示巴女王拜訪所羅門

示巴女王聽聞所羅門的名聲,便來用難題考問他。她率領許多隨從,用駱駝馱著香料、寶石和大量的黃金到耶路撒冷晉見所羅門王,與所羅門談論她心中的疑問。 所羅門王解答了她所有的問題,沒有一樣難得住他。 示巴女王看見所羅門的智慧,又看見他建的宮殿、 席上的美味、入座的群臣、侍立一旁的僕人、他們的服裝、酒政、以及他在耶和華殿裡獻的燔祭,感到萬分驚奇。 她對所羅門王說:「我在本國聽到的有關你的功業和智慧原來都是真的。 若不是親眼目睹,我不會相信。事實上,我聽到的還不到一半!你的智慧遠超過我聽到的傳聞。 你的臣僕經常侍立在你面前聆聽智慧之言,真有福氣! 你的上帝耶和華當受稱頌!祂喜愛你,立你做王統治祂的子民。因為你的上帝愛以色列人,要使他們永遠堅立,所以立你為他們的王,使你秉公行義。」

示巴女王將四噸黃金、大量香料和寶石獻給所羅門王。再無人像示巴女王那樣獻給所羅門王那麼多香料。 10 希蘭的僕人和所羅門的僕人從俄斐運來黃金、檀香木和寶石。 11 所羅門王用這些檀香木建造耶和華的殿和王宮的階梯,又製作歌樂手的琴瑟。在猶大從來沒有見過這樣的物品。 12 所羅門王滿足了示巴女王的一切要求,回贈她的禮物超過了她帶來的。之後,女王和隨從就回示巴去了。

所羅門王的財富

13 所羅門每年收到的黃金約二十三噸, 14 此外還有商人、阿拉伯諸王和國內各總督送給他的金銀。 15 所羅門王用錘好的金子打造了二百面大盾牌,每面用七公斤金子; 16 又用錘好的金子打造了三百面小盾牌,每面用三點五公斤金子,全部放在黎巴嫩林宮。 17 王又造了一個象牙大寶座,外面用純金包裹。 18 這寶座有六級臺階,又有金腳凳與寶座相連,寶座兩旁有扶手,扶手兩邊各站著一頭獅子, 19 六級臺階上共站著十二頭獅子,每級臺階兩端各站一頭。這寶座舉世無雙。 20 所羅門王所有的杯子都是金的,黎巴嫩林宮裡所有的器皿都是純金的,沒有一件是用銀子造的,因為所羅門年間銀子不算什麼。 21 王有船隊與希蘭的僕人一起出海去他施,每三年就運回金銀、象牙、猿猴和孔雀。 22 所羅門王的財富和智慧超過天下諸王。 23 天下的君王都紛紛來朝見所羅門,聆聽上帝賜給他的智言慧語。 24 他們年年都帶來禮物,有金銀器皿、衣服、兵器、香料和騾馬。 25 所羅門有四千個安置戰車和馬匹的棚,有一萬二千名騎兵,駐紮在屯車城和他所在的耶路撒冷。 26 所羅門統管從幼發拉底河到非利士地區,遠至埃及邊境的諸王。 27 王使耶路撒冷的金銀多如石頭,使香柏木多如丘陵的無花果樹。 28 所羅門的馬匹都是從埃及和其他國家運來的。

所羅門逝世

29 所羅門一生的事蹟,自始至終都記在拿單先知的史記、示羅人亞希雅的《預言書》和易多先見論尼八的兒子耶羅波安的《啟示書》中。 30 所羅門在耶路撒冷統治以色列四十年, 31 他與祖先同眠後,葬在他父親大衛的城裡。他兒子羅波安繼位。

Посета царице од Саве

Глас о Соломоновој слави дошао је до царице од Саве, па је дошла да га искуша загонеткама. Дошла је у Јерусалим са веома великом пратњом, с камилама које су носиле балзам, и веома много злата и драгог камења. Дошавши к Соломону, рекла му је све што јој је било на уму. Соломон јој је одговорио на сва питања; Соломону ништа није било непознато, ништа што није могао да јој одговори. Кад је царица од Саве видела Соломонову мудрост и двор који је саградио, храну за његовим столом, одаје његових дворана, дворење његове послуге и њихову одећу, његове пехарнике, и његове жртве свеспалнице које је принео у Дому Господњем, остала је без даха.

Тада је рекла цару: „Истинит је глас који сам чула у својој земљи о твојим делима и мудрости, али нисам хтела да верујем гласовима док нисам дошла и видела својим очима. Ето, ни пола ми није речено о величини твоје мудрости, јер ти надвисујеш оно што сам чула. Благо твојим женама и благо овим твојим слугама што увек стоје пред тобом и слушају твоју мудрост! Благословен да је Господ, Бог твој, коме си по вољи, и који те је поставио као цара, за Господа, твога Бога! Због своје љубави према Израиљу, да би га заувек одржао, Господ те је учинио царем, да делиш правду и праведност.“

Затим је дала цару стотину двадесет таланата злата[a], веома много балзама и драгог камења. И никада није било таквог балзама какав је царица од Саве дала цару Соломону.

10 Такође, Хирамове и Соломонове слуге које су доносиле злато из Офира, доносиле су и дрво сандаловине и драго камење. 11 Цар је од дрвета сандаловине направио степенице за Господњи Дом и за царев двор, и лире и харфе за свираче какве се раније нису виђале у Јуди.

12 Цар Соломон је дао царици од Саве све што је пожелела и тражила, поред онога што је она донела цару. Затим се са својим слугама вратила у своју земљу.

Соломонова величина

13 Тежина злата, које је долазило Соломону сваке године, износила је шест стотина шездесет шест таланата[b], 14 поред онога што су му доносили путујући трговци и препродавци, поред злата и сребра од свих арапских царева и управитеља земље.

15 Цар Соломон је начинио две стотине великих штитова од кованог злата – шест стотина шекела[c] злата по једном штиту, 16 и три стотине малих штитова од кованог злата – три стотине[d] шекела злата по једном штиту. Цар их је ставио у кућу Ливанске шуме.

17 Цар је направио и велики престо од слонове кости и опточио га чистим златом. 18 Престо је имао шест степеника, златно подножје спојено са престолом, а са сваке стране седишта биле су ручице поред којих су стајала два лава. 19 Дванаест лавова је стајало на шест степеника с једне и с друге стране. Такав никада није био направљен ни у једном царству. 20 Све чаше из којих је цар Соломон пио биле су од злата, а и све посуде из Куће ливанске шуме су биле од чистог злата; у Соломоново време сребру се није давала велика вредност. 21 Цареве лађе су пловиле са Хирамовим слугама. Једном у три године, тарсиске лађе су долазиле и доносиле злато, сребро, слонову кост, мајмуне и пауне.

22 Тако је цар Соломон надмашио све земаљске цареве у богатству и мудрости. 23 И сви су земаљски цареви тражили пријем код Соломона, да чују његову мудрост, коју му је Бог ставио у срце. 24 Сваки од њих је доносио дар: предмете од сребра и злата, одећу, оружје, балзам, коње и мазге, годину за годином.

25 Соломон је поседовао четири хиљаде штала за коње и бојна кола, као и дванаест хиљада коњаника које је разместио по местима за бојна кола и Јерусалиму. 26 Владао је над свим царевима од реке Еуфрата до филистејске земље и до египатске границе. 27 Цар је учинио да сребра у Јерусалиму буде као камења, а кедровог дрвета много као дивљих смокава у равници. 28 Соломону су допремали коње из Египта и из свих других земаља.

Соломонова смрт

29 Остала Соломонова дела, од првог до последњег, нису ли записана у списима пророка Натана, у пророштву Ахије из Силома и објавама видеоца Ида о Јеровоаму, Наватовом сину? 30 Цар Соломон је владао у Јерусалиму над свим Израиљем четрдесет година. 31 Кад је Соломон починуо са својим прецима сахранили су га у Давидовом граду. На његово место се зацарио његов син Ровоам.

Footnotes

  1. 9,9 Око 4 t.
  2. 9,13 Преко 22,5 t.
  3. 9,15 Око 7 kg.
  4. 9,16 Око 3,5 kg.

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

Chapter 9

The Queen of Sheba. (A)The queen of Sheba, having heard a report of Solomon’s fame, came to Jerusalem to test him with subtle questions, accompanied by a very numerous retinue and by camels bearing spices, a large amount of gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke to him about everything that she had on her mind. Solomon explained to her everything she asked about, and there was nothing so obscure that Solomon could not explain it to her.(B)

(C)When the queen of Sheba witnessed Solomon’s great wisdom, the house he had built, the food at his table, the seating of his ministers, the attendance and dress of his waiters, his cupbearers and their dress, and the burnt offerings he sacrificed in the house of the Lord, it took her breath away. “The report I heard in my country about your deeds and your wisdom is true,” she told the king. “I did not believe the report until I came and saw with my own eyes that not even the half of your great wisdom had been told me. You have surpassed the report I heard. Happy your servants, happy these ministers of yours, who stand before you always and listen to your wisdom. Blessed be the Lord, your God, who was pleased to set you on his throne as king for the Lord, your God. In the love your God has for Israel, to establish them forever, he has made you king over them to carry out judgment and justice.” Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty gold talents, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again did anyone bring such an abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

10 The servants of Huram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought cabinet wood and precious stones. 11 With the cabinet wood the king made stairs for the house of the Lord and the house of the king, and harps and lyres for the chanters. The like of these had not been seen before in the land of Judah.(D)

12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she desired and asked for, more than she had brought to the king. Then she returned with her servants to her own country.(E)

13 (F)The gold that came to Solomon in one year weighed six hundred and sixty-six gold talents, 14 in addition to what came from the tolls on travelers and what the merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia also, and the governors of the country, brought gold and silver to Solomon.

15 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold (six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield) 16 and three hundred bucklers of beaten gold (three hundred shekels of gold went into each buckler); and the king put them in the house of the Forest of Lebanon.

17 The king made a large ivory throne, and overlaid it with fine gold. 18 The throne had six steps; a footstool of gold was fastened to the throne, and there was an arm on each side of the seat, with two lions standing next to the arms, 19 and twelve other lions standing there on the steps, two to a step. Nothing like this was made in any other kingdom. 20 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold, and all the utensils in the house of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, for in Solomon’s time silver was reckoned as nothing. 21 For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish ships would come with a cargo of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

Solomon’s Renown. 22 Thus King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

23 All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon, to hear the wisdom God had put into his heart. 24 They all brought their tribute: vessels of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules—what was due each year. 25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses, chariots, and twelve thousand horses; these he allocated among the chariot cities and to the king’s service in Jerusalem. 26 He was ruler over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines and down to the border of Egypt. 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as numerous as the sycamores of the Shephelah. 28 [a]Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all the lands.

The Death of Solomon. 29 (G)The remainder of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are recorded in the acts of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam, son of Nebat. 30 Solomon was king in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years. 31 Solomon rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David, his father, and Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.

Footnotes

  1. 9:28 See note on 1:16–17.