示巴女王拜访所罗门

示巴女王听闻所罗门的名声,便来用难题考问他。她率领许多随从,用骆驼驮着香料、宝石和大量的黄金到耶路撒冷晋见所罗门王,与所罗门谈论她心中的疑问。 所罗门王解答了她所有的问题,没有一样难得住他。 示巴女王看见所罗门的智慧,又看见他建的宫殿、 席上的美味、入座的群臣、侍立一旁的仆人、他们的服装、酒政、以及他在耶和华殿里献的燔祭,感到万分惊奇。 她对所罗门王说:“我在本国听到的有关你的功业和智慧原来都是真的。 若不是亲眼目睹,我不会相信。事实上,我听到的还不到一半!你的智慧远超过我听到的传闻。 你的臣仆经常侍立在你面前聆听智慧之言,真有福气! 你的上帝耶和华当受称颂!祂喜爱你,立你做王统治祂的子民。因为你的上帝爱以色列人,要使他们永远坚立,所以立你为他们的王,使你秉公行义。”

示巴女王将四吨黄金、大量香料和宝石献给所罗门王。再无人像示巴女王那样献给所罗门王那么多香料。 10 希兰的仆人和所罗门的仆人从俄斐运来黄金、檀香木和宝石。 11 所罗门王用这些檀香木建造耶和华的殿和王宫的阶梯,又制作歌乐手的琴瑟。在犹大从来没有见过这样的物品。 12 所罗门王满足了示巴女王的一切要求,回赠她的礼物超过了她带来的。之后,女王和随从就回示巴去了。

所罗门王的财富

13 所罗门每年收到的黄金约二十三吨, 14 此外还有商人、阿拉伯诸王和国内各总督送给他的金银。 15 所罗门王用锤好的金子打造了二百面大盾牌,每面用七公斤金子; 16 又用锤好的金子打造了三百面小盾牌,每面用三点五公斤金子,全部放在黎巴嫩林宫。 17 王又造了一个象牙大宝座,外面用纯金包裹。 18 这宝座有六级台阶,又有金脚凳与宝座相连,宝座两旁有扶手,扶手两边各站着一头狮子, 19 六级台阶上共站着十二头狮子,每级台阶两端各站一头。这宝座举世无双。 20 所罗门王所有的杯子都是金的,黎巴嫩林宫里所有的器皿都是纯金的,没有一件是用银子造的,因为所罗门年间银子不算什么。 21 王有船队与希兰的仆人一起出海去他施,每三年就运回金银、象牙、猿猴和孔雀。 22 所罗门王的财富和智慧超过天下诸王。 23 天下的君王都纷纷来朝见所罗门,聆听上帝赐给他的智言慧语。 24 他们年年都带来礼物,有金银器皿、衣服、兵器、香料和骡马。 25 所罗门有四千个安置战车和马匹的棚,有一万二千名骑兵,驻扎在屯车城和他所在的耶路撒冷。 26 所罗门统管从幼发拉底河到非利士地区,远至埃及边境的诸王。 27 王使耶路撒冷的金银多如石头,使香柏木多如丘陵的无花果树。 28 所罗门的马匹都是从埃及和其他国家运来的。

所罗门逝世

29 所罗门一生的事迹,自始至终都记在拿单先知的史记、示罗人亚希雅的《预言书》和易多先见论尼八的儿子耶罗波安的《启示书》中。 30 所罗门在耶路撒冷统治以色列四十年, 31 他与祖先同眠后,葬在他父亲大卫的城里。他儿子罗波安继位。

And when the Malkat Sheva (Queen of Sheba) heard of the fame of Sh’lomo, she came to test Sh’lomo with chidot (hard questions, riddles) at Yerushalayim, with a very great caravan, and camels that carried spices, and zahav in abundance, and precious stones; and when she was come to Sh’lomo, she communed with him of all that was in her levav.

And Sh’lomo gave answer to all her questions; and there was nothing hid from Sh’lomo which he explained not to her.

And when the Malkat Sheva had seen the Chochmat Sh’lomo, and HaBais (the Palace) that he had built,

And the ma’akhal (food) of his shulchan, and the moshav of his avadim, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his aliyah (ascent) by which he went up to the Beis Hashem; there was no more ruach in her.

And she said to HaMelech, Emes was the davar (report) which I heard in mine own country about thine acts, and of thy chochmah;

Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, hinei, the one half of the greatness of thy chochmah was not told me, for thou exceedest the report that I heard.

Ashrei are thy anashim, and ashrei are these thy avadim, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy chochmah.

Baruch Hashem Eloheicha Who delighted in thee to set thee on His kisse, to be Melech for Hashem Eloheicha, because Eloheicha loved Yisroel, to establish them l’olam, therefore He made thee Melech over them, to maintain Mishpat and Tzedakah.

And she gave HaMelech a hundred and twenty talents of zahav, and spices in great abundance, and precious stones; neither was there ever any such spice as the Malkat Sheva gave Sh’lomo HaMelech.

10 And the avadim also of Churam, and the avadim of Sh’lomo, which brought zahav from Ophir, brought atzei algummim (algum trees) and precious stones.

11 And HaMelech made of the atzei algummim steps for the Beis Hashem, and for the Beis HaMelech, and kinnorot and nevalim for the musicians; and there were none such seen before in the Eretz Yehudah.

12 And Sh’lomo HaMelech gave to Malkat Sheva all her chefetz, whatsoever she asked, beside such that she had brought unto HaMelech. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her avadim.

13 Now the weight of zahav that came to Sh’lomo in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of zahav;

14 Besides that which traders and merchants brought. And all the melachim of Arabia and governors of the country brought zahav and kesef to Sh’lomo.

15 And Melech Sh’lomo made 200 shields of hammered zahav; 600 measures of hammered zahav went to one shield.

16 And 300 moginnim he made of hammered zahav; 300 measures of zahav went to one mogen. And HaMelech put them in Beis Ya’ar HaLevanon (House of the Forest of Levanon).

17 Moreover HaMelech made a kisse shen gadol (great ivory throne) and overlaid it with zahav tahor.

18 And there were six steps to the kisse, with a kevesh (ramp) of zahav, which was attached to the kisse, and arms on each side of the seat, and two aroyot (lions) standing by the armrests;

19 And 12 aroyot stood there on the one side and on the other upon 6 steps. There was nothing like it made for any other mamlechah.

20 And all the kelei mashkeh (drinking vessels) of Sh’lomo HaMelech were of zahav, and all the kelei Beis Ya’ar HaLevanon were of pure zahav; none were of kesef; it [silver] was not accounted as anything in the days of Sh’lomo.

21 HaMelech had a fleet of oniyyot that went to Tarshish with the avadim of Churam. Once every three years came the oniyyot Tarshish bringing zahav, and kesef, ivory, and monkeys, and peacocks.

22 And Sh’lomo HaMelech surpassed all the Malkhei HaAretz in riches and chochmah.

23 And all the Malkhei Ha’Aretz sought the presence of Sh’lomo, to hear his chochmah, that HaElohim had put in his lev.

24 And they brought every ish his minchah (present), kelei kesef, kelei zahav, and clothing, weapons, and spices, susim, and peradim (mules), at a set rate.

25 And Sh’lomo had four thousand stalls for susim and markovot (chariots), and twelve thousand parashim whom he kept in the chariot cities, and with HaMelech at Yerushalayim.

26 And he reigned over all the melachim from the River [i.e., the Euphrates] even unto the Eretz Pelishtim, and to the border of Mitzrayim.

27 And HaMelech made kesef in Yerushalayim as common as stones, and cedar trees he made like sycamore trees that are in the Shefelah in abundance.

28 And they imported unto Sh’lomo susim out of Mitzrayim, and from all the lands.

29 Now the rest of the Divrei Sh’lomo, harishonim and ha’acharonim, are they not written in the Divrei Natan HaNavi, and in the Nevu’at Achiyah the Shiloni, and in the chazot Yadai HaChozer against Yarov’am ben Nevat?

30 And Sh’lomo reigned in Yerushalayim over kol Yisroel arba’im shaneh.

31 And Sh’lomo slept with Avotav, and he was buried in Ir Dovid Aviv. And Rechav’am Bno reigned in his place.

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.

And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,

And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her.

And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:

Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.

Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.

Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.

And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.

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

11 And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the Lord, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.

13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;

14 Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.

16 And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

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

18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays:

19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.

20 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.

24 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

25 And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

26 And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.

27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.

28 And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.

29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?

30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

The Queen of Sheba’s Praise of Solomon(A)

Now (B)when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions, having a very great retinue, camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for Solomon that he could not explain it to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his (C)cupbearers and their apparel, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.

Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the Lord your God! Because your God has (D)loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”

And she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones; there never were any spices such as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10 Also, the servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon, (E)who brought gold from Ophir, brought [a]algum wood and precious stones. 11 And the king made walkways of the [b]algum wood for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers; and there were none such as these seen before in the land of Judah.

12 Now King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, much more than she had brought to the king. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

Solomon’s Great Wealth(F)

13 (G)The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 14 besides what the traveling merchants and traders brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 And King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield. 16 He also made three hundred shields of hammered gold; [c]three hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the (H)House of the Forest of Lebanon.

17 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 The throne had six steps, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne; there were [d]armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests. 19 Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

20 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon. 21 For the king’s ships went to (I)Tarshish with the servants of [e]Hiram. Once every three years the [f]merchant ships came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and [g]monkeys.

22 So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 24 Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, (J)armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year.

25 Solomon (K)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.

26 (L)So he reigned over all the kings (M)from [h]the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. 27 (N)The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees (O)as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland. 28 (P)And they brought horses to Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.

Death of Solomon(Q)

29 (R)Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of (S)Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of (T)Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 (U)Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 Then Solomon [i]rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 9:10 almug, 1 Kin. 10:11, 12
  2. 2 Chronicles 9:11 almug, 1 Kin. 10:11, 12
  3. 2 Chronicles 9:16 three minas, 1 Kin. 10:17
  4. 2 Chronicles 9:18 Lit. hands
  5. 2 Chronicles 9:21 Heb. Huram; cf. 1 Kin. 10:22
  6. 2 Chronicles 9:21 Lit. ships of Tarshish, deep-sea vessels
  7. 2 Chronicles 9:21 Or peacocks
  8. 2 Chronicles 9:26 The Euphrates
  9. 2 Chronicles 9:31 Died and joined his ancestors