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Texts -- 2 Chronicles 9:2-31 (NET)

Context
9:2 Solomon answered all her questions ; there was no question too complex for the king . 9:3 When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom , the palace he had built , 9:4 the food in his banquet hall , his servants and attendants in their robes , his cupbearers in their robes , and his burnt sacrifices which he presented in the Lord’s temple , she was amazed . 9:5 She said to the king , “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true ! 9:6 I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes . Indeed , I didn’t hear even half the story ! Your wisdom surpasses what was reported to me. 9:7 Your attendants , who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings , are truly happy ! 9:8 May the Lord your God be praised because he favored you by placing you on his throne as the one ruling on his behalf! Because of your God’s love for Israel and his lasting commitment to them, he made you king over them so you could make just and right decisions .” 9:9 She gave the king 120 talents of gold and a very large quantity of spices and precious gems . The quantity of spices the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon has never been matched . 9:10 (Huram’s servants , aided by Solomon’s servants , brought gold from Ophir , as well as fine timber and precious gems . 9:11 With the timber the king made steps for the Lord’s temple and royal palace as well as stringed instruments for the musicians . No one had seen anything like them in the land of Judah prior to that.) 9:12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she requested , more than what she had brought him. Then she left and returned to her homeland with her attendants .
Solomon’s Wealth
9:13 Solomon received 666 talents of gold per year , 9:14 besides what he collected from the merchants and traders . All the Arabian kings and the governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon . 9:15 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold ; 600 measures of hammered gold were used for each shield . 9:16 He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold ; 300 measures of gold were used for each of those shields . The king placed them in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest . 9:17 The king made a large throne decorated with ivory and overlaid it with pure gold . 9:18 There were six steps leading up to the throne , and a gold footstool was attached to the throne . The throne had two armrests with a statue of a lion standing on each side . 9:19 There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps , one lion at each end of each step . There was nothing like it in any other kingdom . 9:20 All of King Solomon’s cups were made of gold , and all the household items in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest were made of pure gold . There were no silver items, for silver was not considered very valuable in Solomon’s time . 9:21 The king had a fleet of large merchant ships ships manned by Huram’s men that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet came into port with cargoes of gold , silver , ivory , apes , and peacocks . 9:22 King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth . 9:23 All the kings of the earth wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom . 9:24 Year after year visitors brought their gifts , which included items of silver , items of gold , clothes , perfume , spices , horses , and mules . 9:25 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses . He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem . 9:26 He ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines as far as the border of Egypt . 9:27 The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones ; cedar was as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands . 9:28 Solomon acquired horses from Egypt and from all the lands .
Solomon’s Reign Ends
9:29 The rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, from start to finish , are recorded in the Annals of Nathan the Prophet , the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite , and the Vision of Iddo the Seer pertaining to Jeroboam son of Nebat . 9:30 Solomon ruled over all Israel from Jerusalem for forty years . 9:31 Then Solomon passed away and was buried in the city of his father David . His son Rehoboam replaced him as king .

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • 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...
    [smith] (peaceful). I. Early life and occasion to the throne . --Solomon was the child of David?s old age, the last born of all his sons. (1 Chronicles 3:5) The yearnings of the "man of war" led him to give to the new-horn infant ...
    [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:...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • Ivory

    [isbe] IVORY - i'-vo-ri ((1) shen, "tooth" (translated "ivory," 1 Ki 10:18; 22:39; 2 Ch 9:17; Ps 45:8; Song 5:14; 7:4; Ezek 27:6,15; Am 3:15; 6:4); (2) shenhabbim; Septuagint odontes elephdntinoi, "elephants' teeth" (1 Ki 10:22; 2 ...
    [smith] The word translated "ivory" literally signifies the "tooth" of any animal, and hence more especially denotes the substance of the projecting tusks of elephants. The skilled work-men of Hiram, king of Tyre, fashioned the great...
    [nave] IVORY. Song 5:14; 7:4; Ezek. 27:15. Exported from Tarshish, 1 Kin. 10:22; 2 Chr. 9:21; Chittim, Ezek. 27:6. Ahab's palace made of, 1 Kin. 22:39. Other houses made of, Psa. 45:8; Amos 3:15. Other articles made of: String...

  • 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.

  • Merchant

    [ebd] The Hebrew word so rendered is from a root meaning "to travel about," "to migrate," and hence "a traveller." In the East, in ancient times, merchants travelled about with their merchandise from place to place (Gen. 37:25; Jo...
    [nave] MERCHANT, Gen. 23:16; 37:28; 1 Kin. 10:15, 28; 2 Chr. 9:14; Neh. 3:32; 13:20; Job 41:6; Song 3:6; Isa. 23:2; 47:15; Ezek. 17:4; 27:13, 17, 21-36; 38:13; Hos. 12:7; Nah. 3:16; Matt. 13:45; Rev. 18:3, 11, 23. See: Commerce. ...

  • SILVER

    [isbe] SILVER - sil'-ver (keceph; argurion, arguros): Silver was known in the earliest historic times. Specimens of early Egyptian and Babylonian silver work testify to the skill of the ancient silversmiths. In Palestine, silver ob...
    [smith] In very early times silver was used for ornaments, (Genesis 24:53) and for vessels of various kinds. Images for idolatrous worship were made of silver or overlaid with it, (Exodus 20:23; Hosea 13:2); Habb 2:19 Bar. 6:39, and ...

  • Tarshish

    [ebd] a Sanscrit or Aryan word, meaning "the sea coast." (1.) One of the "sons" of Javan (Gen. 10:4; 1 Chr. 1:7). (2.) The name of a place which first comes into notice in the days of Solomon. The question as to the locality of Ta...
    [smith] (established). Probably Tartessus, a city and emporium of the Phoenicians in the south of Spain, represented as one of the sons of Javan. (Genesis 10:4; 1 Kings 10:22; 1 Chronicles 1:7; Psalms 48:7; Isaiah 2:16; Jeremi...
    [nave] TARSHISH 1. Son of Javan, Gen. 10:4; 1 Chr. 1:7. 2. Called also Tharshish. Probably Spain, Gen. 10:4, 5; Psa. 72:10; Isa. 66:19. Solomon makes valuable imports from, 1 Kin. 10:22; 2 Chr. 9:21. Commerce and wealth of, 1 Ki...

  • Peacock

    [ebd] (Heb. tuk, apparently borrowed from the Tamil tokei). This bird is indigenous to India. It was brought to Solomon by his ships from Tarshish (1 Kings 10:22; 2 Chr. 9:21), which in this case was probably a district on the Mal...
    [isbe] PEACOCK - pe'-kok (tukkiyim (plural); Latin Pavo cristatus): A bird of the genus Pavo. Japan is the native home of the plainer peafowl; Siam, Ceylon and India produce the commonest and most gorgeous. The peacock has a bill o...
    [nave] PEACOCK, 1 Kin. 10:22; 2 Chr. 9:21; Job 39:13.

  • Iddo

    [isbe] IDDO - id'-o: (1) ('iddo (?[~'adhadh, "to be strong"), "hap," "happy" (?), Ezr 8:17): The "chief at the place Casiphia," who provided Ezra with Levites and Nethinim, the head of the Levitical body or school, said to be one o...
    [smith] (timely or lovely). The father of Abinadab. (1 Kings 4:14) A descendant of Gershom, son of Levi. (1 Chronicles 6:21) Son of Zechariah, ruler of the tribe of Manasseh east of Jordan in the time of David. (1 Chronicle...
    [nave] IDDO 1. Father of Ahinadab, 1 Kin. 4:14. 2. A descendant of Gershom, 1 Chr. 6:21. 3. A son of Zechariah, 1 Chr. 27:21. 4. A prophet, 2 Chr. 9:29; 12:15; 13:22. 5. Ancestor of Zechariah, Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Zech. 1:1, 7. 6. ...

  • Ape

    [ebd] an animal of the monkey tribe (1 Kings 10:22; 2 Chr. 9:21). It was brought from India by the fleets of Solomon and Hiram, and was called by the Hebrews koph_, and by the Greeks _kepos, both words being just the Indian Tamil ...
    [isbe] APE - ap (qoph): The word occurs only in the two parallel passages (1 Ki 10:22; 2 Ch 9:21) in which the magnificence of Solomon is illustrated by the things which are brought to him from foreign countries. Apes are mentioned...
    [nave] APE, in Solomon's zoological collections, 1 Kin. 10:22; 2 Chr. 9:21.

  • Arabia

    [ebd] arid, an extensive region in the south-west of Asia. It is bounded on the west by the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea, on the south by the Indian Ocean, and on the east by the Persian Gulf and the Euphrates. It extends far i...
    [smith] (desert, barren), a country known in the Old Testament under two designations:-- The East Country , (Genesis 25:6) or perhaps the East, ((Genesis 10:30; Numbers 23:7; Isaiah 2:6) and Land of the Sons of the East , (Genesis 2...
    [nave] ARABIA Tributary to Solomon, 2 Chr. 9:14, and Jehoshaphat, 2 Chr. 17:11. Exports of, Ezek. 27:21. Prophecies against, Isa. 21:13; Jer. 25:24. Paul visits, Gal. 1:17.

  • Butler

    [ebd] properly a servant in charge of the wine (Gen. 40:1-13; 41:9). The Hebrew word, mashkeh, thus translated is rendered also (plural) "cup-bearers" (1 Kings 10:5; 2 Chr. 9:4). Nehemiah (1:11) was cup-bearer to king Artaxerxes. ...
    [isbe] BUTLER - but'-ler: An officer in households of kings, or other dignitaries, having charge of wines and other potables. mashqeh, "one who gives drink" (Gen 40:1-23; 41:9), rendered "cupbearer" in 1 Ki 10:5; 2 Ch 9:4; Neh 1:11...
    [nave] BUTLER Pharaoh's, imprisoned and released, Gen. 40; 1 Kin. 10:5; 2 Chr. 9:4; Neh. 1:11; 2:1.

  • King

    [nave] KING Called King of kings, Ezra 7:12; Ezek. 26:7; Dan. 2:37. Divinely authorized, Deut. 17:15; 1 Sam. 9:16, 17; 16:12; 1 Chr. 22:10; 2 Chr. 2:11, 12; Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2:21, 37; 4:17; 5:20; Hos. 8:4; 13:11. How chosen: By d...

  • Ophir

    [isbe] OPHIR - o'-fer, o'-fir ('owphiyr (Gen 10:29), 'owphir (1 Ki 10:11), 'ophir): 1. Scriptural References: The 11th in order of the sons of Joktan (Gen 10:29 = 1 Ch 1:23). There is a clear reference also to a tribe Ophir (Gen 10...
    [smith] (abundane). The eleventh in order of the sons of Joktan. (Genesis 10:29; 1 Chronicles 1:23) (B.C. after 2450.) A seaport or region from which the Hebrews in the time of Solomon obtained gold. The gold was proverbial for i...
    [nave] OPHIR 1. Son of Joktan, Gen. 10:29; 1 Chr. 1:23. 2. A country celebrated for its gold and other valuable merchandise. Products of, used by Solomon and Hiram, 1 Kin. 9:28; 10:11; 2 Chr. 8:18; 9:10. Jehoshaphat sends ships t...

  • Cupbearer

    [isbe] CUPBEARER - kup'-bar-er (mashqeh, "one giving drink"; oinochoos): An officer of high rank at ancient oriental courts, whose duty it was to serve the wine at the king's table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intr...
    [nave] CUPBEARER, Gen. 40:1, 11; 1 Kin. 10:5; 2 Chr. 9:4; Neh. 1:11.
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • We can explain the writer's unusual reference to Judah and Israel at this time, before the division of the kingdom. When he wrote Kings the nation had split, so probably the writer was using the designation that was common in...
  • Numbers in Chronicles That Disagree With Their Old Testament Parallels89HigherSameLowerParallel PassageEvaluation of ChroniclesA.1 Chron. 11:11300 slain by Jashobeam, not 8002 Sam. 23:8Scribal errorB.1 Chron. 18:4Hadadezer's ...
  • Even though 1 and 2 Chronicles give one continuous story the emphasis in 2 Chronicles is different from that in 1 Chronicles. In 1 Chronicles the emphasis is the importance of the temple in national life. However in 2 Chronic...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Chronicles)III. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-9A. Solomon's wisdom and prosperity ch. 1B. The building of the temple 2:1-5:11. Preparations for building the temple ch. 22. The temple proper 3:1-93. Th...
  • This section of the text is similar to 1 Chronicles 18-21. Those chapters showed how God did keep His promises to David that the Chronicler recorded in 1 Chronicles 17:8-12. These chapters (8-9) show how God kept His promise ...
  • God gave Solomon wisdom and wealth as He had promised (1:12). The location of Ophir (8:18) is uncertain. Scholars have suggested India, Somaliland on the east coast of Africa, West Arabia, and South Arabia.The Queen of Sheba ...
  • The Chronicler omitted any reference to Solomon's apostasy that resulted in the division of the kingdom (cf. 1 Kings 11:9-11). By doing so, he was not trying to whitewash Solomon's record. The Book of Kings was available to t...
  • This survey of the king's administrative accomplishments is not in Kings. Jehoshaphat sent teachers of the Mosaic Law throughout Judah to enable the people to know God's will (vv. 7-9). Thus he fortified his nation spirituall...
  • The texts of the individual psalms do not usually indicate who wrote them.1However some of the titles of the individual psalms do contain information about the writers.2This is the only really reliable information we have as ...
  • 7:1 We have already read of two dreams that Nebuchadnezzar had (2:1; 4:5). Now God gave one to Daniel. It too was a vision from God that came to Daniel as he slept."In referring to the experience as a dream' (sing.) Daniel wa...
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