was repented of, and pardoned, and became as if it had never been. Scripture-silence sometimes speaks. I am willing to believe that its silence here concerning the sin of Solomon is an intimation that none of the sins he committed were mentioned against him, Eze. 33:16. When God pardons sin he casts it behind his back and remembers it no more.

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2 Chronicles 9:1-31 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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Commentary on 2 Chronicles 9 Matthew Henry Commentary

Chapter 9