Advanced Commentary

(ex.: John 3:14-18)

Table of Contents Bible Dictionary
Arts
Questions
Resources/Books

Context
9:1 When the queen <04436> of Sheba <07614> heard <08085> about <0854> Solomon <08010>, she came <0935> to challenge <05254> him <08010> with difficult questions <02420>. She arrived in Jerusalem <03389> with a great <03515> display of pomp <02428>, bringing with her camels <01581> carrying <05375> spices <01314>, a very large quantity <07230> of gold <02091>, and precious <03368> gems <068>. She visited <0935> Solomon <08010> and discussed <01696> with <05973> him everything <03605> that <0834> was <01961> on <05973> her mind <03824>. 9:2 Solomon <08010> answered <05046> all <03605> her questions <01697>; there was no <03808> question <01697> too complex <05956> for the king <08010>. 9:3 When the queen <04436> of Sheba <07614> saw <07200> for herself Solomon’s <08010> extensive wisdom <02451>, the palace <01004> he had built <01129>, 9:4 the food <03978> in his banquet hall <07979>, his servants <05650> and attendants <04612> in their robes <04403>, his cupbearers <04945> in their robes <04403>, and his burnt sacrifices <05930> which <0834> he presented <05927> in the Lord’s <03068> temple <01004>, she was amazed <07307> <05750> <01961> <03808>. 9:5 She said <0559> to <0413> the king <04428>, “The report <01697> I heard <08085> in my own country <0776> about <05921> your wise sayings <01697> and insight <02451> was true <0571>! 9:6 I did not <03808> believe <0539> these things <01697> until <05704> I came <0935> and saw <07200> them with my own eyes <05869>. Indeed <02009>, I didn’t <03808> hear <05046> even half <02677> the story <04768>! Your wisdom <02451> surpasses <03254> what was reported <08085> <08052> to me. 9:7 Your attendants <05650>, who stand <05975> before <06440> you at all times <08548> and hear <08085> your wise sayings <02451>, are truly happy <0835> <0835>! 9:8 May the Lord <03069> your God <0430> be praised <01288> because <0834> he favored <02654> you by placing <05414> you on his throne <03678> as the one ruling <04428> on his behalf! Because of your God’s <0430> love <0160> for Israel <03478> and his lasting <05769> commitment to them, he made <05414> you king <04428> over <05921> them so you could make <06213> just and right <04941> decisions <06666>.” 9:9 She gave <05414> the king <04428> 120 <06242> <03967> talents <03603> of gold <02091> and a very <03966> large quantity <07230> of spices <01314> and precious <03368> gems <068>. The quantity <01931> of spices <01314> the queen <04436> of Sheba <07614> gave <05414> King <04428> Solomon <08010> has never <03808> been matched <01961>. 9:10 (Huram’s <02438> servants <05650>, aided by Solomon’s <08010> servants <05650>, brought <0935> gold <02091> from Ophir <0211>, as well as fine <0418> timber <06086> and precious <03368> gems <068>. 9:11 With the <0853> timber <0418> <06086> the king <04428> made <06213> steps <04546> for the Lord’s <03068> temple <01004> and royal <04428> palace <01004> as well as stringed instruments <05035> <03658> for the musicians <07891>. No one <03808> had seen <07200> anything like them <01992> in the land <0776> of Judah <03063> prior <06440> to that.) 9:12 King <04428> Solomon <08010> gave <05414> the queen <04436> of Sheba <07614> everything <03605> she requested <07592>, more than <0905> what she had brought <0935> him. Then she left <02015> and returned <01980> to her homeland <0776> with her attendants <05650>. 9:13 Solomon <08010> received <0935> 666 <08337> <08346> <03967> <08337> talents <03603> of gold <02091> per <0259> year <08141>, 9:14 besides <0905> what he collected <0935> from the merchants <08446> <0376> and traders <05503>. All <03605> the Arabian <06152> kings <04428> and the governors <06346> of the land <0776> also brought <0935> gold <02091> and silver <03701> to Solomon <08010>. 9:15 King <04428> Solomon <08010> made <06213> two hundred <03967> large shields <06793> of hammered <07820> gold <02091>; 600 <03967> <08337> measures of hammered <07820> gold <02091> were used <05927> for <05921> each <0259> shield <06793>. 9:16 He also made three <07969> hundred <03967> small shields <04043> of hammered <07820> gold <02091>; 300 <03967> <07969> measures of gold <02091> were used <05927> for <05921> each <0259> of those shields <04043>. The king <04428> placed <05414> them in the Palace <01004> of the Lebanon <03844> Forest <03293>. 9:17 The king <04428> made <06213> a large <01419> throne <03678> decorated with ivory <08127> and overlaid <06823> it with pure <02889> gold <02091>. 9:18 There were six <08337> steps <04609> leading up to the throne <03678>, and a gold <02091> footstool <03534> was attached <0270> to the throne <03678>. The throne had two <08147> armrests <03427> <04725> with a statue of a lion <0738> standing <05975> on <0681> each side <03027>. 9:19 There <08033> were twelve <06240> <08147> statues of lions <0738> on <05921> the six <08337> steps <04609>, one lion at each end <02088> of each step <02088>. There was nothing <03808> like <03651> it in any <03605> other kingdom <04467>.

• 2Ch 9:1-12 -- Solomon Entertains a Queen
• 2Ch 9:13-28 -- Solomon's Wealth

• Throne

  [isbe] THRONE - thron. (kicce', a "seat" in 2 Ki 4:10; a "royal seat" in Jon 3:6; thronos): Usually the symbol of kingly power and dignity. Solomon's throne was noted for its splendor and magnificence (1 Ki 10:18-20; compare 2 Ch 9...
  [smith] The Hebrew word so translated applies to any elevated seat occupied by a person in authority, whether a high priest, (1 Samuel 1:9) a judge, (Psalms 122:5) or a military chief (Jeremiah 1:16) The use of a chair in a countr...
  [nave] THRONE Of Pharaoh, Gen. 41:40; Ex. 11:5. Of David, 1 Kin. 2:12, 24; Psa. 132:11, 12; Isa. 9:7; Jer. 13:13; 17:25; Luke 1:32. Of Solomon, 1 Kin. 2:19; 2 Chr. 9:17-19. Of ivory, 1 Kin. 10:18-20. Of Solomon, called The Thro...
  

• Stones, Precious

  [ebd] Frequently referred to (1 Kings 10:2; 2 Chr. 3:6; 9:10; Rev. 18:16; 21:19). There are about twenty different names of such stones in the Bible. They are figuratively introduced to denote value, beauty, durability (Cant. 5:14...
  

• Solomon

  [ebd] peaceful, (Heb. Shelomoh), David's second son by Bathsheba, i.e., the first after their legal marriage (2 Sam. 12). He was probably born about B.C. 1035 (1 Chr. 22:5; 29:1). He succeeded his father on the throne in early man...
  [isbe] SOLOMON - sol'-o-mun (shelomoh; New Testament Solomon): I. EARLY LIFE 1. Name and Meaning 2. Sources 3. Birth and Upbringing 4. His Accession 5. Closing Days of David II. REIGN OF SOLOMON 1. His Vision 2. His Policy 3. Its R...
  [nave] SOLOMON Son of David by Bathsheba, 2 Sam. 12:24; 1 Kin. 1:13, 17, 21. Named Jedidiah, by Nathan the prophet, 2 Sam. 12:24, 25. Ancestor of Joseph, Matt. 1:6. Succeeds David to the throne of Israel, 1 Kin. 1:11-48; 2:12; 1...
  

• Sheba

  [nave] SHEBA 1. Son of Raamah, Gen. 10:7; 1 Chr. 1:9. 2. Son of Joktan, Gen. 10:28; 1 Chr. 1:22. 3. Son of Jokshan, Gen. 25:3; 1 Chr. 1:32. 4. A Benjamite who led an insurrection against David, 2 Sam. 20. 5. A Gadite, 1 Chr. 5:...
  

• QUESTION

  [isbe] QUESTION - kwes'-chun: The noun for dabhar, "word," in 1 Ki 10:3 parallel 2 Ch 9:2, with "hard question" for chidhah, "dark saying," "riddle," in 1 Ki 10:1 parallel 2 Ch 9:1. In the New Testament for zetema, the synonym zete...
  

• QUEEN OF SHEBA

  [isbe] QUEEN OF SHEBA - she'-ba (1 Ki 10:1-13; 2 Ch 9:1-12, called in Mt 12:42; Lk 11:31, "the queen of the south" (basilissa notou)): 1. Old Testament Accounts: The two Old Testament accounts of the coming of the queen of Sheba (s...
  

• QUEEN

  [isbe] QUEEN - kwen: The Bible applies this term: (1) To the wife of a king ("queen consort") (malkah). In the Book of Esther it is the title given to Vashti (1:9) and Esther (2:22); compare Song 6:8 f. Another Hebrew word for quee...
  

• Metal Work of Gold

  [nave] METAL WORK OF GOLD Ex. 25:18, 31, 36; 37:7, 17, 22; 39:3; Num. 8:4; 1 Kin. 6:35; 10:16, 17; 2 Chr. 9:15, 15, 16; Isa. 41:7; Jer. 10:4, 9 See: Arts and Crafts
  

• Hiram

  [ebd] high-born. (1.) Generally "Huram," one of the sons of Bela (1 Chr. 8:5). (2.) Also "Huram" and "Horam," king of Tyre. He entered into an alliance with David, and assisted him in building his palace by sending him able workme...
  

• Gold

  [isbe] GOLD - gold (zahabh; chrusos): 1. Terms: No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic e...
  [smith] Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tom...
  [nave] GOLD Exported from Havilah, Gen. 2:11, 12. From Ophir, 1 Kin. 9:28; 10:11; 1 Chr. 29:4; 2 Chr. 8:18; Job 22:24; Tarshish, 1 Kin. 22:48; Parvaim, 2 Chr. 3:6; Sheba, 1 Kin. 10:10; 2 Chr. 9:9; Psa. 72:15; Uphaz, Jer. 10:9. Re...
  

• FOREST

  [ebd] Heb. ya'ar, meaning a dense wood, from its luxuriance. Thus all the great primeval forests of Syria (Eccl. 2:6; Isa. 44:14; Jer. 5:6; Micah 5:8). The most extensive was the trans-Jordanic forest of Ephraim (2 Sam. 18:6, 8; J...
  [isbe] FOREST - for'-est: (1) choresh (compare proper name Harosheth), 2 Ch 27:4. In 1 Sam 23:15 ff translated "wood"; in Isa 17:9, "wood"; in Ezek 31:3, "forest-like shade." Applied to any thick growth of vegetation but not necess...
  

• FAME

  [isbe] FAME - fam (shem, shema`; akoe, pheme): "Fame" has the twofold meaning, (1) of report or rumor, (2) of renown or reputation (in the Old Testament it is not always easy to distinguish the two senses). "Fame," shema`, "fame," ...
  

• Cup-bearer

  [ebd] an officer of high rank with Egyptian, Persian, Assyrian, and Jewish monarchs. The cup-bearer of the king of Egypt is mentioned in connection with Joseph's history (Gen. 40:1-21; 41:9). Rabshakeh (q.v.) was cup-bearer in the...
  

• Causeway

  [ebd] a raised way, an ascent by steps, or a raised slope between Zion and the temple (1 Chr. 26:16, 18). In 2 Chr. 9:11 the same word is translated "terrace."
  

• Camel

  [ebd] from the Hebrew gamal, "to repay" or "requite," as the camel does the care of its master. There are two distinct species of camels, having, however, the common characteristics of being "ruminants without horns, without muzzl...
  

• Baalbec

  [ebd] called by the Greeks Heliopolis i.e., "the city of the sun", because of its famous Temple of the Sun, has by some been supposed to be Solomon's "house of the forest of Lebanon" (1 Kings 7:2; 10:17; 2 Chr. 9:16); by others it...
  

• Almug

  [ebd] (1 Kings 10:11, 12) = algum (2 Chr. 2:8; 9:10, 11), in the Hebrew occurring only in the plural almuggim (indicating that the wood was brought in planks), the name of a wood brought from Ophir to be used in the building of th...
  

• Algum

  [ebd] (2 Chr. 2:8; 9:10,11), the same as almug (1 Kings 10:11).
  [nave] ALGUM, called also Almug, trees of Ophir and Lebanon, 1 Kin. 10:11, 12; 2 Chr. 2:8; 9:10, 11.
  

• ARMS, ARMOR

  [smith] The subject naturally divides itself into-- I. Offensive weapons: Arms. II. Defensive weapons: Armor. I. Offensive weapons. -- Apparently the earliest known and most widely used was the Chereb or SWORD. Very little can be ga...
  

• ALGUM OR ALMUG TREES

  [smith] the former occurring in (2 Chronicles 2:8; 9:10,11) the latter in (1 Kings 10:11,12) These words are identical. From (1 Kings 10:11,12; 2 Chronicles 9:10,11) we learn that the almug was brought in great plenty fro...
  

• The Queen of Sheba

  

• Solomon's Splendour, Wealth, and Wisdom

  

Back to Commentary Page