Bible Commentaries

The visit of the queen of Sheba. Cf. 1 Kings 10:1-13. - This event isnarrated as a practical proof of Solomon's extraordinary wisdom. Thenarrative agrees so exactly in both texts, with the exception of some fewquite unimportant differences, that we must regard them as literal extractsfrom an original document which they have used in common. For the commentary on this section, see on 1 Kings 10:1-13.

Solomon's revenue in gold, and the use he made of it. Cf. 1 Kings 10:14-22,and the commentary there on this section, which is identical in bothnarratives, with the exception of some trifling differences. Beforeמביאים והסּחרים the relative pronoun is to besupplied: “and what the merchants brought.” As to the derivation of theword פּחות, which comes from the Aramaic form פּחה, governor (2 Chronicles 9:14), see on Haggai 1:1. - תּרשׁישׁ הלכות אניּות, in 2 Chronicles 9:21, ships going to Tarshish, is an erroneous paraphrase ofתּרשׁישׁ אניּות, Tarshish-ships, i.e., ships built for long sea voyages;for the fleet did not go to Tartessus in Spain, but to Ophir in SouthernArabia (see on 1 Kings 9:26.). All the rest has been explained in thecommentary on 1 Kings 10.

In 2 Chronicles 9:22-28, all that remained to be said of Solomon's royal glory, hisriches, his wisdom, and his revenues, is in conclusion briefly summed up,as in 1 Kings 10:23-29. From 2 Chronicles 9:25 onwards, the account given in theChronicle diverges from that in 1 Kings 10:26., in so far that what isnarrated in 1 Kings 10:26-28 concerning Solomon's chariots and horses,and his trade with Egypt in horses, is here partly replaced by statementssimilar in import to those in 1 Kings 5, because the former matters hadbeen already treated of in Chr. 2 Chronicles 1:14-17.

2 Chronicles 9:25 does not correspond to the passage 1 Kings 10:26, but in contentsand language agrees with 1 Kings 5:6, and 2 Chronicles 9:26 with 1 Kings 5:1. Only thegeneral estimate of Solomon's riches in gold and silver, in 2 Chronicles 9:27, repeatedfrom 2 Chronicles 1:15, corresponds to 1 Kings 10:27. Finally, in 2 Chronicles 9:28 thewhole description is rounded off; all that has already been said in 2 Chronicles 1:16, 2 Chronicles 1:17 as to the trade in horses with Egypt (1 Kings 10:28-29) beingdrawn together into one general statement.

Conclusion of Solomon's history. - 2 Chronicles 9:29. Sources; see the introduction.

2 Chronicles 9:30-31

The length of his reign, his death and burial, and hissuccessor, as in 1 Kings 11:42.