Old Testament · History

2 Chronicles chapter 9

When the heard about Solomon’s reputation, she came to test him with . She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large entourage — camels carrying , huge quantities of gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and talked with him about everything that was on her mind.Solomon answered all her questions. Nothing was too difficult for Solomon to explain to her.When the queen of Sheba saw Solomon’s , the palace he had built,the food on his table, the seating arrangement of his officials, the service and clothing of his attendants, his and their clothing, and the burnt offerings he presented at Yahweh’s house — .She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom was true.”“But I didn’t believe the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. And the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not even told to me — you far exceed the reports I heard.”“ are your people! How fortunate are these servants of yours who stand before you constantly and hear your wisdom!”“Yahweh your God , because he was pleased to set you on his throne as king for Yahweh your God. Because your God loves Israel, establishing them forever, he made you king over them to carry out .”She gave the king about of gold, enormous quantities of spices, and precious stones. There were never spices like those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.Huram’s servants and Solomon’s servants who brought gold from Ophir also brought and precious stones.The king used the algum wood to make stairs for Yahweh’s house and for the royal palace, and and for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen before in the land of Judah.King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted and asked for — beyond what she had brought to the king. Then she turned and went back to her own country with her servants.The weight of gold that came to Solomon in a single year was ,not including what brought in. All the and the governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.King Solomon made two hundred of hammered gold, using of hammered gold for each shield.He also made three hundred of hammered gold, using about eight pounds of gold for each shield. The king put them in the .The king also made a great throne of and overlaid it with pure gold.The throne had six steps, with a gold footstool attached to it, and armrests on each side of the seat, with a standing beside each armrest. stood on the six steps, one on each end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.All of King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. in Solomon’s time.For the king’s ships went to with Huram’s servants, and once every three years the Tarshish ships returned carrying gold, silver, ivory, , and .King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom.All the kings of the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his .Each of them brought — items of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules — a set amount year after year.Solomon had for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.He ruled over all the kings from the to the and to the border of Egypt.The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and as plentiful as in the .They imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all other lands.As for the rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, aren’t they written in the records of , in the prophecy of , and in the visions of concerning ?Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for .Then Solomon and was buried in the city of his father David. His son became king in his place.