2 Chronicles 9:1-12 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Bible Comments

The account here given of the visit of the queen of Sheba is so exact with that given in 1 Kings 10:1 that I think it needless to detain the Reader, but rather to refer him to that scripture, and the Commentary upon it. Oh! what a reproach is it now, and what an everlasting condemnation will it be in the world to come, to thousands, and tens of thousands, who so far from taking a long and wearisome journey, as this poor woman did, to hear the wisdom of Solomon, cannot be prevailed upon to hear and regard the wisdom of Solomon's Lord, though held forth in a preached gospel every sabbath-day.

Reader! do not overlook what was pointed at in the account of this woman's conduct, in the former relation of her history, how sweet an emblem she is of the coming sinner, in whose heart the Holy Ghost hath given information, and raised a desire of enquiry concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Neither let you and I overlook in the view here given of Solomon's condescension, the still greater grace and condescension of our Jesus, in discoursing with poor sinners, and eating with them. How astonished was the queen of the south in that the king of Israel told her all that she desired. But how abundantly more is the sinner overwhelmed with astonishment, when the Lord Jesus opens to his view all that passed within, and removes all his fears, and anxieties, and gives him a confidence in Jesus which he apprehended he should never posses. Reader! what are your thoughts of our almighty Solomon concerning these things? Have you heard, as the queen of the South did, of the fame of our Solomon! are you come to prove him with hard questions! have you indeed been with Jesus! and hath he told you all that was in your heart! oh! then I need not tell you for you can better tell me, your astonishment. Surely you will conclude as she did, and yet infinitely higher will he your conclusion; the half of his greatness and wisdom hath never been told you. And of his love you could have had no conception. Go home then, Reader, as the queen did to her country, go home to thine house, spread abroad his fame, invite thousands and tens of thousands to come to him, and prove him themselves, that he is infinite in council and might. Let the fathers to the children make known his praise.

2 Chronicles 9:1-12

1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

2 And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.

3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,

4 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearersa also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.

5 And she said to the king, It was a true reportb which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:

6 Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.

7 Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.

8 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.

9 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.

10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algumc trees and precious stones.

11 And the king made of the algum trees terracesd to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.

12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.