2 Chronicles 9: Queen of Sheba and Solomon's Wealth

Short answer: The queen of Sheba visits Solomon to test him with hard questions and is overwhelmed by his wisdom and the splendor of his kingdom. The chapter then details Solomon's immense wealth, his throne, his trade, and his reign, ending with his death and Rehoboam's succession.

What 2 Chronicles 9 says

The chapter opens with the queen of Sheba hearing of Solomon's fame and coming to Jerusalem with a great caravan to test him with hard questions. She speaks with him about all that is in her heart, and Solomon answers everything; nothing is hidden from him. When she sees his wisdom, the house he built, the food of his table, the seating and clothing of his servants, and his ascent to the house of Yahweh, she is left breathless. She confesses that the report she heard was true, but that the reality exceeds it, and she blesses Yahweh for delighting in Solomon and setting him on the throne to do justice and righteousness. This opening movement sets the tone for the chapter: the queen's visit is both a test and a testimony to the wisdom God gave Solomon.

The queen gives Solomon a hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones, and the text notes that never before had such spice been given. Huram's servants and Solomon's servants also bring gold from Ophir, along with algum trees and precious stones. Solomon uses the algum wood for terraces in Yahweh's house and the king's house, and for harps and stringed instruments for the singers. Such things had not been seen before in Judah. Solomon, in turn, gives the queen all her desire, whatever she asks, besides what she brought. She then returns to her own land with her servants. This exchange highlights the abundance that flows both ways, but the text is careful to note that Solomon's giving exceeds even the queen's lavish gifts.

The narrative then turns to the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year: six hundred sixty-six talents, besides what traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and governors of the country bring gold and silver. Solomon makes two hundred bucklers of beaten gold and three hundred shields of beaten gold, placing them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. He makes a great throne of ivory overlaid with pure gold, with six steps, a footstool of gold, armrests, and twelve lions standing on the steps. All his drinking vessels are of gold, and silver is not considered valuable in his days. Ships go to Tarshish every three years, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. So Solomon exceeds all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom, and all the kings seek his presence to hear the wisdom God put in his heart. They bring tribute yearly: vessels of silver and gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.

The final movement summarizes Solomon's military and political reach: he had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, stationed in the chariot cities and with him in Jerusalem. He ruled over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. He made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as abundant as sycamore trees in the lowland. Horses were brought for him from Egypt and all lands. The rest of his acts are recorded in the histories of Nathan the prophet, the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam. Solomon reigned forty years, then slept with his fathers and was buried in David's city, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. This closing section underscores the extent of Solomon's God-given prosperity and the transition of power after his death.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great caravan, including camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. When she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.” (2 Chronicles 9:1) — This verse introduces the queen of Sheba's visit and her intent to test Solomon with hard questions, setting the stage for the demonstration of God-given wisdom.
• “Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on his throne, to be king for Yahweh your God; because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever. Therefore he made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”” (2 Chronicles 9:8) — The queen's blessing acknowledges that Yahweh delighted in Solomon and set him on the throne to do justice and righteousness, linking Solomon's reign to God's covenant purposes for Israel.
• “So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.” (2 Chronicles 9:22) — This verse summarizes the result of Solomon's God-given wisdom and wealth: he exceeded all the kings of the earth, fulfilling the promise of unparalleled wisdom and riches.
• “Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in his father David’s city: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.” (2 Chronicles 9:31) — The verse records Solomon's death and burial, and the succession of Rehoboam, marking the end of an era and the transition to the next phase of Israel's history.

Gospel connection

The queen of Sheba's visit points forward to a greater wisdom than Solomon's. Jesus himself would later say that one greater than Solomon is here, referring to himself. Solomon's reign, with its justice and righteousness, was a partial and temporary picture of the kingdom that Christ would establish. The wealth and peace of Solomon's kingdom were shadows of the unshakable kingdom of God. Yet Solomon's eventual death and the division of the kingdom show that even the wisest and richest human king could not secure lasting peace. Only Jesus, the son of David, brings a kingdom that will never end, and he invites all who seek wisdom to come to him, just as the queen of Sheba came to Solomon.

Application

This chapter invites us to examine where we seek wisdom and satisfaction. The queen of Sheba traveled a great distance to test Solomon, and she was overwhelmed by what she found. We have something greater than Solomon in Jesus Christ, who is the wisdom of God. Do we come to him with our hard questions and our hearts laid bare? Do we recognize that all true wisdom and lasting riches come from God? The chapter also warns against placing ultimate trust in earthly wealth and achievements. Solomon's gold and ivory throne could not prevent his death or the eventual fracture of his kingdom. Our security must rest in Christ, who gives us treasures that neither moth nor rust destroy.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that Solomon's wealth was the result of his own cleverness or that the queen of Sheba became a believer in Yahweh. It records her blessing of Yahweh, but does not say she converted. It does not describe the content of the hard questions or Solomon's answers. It does not give the name of the queen or her kingdom beyond Sheba. It does not explain why God allowed Solomon's later downfall, which is not mentioned here. The text is silent on the spiritual state of Solomon at the end of his life, only noting his death and burial. It also does not specify the exact location of Ophir or Tarshish, nor does it describe the appearance of the algum trees beyond their use.

Questions for study

1. What does the queen of Sheba's visit reveal about the nature of Solomon's wisdom and its source?
2. How does the queen's response in verses 5 through 8 show the impact of Solomon's wisdom on a foreign ruler?
3. What is the significance of the vast wealth and luxury described in verses 13 through 21, and how does it relate to God's promises to Solomon?
4. In what ways does the summary of Solomon's reign in verses 22 through 28 demonstrate both the blessing and the potential danger of great prosperity?
5. What can we learn from the way Solomon's reign ends in verses 29 through 31, and how does it point us to the need for a greater king?

Keep reading

Related studies: 2 Chronicles 1 Bible Study, 2 Chronicles 10 Bible Study, 2 Chronicles 11 Bible Study, 2 Chronicles 12 Bible Study.

Subscribe for new Bible studies or support this work.

FAQ

Why did the queen of Sheba come to visit Solomon?

She came to test him with hard questions because she had heard of his fame and wisdom, and she wanted to see if the reports were true.

What was the result of the queen of Sheba's visit?

She was overwhelmed by Solomon's wisdom and the splendor of his kingdom, confessed that the reports were true but understated, and blessed Yahweh for setting Solomon on the throne.

What does the chapter say about the extent of Solomon's wealth and rule?

It says Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom, ruled over a vast territory, made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and received tribute from many kings.