2 Chronicles 9:13–24

King Solomon’s Wealth

¹³Every year King Solomon received almost 23,000 kilogrammes of gold, ¹⁴in addition to the taxes paid by the traders and merchants. The kings of Arabia and the governors of the Israelite districts also brought him silver and gold. ¹⁵Solomon made 200 large shields, each of which was covered with about 7 kilogrammes of beaten gold, ¹⁶and 300 smaller shields, each covered with about 3 kilogrammes of beaten gold. He had them all placed in the Hall of the Forest of Lebanon.^r

¹⁷The king also had a large throne made. Part of it was covered with ivory and the rest of it was covered with pure gold. ¹⁸Six steps led up to the throne, and there was a footstool attached to it, covered with gold. There were arms on each side of the throne, and the figure of a lion stood at each side. ¹⁹Twelve figures of lions were on the steps, one at either end of each step. No throne like this had ever existed in any other kingdom.

²⁰All King Solomon’s cups were made of gold, and all the utensils in the Hall of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered valuable in Solomon’s day. ²¹He had a fleet of ocean-going ships sailing with King Hiram’s fleet. Every three years his fleet would return, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

²²King Solomon was richer and wiser than any other king in the world. ²³They all consulted him, to hear the wisdom that God had given him. ²⁴Each of them brought Solomon gifts—articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. This continued year after year.