Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 9:13

Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;

13 28 (= 1Ki 10:14-28). Solomon’s Greatness

13. six hundred and threescore and six ] This may be called a “round” number, for a system of counting based on the number six was known in ancient times, e.g. among the Assyrians.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

13. Now the weight of gold that cameto Solomon in one year(See on 1Ki10:14-29).

six hundred and threescoreand six talents of goldThe sum named is equal to 3,646,350;and if we take the proportion of silver (2Ch9:14), which is not taken into consideration, at one to nine,there would be about 200,000, making a yearly supply of nearly6,000,000, being a vast amount for an infant effort in maritimecommerce [NAPIER].

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

[See comments on 1Ki 10:14].

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Solomon’s revenue in gold, and the use he made of it. Cf. 1Ki 10:14-22, and the commentary there on this section, which is identical in both narratives, with the exception of some trifling differences. Before the relative pronoun is to be supplied: “and what the merchants brought.” As to the derivation of the word , which comes from the Aramaic form , governor (2Ch 9:14), see on Hag 1:1. – , in 2Ch 9:21, ships going to Tarshish, is an erroneous paraphrase of , Tarshish-ships, i.e., ships built for long sea voyages; for the fleet did not go to Tartessus in Spain, but to Ophir in Southern Arabia (see on 1Ki 9:26.). All the rest has been explained in the commentary on 1 Kings 10.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

      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, ch. i. 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 (2Ch 9:15; 2Ch 9:16), and sat upon a most stately throne, v. 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. Matt. vi. 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, 2Ch 9:13; 2Ch 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 (v. 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 (2Ch 9:24; 2Ch 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 (Matt. ii. 11), and to whom all that are about him must bring presents, Psa 76:11; Rom 12:1. 4. Never any prince was so renowned for wisdom, so courted, so consulted, so admired (v. 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, 1Co 2:8; 1Co 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 (Eccles. ii. 19), but who he knew would be a fool. This was not only vanity but vexation of spirit, v. 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, Ezek. xxxiii. 16. When God pardons sin he casts it behind his back and remembers it no more.

Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary

See note on 1Ki 10:14

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(b) SOLOMONS INCOME, SPLENDOUR, AND DOMINION(2Ch. 9:13-28). Comp. 1Ki. 10:14-29, and 1Ki. 4:26-27.

(13) Now the weight of gold.See 1Ki. 10:14, with which this verse coincides.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

The Immense Wealth of Solomon and his Death

v. 13. Now, the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold (almost $20,000,000),

v. 14. beside that which chapmen, traders, especially such as establish commercial connections with new territories, and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia, the mighty and wealthy sheikhs of the various tribes of the peninsula, and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon, as presents showing their good will.

v. 15. And King Solomon made two hundred targets, a special kind of shield, of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target (approximately $2,000 worth).

v. 16. And three hundred shields, of a smaller size, made he of beaten gold; three hundred shekels of gold, or three full pounds, 1Ki 10:17, went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon, the great armory just before his palace.

v. 17. Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.

v. 18. And there were six steps to the throne, leading up to the seat itself, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays, arm-rests, on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays;

v. 19. and twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like, for uniqueness and costliness, made in any kingdom.

v. 20. And all the drinking vessels of King Solomon were of gold, and an the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver; it was not anything accounted of in the days of Solomon, being so plentiful and so common that it lost its value as a precious metal.

v. 21. For the king’s ships, the navy on the Mediterranean Sea, went to Tarshish, the rich mining region of Spain, with the servants of Huram; every three years once came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, in the form of elephants’ tusks, and apes, and peacocks. The words may also be construed as referring to Tarshish-ships, large vessels built for ocean trade, such as were sent out from Ezion-gaber and Elath.

v. 22. And King Solomon passed all the kings of the earth, of all the countries known at that time, in riches and wisdom.

v. 23. And all the kings of the earth, those in the world as known then, sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart.

v. 24. And they brought every man his present, showing their good will and regard, vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses and mules, a rate year by year, the bringing of these gifts being made an annual affair.

v. 25. And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, for a total of forty thousand horses, 1Ki 4:26, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.

v. 26. And he reigned over all the kings from the river, that is, from the Euphrates, even unto the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt, all the kingdoms and tribes in that entire region being tributary to his kingdom at that time.

v. 27. And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, so common and therefore comparatively low in value, and cedar-trees made he as the sycomore-trees that are in the low plains in abundance, 2Ch 1:15; 1Ki 10:27.

v. 28. And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt and out of all lands, 1Ki 10:28. So Solomon undoubtedly carried the Hebrew kingdom to its highest pinnacle of worldly glory and power, and his centralizing of the worship served to unify the nation as never before or after. At the same time, however, the luxury introduced by him served to enervate the people and to have a bad influence on the character of the entire nation.

v. 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? It seems that the inspired writer drew from these accounts for his information, being guided herein by the Holy Spirit, the real Author of the Bible.

v. 30. And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

v. 31. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the City of David, his father, in the place afterward known as the sepulchers of the kings; and Rehoboam, his son, reigned in his stead. All the wealth, honor, and wisdom of this world is vain and vanishing. The safest thing is to place one’s trust in the Word and promises of God, faith in which will carry each believer through death into eternal life beyond.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

What an astonishing relation is here given of the riches, and splendor, and power, and sovereignty of Solomon. Surely never was there a king among the sons of men of equal grandeur and magnificence. And yet what is all this compared to the durable riches and righteousness of Jesus? All that Solomon possessed, he tells us himself, was but vanity. But Jesus’s gifts are solid, and not liable to decay. I will cause those that love me (saith Jesus) to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. Pro 8:21 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

2Ch 9:13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;

Ver. 13. Now the weight. ] See 1Ki 10:14 .

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

six hundred and threescore and six. App-10.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

2Ch 9:13-16

2Ch 9:13-16

SOLOMON MULTIPLIES HIS SILVER AND GOLD

“Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold, besides that which the merchants and traders brought: and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. And king Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one buckler. And he made three hundred shields 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.”

“And the kings … and the governors … brought gold and silver to Solomon” (2Ch 8:14). These `gifts’ must not be understood as voluntary in any sense of the word. Solomon’s power which he had inherited from David gave him the means of extorting every possible penny out of the whole region. Solomon’s conduct, as the Chronicler has outlined it here, is an anthology of Solomon’s gross disobedience of all of God’s commandments. God had specifically warned Israel’s kings not to, “multiply unto themselves silver and gold,” (Deu 17:16-17); and it would have been impossible for anyone to violate that commandment with any more contempt than did Solomon.

Also the Decalogue had specifically forbidden God’s people to make images or likenesses of anything either in heaven or upon earth; but look at what Solomon did in the matter of those images of lions on his throne.

E.M. Zerr:

2Ch 9:13-14. According to Moffatt’s translation, the 666 talents of gold was nearly 29 tons. Chapmen were wandering or traveling tradesmen, and they brought much gold to Solomon in the form of tariff. The merchants in general, also, paid tariff for the traffic privileges. The gold and silver that was turned over to Solomon from the kings and governors was in the form of tribute. This was exacted because Solomon “reigned over all kingdoms” in the territory named. (1Ki 4:21.)

2Ch 9:15-16. These articles were made for ornamental purposes and placed in this house for exhibition. House of the forest of Lebanon referred to the palace. This subject is explained in detail at 1Ki 7:2 .

Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary

the weight: 1Ki 10:14, 1Ki 10:15, Psa 68:29, Psa 72:10, Psa 72:15

Reciprocal: 2Ch 8:18 – Huram

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge