Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 9:14
not including the revenue from the merchants and traders. And all the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Chronicler records Solomon’s annual economic intake during the height of his reign, noting that foreign tribute was collected alongside domestic taxation. This account appears immediately after detailing the 666 talents of gold received yearly and before describing Solomon’s architectural and military projects.
The words — לְבַד (le.Vad) means "apart" or "excluding," and מְבִיאִים (me.vi.'Im) means "[were] bringing," highlighting that the listed tribute was separate from standard merchant revenue.
The thread — This pattern of foreign rulers delivering gold and silver to Jerusalem appears in Psalms 68:29 and Psalms 72:10, where kings and distant shores bring tribute to God’s temple.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that political submission and economic tribute were concrete expressions of Solomon’s divinely sanctioned authority. A reader must account for how material wealth functioned as the visible metric of covenantal blessing in the narrative.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
Cross-references
- Psalms 68:29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.
- Psalms 72:10 May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.