2 Chronicles 9:4

the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, the attire of his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The queen of Sheba addresses Solomon after surveying his palace and court, reacting to the tangible evidence of his prosperity and worship.

The words — וּ/מַלְבּֽוּשֵׁי/הֶ֗ם (u./mal.bu.shei./Hem) denotes the specific garments of his officials, marking their assigned status. מַשְׁקָי/ו֙ (u./mash.Ka/v) identifies his cupbearers, specifying the specialized roles within his household service.

The thread — This inventory of courtly order runs parallel to 1 Kings 10:5, where identical observations prompt the queen’s confirmation of Solomon’s reputation. The administrative scale mirrors the daily provisions detailed in 1 Kings 4:22.

Why it lands — The text records a catalog of visible structures before noting the queen’s reaction, requiring the reader to trace how organized service and worship function as evidence. It asks for a direct assessment of how institutional order manifests authority.

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

וּמַאֲכַ֣לu./ma.'a.Khaland/ [the] food of שֻׁלְחָנ֡וֹshul.cha.N/otable/ his וּמוֹשַׁ֣בu./mo.Shavand/ [the] seating of עֲבָדָיו֩'a.va.Da/vservants/ his וּמַעֲמַ֨דu./ma.'a.Madand/ [the] standing of מְשָׁרְתָ֜יוme.sha.re.Ta/vservants/ his וּמַלְבּֽוּשֵׁיהֶ֗םu./mal.bu.shei./Hemand/ clothes/ their וּמַשְׁקָיו֙u./mash.Ka/vand/ cup-bearers/ his וּמַלְבּ֣וּשֵׁיהֶ֔םu./mal.Bu.shei./Hemand/ clothes/ their וַעֲלִיָּת֔וֹva./'a.li.ya.T/oand/ upper room/ his אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich יַעֲלֶ֖הya.'a.Lehhe went up בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house of יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahweh וְלֹא־ve./lo'-and/ not הָ֥יָהHa.yahit was ע֛וֹדodstillבָּ֖הּba/hin/ herרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achbreath

King James Version

And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her.

Cross-references

1 Kings 4:22 Solomon’s provisions for a single day were thirty cors of fine flour, sixty cors of meal,
1 Kings 10:5 the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.
2 Kings 16:18 And on account of the king of Assyria, he removed the Sabbath canopy they had built in the temple and closed the royal entryway outside the house of the LORD.
1 Chronicles 9:18 he was previously stationed at the King’s Gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the Levites.
2 Chronicles 23:13 And she looked and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!”
Nehemiah 1:11 O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.)
Psalms 119:81 My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
Psalms 143:7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit.
Proverbs 9:5 “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
Song of Solomon 5:8 O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.