2 Chronicles 9
GOD’S WORD Translation
The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon(A)
9 The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s reputation. So she came to Jerusalem to test him with riddles. She arrived with a large group of servants, with camels carrying spices, a large quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she talked to him about everything she had on her mind. 2 Solomon answered all her questions. No question was too difficult for Solomon to answer.
3 When the queen of Sheba saw Solomon’s wisdom, the palace he built, 4 the food on his table, his officers’ seating arrangement, the organization of his officials and the uniforms they wore, his cupbearers [a] and their uniforms, and the burnt offerings that he sacrificed at the Lord’s temple, she was breathless. 5 She told the king, “What I heard in my country about your words and your wisdom is true! 6 But I didn’t believe the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. I wasn’t even told about half of the extent of your wisdom. You’ve surpassed the stories I’ve heard. 7 How blessed your men must be! How blessed these servants of yours must be because they are always stationed in front of you and listen to your wisdom! 8 Thank the Lord your God, who is pleased with you. He has put you on his throne to be king on behalf of the Lord your God. Because of your God’s love for the people of Israel, he has established them permanently and made you king over them so that you would maintain justice and righteousness.”
9 She gave the king 9,000 pounds of gold, a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never was there such a large quantity of spices ⌞in Israel⌟ as those that the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.
10 Huram’s servants and Solomon’s servants who brought gold from Ophir also brought sandalwood and precious stones. 11 With the sandalwood the king made gateways to the Lord’s temple and the royal palace, and lyres and harps for the singers. No one had ever seen anything like them in Judah.
12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba anything she wanted, whatever she asked for, more than what she had brought him. Then she and her servants went back to her country.
Solomon’s Wealth(B)
13 The gold that came to Solomon in one year weighed 49,950 pounds, 14 not counting ⌞the gold⌟ which the merchants and traders brought. All the Arab kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15 King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold, using 15 pounds of gold on each shield. 16 He also made 300 small shields of hammered gold, using 7½ pounds of gold on each shield. The king put them in the hall ⌞named⌟ the Forest of Lebanon.
17 The king also made a large ivory throne and covered it with pure gold. 18 Six steps led to the throne, which had a gold footstool attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. Two lions stood beside the armrests. 19 Twelve lions stood on six steps, one on each side. Nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.
20 All King Solomon’s cups were gold, and all the utensils for the hall ⌞named⌟ the Forest of Lebanon were fine gold. (Silver wasn’t considered valuable in Solomon’s time.) 21 The king had ships going to Tarshish with Huram’s sailors. Once every three years the Tarshish ships would bring gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.
22 In wealth and wisdom King Solomon was greater than all the ⌞other⌟ kings of the world. 23 All the kings of the world wanted to listen to the wisdom that God gave Solomon. 24 So everyone who came brought him gifts: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. This happened year after year.
25 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 war horses. He stationed ⌞some⌟ in chariot cities and ⌞others⌟ with himself in Jerusalem. 26 He ruled all the kings from the Euphrates River to the country of the Philistines and as far as the Egyptian border. 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as plentiful as fig trees in the foothills. 28 Horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all other countries.
Solomon’s Death(C)
29 Aren’t the rest of Solomon’s acts from first to last written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah from Shiloh, and in Iddo the seer’s [b] visions about Jeroboam (son of Nebat)?
30 Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for 40 years. 31 Solomon lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Rehoboam succeeded him as king.
2 Chronicles 9
English Standard Version
The Queen of Sheba
9 (A)Now when (B)the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. 2 And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her. 3 And when (C)the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 4 the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.
5 And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, 6 but I did not believe the[a] reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the report that I heard. 7 Happy are your men! Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 8 Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you (D)and set you on his throne as king for the Lord your God! (E)Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” 9 Then she gave the king 120 talents[b] of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
10 Moreover, the servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon, (F)who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and precious stones. 11 And the king made from the algum wood (G)supports for the house of the Lord and for the king's house, lyres also and harps for the singers. There never was seen the like of them before in the land of Judah.
12 And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked (H)besides what she had brought to the king. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.
Solomon's Wealth
13 (I)Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 14 besides that which the explorers and merchants brought. (J)And all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold; 600 shekels[c] of beaten gold went into each shield. 16 And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; (K)300 shekels of gold went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. 17 The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, 19 while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. Nothing like it was ever made for any kingdom. 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 as anything in the days of Solomon. 21 For the king's ships went to (L)Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.[d]
22 Thus King Solomon (M)excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. 24 Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and of gold, garments, myrrh,[e] spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year. 25 And Solomon had (N)4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 26 (O)And he ruled over all the kings (P)from the Euphrates[f] to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. 27 (Q)And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. 28 (R)And horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.
Solomon's Death
29 (S)Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from (T)first to last, are they not written in the history of (U)Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of (V)Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of (W)Iddo (X)the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 31 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in (Y)the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 9:6 Hebrew their
- 2 Chronicles 9:9 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
- 2 Chronicles 9:15 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
- 2 Chronicles 9:21 Or baboons
- 2 Chronicles 9:24 Or armor
- 2 Chronicles 9:26 Hebrew the River
2 Chronicles 9
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Queen of Sheba
9 The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame,(A) so she came to test Solomon with difficult questions at Jerusalem with a very large entourage, with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and spoke with him about everything that was on her mind. 2 So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for Solomon to explain to her. 3 When the queen of Sheba observed Solomon’s wisdom, the palace he had built, 4 the food at his table, his servants’ residence, his attendants’ service and their attire, his cupbearers and their attire, and the burnt offerings he offered at the Lord’s temple, it took her breath away.
5 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and about your wisdom is true. 6 But I didn’t believe their reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half of your great wisdom! You far exceed the report I heard. 7 How happy are your men.[a](B) How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom. 8 May the Lord your God be praised! He delighted in you and put you on His throne as king for the Lord your God.(C) Because Your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, He has set you over them as king to carry out justice and righteousness.”(D)
9 Then she gave the king four and a half tons[b] of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There never were such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 10 In addition, Hiram’s servants and Solomon’s servants who brought gold from Ophir(E) also brought algum wood and precious stones. 11 The king made the algum wood into walkways for the Lord’s temple and for the king’s palace and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.
12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba her every desire, whatever she asked—far more than she had brought the king. Then she, along with her servants, returned to her own country.
Solomon’s Wealth
13 The weight of gold that came to Solomon(F) annually was 25 tons,[c] 14 besides what was brought by the merchants and traders. All the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15 King Solomon made 200 large shields of hammered gold; 15 pounds[d] of hammered gold went into each shield. 16 He made 300 small shields of hammered gold; about eight pounds[e] of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.(G)
17 The king also made a large ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 The throne had six steps; there was a footstool covered in gold for the throne, armrests on either side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests. 19 Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps, one at each end. Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.
20 All of King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, since it was considered as nothing in Solomon’s time, 21 for the king’s ships kept going to Tarshish(H) with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.[f]
22 King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and wisdom.(I) 23 All the kings of the world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 24 Each of them would bring his own gift—items[g] of silver and gold, clothing, weapons,[h][i] spices, and horses and mules—as an annual tribute.
25 Solomon(J) had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.(K) He stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 26 He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines and as far as the border of Egypt.(L) 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills. 28 They were bringing horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all the countries.
Solomon’s Death
29 The remaining events(M) of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Events of Nathan the Prophet, the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat.(N) 30 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for 40 years. 31 Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David.(O) His son Rehoboam became king in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 9:7 LXX, Old Lat read wives; 1Kg 10:8
- 2 Chronicles 9:9 Lit 120 talents
- 2 Chronicles 9:13 Lit 666 talents
- 2 Chronicles 9:15 Lit 600 (shekels)
- 2 Chronicles 9:16 Lit 300 (shekels)
- 2 Chronicles 9:21 Or baboons
- 2 Chronicles 9:24 Or vessels, or weapons
- 2 Chronicles 9:24 LXX reads resin
- 2 Chronicles 9:24 Or fragrant balsam
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