2 Chronicles 9:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 9:4

The meat of his table (see 1 Kings 4:22 , 1 Kings 4:23 ). Translating our thoughts rather violently into modern language, we might picture the queen inspecting the kitchens of the palace, and remember that the kitchens of an Oriental court did the work, not of an individual "table," but of those of a very large domestic and official retinue; much more these of Solomon now. Keil and Bertheau, however, with others, refer this expression to the set-out of one meal-table (as e.g. that of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 9:4-6

The unimaginable. The Queen of Sheba was completely overwhelmed by what she saw at the court of Jerusalem. When she had seen and heard everything there was to see and hear, "there was no more spirit in her." She was "astonished with a great astonishment." She had not credited what she had been told ( 2 Chronicles 9:6 ); but she found that there was a great deal more to find than anything that had been described. What she realized altogether surpassed her anticipation. Her experience was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 9:8

The abstinence on the part of the queen in her mention of the Lord God of Israel, and of the Lord thy God , of any indication of a desire that he should become her God, is as suggestive as it is noticeable (compare Hiram's language in 2 Chronicles 2:12 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 9:9

An hundred and twenty talents of gold . Putting the value of gold at £4 per ounce, the value of one talent would be £5476, making a total of £657,120. Poole makes it £1,250,000; S. Clarke, f720,000. From our 2 Chronicles 9:13 , 2 Chronicles 9:14 we learn that in one year Solomon received 666 talents, beside what merchants brought. Any such spice . The parallel has "no more such abundance of spices," and "of spices very great store." The Arabian spices, and their land and even sea borne... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 9:10-11

Either these two verses are misplaced (with their parallel, 1 Kings 10:11 , 1 Kings 10:12 ), or they ought to have, though unstated, some occult bearing on the queen. There are some slight indications pointing to this, and the meaning is perhaps that the terraces, balustrades, stairs (which possibly is the idea in the "ascent," 2 Chronicles 9:4 ), pillars, etc; made of the wood which Hiram's and Solomon's servants had formerly brought with gold, were the artificial-work wonders which... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Chronicles 9:1-12

The narrative here is parallel with that in marginal reference, from which it varies but little, and to which it adds nothing.2 Chronicles 9:11Terraces - Rather, as in the margin, “stairs” (see the 1 Kings 10:12 note).2 Chronicles 9:12Beside that which she had brought unto the king - It is difficult to assign any sense to these words as they now stand in the Hebrew text. A slight alteration will give the meaning: “Beside that which the king had brought for her;” which is in conformity with 1... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Chronicles 9:1

2 Chronicles 9:1. There is little in this chapter but what is related in 1 Kings 10:0.; in the notes on which the reader will find it explained at large. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Chronicles 9:8

2 Chronicles 9:8. To set thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God In the Lord’s name and stead, in a special manner, because he sat in God’s own throne, and ruled over God’s peculiar people, and did, in an eminent manner, maintain the honour of God in his land, and in the eyes of all the world. Those mercies are doubly sweet, in which we can taste the kindness and good-will of God as our God. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Chronicles 9:9

2 Chronicles 9:9. She gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, &c. This was indeed a royal gift, for the gold alone amounted to more than sixty-nine thousand pounds sterling. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Chronicles 9:12

2 Chronicles 9:12. Besides that which she had brought unto the king Over and above that which was an equivalent for the presents she had made him. See note on 1 Kings 10:13. read more

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