Solomon's Wealth

 

 

 

2 Chronicles 9:13-28

 

June 17, 2023

 

Solomon's Wealth

 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, besides that which the explorers and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon.  King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold; 600 shekels of beaten gold went into each shield.  And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; 300 shekels of gold went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.  The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold.  The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. Nothing like it was ever made for any kingdom.   All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.  For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. 

Thus, King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.  And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.  Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and of gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.  And Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.  And he ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt.  And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah.  And horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.

 

A talent of gold was 75 lbs. and 666 talents of gold in one year is 49,950 lbs.  Today’s price of gold is $1,968 per oz.  You have 16 oz in a pound $31,488 X 75 = $2,361,600 that is what one talent is worth in today’s dollars X 666 over, a billion and a half dollars.  And you thought Bill Gates had money.  And that was not all, besides that which the explorers and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon.  One must recall this fact.  And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah.  Note: {Shephelah is a Hebrew word meaning "low" and is usually translated as "lowlands" or "foothills." The term refers to a twelve- to fifteen-mile-wide region in Judea, comprised of foothills that are located between the coastal plain to the west and the Judea Mountains to the east.}  

 

I often get upset with Solomon's many wives and lifestyle, until I recall my own flesh and also read the following.  Thus, King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.  And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.  Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and of gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.   Have you noticed what happens to people who get a little power, and can steal a lot of money, the Congress and Senate of the USA, and they have no one seeking them for their wisdom?  Solomon had flesh just like you and me, and wealth, and fame got the best of him.

Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.  I get the gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks, why apes?  I read a lot of people guessing and I could do that also.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice