2 Chronicles 9:18

9:13-31 The imports here mentioned, would show that prosperity drew the minds of Solomon and his subjects to the love of things curious and uncommon, though useless in themselves. True wisdom and happiness are always united together; but no such alliance exists between wealth and the enjoyment of the things of this life. Let us then acquaint ourselves with the Saviour, that we may find rest for our souls. Here is Solomon reigning in wealth and power, in ease and fulness, the like of which could never since be found; for the most known of the great princes of the earth were famed for their wars; whereas Solomon reigned forty years in profound peace. The promise was fulfilled, that God would give him riches and honour, such as no kings have had or shall have. The lustre wherein he appeared, was typical of the spiritual glory of the kingdom of the Messiah, and but a faint representation of His throne, which is above every throne. Here is Solomon dying, and leaving all his wealth and power to one who he knew would be a fool! Ec 2:18,19. This was not only vanity, but vexation of spirit. Neither power, wealth, nor wisdom, can ward off or prepare for the stroke of death. But thanks be to God who giveth the victory to the true believer, even over this dreaded enemy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

18 . with a footstool of gold , which were fastened to the throne ] A quite different detail takes the place of this in 1 Kings 10:19 , and the top of the throne was round behind . Perhaps both details were found in the original text of Kings. and stays on each side of the sitting place ] R.V. and stays (mg. “arms”) on either side by the place of the seat . 2 Chronicles 9:18

And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were {i} fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the {k} stays: (i) That is, the steps and the footstool were fastened to the throne. (k) Upon the pommels or knops.

(18) With a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne. —Instead of this Kings has, And the throne had a rounded top behind. Although the footstool is a prominent object in Oriental representations of thrones, it is quite possible that our text is due to a corruption of that which appears in Kings, and with which the Syriac here agrees. The LXX. renders, “and six steps to the throne, fastened with gold,” omitting the footstool. The Heb. is at all events suspiciously awkward. For the remainder of this and the following verse see 1Kings 10:19-20. The chronicler has made two, slight verbal corrections in 2Chronicles 9:19.

2Ch 9:13-28. His Riches. 13. Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year—(See on [429]1Ki 10:14-29). six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold—The sum named is equal to £3,646,350; and if we take the proportion of silver (2Ch 9:14), which is not taken into consideration, at one to nine, there would be about £200,000, making a yearly supply of nearly £6,000,000, being a vast amount for an infant effort in maritime commerce [Napier].

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 both narratives, with the exception of some trifling differences. Before מביאים והסּחרים the relative pronoun is to be supplied: "and what the merchants brought." As to the derivation of the word 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 of תּרשׁישׁ 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 Southern Arabia (see on 1 Kings 9:26 .). All the rest has been explained in the commentary on 1 Kings 10 .