Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 9:17
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
Verse 17. Made a great throne of ivory] For a very curious description of the throne of Solomon, see at the end of the chapter. 2Ch 9:29.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
[See comments on 1Ki 10:18].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(17) Pure.Tahr, a common word, for the once occurring mphaz of Kings.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 9:17 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
Ver. 17. Moreover the king made. ] See on 1Ki 10:18 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 9:17-21
SOLOMON’S GREAT THRONE OF IVORY AND GOLD
2Ch 9:17-21
“Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays. 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. And 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 nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, and ivory, and apes, and peacocks.”
Regarding that gold-plated, idolatrous throne:
In addition to all of the wealth brought to Solomon by his commercial ventures, “the governors of the country” (the provincial authorities in Israel, 2Ch 8:14) were also subject to oppressive taxation, to such an extent that the northern tribes demanded an easement of the burden when Solomon’s son succeeded him. And what did Solomon do with all that wealth? He blew all of it in ostentatious decorations of his personal effects, “a footstool of gold”! What earthly benefit was there in a thing like that? It ministered to only one thing, Solomon’s colossal, conceited pride!
One thing is absolutely a mystery to this writer. How could any scholar ever have written a paragraph like the following?
These verses are closely paralleled in 1 Kings 10, the source upon which the writer relied. There was no reason to deviate from the source for it fitted quite well into his scheme for the glorification of King Solomon!
Contrary to this allegation, which is frequently parroted by critical scholars, a more eloquent or convincing condemnation of Solomon’s sinful conceit and violation of God’s Word, than that which we find right here, could not possibly have been written.
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 9:17-19. Ivory is a pretty substance, yet it was covered and put out of sight with gold, another pretty material. But there was a physical reason for using ivory for the body of the throne. Its texture was such that it would be free from shrinkage, and it also would endure the test of bending by its flexibility. For more comments regarding these lions see 1 Kings 7 th chapter.
2Ch 9:20. Silver was not anything accounted which means it was not thought much of in those days. Solomon’s glory (Mat 6:29) consisted not only in the costliness of his wearing apparel, but also in the show and beauty of his articles of service.
2Ch 9:21. According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary, this Tarshish was a seaport that could be reached through the Red Sea. The ships of the two kings, Solomon and Huram, united every three years in a trading voyage to this city. They brought to the realm of Israel a supply of useful materials such as named. The peacocks were used for ornamental purposes only, not for breeding, since the males only were brought. The apes were doubtless used merely for whimsical purposes.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
1Ki 10:18-20, Psa 45:8, Rev 20:11