2 Chronicles 9:29

(c) REFERENCE TO DOCUMENTS.—CLOSE OF THE REIGN (2Ch_9:29-31). (Comp. 1Ki_11:41-43.)

(29) Now the rest of the acts of Solomon.—Or, story, history; literally, words. (Comp. 1Ch_29:29.)

First and last.—Or, the former and the latter. Instead of this, Kings has, “and all that he did, and his wisdom.”

In the book.—Or, history. For the sources named here, see the Introduction. Kings has simply, “are they not written in the book of the history of Solomon? “His name conveyed the idea of peace to the Hebrew ear. But there is no doubt that it was originally identical with Shalman (Assyrian Salmânu), the name of a god. Tiglath-pileser II. mentions a Salamânu king of Moab. This name exactly corresponds to Solomon.

Ahijah the Shilonite.—See 1Ki_11:29-39; 1Ki_14:2-18.

Iddo.—Hebrew, Ie‘dî or Ie‘dô. This seer is not mentioned in Kings. (See 2Ch_12:15; 2Ch_13:22 for further references to his works.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch 9:29 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, [are] they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?

Ver. 29. Now the rest, &c.] And worst. See 1Ki 11:41.

First and last.] His first were best: of his last this historian saith nothing, but layeth his finger on the scar.

In the book of Nathan.] In part of the First Book of Kings, written by these three prophets.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch 9:29. In the visions of Iddo the seer — Mentioned also 2Ch 12:15, and supposed by some to be the same person who is called Obed, 2Ch 15:1. This and the other prophets here mentioned were also historians, and wrote annals of their times, out of which these sacred books were taken, either by these or other prophets.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Conclusion of Solomon's history. - Ch2 9:29. Sources; see the introduction.

Ch2 9:30-31

The length of his reign, his death and burial, and his successor, as in Kg1 11:42.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

9:29 The Chronicler apparently used prophetic anthologies or annals as part of his source material; the works of individual prophets may have been incorporated into larger collections. These sources no longer exist. Nathan and Ahijah were active during the reigns of David and Solomon. Iddo is otherwise unknown.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Or, Iddo.

That is, which prophesied against him.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 29. Nathan the prophet] These books are all lost. See the account of Solomon, his character, and a review of his works, at the end of 1Kg 11:43.

I. By the kindness of a learned friend, who has made this kind of subjects his particular study, I am able to give a more correct view of the value of the talent of gold and the talent of silver than that which I have quoted 1Kg 10:17, from Mr. Reynold's State of the Greatest King.

1. To find the equivalent in British standard to an ounce troy of pure gold, valued at eighty shillings, and to a talent of the same which weighs one thousand eight hundred ounces troy.

The ounce contains four hundred and eighty grains, and the guinea weighs one hundred and twenty-nine grains, or five pennyweights and nine grains.

(1) As 129 grains : 21 shillings :: 480, the number of grains in an ounce : 78.1395348s. or 3l. 18s. 1d. 2.69767q.; the equivalent in our silver coin to one ounce of standard gold.

(2) As 78.1395348 shillings, the value of an ounce of standard gold, : 80 shillings, the value of an ounce troy of pure gold, :: 80 shillings : 81.9047619 shillings, the equivalent in British standard to one ounce of pure gold.

Instead of the preceding, the following proportions may be used: -

(1) As 21.5 shillings : 21 shillings :: 80 shillings : 78.1395348 shillings. This multiplied by 1800, the number of troy ounces in a Hebrew talent, gives 140651.16264s. or 7032l. 11s. 1d. 3.8q., the equivalent to one talent of standard gold.

(2) As 21 standard : 21.5 pure :: 80 pure : 81.9047619 standard. This multiplied by 1800 gives 147428.67142s. or 7371l. 8s. 6d. 3.4q., the equivalent to one talent of pure gold.

2. To find the equivalent in British standard to a talent of pure silver, which is valued at four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, or five shillings the ounce troy.

The pound troy is 240 pennyweights; and our silver coin has 18 pennyweights of alloy in the pound. From 240 pennyweights take 18, and there will remain 222 pennyweights, the pure silver in the pound.

Now as 240 pennyweights : 222 pennyweights :: 20 pennyweights, the weight of a crown piece, : 18 1/2 pennyweights, the weight of the pure silver in the crown.

Then, as 18.5 pennyweights : 6 shillings :: 36000, the number of dwts. in a talent,: 9729.729729729729 shillings, or £486 9s. 8 3/4d., the equivalent in our coin to a talent of pure silver.

Example 1. To find the equivalent in British standard to the one hundred and twenty talents of gold which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon, 2Ch 9:9.

147428.57142s. equivalent to one talent of pure gold,

120 number of talents [as found above. _____________ 17691428.5704 = £884,571 8s. 6 3/4d., the equivalent to

120 talents. Example 2. To find the equivalent in British standard to Solomon's two hundred targets of beaten gold, each six hundred shekels; and to his three hundred shields, each three hundred shekels, 2Ch 9:15-16.

A talent is three thousand shekels; therefore six hundred shekels are one-fifth, and three hundred are one-tenth of a talent.

5)147428.57142s. equivalent to one talent.

____________

29485.71428 equivalent to one target.

200 the number of targets.

____________ 2|0)589714|2.856

____________

£294,857 2s. 10 1/4d. equivalent to 200 targets. One-tenth of a talent is 14742.857142 = one shield.

300 number of shields.

_____________

2|0)442285|7.1426

______________

£221,142 17s. 1 1/2d. = 300 shields. Example 3. To find the equivalent in British standard to the weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year, independently of what the chapmen and merchants brought him.

147428.57142s. = one talent.

666 number of talents.

____________

88457142852

88457142852

88457142852

________________

2|0)9818742|8.56572

________________

£4,909,371 8s. 6 3/4d. equivalent to 666 talents. Example 4. To find the equivalent in British standard to the hundred thousand talents of gold, and to the million of talents of silver, which were prepared by David for the temple, 1Ch 22:14.

THE GOLD

147428.57142s. = one talent.

100000 number of talents.

____________

2|0)1474285714|2

____________

£737,142,857 2s. the equivalent. Or, seven hundred and thirty-seven millions, one hundred and forty-two thousand, eight hundred and fifty-seven pounds, two shillings sterling, for the gold.

THE SILVER

9729.729729729s. = one talent.

1000000 number of talents.

_______________

2|0)97297297219.729

________________

£486,486,486 9s. 8 1/2d. the equivalent. Or, four hundred and eighty-six millions, four hundred and eighty-six thousand, four hundred and eighty-six pounds, nine shillings, and eightpence halfpenny sterling, for the silver.

II. I have referred, in the note on 2Ch 9:17, to a curious account of Solomon's throne, taken from a Persian MS. entitled [Persian] beet al mukuddus, the Holy House, or Jerusalem. It has already been remarked, in the account of Solomon at the end of 1Kg 11:43, article 12, that among the oriental writers Solomon is considered, not only as the wisest of all men, but as having supreme command over demons and genii of all kinds; and that he knew the language of beasts and birds, c. and therefore the reader need not be surprised if he find, in the following account, Solomon employing preternatural agency in the construction of this celebrated throne.

"This famous throne was the work of the Deev Sukhur; it was called Koukab al Jinna. The beauty of this throne has never been sufficiently described; the following are the particulars: -

"The sides of it were pure gold; the feet, of emeralds and pearls, intermixed with other pearls, each of which was as large as the egg of an ostrich.

"The throne had SEVEN steps; on each side were delineated orchards full of trees, the branches of which were composed of precious stones, representing ripe and unripe fruits.

"On the tops of the trees were to be seen fowls of the most beautiful plumage; particularly the peacock, the etaub, and the kurgus; all these birds were artificially hollowed within, so as occasionally to utter a thousand melodious notes, such as the ears of mortals had never before heard.

"On the FIRST step were delineated vine-branches, having bunches of grapes, composed of various sorts of precious stones; fashioned in such a manner as to represent the different colours of purple, violet, green, and red, so as to exhibit the appearance of real fruit.

"On the SECOND step, on each side of the throne, were two lions, of massive gold, of terrible aspect, and as large as life.

"The property of this throne was such, that when the prophet Solomon placed his foot upon the FIRST step, all the birds spread their wings, and made a fluttering noise in the air.

"On his touching the SECOND step, the two lions expanded their claws.

"On his reaching the THIRD step, the whole assembly of deevs, peris, and men, repeated the praises of the Deity.

"When he arrived at the FOURTH step, voices were heard addressing him in the following manner: Son of David be grateful for the blessings which the Almighty has bestowed upon thee.

"The same was repeated on his reaching the FIFTH step.

"On his touching the SIXTH step, all the children sang praises.

"On his arrival at the SEVENTH step, the whole throne, with all the birds and other animals, became in motion, and ceased not till he had placed himself in the royal seat; and then the birds, lions, and other animals, by secret springs, discharged a shower of the most precious musk upon the prophet; after which two of the kurguses, descending placed a golden crown upon his head.

"Before the throne was a column of burnished gold; on the top of which was placed a golden dove, which had in its beak a roll bound in silver. In this roll were written the Psalms of the prophet David, and the dove having presented the roll to King Solomon, he read a portion of it to the children of Israel.

"It is farther related that, on the approach of wicked persons to this throne for judgment, the lions were wont to set up a terrible roaring, and to lash their tails about with violence; the birds also began to erect their feathers; and the whole assembly of deeves and genii uttered such loud cries, that for fear of them no person would dare to be guilty of falsehood, but instantly confess his crimes.

"Such was the throne of Solomon, the son of David."

Supposing even this splendid description to be literally true, there is nothing here that could not have been performed by ingenuity and art; nothing that needed the aid of supernatural influence.

In another MS., on which I cannot now lay my hand, the whole value of this throne, and its ornaments, is computed in lacs of rupees! The above description is founded in the main on the account given here, 2Ch 9:17-19. The SIX steps, and the footstool of the sacred writer, make the SEVEN steps, in the above description. The twelve lions are not distinguished by the Mohammedan writer. Other matters are added from tradition.

This profusion of gold and precious stones was not beyond the reach of Solomon, when we consider the many millions left by his father; no less a sum than one thousand two hundred and twenty-three millions, six hundred and twenty-nine thousand, three hundred and forty-three pounds, eleven shillings, and eight pence halfpenny, besides what Solomon himself furnished.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

29. the book of Nathan] Cp. 1Ch_29:29.

Ahijah the Shilonite] 1Ki_11:29; 1Ki_14:2 ff.

Iddo] Heb. Jedai or Jedo (probably a mis-spelling); cp. 2Ch_12:15; 2Ch_13:22.

29–31 (= 1Ki_11:41-43). The Epilogue

An important section of 1 Kin. (2Ch_11:1-23) giving an account of Solomon’s patronage of idolatry and of the troubles of his reign is unnoticed by the Chronicler.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The book of Nathan ... - On the “books” here mentioned, see the introduction to Chronicles, the second note.

We hear nothing of Iddo in Kings: but he is mentioned below twice 2Ch 12:15; 2Ch 13:22. In the latter of these passages he is called not “the seer,” but “the prophet.” He seems to have been the author of three works:

(1) Visions against Jeroboam;

(2) A book of genealogies; and

(3) A commentary or history.

According to some, he was identical with Oded, the father of Azariah, who prophesied in the reign of Asa (see the 2Ch 15:1 note).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Seer. The works of these three are not extant. (Menochius) --- The fall of Solomon is recorded, 3 Kings xi. (Worthington)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Iddo the seer, mentioned also 1Ch 12:15, supposed to be the same who is called Obed, 2Ch 15:1. This, and the other prophets mentioned, were also historians, and wrote some annals or histories of their times; out of which these sacred and canonical books were taken, either by these or other prophets.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Nathan the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite Iddo the seer. For these original authorities of the history, see our Introduction (vol. 1. p. 8:2, and p. 9:3). The present quotation of the name of Ahijah in connection with his work, and the brief allusion to himself in our 2Ch_10:15, are the only appearances of Ahijah in Chronicles. He and the importance of his work are clear enough from 1Ki_11:28-40 1Ki_14:1-20. As the compiler of Chronicles evidently by a law omits any even reference to the defection of Solomon, it is natural that the name and special ministry of Ahijah should fall into the shade with him. Uniformly it is observable in Chronicles that the personal is not enlarged upon where it is not directly and indispensably ancillary to the ecclesiastical and national history. On the other hand, the writer of Kings does not once mention Iddo the seer, whereas we read of him again twice in Chronicles. (2Ch_12:15 2Ch_13:22)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Iddo - This, and the other prophets mentioned, were also historians, and wrote annals of their times; out of which these sacred books were taken, either by these, or other prophets.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

rest of

These books have perished. 1Ki 11:29.

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

first and last

The phrase "first and last" represents the whole time of Solomon's reign. AT: "from the beginning to the end of his reign" (See: Merism)

are they not written ... (which also had information about Jeroboam son of Nebat)?

The author uses the question to remind the readers that other people had written about Solomon. It can be expressed in active form AT: "they are written ... (which also had information about Jeroboam son of Nebat.)" or "people have written about them ... (which also had information about Jeroboam son of Nebat)." (See: Rhetorical Question)

The History of Nathan the Prophet ... The Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite ... The Visions of Iddo the Seer

These are the names of some writings that existed when 2 Chronicles was written, but they do not exist now.

Ahijah the Shilonite

This is a prophet from Shiloh who predicted that the nation of Israel would be divided into two kingdoms.

Shilonite

This is the name of a people group from the town of Shiloh. (See: How to Translate Names)

He slept with his ancestors

This was a polite way to tell about him dying. AT: "He died" (See: Euphemism)

translationWords

Solomon

written

Nathan

prophet

Ahijah

Shiloh

vision

Jeroboam

bury

city of David

Rehoboam

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

in the words of Nathan the prophet (II Sam. 12:25): “And He sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah for the Lord’s sake.”

and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite (I Kings 11:31) who rent the kingdom from him and gave it to Jeroboam.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.