2 Chronicles 9:16 - Solomon's Wealth and Splendor

Audio Bible

Context

Solomon's Wealth and Splendor
…15King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield. 16He 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. 17Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.…

Cross References

1 Kings 10:17
He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.1 Kings 10:21
All 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.1 Kings 10:22
For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.1 Kings 10:23
So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.1 Kings 10:27
The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.1 Kings 10:18-20
Additionally, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. / The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. 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.1 Kings 7:48-50
Solomon also made all the furnishings for the house of the LORD: the golden altar; the golden table on which was placed the Bread of the Presence; / the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner sanctuary, five on the right side and five on the left; the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs; / the pure gold basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and censers; and the gold hinges for the doors of the inner temple (that is, the Most Holy Place) as well as for the doors of the main hall of the temple.1 Kings 9:28
They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talents—and delivered it to Solomon.1 Kings 14:26
He seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields that Solomon had made.1 Kings 15:15
And he brought into the house of the LORD the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.2 Chronicles 1:15
The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.2 Chronicles 12:9
So King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and seized the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields that Solomon had made.2 Chronicles 12:10
Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them to the care of the captains of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace.2 Chronicles 24:24
Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army. Because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on Joash.2 Chronicles 25:24
He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of God with Obed-edom and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

1 Kings 7:2
He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.

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2 Chronicles 9

He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold;
The creation of these shields signifies the wealth and opulence of Solomon's reign. Gold was a symbol of divine favor and prosperity. The use of hammered gold indicates skilled craftsmanship, reflecting the high standards of Solomon's court. Shields, typically used for protection in battle, here serve a ceremonial purpose, symbolizing strength and divine protection over Israel. This opulence is reminiscent of the wealth described in 1 Kings 10:16-17, where Solomon's wealth is further detailed.

three hundred shekels of gold went into each shield.
A shekel was a unit of weight, and three hundred shekels of gold per shield indicates a significant amount of wealth. This detail underscores the immense resources available to Solomon and the kingdom's prosperity. The use of gold rather than more practical materials for shields highlights their ceremonial nature. This lavish use of gold can be compared to the construction of the Temple, where gold was extensively used (1 Kings 6:20-22).

And the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
The House of the Forest of Lebanon was one of Solomon's grand architectural projects, serving as an armory and a symbol of his wealth and power. It was named for its cedar pillars, reminiscent of the forests of Lebanon, known for their quality timber. This location was not only a storage place but also a display of Solomon's splendor and the kingdom's security. The placement of the shields here signifies a blend of military might and royal grandeur. The House of the Forest of Lebanon is mentioned in 1 Kings 7:2-5, highlighting its importance in Solomon's reign.

Persons / Places / Events

1. King Solomon
The son of King David and Bathsheba, Solomon is renowned for his wisdom, wealth, and building projects, including the Temple in Jerusalem. His reign is marked by peace and prosperity.

2. House of the Forest of Lebanon
A significant building constructed by Solomon, used for storing valuable items and serving as an armory. It was named for its cedar pillars, reminiscent of the forests of Lebanon.

3. Small Shields of Gold
These shields were crafted from hammered gold, each weighing three hundred shekels. They symbolize the wealth and splendor of Solomon's reign.

Teaching Points

The Fleeting Nature of Earthly Wealth
Solomon's wealth, symbolized by the golden shields, was immense, yet it serves as a reminder that earthly riches are temporary. Believers are encouraged to focus on eternal treasures.

Wisdom and Responsibility
Solomon's wisdom was a gift from God, but his use of wealth and resources calls for reflection on how we steward God's gifts in our lives.

The Importance of Legacy
Solomon's reign was marked by prosperity, but his legacy was mixed due to later idolatry and disobedience. Our actions today shape the legacy we leave behind.

The Role of Symbolism in Worship
The shields and the House of the Forest of Lebanon were symbols of God's blessing. In our worship, symbols should point us to God, not become objects of pride or idolatry.

(16) Shields.--Maginnim. The m?g?n was a rouud or oval shield, about half the size of the "target" (cinnah), with which it is often contrasted; e.g., Psalm 35:2; LXX., ??????.

Three hundred shekels of gold.--Kings, three manehs of gold. The maneh or mina (Assyrian, mana), was 1-60th part of a talent, and was equivalent to fifty or sixty shekels. Either the reading of our text is an error of transcription (sh'losh m?'oth for sh'losheth manim), or the word shekels is wrongly supplied in our version, and we ought rather to read drachms (100 drachms = 1 mina). The Syriac reads, "And three minas of gold wrought on the handle of one shield;" so also the Arabic.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

[He also made] three
וּשְׁלֹשׁ־ (ū·šə·lōš-)
Conjunctive waw | Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

hundred
מֵא֤וֹת (mê·’ō·wṯ)
Number - feminine plural
Strong's 3967: A hundred

small shields
מָֽגִנִּים֙ (mā·ḡin·nîm)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 4043: A shield, a protector, the scaly hide of the crocodile

of hammered
שָׁח֔וּט (šā·ḥūṭ)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 7820: To hammer out

gold;
זָהָ֣ב (zā·hāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

three
שְׁלֹ֤שׁ (šə·lōš)
Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

hundred [shekels]
מֵאוֹת֙ (mê·’ō·wṯ)
Number - feminine plural
Strong's 3967: A hundred

of gold
זָהָ֔ב (zā·hāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

went
יַעֲלֶ֖ה (ya·‘ă·leh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

into
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

each
הָאֶחָ֑ת (hā·’e·ḥāṯ)
Article | Number - feminine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

shield.
הַמָּגֵ֣ן (ham·mā·ḡên)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4043: A shield, a protector, the scaly hide of the crocodile

And the king
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

put them
וַיִּתְּנֵ֣ם (way·yit·tə·nêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

in the House
בְּבֵ֖ית (bə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the Forest
יַ֥עַר (ya·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3293: A copse of bushes, a forest, honey in the comb

of Lebanon.
הַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃ (hal·lə·ḇā·nō·wn)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3844: Lebanon -- a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel

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2 Chronicles 9:16 Catholic BibleOT History: 2 Chronicles 9:16 He made three hundred shields of beaten (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)