Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
2 Chronicles 9:23

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Solomon’s greatness (8:1-9:31)

Other building programs of Solomon are outlined. The Chronicler adds a note that the reason Solomon built a separate palace for his Egyptian wife was to preserve the holiness of the throne. This point is important to the Chronicler, who wants to show that the Davidic kings, on the whole, tried to remain faithful to God. He notes in addition that Solomon organized the temple services according to the plan that David had laid down (8:1-18; see notes on 1 Kings 9:10-28).

After outlining once more Solomon’s wisdom, commercial ability, fame and wealth (9:1-28; see notes on 1 Kings 10:1-25), the Chronicler closes his record of Solomon’s reign. He makes no mention of Solomon’s idolatry and the judgment to which it was leading (1 Kings 11:1-40), for he is concerned with the continuation of the Davidic dynasty rather than with the failure of its kings (29-31; see notes on 1 Kings 11:41-43).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

A.    Solomon's riches and his alleged wisdom,

"So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And they brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, armor, and spices, horses and mules, a rate year by year. And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. And he ruled over all the kings from the River even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance. And they brought horses for Solomon out of Egypt, and out of all lands."

"Solomon exceeded all the kings… in riches and wisdom" Solomon's wisdom was unrelated to what we know as true wisdom, that kind of wisdom is defined in God's Word: "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments" (Psalms 111:10). The meaning of the word wisdom, as it was used by the Chronicler, was evidently something else. As the term was used by his self-seeking flatterers, it meant little or nothing; and it could be that the Chronicler here was using it in exactly the same way. One thing is certain; namely, that Solomon neither feared God nor honored his commandments.

The passage that we have so often cited in Deuteronomy 17:16-17 specifically forbade Israel's kings to multiply unto themselves (1) wives, (2) silver and gold and (3) horses. Solomon wantonly violated all these commandments in the most extravagant manner.

"A rate year by year" These words identify all those `gifts' that came to Solomon by those rulers throughout the world of that era, as `taxes,' or `tribute,' imposed, not occasionally, but continually year by year. This also explains why they, "sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom." Their @@fulsome compliments paid to Solomon were nothing but the flattery of vassal underlings seeking to make a good impression on the conceited Solomon, whom they unwillingly served as his vassals.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

All the kings of the earth - Rather, “all the kings of the land:” all the monarchs, that is, whose dominions were included in So omon’s empire (see 1 Kings 4:21).

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 9

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with difficult 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 ( 2 Chronicles 9:1-4 ).

She was wiped out. This was more than she had ever heard. She said, "Man, they told me and I couldn't believe what they told me. But they didn't tell me half the truth. The glory of this whole thing." Now, "she observed the meat of his table." If you go back to I Kings, chapter 4, it tells you the meat of Solomon's table. His daily provision, one day, was thirty measures of fine flour. About three hundred bushels of fine flour for the pancakes everyday. Three score measures of meal or six hundred bushels. Ten fat oxen everyday. Twenty oxen, commercial grade out of the pasture. A hundred sheep, beside the harts and the roebucks and the fallow deer and the fatted fowl. Those were the daily provisions. Man, think of that. A hundred sheep everyday. Thirty oxen.

So when the queen of Sheba saw all this and the way his servants were attired and the way the cupbearers and the way he would go up to the temple of God and the whole thing, it was just too much.

She said, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of your acts, and of your wisdom: however I didn't believe their words, until I came, and now my eyes have seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for you exceed even 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 He loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice ( 2 Chronicles 9:5-8 ).

Now, first of all, she blessed his servants. "Happy are they that serve you. Happy are they that can stand here daily and hear your wisdom." He talked of all kinds of things: flowers, shrubs, animals; and he wrote books on these subjects. And so, "Happy are these men that can just stand here daily and listen to thy wisdom. And blessed be the Lord thy God who delighted in thee and put you on the throne."

So she gave him a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones. And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones ( 2 Chronicles 9:9-10 ).

And she returned back to her land with all of her desire. Whatsoever she asked, Solomon gave to her.

Now Solomon's annual revenue in gold was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold ( 2 Chronicles 9:13 );

An interesting number.

Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels each. And three hundred shields of gold: that were three hundred shekels each. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. And he made a great throne of ivory, and he overlaid it with pure gold. And there were six steps up 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: twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not like made anything in all of the kingdoms. 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; [because that was accounted sort of gauche in those days]. And 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. And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, raiment, and harness, and spices, horses, and mules, at a rate year by year. And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. And the king made silver in Jerusalem as common as stones, and cedar trees as common as the sycamore that are in the low plains. And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands. 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? And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all of Israel for forty years. And he slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead ( 2 Chronicles 9:14-31 ).

So we find now the reign of Solomon, nine chapters devoted to it. And for the remainder of II Chronicles they will give shorter accounts, because here the kingdom came to a zenith. But it is amazing how quickly you can go from the top to the bottom. How quickly this deteriorated. All of this gold that he had amassed. Vastness of his treasures. These shields and targets of pure gold. All of these cups, gold, and all of these things soon were to be taken. Soon were to be sacked by Shishak, the king of Egypt.

And so the glory of the kingdom faded so very rapidly. They went from the very apex of their glory down so rapidly. At his death, just immediately the glory of the kingdom faded. It didn't even pass on to his son. It didn't really continue past Solomon's death. The kingdom immediately began to deteriorate. And before his son was really established in the throne, the kingdom became divided, weakened. "

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

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Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      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 sycamore 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.

      We have here Solomon in his throne, and Solomon in his grave; for the throne would not secure him from the grave. Mors sceptra ligonibus aequat--Death wrenches from the hand the sceptre as well as the spade.

      I. Here is Solomon reigning in wealth and power, in ease and fulness, such as, for aught I know, could never since be paralleled by any king whatsoever. In cannot pretend to be critical in comparing the grandeur of Solomon with that of some of the great princes of the earth. But I may observe that the most illustrious of them were famed for their wars, whereas Solomon reigned forty years in profound peace. Some of those that might be thought to vie with Solomon affected retirement, kept people in awe by keeping them at a great distance; nobody must see them, or come near him, upon pain of death: but Solomon went much abroad, and appeared in public business. So that, all things considered, the promise was fulfilled, that God would give him riches, and wealth, and honour, such as no kings have had, or shall have,2 Chronicles 1:12; 2 Chronicles 1:12. 1. Never any prince appeared in public with great splendour than Solomon did, which to those that judge by the sight of the eye, as most people do, would very much recommend him. He had 200 targets and 300 shields, all of beaten gold, carried before him (2 Chronicles 9:15; 2 Chronicles 9:16), and sat upon a most stately throne, 2 Chronicles 9:17-19; 2 Chronicles 9:17-19. There was not the like in any kingdom. The lustre wherein he appeared was typical of the spiritual glory of the kingdom of the Messiah and but a faint representation of his throne, which is above every throne. Solomon's pomp was all artificial; and therefore our Saviour prefers the natural beauty of the lilies of the field before it. Matthew 6:29, Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. 2. Never any prince had greater plenty of gold and silver, though there were no gold or silver mines in his own kingdom. Either he made himself master of the mines in other countries, and, having a populous country, sent hands to dig out those rich metals, or, having a fruitful country, he exported the commodities of it and with them fetched home all this gold that is here spoken of, 2 Chronicles 9:13; 2 Chronicles 9:14-21. 3. Never any prince had such presents brought him by all his neighbours as Solomon had: All the kings of Arabia, and governors of the country, brought him gold and silver (2 Chronicles 9:14; 2 Chronicles 9:14), not as tribute which he extorted from them, but as freewill offerings to procure his favour, or in a way of exchange for some of the productions of his husbandry, corn or cattle. All the kings of the earth brought him presents, that is, all in those parts of the world (2 Chronicles 9:24; 2 Chronicles 9:28), because they coveted his acquaintance and friendship. Herein he was a type of Christ, to whom, as soon as he was born, the wise men of the east brought presents, gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11), and to whom all that are about him must bring presents, Psalms 76:11; Romans 12:1. 4. Never any prince was so renowned for wisdom, so courted, so consulted, so admired (2 Chronicles 9:23; 2 Chronicles 9:23): The kings of the earth (for it was too great a favour for common persons to pretend to) sought to hear his wisdom--his natural philosophy, or his skill in physic, or his state policy, or his rules of prudence for the conduct of human life, or perhaps the principles of his religion, and the reasons of it. The application which they then made to Solomon to hear his wisdom will aggravate, shame, and condemn, men's general contempt of Christ and his gospel. Though in them are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, yet none of the princes of this world desire to know them, for they are foolishness to them, 1 Corinthians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14.

      II. Here is Solomon dying, stripped of his pomp, and leaving all his wealth and power, not to one concerning whom he knew not whether he would be a wise man or a fool (Ecclesiastes 2:19), but who he knew would be a fool. This was not only vanity but vexation of spirit, 2 Chronicles 9:29-31; 2 Chronicles 9:29-31. It is very observable that no mention is here made of Solomon's departure from God in his latter days, not the least hint given of it, 1. Because the Holy Ghost would teach us not to take delight in repeating the faults and follies of others. If those that have been in reputation for wisdom and honour misbehave, though it may be of use to take notice of their misconduct for warning to ourselves and others, yet we must not be forward to mention it, once the speaking of it is enough; why should that unpleasing string be again struck upon? Why can we not do as the sacred historian here does, speak largely of that in others which is praise-worthy, without saying any thing of their blemishes, yea, though they have been gross and obvious? This is but doing as we would be done by. 2. Because, though he fell, yet he was not utterly cast down. His sin is not again recorded, because it was repented of, and pardoned, and became as if it had never been. Scripture-silence sometimes speaks. I am willing to believe that its silence here concerning the sin of Solomon is an intimation that none of the sins he committed were mentioned against him, Ezekiel 33:16. When God pardons sin he casts it behind his back and remembers it no more.