Teks -- 2 Chronicles 9:17-31 (NET)

9:17 The king made a large throne decorated with ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. 9:18 There were six steps leading up to the throne, and a gold footstool was attached to the throne. The throne had two armrests with a statue of a lion standing on each side. 9:19 There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom. 9:20 All of King Solomon’s cups were made of gold, and all the household items in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest were made of pure gold. There were no silver items, for silver was not considered very valuable in Solomon’s time. 9:21 The king had a fleet of large merchant ships ships manned by Huram’s men that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet came into port with cargoes of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. 9:22 King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth. 9:23 All the kings of the earth wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom. 9:24 Year after year visitors brought their gifts, which included items of silver, items of gold, clothes, perfume, spices, horses, and mules. 9:25 Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem. 9:26 He ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines as far as the border of Egypt. 9:27 The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands. 9:28 Solomon acquired horses from Egypt and from all the lands.

Solomon’s Reign Ends

9:29 The rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Nathan the Prophet, the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the Vision of Iddo the Seer pertaining to Jeroboam son of Nebat. 9:30 Solomon ruled over all Israel from Jerusalem for forty years. 9:31 Then Solomon passed away and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam replaced him as king.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: 2Ch 9:23 - And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon

All in those parts of the world.

Wesley: 2Ch 9:29 - Iddo

This, and the other prophets mentioned, were also historians, and wrote annals of their times; out of which these sacred books were taken, either by these, or other prophets.

Wesley: 2Ch 9:31 - And Solomon slept

We have here Solomon in his throne, and Solomon in his grave; for the throne could not secure him from the grave. Here is he stripped of his pomp, and leaving all his wealth and power, not to one whom he knew not whether he would be a wise man or a fool; but one he knew would be a fool! This was not only vanity, but vexation of spirit.

JFB: 2Ch 9:21 - the king's ships went to Tarshish

Rather, "the king's ships of Tarshish went" with the servants of Huram.

JFB: 2Ch 9:21 - ships of Tarshish

That is, in burden and construction like the large vessels built for or used at Tarshish [CALMET, Fragments].

JFB: 2Ch 9:25 - Solomon had four thousand stalls

It has been conjectured [GESENIUS, Hebrew Lexicon] that the original term may signify not only stall or stable, but a number of horses occupying the same number of stalls. Supposing that ten were put together in one part, this would make forty thousand. According to this theory of explanation, the historian in Kings refers to horses [see 1Ki 10:26]; while the historian in Chronicles speaks of the stalls in which they were kept. But more recent critics reject this mode of solving the difficulty, and, regarding the four thousand stalls as in keeping with the general magnificence of Solomon's establishments, are agreed in considering the text in Kings as corrupt, through the error of some copyist.

JFB: 2Ch 9:28 - they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt

(See on 2Ch 1:14). Solomon undoubtedly carried the Hebrew kingdom to its highest pitch of worldly glory. His completion of the grand work, the centralizing of the national worship at Jerusalem, whither the natives went up three times a year, has given his name a prominent place in the history of the ancient church. But his reign had a disastrous influence upon "the peculiar people," and the example of his deplorable idolatries, the connections he formed with foreign princes, the commercial speculations he entered into, and the luxuries introduced into the land, seem in a great measure to have altered and deteriorated the Jewish character.

Clarke: 2Ch 9:17 - Made a great throne of ivory

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 (note).

Clarke: 2Ch 9:21 - The king’ s ships went to Tarshish

The king’ s ships went to Tarshish - "Went to Africa."- Targum.

Clarke: 2Ch 9:25 - Four thousand stalls for horses

Four thousand stalls for horses - See the note on 1Ki 4:26, where the different numbers in these two books are considered. The Targum, instead of four thousand, has ארבע מאה arba meah , four hundred.

Clarke: 2Ch 9:29 - Nathan the prophet

Nathan the prophet - These books are all lost. See the account of Solomon, his character, and a review of his works, at the end of 1Ki 11:43 (note)

I.    By the kindness of a learned friend, who has made this kind of subjects his particular study, I am able to give a more correct view of the value of the talent of gold and the talent of silver than that which I have quoted 1Ki 10:17, from Mr. Reynold’ s State of the Greatest King

1. To find the equivalent in British standard to an ounce troy of pure gold, valued at eighty shillings, and to a talent of the same which weighs one thousand eight hundred ounces troy

The ounce contains four hundred and eighty grains, and the guinea weighs one hundred and twenty-nine grains, or five pennyweights and nine grains

(1) As 129 grains: 21 shillings:: 480, the number of grains in an ounce: 78.1395348s. or 3l. 18s. 1d. 2.69767q.; the equivalent in our silver coin to one ounce of standard gold

(2) As 78.1395348 shillings, the value of an ounce of standard gold,: 80 shillings, the value of an ounce troy of pure gold,:: 80 shillings: 81.9047619 shillings, the equivalent in British standard to one ounce of pure gold

Instead of the preceding, the following proportions may be used: -

(1) As 21.5 shillings: 21 shillings:: 80 shillings: 78.1395348 shillings. This multiplied by 1800, the number of troy ounces in a Hebrew talent, gives 140651.16264s. or 7032l. 11s. 1d. 3.8q., the equivalent to one talent of standard gold

(2) As 21 standard: 21.5 pure:: 80 pure: 81.9047619 standard. This multiplied by 1800 gives 147428.67142s. or 7371l. 8s. 6d. 3.4q., the equivalent to one talent of pure gold

2. To find the equivalent in British standard to a talent of pure silver, which is valued at four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, or five shillings the ounce troy

The pound troy is 240 pennyweights; and our silver coin has 18 pennyweights of alloy in the pound. From 240 pennyweights take 18, and there will remain 222 pennyweights, the pure silver in the pound

Now as 240 pennyweights: 222 pennyweights:: 20 pennyweights, the weight of a crown piece,: 18 1/2 pennyweights, the weight of the pure silver in the crown

Then, as 18.5 pennyweights: 6 shillings:: 36000, the number of dwts. in a talent,: 9729.729729729729 shillings, or £486 9s. 8 3/4d., the equivalent in our coin to a talent of pure silver

Example 1 . To find the equivalent in British standard to the one hundred and twenty talents of gold which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon, 2Ch 9:9

A talent is three thousand shekels; therefore six hundred shekels are one-fifth, and three hundred are one-tenth of a talent. -

147428.57142 s.	equivalent to one talent of pure gold,
120	number of talents [as found above].
17691428.5704	= £884,571 8 s. 6 3/4 d., the equivalent to 120 talents.
Example 2. To find the equivalent in British standard to Solomon’ s two hundred targets of beaten gold, each six hundred shekels; and to his three hundred shields, each three hundred shekels, 2Ch 9:15, 2Ch 9:16
5)147428.57142s.	equivalent to one talent.
29485.71428	equivalent to one target.
200	the number of targets.
2|0)589714|2.856
£294,857 2 s. 10 1/4 d.	equivalent to 200 targets.
One-tenth of a talent i
14742.857142	= one shield.
300	number of shields.
2|0)442285|7.1426
£221,142 17 s. 1 1/2 d.	= 300 shields.
Example 3. To find the equivalent in British standard to the weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year, independently of what the chapmen and merchants brought him
147428.57142 s.	= one talent.
666	number of talents.
88457142852
88457142852
88457142852
2|0)9818742|8.56572
£4,909, 371 8 s. 6 3/4 d.	equivalent to 666 talents.
Example 4. To find the equivalent in British standard to the hundred thousand talents of gold, and to the million of talents of silver, which were prepared by David for the temple, 1Ch 22:14
The Gold
147428.57142 s.	= one talent.
100000	number of talents
2|0)1474285714|2
£737,142, 857 2 s.	the equivalent.
Or, seven hundred and thirty-seven millions, one hundred and forty-two thousand, eight hundred and fifty-seven pounds, two shillings sterling, for the gold
The Silver
9729.729729729 s.	= one talent.
1000000	number of talents.
2|0)9729729721|9.729
£486,486, 486 9 s. 8 1/2 d.	the equivalent.

Or, four hundred and eighty-six millions, four hundred and eighty-six thousand, four hundred and eighty-six pounds, nine shillings, and eightpence halfpenny sterling, for the silver

II.    I have referred, in the note on 2Ch 9:17, to a curious account of Solomon’ s throne, taken from a Persian MS. entitled beet al mukuddus , the Holy House, or Jerusalem. It has already been remarked, in the account of Solomon at the end of 1Ki 11:43, article 12, that among the oriental writers Solomon is considered, not only as the wisest of all men, but as having supreme command over demons and genii of all kinds; and that he knew the language of beasts and birds, etc.; and therefore the reader need not be surprised if he find, in the following account, Solomon employing preternatural agency in the construction of this celebrated throne

"This famous throne was the work of the Deev Sukhur; it was called Koukab al Jinna. The beauty of this throne has never been sufficiently described; the following are the particulars: - "The sides of it were pure gold; the feet, of emeralds and pearls, intermixed with other pearls, each of which was as large as the egg of an ostrich

"The throne had Seven steps; on each side were delineated orchards full of trees, the branches of which were composed of precious stones, representing ripe and unripe fruits

"On the tops of the trees were to be seen fowls of the most beautiful plumage; particularly the peacock, the etaub, and the kurgus; all these birds were artificially hollowed within, so as occasionally to utter a thousand melodious notes, such as the ears of mortals had never before heard

"On the First step were delineated vine-branches, having bunches of grapes, composed of various sorts of precious stones; fashioned in such a manner as to represent the different colors of purple, violet, green, and red, so as to exhibit the appearance of real fruit

"On the Second step, on each side of the throne, were two lions, of massive gold, of terrible aspect, and as large as life

"The property of this throne was such, that when the prophet Solomon placed his foot upon the First step, all the birds spread their wings, and made a fluttering noise in the air

"On his touching the Second step, the two lions expanded their claws

"On his reaching the Third step, the whole assembly of deevs, peris, and men, repeated the praises of the Deity

"When he arrived at the Fourth step, voices were heard addressing him in the following manner: Son of David be grateful for the blessings which the Almighty has bestowed upon thee

"The same was repeated on his reaching the Fifth step

"On his touching the Sixth step, all the children sang praises

"On his arrival at the Seventh step, the whole throne, with all the birds and other animals, became in motion, and ceased not till he had placed himself in the royal seat; and then the birds, lions, and other animals, by secret springs, discharged a shower of the most precious musk upon the prophet; after which two of the kurguses, descending placed a golden crown upon his head

"Before the throne was a column of burnished gold; on the top of which was placed a golden dove, which had in its beak a roll bound in silver. In this roll were written the Psalms of the prophet David, and the dove having presented the roll to King Solomon, he read a portion of it to the children of Israel

"It is farther related that, on the approach of wicked persons to this throne for judgment, the lions were wont to set up a terrible roaring, and to lash their tails about with violence; the birds also began to erect their feathers; and the whole assembly of deeves and genii uttered such loud cries, that for fear of them no person would dare to be guilty of falsehood, but instantly confess his crimes

"Such was the throne of Solomon, the son of David."Supposing even this splendid description to be literally true, there is nothing here that could not have been performed by ingenuity and art; nothing that needed the aid of supernatural influence.

In another MS., on which I cannot now lay my hand, the whole value of this throne, and its ornaments, is computed in lacs of rupees! The above description is founded in the main on the account given here, 2Ch 9:17-19. The Six steps, and the footstool of the sacred writer, make the Seven steps, in the above description. The twelve lions are not distinguished by the Mohammedan writer. Other matters are added from tradition

This profusion of gold and precious stones was not beyond the reach of Solomon, when we consider the many millions left by his father; no less a sum than one thousand two hundred and twenty-three millions, six hundred and twenty-nine thousand, three hundred and forty-three pounds, eleven shillings, and eight pence halfpenny, besides what Solomon himself furnished.

Defender: 2Ch 9:22 - all the kings

This is an amazing testimony, but there is no reason to doubt it. Some nations may have ruled larger geographical areas at this time, but Solomon was greater in wisdom and wealth than any. For this period of history (about 1000 b.c.), very little extra-Biblical data is available from archaeology or any other sources."

TSK: 2Ch 9:17

1Ki 10:18-20; Psa 45:8; Rev 20:11

TSK: 2Ch 9:18 - stays // two lions

stays : Heb. hands

two lions : Gen 49:9, Gen 49:10; Num 23:24, Num 24:9; Rev 5:5

TSK: 2Ch 9:19 - twelve lions

twelve lions : Mat 19:28; Rev 21:12

TSK: 2Ch 9:20 - drinking // pure // none were of silver // it was

drinking : 1Ki 10:21; Est 1:7; Dan 5:2, Dan 5:3

pure : Heb. shut up

none were of silver : or, there was no silver in them

it was : 2Ch 9:27; Isa 2:22; Jer 31:5

TSK: 2Ch 9:21 - Tarshish // ivory // peacocks

1Ki 10:22, 1Ki 22:48, Tharshish

Tarshish : Bochart thinks this Tarshish was probably the promontory Cory, on the north of the island of Ceylon, which, according to him, was the land of Ophir. That it was name of a place in the East Indies, seems probable from the articles brought thence, and also from the ships sent thither being built at Ezion-geber, on the Red Sea; though Michaelis supposes that the fleet coasted along the shore of Africa, doubling the Cape of Good Hope, and came to Tartessus, in Spain, and thence back again the same way; that this accounts for their three years’ voyage out and home; and that Spain and the coasts of Africa furnish all the commodities which they brought back.

ivory : or, elephants’ teeth

peacocks : Tukkeeyim is rendered taysin in the Targum, ταωνων , in the Alexandrian manuscript of the LXX, and pavos , ""peacocks,""in the Vulgate; with which the Syriac, Arabic, and Rabbins agree. This derives confirmation from the fact, that the peacock is called in Malabaric, Togei . Job 39:13

TSK: 2Ch 9:22 - passed all the kings

passed all the kings : 2Ch 1:12; 1Ki 3:12, 1Ki 3:13, 1Ki 4:30, 1Ki 4:31, 1Ki 10:23, 1Ki 10:24; Psa 89:27; Mat 12:42; Col 2:2, Col 2:3

TSK: 2Ch 9:23 - sought // God

sought : 2Ch 9:6, 2Ch 9:7; 1Ki 4:34; Isa 11:2, Isa 11:10

God : 2Ch 1:10-12; 1Ki 3:28; Pro 2:6; Dan 1:17, Dan 2:21-23, Dan 5:11; Luk 21:15; 1Co 1:30; 1Co 12:8; Eph 1:17; Jam 1:5, Jam 1:16, Jam 1:17, Jam 3:17

TSK: 2Ch 9:24 - every man

every man : 2Ch 9:9; 1Sa 10:27; 1Ki 9:14, 1Ki 10:10, 1Ki 10:25; Job 42:11

TSK: 2Ch 9:25

2Ch 1:14; Deu 17:16; 1Ki 4:26, 1Ki 10:26

TSK: 2Ch 9:26 - reigned over // river

reigned over : 1Ki 4:21, 1Ki 4:24; Psa 72:8-11; Dan 7:14; Rev 19:16

river : ""That is, Euphrates.""Gen 15:18; Exo 23:31; Jos 13:2-7

TSK: 2Ch 9:27 - the king // made // the sycamore

the king : 2Ch 9:20, 2Ch 1:15-17; 1Ki 10:27-29; Job 22:24, Job 22:25

made : Heb. gave

the sycamore : 1Ch 27:28; Psa 78:47; Isa 9:10; Amo 7:14; Luk 19:4

TSK: 2Ch 9:28 - brought

brought :

""Moses,""says Bp. Warburton, ""had expressly prohibited the multiplying of horses (Deu 17:16); by which the future king was forbidden to establish a body of calvary, because this could not be effected without sending into Egypt, with which people God had forbidden any communication, as this would be dangerous to religion. When Solomon had violated this law, and multiplied horses to excess (1Ki 4:26), it was soon attended with those fatal consequences that the law foretold: for this wisest of kings having likewise, in violation of another law, married Pharaoh’ s daughter (the early fruits of this commerce), and then, by a repetition of the same crime, but a transgression of another law, had espoused more strange women (1Ki 4:26; 1Ki 11:1), they first,in defiance of a fourth law, persuaded him to build them idol temples for their use; and afterwards, against a fifth law, brought him to erect other temples for his own.""2Ch 9:25, 2Ch 1:16; 1Ki 10:28; Isa 2:7, Isa 2:8, Isa 31:1

TSK: 2Ch 9:29 - the rest // book // Nathan // Ahijah // Iddo

the rest : 1Ki 11:41-43

book : Heb. words

Nathan : 2Sa 7:1-3, 2Sa 12:1, 2Sa 12:25; 1Ki 1:8, 1Ki 1:10, 1Ki 1:11, 1Ki 1:22-27, 1Ki 1:32-38; 1Ch 29:29

Ahijah : 1Ki 11:29, 1Ki 14:2

Iddo : 2Ch 12:15, 2Ch 13:22

TSK: 2Ch 9:30 - Solomon

Solomon : 1Ki 11:42, 1Ki 11:43

TSK: 2Ch 9:31 - slept

am 3029, bc 975

slept : 2Sa 7:12; 1Ki 1:21, 1Ki 2:10

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 2Ch 9:25 - Four thousand stalls

Four thousand stalls to wit, greater stalls, in each of which were ten stalls, in all forty thousand stalls, as it is in 1Ki 4:26 , See Poole "1Ki 4:26" .

Poole: 2Ch 9:29 - Iddo the seer

Iddo the seer mentioned also 1Ch 12:15 , supposed to be the same who is called Obed , 2Ch 15:1 . This, and the other prophets mentioned, were also historians, and wrote some annals or histories of their times; out of which these sacred and canonical books were taken, either by these or other prophets.

Haydock: 2Ch 9:20 - Days

Days. We sometimes find the figure, hyperbole, used in Scripture for things unusual, chap. i. 16. (Worthington)

Haydock: 2Ch 9:21 - Tharsis

Tharsis. Any distant place was so called. (Tirinus)

Haydock: 2Ch 9:25 - Thousand

Thousand. In 3 Kings, we read, 1400 chariots; and here Hebrew has, "4000 stables, (Calmet) or stalls for horses and chariots;" (Protestants) and the Septuagint, "4000 mares for the chariots, and 12,000 horsemen." (Haydock) ---

There might be ten horses in each stable. (Du Hamel)

Haydock: 2Ch 9:29 - Seer

Seer. The works of these three are not extant. (Menochius) ---

The fall of Solomon is recorded, 3 Kings xi. (Worthington)

Gill: 2Ch 9:1-31

See Chapter Introduction