2Ch 9:17 | KingComments | STEP | Every year, Solomon receives no less than 666 talents of gold ( ). In addition, he also has income from trade and income from gifts of “all the kings of Arabia” ( ). Also governors contribute to the income of Solomon. The wealth of Solomon is enormous, but not complete. This can be deduced from the weight of gold that comes in for him in one year, namely 666 talents. This number “is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six” ( ) and indicates weakness, while the number seven indicates perfection. From the gold Solomon makes large and small shields ( ). The large shields protect the whole body, the small shields are supposed to serve as status symbols. In total, he makes five hundred shields with a combined weight of approximately twenty-four hundred kilos of gold. Solomon put all the shields “in the house of the forest of Lebanon”, transforming that house into a fortress (cf. ). We can say that the throne is the climax of the whole description of Solomon’s glory ( ). It is an impressive throne. There is a six-fold ascent, with the throne on the seventh step. The lions symbolize his royal majesty. The word translated with “footstool” ( ) is a difficult word to translate. The word probably refers to something that has to do with the sheep or the lamb. That connects the lamb with the lion. This leads to the thought that we also find in Revelation 5. There the gaze of John of the Lion ( ) is directed to the Lamb ( ). The Lamb shows the way along which He came to the throne: through the way of death. The six steps represent the way the Lamb has gone to take His place on the throne. The seventh step is His taking place on the throne. We can think of the following ‘steps’: 1. The way of the Lamb has begun in the counsel of God to come to the kingdom of God. 2. The second step to the throne is His incarnation and the way He has gone as Man on earth. 3. The third step is His death. That step also had to be climbed. 4. The fourth step is His resurrection. 5. The fifth step is His exaltation at the right hand of God. 6. The sixth step is His return to the earth, to 7. take there the seventh step and sit down on the throne of His glory. To describe the immense proverbial wealth of Solomon, the chronicler points to the drinking vessels of gold and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon of pure gold ( ). That there is nothing of silver, that silver even was not considered valuable, increases the picture of Solomon’s wealth. A lot of wealth comes from Tarshish ( ). Besides being rich in gold, Solomon is also rich in wisdom. This combination makes him “greater than all the kings of the earth” ( ). All kings seek him also because of his wisdom ( ). They do not come empty-handed ( ). Their gifts make him still richer. Solomon also has a large number of stalls for his many horses ( ). He also has chariots and 12,000 horsemen. He stations these reinforcements in chariot cities and also with himself in Jerusalem. The extent of his kingdom, according to the promise made to Abraham ( ), is mentioned ( ). With other examples Solomon’s great wealth is emphasized ( ), while pointing out that the horses for Solomon’s army are brought in from Egypt “and from all countries” ( ). It shows his supremacy over all kingdoms. The great empires of the world have, as it were, become provinces in his empire. The fact that Solomon has so many gold and horses seems to be contrary to the warning in the royal law that the king should not take much gold and should not buy many horses ( ). There is also warning against taking many wives. The latter is not found here, but in 1 Kings. Here in 2 Chronicles we should not see the multiplication of gold and horses as something repulsive, but as a sign of his wealth and power.

‏ 2 Chronicles 9:17

The Wealth of Solomon

Every year, Solomon receives no less than 666 talents of gold (2Chr 9:13). In addition, he also has income from trade and income from gifts of “all the kings of Arabia” (2Chr 9:14). Also governors contribute to the income of Solomon. The wealth of Solomon is enormous, but not complete. This can be deduced from the weight of gold that comes in for him in one year, namely 666 talents. This number “is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six” (Rev 13:18) and indicates weakness, while the number seven indicates perfection.

From the gold Solomon makes large and small shields (2Chr 9:15-16). The large shields protect the whole body, the small shields are supposed to serve as status symbols. In total, he makes five hundred shields with a combined weight of approximately twenty-four hundred kilos of gold. Solomon put all the shields “in the house of the forest of Lebanon”, transforming that house into a fortress (cf. Isa 22:8).

We can say that the throne is the climax of the whole description of Solomon’s glory (2Chr 9:17-19). It is an impressive throne. There is a six-fold ascent, with the throne on the seventh step. The lions symbolize his royal majesty.

The word translated with “footstool” (2Chr 9:18) is a difficult word to translate. The word probably refers to something that has to do with the sheep or the lamb. That connects the lamb with the lion. This leads to the thought that we also find in Revelation 5. There the gaze of John of the Lion (Rev 5:5) is directed to the Lamb (Rev 5:6a). The Lamb shows the way along which He came to the throne: through the way of death.

The six steps represent the way the Lamb has gone to take His place on the throne. The seventh step is His taking place on the throne. We can think of the following ‘steps’:

1. The way of the Lamb has begun in the counsel of God to come to the kingdom of God.

2. The second step to the throne is His incarnation and the way He has gone as Man on earth.

3. The third step is His death. That step also had to be climbed.

4. The fourth step is His resurrection.

5. The fifth step is His exaltation at the right hand of God.

6. The sixth step is His return to the earth, to

7. take there the seventh step and sit down on the throne of His glory.

To describe the immense proverbial wealth of Solomon, the chronicler points to the drinking vessels of gold and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon of pure gold (2Chr 9:20). That there is nothing of silver, that silver even was not considered valuable, increases the picture of Solomon’s wealth. A lot of wealth comes from Tarshish (2Chr 9:21).

Besides being rich in gold, Solomon is also rich in wisdom. This combination makes him “greater than all the kings of the earth” (2Chr 9:22). All kings seek him also because of his wisdom (2Chr 9:23). They do not come empty-handed (2Chr 9:24). Their gifts make him still richer.

Solomon also has a large number of stalls for his many horses (2Chr 9:25). He also has chariots and 12,000 horsemen. He stations these reinforcements in chariot cities and also with himself in Jerusalem. The extent of his kingdom, according to the promise made to Abraham (Gen 15:18), is mentioned (2Chr 9:26). With other examples Solomon’s great wealth is emphasized (2Chr 9:27), while pointing out that the horses for Solomon’s army are brought in from Egypt “and from all countries” (2Chr 9:28). It shows his supremacy over all kingdoms. The great empires of the world have, as it were, become provinces in his empire.

The fact that Solomon has so many gold and horses seems to be contrary to the warning in the royal law that the king should not take much gold and should not buy many horses (Deu 17:16-17). There is also warning against taking many wives. The latter is not found here, but in 1 Kings. Here in 2 Chronicles we should not see the multiplication of gold and horses as something repulsive, but as a sign of his wealth and power.