CHAPTER 9
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.
So she came
to
Solomon
and spoke
to him
all
that
was
on
her mind.
the food
at his table,
the seating
of his servants,
the service
and attire
of his attendants
and cupbearers,
and the burnt offerings
he presented
at the house
of the LORD,
it took her breath away.
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."
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.
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.
King
Solomon
made
two hundred
large shields
of hammered
gold;
six
hundred shekels
of hammered
gold
went
into
each
shield.
He also made three
hundred
small shields
of hammered
gold;
three
hundred shekels
of gold
went
into
each
shield.
And the king
put them
in the House
of the Forest
of Lebanon.
The throne
had six
steps,
and a footstool
of gold
was attached to it.
There were armrests
on both sides
of
the seat,
with a lion
standing
beside
each armrest.
Twelve
lions
stood
on
the six
steps,
one at either end
of each step.
Nothing
like this
had ever been made
for any
kingdom.
All
of King
Solomon’s
drinking
cups
were gold,
and all
the utensils
of the House
of the Forest
of Lebanon
were pure
gold.
There was no
silver,
because it was accounted
as nothing
in the days
of 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.
All
the kings
of the earth
sought
an audience
with Solomon
to hear
the wisdom
that
God
had put
in his heart.
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.
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?
And Solomon
rested
with
his fathers
and was buried
in the city
of his father
David.
And his son
Rehoboam
became king
in his place.