TRV
Translation
King James Version
And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
Complete Jewish Bible
King Shlomo made 200 large shields of hammered gold; fifteen pounds of hammered gold went into one shield.
Berean Standard Bible
King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of hammered gold went into each shield.
American Standard Version
And king Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one buckler.
World English Bible Messianic
King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one buckler.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And King Salomon made two hundreth targets of beaten golde, and sixe hundreth shekels of beaten golde went to one target,
Young's Literal Translation
And king Solomon maketh two hundred targets of alloyed gold, six hundred shekels of alloyed gold he causeth to go up on the one target;
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Commentary on 2 Chronicles 9 verses 13–31
13 ¶ Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;
14 Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
16 And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
17 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
18 And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays:
19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.
20 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.
24 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
25 And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
26 And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
27 And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.
28 And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.
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?
30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
We have here Solomon in his throne, and Solomon in his grave; for the throne would not secure him from the grave. Mors sceptra ligonibus aequat - Death wrenches from the hand the sceptre as well as the spade.
I. Here is Solomon reigning in wealth and power, in ease and fulness, such as, for aught I know, could never since be paralleled by any king whatsoever. In cannot pretend to be critical in comparing the grandeur of Solomon with that of some of the great princes of the earth. But I may observe that the most illustrious of them were famed for their wars, whereas Solomon reigned forty years in profound peace. Some of those that might be thought to vie with Solomon affected retirement, kept people in awe by keeping them at a great distance; nobody must see them, or come near him, upon pain of death: but Solomon went much abroad, and appeared in public business. So that, all things considered, the promise was fulfilled, that God would give him riches, and wealth, and honour, such as no kings have had, or shall have, Ch2 1:12. 1. Never any prince appeared in public with great splendour than Solomon did, which to those that judge by the sight of the eye, as most people do, would very much recommend him. He had 200 targets and 300 shields, all of beaten gold, carried before him (Ch2 9:15, Ch2 9:16), and sat upon a most stately throne, Ch2 9:17-19. There was not the like in any kingdom. The lustre wherein he appeared was typical of the spiritual glory of the kingdom of the Messiah and but a faint representation of his throne, which is above every throne. Solomon's pomp was all artificial; and therefore our Saviour prefers the natural beauty of the lilies of the field before it. Mat 6:29, Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. 2. Never any prince had greater plenty of gold and silver, though there were no gold or silver mines in his own kingdom. Either he made himself master of the mines in other countries, and, having a populous country, sent hands to dig out those rich metals, or, having a fruitful country, he exported the commodities of it and with them fetched home all this gold that is here spoken of, Ch2 9:13, Ch2 9:14-21. 3. Never any prince had such presents brought him by all his neighbours as Solomon had: All the kings of Arabia, and governors of the country, brought him gold and silver (Ch2 9:14), not as tribute which he extorted from them, but as freewill offerings to procure his favour, or in a way of exchange for some of the productions of his husbandry, corn or cattle. All the kings of the earth brought him presents, that is, all in those parts of the world (Ch2 9:24, Ch2 9:28), because they coveted his acquaintance and friendship. Herein he was a type of Christ, to whom, as soon as he was born, the wise men of the east brought presents, gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Mat 2:11), and to whom all that are about him must bring presents, Psa 76:11; Rom 12:1. 4. Never any prince was so renowned for wisdom, so courted, so consulted, so admired (Ch2 9:23): The kings of the earth (for it was too great a favour for common persons to pretend to) sought to hear his wisdom - his natural philosophy, or his skill in physic, or his state policy, or his rules of prudence for the conduct of human life, or perhaps the principles of his religion, and the reasons of it. The application which they then made to Solomon to hear his wisdom will aggravate, shame, and condemn, men's general contempt of Christ and his gospel. Though in them are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, yet none of the princes of this world desire to know them, for they are foolishness to them, Co1 2:8, Co1 2:14.
II. Here is Solomon dying, stripped of his pomp, and leaving all his wealth and power, not to one concerning whom he knew not whether he would be a wise man or a fool (Ecc 2:19), but who he knew would be a fool. This was not only vanity but vexation of spirit, Ch2 9:29-31. It is very observable that no mention is here made of Solomon's departure from God in his latter days, not the least hint given of it, 1. Because the Holy Ghost would teach us not to take delight in repeating the faults and follies of others. If those that have been in reputation for wisdom and honour misbehave, though it may be of use to take notice of their misconduct for warning to ourselves and others, yet we must not be forward to mention it, once the speaking of it is enough; why should that unpleasing string be again struck upon? Why can we not do as the sacred historian here does, speak largely of that in others which is praise-worthy, without saying any thing of their blemishes, yea, though they have been gross and obvious? This is but doing as we would be done by. 2. Because, though he fell, yet he was not utterly cast down. His sin is not again recorded, because it was repented of, and pardoned, and became as if it had never been. Scripture-silence sometimes speaks. I am willing to believe that its silence here concerning the sin of Solomon is an intimation that none of the sins he committed were mentioned against him, Eze 33:16. When God pardons sin he casts it behind his back and remembers it no more.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 13–31. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Second Chronicles 9:15 vividly portrays the immense wealth and unparalleled splendor of King Solomon's reign, specifically detailing the creation of two hundred large ceremonial shields, each meticulously crafted from an astounding six hundred shekels of beaten gold. This verse serves as a powerful testament to the material prosperity and grandeur that characterized Israel at the zenith of its earthly kingdom under Solomon, a direct manifestation of God's abundant blessing and the fulfillment of His promises.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of unparalleled royal splendor. Hyperbole is evident in the staggering quantities of gold specified; while literally true, the description of 200 large shields, each requiring 600 shekels of beaten gold, creates an impression of almost unimaginable extravagance, powerfully emphasizing Solomon's immense wealth and the peak of Israel's prosperity. Symbolism is central, as these golden shields are not merely objects but powerful symbols of Solomon's immense power, his prestige, the extent of divine favor upon him, and the zenith of Israel's national glory. They represent the tangible manifestation of God's blessing. Furthermore, for the Chronicler's post-exilic audience, there is a poignant element of foreshadowing. They would have been acutely aware of the subsequent historical event where these very shields were plundered by the Egyptians (2 Chronicles 12:9). This subtle foreshadowing imbues the description of Solomon's splendor with a powerful, almost melancholic, reminder of the transient nature of earthly possessions and glory.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, while a striking testament to Solomon's extraordinary material wealth, carries a profound theological purpose within the Chronicler's overarching narrative. It serves as a vivid illustration of the peak of God's covenant blessing upon the Davidic line and the nation of Israel, demonstrating the magnificent fulfillment of God's promise to grant Solomon riches and honor beyond any king before or after him (2 Chronicles 1:12). The sheer abundance of gold symbolizes divine favor, wisdom, and the prosperity that flows from a kingdom aligned with God. However, the subsequent historical reality of these very shields being plundered by Shishak, king of Egypt (2 Chronicles 12:9), serves as a powerful theological commentary on the impermanence of earthly glory and the inherent dangers of placing ultimate trust in material possessions. It highlights that even divinely bestowed blessings, when not stewarded with continued faithfulness and obedience, can be fleeting and ultimately prove insufficient for true security or lasting joy.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
King Solomon's golden shields stand as a magnificent, though ultimately temporary, monument to the pinnacle of Israel's material prosperity under divine blessing. For believers today, they serve as a profound and enduring reminder that while God can bless abundantly, true and lasting security, significance, and joy are never found in the accumulation, display, or even the inherent value of material possessions. The eventual, inevitable loss of these very shields underscores the transient nature of all earthly glory and wealth, which can be lost, decay, or be stolen. This narrative compels us to critically evaluate where we place our ultimate trust and what we truly value. Are we, like Solomon in his later years, building up treasures on earth, which are inherently vulnerable and fleeting, or are we investing in spiritual riches and an eternal inheritance that cannot be plundered, diminished, or corrupted? This verse powerfully encourages us to shift our focus from the fleeting allure of worldly splendor to the enduring kingdom of God, seeking His righteousness and His eternal purposes above all else, knowing that His provisions are eternal and His glory never fades.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Were these golden shields used for actual combat?
Answer: No, it is highly improbable that these shields were ever intended or used for actual combat. The immense weight—600 shekels of gold per shield—and the extraordinary preciousness of the material would have rendered them entirely impractical for battlefield use. In the ancient Near East, monarchs frequently commissioned such elaborate and costly items for ceremonial display. These shields would have been paraded during state processions, used to adorn the walls of royal palaces like the Hall of the Forest of Lebanon (1 Kings 7:2), or carried by elite royal guards purely for show rather than for war. Their primary purpose was to symbolize the king's unparalleled wealth, power, and the divine favor bestowed upon him, serving as a visual testament to the grandeur and prosperity of his reign, meant to awe both subjects and foreign dignitaries.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Solomon's golden shields, magnificent as they were, represent the zenith of an earthly kingdom's glory—a glory that was ultimately temporary, subject to decay, and destined for plunder. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ embodies a glory that is eternal, incorruptible, and infinitely richer. While Solomon's wealth was displayed in perishable material gold, Christ's true riches are found in His divine nature, His perfect righteousness, and the spiritual blessings He bestows upon His people, blessings that are "far more precious than gold that perishes" (1 Peter 1:7). The transient nature of Solomon's kingdom, where even his most prized possessions were taken by foreign invaders (2 Chronicles 12:9), foreshadows the ultimate inadequacy of any earthly kingdom or human achievement to provide lasting security or fulfillment. Christ's kingdom, however, is not "of this world" (John 18:36), yet it is an everlasting kingdom that "shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44). He is the true King, whose glory is not dependent on perishable gold but on His inherent deity, His sacrificial love, and His decisive victory over sin and death, offering an inheritance that is "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). Solomon's golden shields pointed to an earthly king's splendor; Christ reveals the eternal, spiritual splendor of the King of kings, whose reign and riches are forever.