Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 9

Verse 1

Saba. See 3 Kings x. 1. This queen resided in Arabia or Abyssinia. (Haydock) --- Questions. They were not of a trifling nature, as she is commended by Christ. (Du Hamel)

Verse 3

House; the royal palace, or rather the temple, which was much more magnificent than any thing in the East.

Verse 5

Virtues. Hebrew, "words," or of what regards thee (Calmet) and thy exploits. (Tirinus)

Verse 6

Fame. Hebrew and Septuagint, "the fame which I had heard." (Haydock)

Verse 8

King of the Lord. Hence the style, "By the grace of God, king of England," &c., has been adopted. Those deserve the name, who rule according to God’s will. (Worthington) --- The kings of the Jews were more properly lieutenants of God, as the government was a theocracy, chap. xiii. 8., &c.

Verse 10

Thyine-trees, very odoriferous. (Calmet) --- Hebrew algumim: 3 Kings almugim, as the letters are frequently transposed in Hebrew. (Du Hamel) --- Huet thinks these were citron-trees, which did not produce fruit, but were used to make costly tables, and were a species of cedar.

Verse 11

Stairs. Hebrew, "hands," (Du Hamel) or banisters, from the palace to the temple. (Junius)

Verse 12

And many. Hebrew, "besides that which she had brought unto the king." (Protestants) It is however certain that Solomon made use of many of her presents, and therefore he returned her others in greater profusion, or, as it is expressed, 3 Kings, besides what he offered her of himself of his royal bounty. (Haydock)

Verse 13

Gold, each worth 5475l. (Arbuthnot) so that this part of the revenue alone would amount to 3,646,350l. sterling, annually. (Haydock)

Verse 14

Beside. Hebrew, "besides that which chapmen and merchants brought." (Protestants) The deputies appear to be the tax-gatherers, 3 Kings x. 15. (Haydock)

Verse 16

Pieces. In 3 Kings, we read, three pounds. --- Wood; or, "in the palace of the forest of Libanus," (3 Kings x. 17.; Calmet) as it is expressed in the Septuagint. (Tirinus)

Verse 18

CHAPTER IX.

Arms. Protestants, "stays." (Haydock) --- Hebrew in 3 Kings seems clearer and more correct. (Calmet)

Verse 20

Days. We sometimes find the figure, hyperbole, used in Scripture for things unusual, chap. i. 16. (Worthington)

Verse 21

Tharsis. Any distant place was so called. (Tirinus)

Verse 25

Thousand. In 3 Kings, we read, 1400 chariots; and here Hebrew has, "4000 stables, (Calmet) or stalls for horses and chariots;" (Protestants) and the Septuagint, "4000 mares for the chariots, and 12,000 horsemen." (Haydock) --- There might be ten horses in each stable. (Du Hamel)

Verse 29

Seer. The works of these three are not extant. (Menochius) --- The fall of Solomon is recorded, 3 Kings xi. (Worthington)