2 Chronicles 9

The Queen of Scheba visiteth Salomon, to hear his wisdom, v.1, &c. at which she is greatly amazed, 3. And giveth him presents, 9. Receiveth also presents from Salomon, and returneth homeward, 12. Salomons gold and revenues, 13. His targets and shields, 15. Ivory throne, 17. Golden vessels, 20. What presents were given him by the neighbor kings, 23. His power and riches, 25. His reign and death, 30.

1. And when the Queen of Scheba had heard (of) the fame of Salomon, she came to prove Salomon with riddles at Jerusalem, with a very heavy host, and camels bearing spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones; and she came to Salomon, and communed with him (of) all that was in her heart. [See the further exposition of this chapter, 1 Kings 10. Where this History is first described.]

2. And Salomon declared to her all words; and there was nothing had before Salomon, which he declared not to her.

3. Now when the Queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Salomon, and the house, which he had built:

4. And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, [See 1 Kings 10.on vers.5.] and the standing of his ministers, [understand the well-ordered, worthy, and ready service, that was done to him, as he sate at table, by his courtiers. It may be also understood of his minister in general, which stood about him, or were at hand, ready to attend and wait upon his commands] and their apparel, and his cup-bearers, and their apparel, and his ascent, by which he went up into the house of the LORD; then (there) was no more spirit in her. [See 1 Kings 10.on vers.5.]

5. And she said unto the King, It was a true word which I heard in my land, of thine affairs, [Hebr. Words] and of thy wisdom.

6. And I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes saw (that), and behold, the half of the greatness of thy wisdom hath not been told me: thou hast exceeded the fame that I have heard. [Hebr. Thou hast added to, or, above the fame, etc.]

7. Right happy are thy men, and right happy are these thy servants, that stand continually before thy face, and hear thy wisdom.

8. Praised be the LORD thy God, who hath had delight in thee, to set thee on his throne, [1 Kings 10. Vers. 9. It’s said, on the throne of Israel. She conceiveth that the Israelites were Gods peculiar people, and the Kings Gods Vicegerents, and consequently that was to acknowledge God in his government to be his Sovereign, and to do right unto his people in his Name] (to be) King for the LORD thy God: [that is, so to minister unto him in such a royal estate, that his Name may be thereby magnified] because thy God loveth Israel, to set up the same [or, to establish it, or, to keep it standing] forever; therefore he made thee King over them, to do judgment and justice.

9. And she gave the King an hundred and twenty talents of Gold, [see Exod.25.on vers.39.] and spices in great abundance, and precious stones; and there was no spice like unto this, [To wit, in such abundance. Compare 1 Kings 10:10.] which the queen of Sheba gave king Salomon.

10. Moreover also Hurams servants, and Salomon’s servants, that brought Gold from Ophir, [See 1 Kings 9.on vers.49.] brought Algummim-wood, [called also Almuggim-wood, 1 Kings 10:11. See there the annotation] and precious stones.

11. And the King made of that Algummim-wood terrises [Passage, or, galleries, having on both sides hand-leanings and under proppings, wherefore they were also called props or stays, 1 Kings 10:12.] to the house of the LORD, and to the KINGS house, [by these galleries they went from the Kings house to the house of the Lord. See 1 Kings 10. On vers.12.] as also Harps, and Lutes for the singers: the like [to wit, Algummim-wood] had not been before in the land of Israel.

12. And King Salomon gave to the Queen of Scheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that, which she had brought unto the King: [That is, besides that which he gave her for that, which she had presented him withal] so she turned, and went to her (own) land, she, and her servants.

13. Now the weight of the Gold, that came in for Salomon in one year, was six hundred, and threescore and is talents Gold;

14. Besides that which they brought in from the Mercers [See of these 1 Kings 10.on vers.15.] and the merchants; all the Kings of Arabia also, and the Princes of the same land brought Gold and silver to Salomon. [To wit, to pay their yearly tribute.]

15. Besides King Salomon made two hundred targets of beaten Gold: he caused six hundred (shekels) of beaten gold [Of the common shekel of gold, see Gen.24.on vers.22.] to be weighed out forever target.

16. Likewise three hundred shekels of beaten gold; he caused three hundred (shekels) of gold [Or, three pounds, or mina’s of Gold, as it is said, 1 Kings 10 17. Each pound making an hundred shekels. See there the annotate.] to be weighed out for ever shield: and the King put them in the house of the forest of Libanon. [See of this house, 1 Kings 7:2. etc. and the annotations.]

17. Moreover, the King made a great ivory throne, and he overlaid it with pure gold. [Yea with the most refined. See1 Kings 10 on vers.18. where it is called close gold.]

18. And the throne had six steps, and a foot-stool of gold, fastened to the throne, and leaning [Hebr. Hands] on both sides, [Hebr. Hence and thence, or, hither and thither. So in the following verse] to the sitting place; and two lions standing by the leanings.

19. And twelve lions stood there on both sides, upon the six steps; the like hath not been made in any kingdom.

20. Also all the drinking vessels of King Salomon were of Gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Libanon were of inclosed gold: [see 1 Kings 6.on vers.20.] silver was not accounted any thing in the days of Salomon. [These words are also thus rendered by some: there was no silver on them, for it was (not) accounted any thing in the days of Salomon.]

21. For the Kings ships sailed to Tarsis, with the servants of Huram: once [The original word, which otherwise signifieth one, is also thus taken for once or one time, Exod.30 10. Jos 6 3. 2 Kings 4:35. and 6.10. Job 33:14. and 39.38.] in three years came in the ships of Tarsis, [see 1 Kings 10. On vers 22.] bringing Gold, and silver, Ivory, and Apes, and Peacocks.

22. So King Salomon waxed greater then all the Kings of the earth in riches, and wisdom.

23. And all the Kings of the earth, [To wit, to whom the fame of Salomons wisdom and riches was come] sought the face of Salomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.

24. And they brought every man his present, silver vessels, and golden vessels, and raiment, harness, and spices: horses, and mules, each from year to year. [Hebr. The thing of the year in the year: that is, every present yearly. So 1 Kings 10:25.]

25. Salomon had also four thousand stalls for horses, [How this is to be compared with 1 Kings 4 26. Where the number is fourty thousand, see the annotate. There] and charets, [understand not, that these charets were likewise four thousand in number; but the number thereof is here concealed, and is expressed, 1 Kings 10:26.] and twelve thousand horsemen; and he put them in the charet-cities, [see 1 Kings 9.on vers.19.] and with the King at Jerusalem.

26. And he reigned over all the kings from the River, [Namely, Euphrates, which by way of eminency is called the River. See Genes.31.on vers.21.] to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. [Here is the fulfilling of the Promise made to Abraham, Gen.15.18. See also 1 Kings 4:21. and the annotate. Take notice here of the borders of Palestina. The river Euphrates was the border of it, east, and northward, the land of the Philistines westward, and Egypt southward Compare Gen.15.18.]

27. The King also made the silver in Jerusalem to be as stone; and the cedars he made to be as the Sycamore-trees, that are in the low grounds in abundances.

28. And they brought for Salomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all those lands. [Of the toll or tribute of horses, and other wares coming out of Egypt, which Salomon raised, see 1 Kings 10:28. and the Annotat. And Above chap.1.16.]

29. Now the rest of the acts [Hebr. Words] of Salomon, first, and last, are they not written in the words [That is, books, or writings] of Nathan the Prophet, [see of this Prophet 2 Sam.7.2.] and in the prophesy of Ahia the Silonite, [see of this Prophet also 1 Kings 11:19.] and in the visions [of prophetical visions, see Gen.15. on vers.1.] of Jedi [see of this man below chap.12.15. where he is called Iddo, and 15.1. where he is called Oded] the Seer, [meaning, a Prophet, to whom God revealeth secret things by visions. See Numb.12.6. and 24.4. 1 Sam.9.9.] concerning [others, of, or, against] Jerobeam the son of Nebat? [These books or writings, to wit, of the Prophets aforementioned, contained the histories of Salomon, and Jerobeam, but are not now extant, though without prejudice to the church of God, the canonical Scripture as it is left us by God, being most perfect and entire, and able to instruct us perfectly in all that is needful to believe and do unto salvation.]

30. And Salomon reigned at Jerusalem over all Israel, fourty years.

31. And Salomon fell asleep with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David his father: [See 1 Kings 2.on vers.10.] and Rehabeam his son became King in his stead.