HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

2 PARALIPOMENON 9

CHAPTER IX.

Ver. 1. Saba. See 3 K. x. 1. This queen resided in Arabia or Abyssinia. H. --- Questions. They were not of a trifling nature, as she is commended by Christ. D.

Ver. 3. House; the royal palace, or rather the temple, which was much more magnificent than any thing in the East.

Ver. 5. Virtues. Heb. "words," or of what regards thee (C.) and thy exploits. T.

Ver. 6. Fame. Heb. and Sept. "the fame which I had heard." H.

Ver. 8. King of the Lord. Hence the style, "By the grace of God, king of England," &c. has been adopted. Those deserve the name, who rule according to God's will. W. --- The kings of the Jews were more properly lieutenants of God, as the government was a theocracy. C. xiii. 8. &c.

Ver. 10. Thyine-trees, very odoriferous. C. --- Heb. algumim: 3 K. almugim, as the letters are frequently transposed in Heb. D. --- Huet thinks these were citron-trees, which did not produce fruit, but were used to make costly tables, and were a species of cedar.

Ver. 11. Stairs. Heb. "hands," (D.) or banisters, from the palace to the temple. Junius.

Ver. 12. And many. Heb. "besides that which she had brought unto the king." Prot. It is however certain that Solomon made use of many of her presents, and therefore he returned her others in greater profusion, or, as it is expressed, 3 K. besides what he offered her of himself of his royal bounty. H.

Ver. 13. Gold, each worth 5475l. (Arbuthnot) so that this part of the revenue alone would amount to 3,646,350l. sterling, annually. H.

Ver. 14. Beside. Heb. "besides that which chapmen and merchants brought." Prot. The deputies appear to be the tax-gatherers. 3 K. x. 15. H.

Ver. 16. Pieces. In 3 K. we read, three pounds. --- Wood; or, "in the palace of the forest of Libanus," (3 K. x. 17. C.) as it is expressed in the Sept. T.

Ver. 18. Arms. Prot. "stays." H. --- Heb. in 3 K. seems clearer and more correct. C.

Ver. 20. Days. We sometimes find the figure, hyperbole, used in Scripture for things unusual. C. i. 16. W.

Ver. 21. Tharsis. Any distant place was so called. T.

Ver. 25. Thousand. In 3 K. we read, 1400 chariots; and here Heb. has, "4000 stables, (C.) or stalls for horses and chariots;" (Prot.) and the Sept. "4000 mares for the chariots, and 12,000 horsemen." H. --- There might be ten horses in each stable. D.

Ver. 29. Seer. The works of these three are not extant. M. --- The fall of Solomon is recorded, 3 K. xi. W.