2 Chronicles 9

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

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.

²Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from Solomon which he didn’t tell her.

³When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,

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 the LORD’s house, there was no more spirit in her.

⁵She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.

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!

⁷Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom.

⁸Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you and set you on his throne to be king for the LORD your God, because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever. Therefore he made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”

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.

¹⁰The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious stones.

¹¹The king used algum tree wood to make terraces for the LORD’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.

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.

Solomon's Wealth and Splendor

¹³Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,

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.

¹⁵King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one large shield.

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.

¹⁷Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

²³All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

²⁴They each brought tribute: vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules every year.

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.

²⁶He ruled over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.

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.

²⁸They brought horses for Solomon out of Egypt and out of all lands.

Solomon's Death

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?

³⁰Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

³¹Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in his father David’s city; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

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The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon to test his renowned wisdom, bringing lavish gifts and leaving amazed by his knowledge and the splendor of his kingdom. The chapter details Solomon's extraordinary wealth, including his annual gold income, magnificent shields, and elaborate ivory throne. Solomon's reign concludes with his death after forty years of rule, marking the end of Israel's golden age of prosperity and international recognition.

Context

This chapter concludes the Chronicler's account of Solomon's glorious reign before the kingdom's division under Rehoboam in the following chapters.

Key Themes

Outline

1-4
The Queen of Sheba's Visit The queen travels from afar to test Solomon's wisdom and is overwhelmed by his knowledge and royal splendor.
5-9
The Queen's Praise and Gifts She acknowledges Solomon's wisdom exceeds his reputation and presents him with gold, spices, and precious stones.
10-12
Exchange of Gifts Trade goods arrive from Ophir while Solomon generously reciprocates the queen's gifts before her departure.
13-21
Solomon's Vast Wealth Details of Solomon's annual gold income and his creation of golden shields and an ornate ivory throne.
22-28
Solomon's International Fame Kings from all nations seek Solomon's wisdom and bring tribute, making him the wealthiest ruler of his time.
29-31
Solomon's Death After forty years of reign, Solomon dies and is succeeded by his son Rehoboam.

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

9:1–9:12

narrative dialogue celebratory

The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon to test his wisdom, is amazed by his knowledge and wealth, blesses God for establishing Solomon as king, and exchanges gifts with him.

person_contrast

Solomon's wisdom transforms from intellectual prowess to divine justice when the Queen of Sheba declares God established him "to execute justice and righteousness"—linking wisdom directly to moral governance.

Solomon's Wealth and Splendor

9:13–9:28

narrative narration triumphant

A detailed account of Solomon's immense wealth, including his gold income, shields, ivory throne, ships, and his dominion over kings from the Euphrates to Egypt.

person_contrast

Solomon's annual gold income of 666 talents creates an ominous numerical echo that later biblical writers would associate with ultimate earthly power and its spiritual dangers.

Solomon's Death

9:29–9:31

narrative narration solemn

Solomon's death after forty years of reign in Jerusalem, with references to historical records of his acts, and the succession of his son Rehoboam.

person_contrast

Solomon's forty-year reign concludes with references to three prophetic sources—Nathan, Ahijah, and Iddo—whose writings preserved both his glory and the seeds of Israel's coming division.

Insight Character Study

Solomon's annual gold income of 666 talents creates an ominous numerical echo that later biblical writers would associate with ultimate earthly power and its spiritual dangers.

Insight Character Study

Solomon's forty-year reign concludes with references to three prophetic sources—Nathan, Ahijah, and Iddo—whose writings preserved both his glory and the seeds of Israel's coming division.