Solomon’s Wealth and Power

13 (A)Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was [a]666 talents of gold, 14 besides what the traders and merchants brought; and all (B)the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold, [b]using six hundred shekels of beaten gold on each large shield. 16 He made three hundred shields of beaten gold, [c]using three hundred shekels of gold on each 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 There were six steps to the throne and a footstool in gold attached to the throne, and [d]arms [e]on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the [f]arms. 19 Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other 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 [g]valuable in the days of Solomon. 21 (C)For the king had ships which went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

22 (D)So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart. 24 (E)They were bringing, each of them his gift: articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, balsam oil, horses, and mules, so much year by year.

25 Now Solomon had (F)four thousand stalls for horses and chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 26 (G)He was ruler over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, and as far as the border of Egypt. 27 (H)And the king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the [h]lowland. 28 (I)And they were bringing horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all countries.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 9:13 About 25 tons or 23 metric tons
  2. 2 Chronicles 9:15 Lit he brought up
  3. 2 Chronicles 9:16 Lit he brought up
  4. 2 Chronicles 9:18 Lit hands
  5. 2 Chronicles 9:18 Lit from this and from this at the place of the seat
  6. 2 Chronicles 9:18 Lit hands
  7. 2 Chronicles 9:20 Lit anything
  8. 2 Chronicles 9:27 Heb shephelah

Solomon’s Great Wealth

13 The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,(A) 14 besides that which the traders and merchants brought, and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon. 15 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold; six hundred shekels[a] of beaten gold went into each large shield. 16 He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred shekels[b] 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 arm rests and two lions standing beside the arm rests,(B) 19 while twelve lions were standing, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom.(C) 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 Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.[c](D)

22 Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.(E) 23 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 a present, objects of silver and gold, garments, weaponry, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year. 25 Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.(F) 26 He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the territory of Egypt.(G) 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone and cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah.(H) 28 Horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 9.15 Heb lacks shekels
  2. 9.16 Heb lacks shekels
  3. 9.21 Or baboons