Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 9:1

"And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great train, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart." — 2 Chronicles 9:1 (ASV)

(ii) SOLOMON’S WISDOM, WEALTH, AND GLORY. HIS DEATH.

(a) THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA (2 Chronicles 9:1–12). Compare to 1 Kings 10:1–13.

The Hebrew text coincides with Kings, allowing for a few characteristic alterations, the chief of which will be noticed.

1. And when the queen of Sheba heard. — Now the queen of Sheba had heard. Kings, was hearing.
2. The fame of Solomon. — Kings adds a difficult phrase (“as to the name of Jehovah”) which the chronicler omits.
3. Hard questions. — Riddles, enigmas. Septuagint, αἰνίγμασιν (Judges 14:12).
4. At Jerusalem. — An abridgment but not an improvement of Kings. The Syriac agrees with the latter.
5. Gold in abundance. — The chronicler has substituted a favorite expression for the “ very much gold” of Kings.