2 Chronicles 9

Solomon's Wisdom and Divine Favor 2 Chronicles 9:3–8

³Verse 3. When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, ⁴Verse 4. the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his ministers, their clothing, his cup bearers also, their clothing, and his ascent by which he went up to Yahweh’s house; there was no more spirit in her. ⁵Verse 5. She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom. ⁶Verse 6. However I didn’t believe their words until I came, and my eyes had seen it; and behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You exceed the fame that I heard!

⁷Verse 7. Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom. ⁸Verse 8. Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on his throne, to be king for Yahweh your God; because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever. Therefore made he you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”

Gifts and Exchange 2 Chronicles 9:9–12

⁹Verse 9. She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was never before such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. ¹⁰Verse 10. The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious stones. ¹¹Verse 11. The king used algum tree wood to make terraces for Yahweh’s house and for the king’s house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers. There were none like these seen before in the land of Judah. ¹²Verse 12. King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which she had brought to the king. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.

Solomon's Wealth and Influence 2 Chronicles 9:13–22

¹³Verse 13. Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold, ¹⁴Verse 14. besides that which the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. ¹⁵Verse 15. King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one buckler. ¹⁶Verse 16. He made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. ¹⁷Verse 17. Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.

¹⁸Verse 18. There were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and armrests on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests. ¹⁹Verse 19. Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. There was nothing like it made in any other kingdom. ²⁰Verse 20. 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 not considered valuable in the days of Solomon. ²¹Verse 21. For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with Huram’s servants. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

²²Verse 22. So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

Tribute and Governance 2 Chronicles 9:23–27

²³Verse 23. All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. ²⁴Verse 24. They each brought tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules every year. ²⁵Verse 25. Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he stationed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. ²⁶Verse 26. He ruled over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. ²⁷Verse 27. The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars to be as abundant as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.

Conclusion of Solomon's Reign 2 Chronicles 9:28–31

²⁸Verse 28. They brought horses for Solomon out of Egypt and out of all lands. ²⁹Verse 29. Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, aren’t they 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? ³⁰Verse 30. Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. ³¹Verse 31. Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in his father David’s city: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.