2 Chronicles 9: The queen of Sheba, Solomon's riches, and his death
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
The queen of Sheba hears of Solomon's fame, comes to Jerusalem with spices, gold and precious stones to test him with hard questions, and says that what she has seen is greater than the report. She and Solomon exchange gifts, and the chapter then lists his gold, his shields, his ivory throne, his ships, the kings who bring tribute, his horses and his rule from the River to the border of Egypt. It names the writings where the rest of his acts are written, says he reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel, and ends with his burial in David's city and Rehoboam reigning in his place.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. The queen of Sheba speaks in verses 5 to 8, praising Solomon's wisdom and his men and blessing Yahweh his God; those are her own words. Solomon's answers in verse 2 are reported, not quoted. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great caravan, including camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. When she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.
In plain English: When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, she came to test Solomon with hard questions (or: riddles) at Jerusalem, with a very great caravan: camels carrying spices, a great amount of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.
The Hebrew word: "Hard questions" is chidah, which the dictionary gives as "a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim".
How it is translated: The word is in 17 verses of the Old Testament. The WEB says "riddle" in 13 of them and "hard" in 2 (this verse and ).
What changes: Read as "riddles", which is the word's usual sense, she came with riddles to put to him. Read as "hard questions", she came with difficult matters. The verse does not say what she asked, and verse 2 says only that he answered all her questions.
Good to know: says she heard of his fame "concerning Yahweh's name". This verse has no such words.
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2Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from Solomon which he didn’t tell her.
In plain English: Solomon answered all her questions (literally: told her all her words). Nothing was hidden from Solomon that he did not tell her.
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3When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
In plain English: When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon and the house that he had built,
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4the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his ministers, their clothing, his cup bearers and their clothing, and his ascent by which he went up to Yahweh’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
In plain English: the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the standing of his ministers (or: servants) in attendance, their clothing, his cup bearers and their clothing, and his ascent (or: upper room) by which he went up to Yahweh's house, there was no more spirit (or: breath) in her.
The Hebrew words: "Ascent" is aliyyah, which the dictionary gives as "something lofty, i.e. a stair-way; also a second-story room". The WEB says "upper" in 8 of the 20 verses that have the word and "ascent" in 3. "Spirit" is ruach, which the dictionary gives as "wind; by resemblance breath ... spirit". In the 348 verses that have it, the WEB says "spirit" in 200, "wind" in 100 and "breath" in 34.
What changes: Read as "ascent", it is the way he went up to Yahweh's house. Read as "upper room", it is a room above. Read as "spirit", it is her spirit that was no longer in her; read as "breath", it is her breath. The verse says only what she saw and that there was no more ruach in her.
Good to know: has nearly the same list. The Hebrew word there is spelled as olah, which is usually "burnt offering", and the WEB reads "ascent" there too.
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5She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
In plain English: She said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts (literally: your words) and of your wisdom.
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6However I didn’t believe their words until I came, and my eyes had seen it; and behold half of the greatness of your wisdom wasn’t told me. You exceed the fame that I heard!
In plain English: However, I did not believe their words until I came and my eyes had seen it. And look, not even half of the greatness of your wisdom was told me. You go beyond (or: add to) the report that I heard!
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7Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom.
In plain English: Happy are your men (or: people), and happy are these your servants, who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.
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8Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you and set you on his throne to be king for Yahweh your God, because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever. Therefore he made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”
In plain English: Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you and set you on his throne to be king for Yahweh your God. Because your God loved Israel, to make them stand forever, he made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness."
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9She 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.
In plain English: She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, a very great amount of spices, and precious stones. There had never been spice like what the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
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10The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious stones.
In plain English: Also the servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and precious stones.
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11The 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.
In plain English: The king used the algum wood to make terraces (or: roads, steps) for Yahweh's house and for the king's house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers. None like them had been seen before in the land of Judah.
The Hebrew words: "Terraces" is mesillah, which the dictionary gives as "a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase". The WEB says "highway" in 19 of its 26 verses and "terrace" in only this one. "Algum" is algummim.
Good to know: and call the wood "almug" (a different spelling of the name in the Hebrew) and say Solomon made "pillars" from it for the two houses. The text does not explain why the words differ.
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12King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, more than that which she had brought to the king. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
In plain English: King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she desired, whatever she asked, besides what she had brought to the king. Then she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
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13Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
In plain English: The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,
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14in addition to that which the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
In plain English: besides what the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon.
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15King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one large shield.
In plain English: King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold. Six hundred (shekels, as the WEB supplies the unit) of beaten gold went into each large shield.
Good to know: The Hebrew gives only the numbers, "six hundred" here and "three hundred" in verse 16, followed by the word for gold. The unit "shekels" is added by the WEB. has the same number for the large shields, and says "three minas of gold" for each shield, where verse 16 here says three hundred. The text does not explain the difference.
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16He 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.
In plain English: He made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three hundred (shekels, as the WEB supplies the unit) of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
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17Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
In plain English: The king also made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.
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18There 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.
In plain English: The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold fastened to it, and armrests (literally: hands) on each side of the seat, with two lions standing beside the armrests.
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19Twelve 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.
In plain English: Twelve lions stood there on the six steps, on the one side and on the other. Nothing like it had been made for any kingdom.
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20All 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.
In plain English: All King Solomon's drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.
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21For 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.
In plain English: 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 (or: monkeys) and peacocks (or: some other imported creature).
The Hebrew words: "Apes" and "peacocks" are qof and tukkiyim. The WEB says "apes", and the dictionary gives qof as "a monkey". It gives tukki as "some imported creature, probably a peacock". Each word is in 2 verses of the Old Testament, this one and .
What changes: Read as "peacocks", the ships brought birds. Read as some other imported creature, the verse names an animal the text does not name. The text says only that these came with the gold, silver and ivory.
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22So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
In plain English: So King Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
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23All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
In plain English: All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
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24They each brought tribute: vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules every year.
In plain English: They each brought a gift (the WEB says: tribute): articles of silver, articles of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses and mules, year by year.
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25Solomon 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.
In plain English: Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
Good to know: The number is four thousand stalls here. says "forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen". says one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen. The text does not explain the differences.
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26He ruled over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
In plain English: He ruled over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt.
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27The 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.
In plain English: The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as many as the sycamore trees in the lowland (or: the Shephelah).
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28They brought horses for Solomon out of Egypt and out of all lands.
In plain English: Horses were brought for Solomon out of Egypt and out of all lands.
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29Now 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?
In plain English: As for the rest of the acts (literally: words) of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the history (literally: words) of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
Good to know: The Hebrew says "the words of Nathan the prophet" here, and the WEB says "history". sends the reader to "the book of the acts of Solomon" instead. names Samuel, Nathan and Gad for David. The text does not say whether any of these are the same writing.
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30Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
In plain English: Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
Good to know: gives the same forty years, and gives the same burial and Rehoboam reigning in his place.
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31Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in his father David’s city; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father. Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
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