UNROLL
Dusk in a valley below Jerusalem: the queen of Sheba's great caravan camped in rows, camels kneeling beside bales of spices and low tents glowing from small fires, the plain walls of the city and the long roof of the temple far off on the ridge above under a calm evening sky.

The Book of

2 Chronicles 9

She came from the ends of the earth to test the wisest king alive. She went home saying not half had been told her.

31 verses≈ 6 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1SolomonWisdom asked at Gibeon
  2. 2–5The templeBuilt on Mount Moriah
  3. 6–7DedicationIf My people humble themselves
  4. 8–9Solomon's gloryThe queen of ShebaChapter 9
  5. 10–16DivisionRehoboam to Asa
  6. 17–20JehoshaphatThe battle is God's
  7. 21–24Dark yearsJehoram to Joash
  8. 25–28Proud kingsAmaziah to Ahaz
  9. 29–32HezekiahDoors opened, Passover kept
  10. 33–35Manasseh to JosiahMercy and the Book found
  11. 36Exile and returnMay he go up

The Queen of Sheba

At a plain gate in Jerusalem's flat-topped stone wall the queen of Sheba's caravan comes in: camels laden with bales of frankincense and myrrh and small chests, South Arabian men leading them, the queen riding high under a fringed canopy, Israelite gatekeepers and townspeople staring.

Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she came to test him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke with him about all that was on her mind.

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To ShebaArabiaTo OphirEuphratesEgyptEzion-geberJerusalem

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

The queen’s road

Sheba lay in the far southwest of Arabia, in what is now Yemen, beyond the bottom of this map: a caravan journey of months up the incense road to Jerusalem. Solomon’s and Hiram’s ships sailed from Ezion-geber to Ophir, whose site is unknown. Solomon “reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.”

And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for him to explain.

Evening in a great cedar-pillared banqueting hall: Solomon's officials sit in order at long low tables while attendants in white and blue serve and cupbearers hold gold cups; the king sits at the far end, and the Queen of Sheba stands still at one side, watching.

When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built, the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, the attire of his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

0:13

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your words and wisdom is true. But I did not believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not half of the greatness of your wisdom was told to me. You have far exceeded the report I heard.

How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!

Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, He has made you king over them to carry out justice and righteousness.”

2 Chronicles 9:8

In a high cedar-beamed hall of Solomon's palace the queen of Sheba's servants set down open baskets of frankincense and myrrh, gold ingots and bowls, and a cloth of uncut precious stones before the seated king, while a steward weighs gold on a bronze balance and the queen stands beside her gifts.

Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

(The servants of Hiram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones. The king made the algum wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.)

King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—far more than she had brought the king. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants.

Reflect

One greater

The queen traveled for months to hear Solomon’s wisdom, and found that “not half of the greatness of your wisdom was told to me.” Jesus said that One greater than Solomon has come. What would it look like for you to seek Him with that kind of effort this week? Write down one way you will make room to listen to Him.

Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor

The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, not including the revenue from the merchants and traders. And all the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.

For the king had the ships of Tarshish that went with Hiram’s servants, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

Question

Quick question

Solomon’s great throne of ivory and gold had six steps.

How many lions stood on the six steps of Solomon’s throne?

So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. All the kings of the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

2 Chronicles 9:22–23

Bright morning in one of Solomon's chariot towns: a long limestone stable with plain square stone pillars and feeding troughs, horses tethered along it and grooms carrying barley and straw; in the yard one light chariot stands unhitched while two horses are led up to it.

Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.

Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.

He reigned over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills. Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from all the lands.

The Death of Solomon

All Israel

Solomon · 40 years

  1. Written by Nathan, Ahijah and Iddo

    As for the rest of the acts of Solomon, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Records of Nathan the Prophet, in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?

  2. Forty years over all Israel

    Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

  3. Buried in the city of David

    And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David.

  4. Rehoboam reigns in his place

    And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

Pray

One greater than Solomon

Thank God for every good gift He gave Solomon, and that the Son of David is greater than he. Ask for a heart that seeks Christ’s wisdom the way the queen sought Solomon’s, and for grace to finish well, with a heart wholly His.

You’ve experienced

2 Chronicles 9

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A verse to carry with you

Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, He has made you king over them to carry out justice and righteousness.

2 Chronicles 9:8

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