The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 106

EXPOSITION. Luke xi. 31 (see e..lso Smith's I Bible Dic- CHAPTER IX. tionary,' iii 1232). The hard questions con- The writer is about to take his leave of sisted in riddles (Judg. xiv. 2) and enigmas Solomon and the glowing memories of bis and primitive~asuistry,in which the Arabians golden reign; and, whether be designed it found some considerable portion of their mental gymnastics. These, no doubt, bore or not, he has done so in a most dramatically some mild cousinly relationship to the pro- successful manner in this chapter, and verbs and songs of Solomon, and his treasures especially in the episode, that narrates the of botanical and natural history facts (1 Kings ever-memorable visit of the Queen of Sheba, iv. 29-32). Spices; Hebrew, □•,;i~:;i, here e.s conta.in ed in the first twelve verses of this also in the parallel. This word is used twenty- one times, e.nd in a slightly varied form (as obapter (parallel, 1 Kings L 1-13), in the ninth verse of this same chapter) nine Ver. 1.-The parallel shows very little more times. It is almost always translated VB.rie.tion on this narrative. In its :first (Authorized Version) by this same word verse it adds the words (Authorized Version), " spice" or "spices" ( except Exod. xxx. 23 ; "' concerning the Na.me of the Lord" ( i.e. eh. xvi. 14; Esth. ii. 12; Isa. iii. 24). There • to the glory of God"), after the words, the are other Hebrew words for " spices," such fame of Solomon. Sheba. Thie was the namo as ni:i~ (Gen. xxxvii. 25; xliii. 11), □•i;,~ of a descendant of Cush, a Hamite (Gen. x. (ExocL XXX. 7), nrn (Cant. viii. 2; Ezek. 7; 1 Chron. i 9); also of a son of Joktan, a uiv. 10); but the "spice" or ''spices" Sbemite (Gen. L 28; 1 Chron. i 22); also designated by our present word, and the of a son of Joksban, Abraham's son by exact name or nature of which cannot be Keturah (Gen. xxv. 3: 1 Cbron. i 32). It certainly pronounced upon, was in great re- is quite uncertain who of these constituted, quest for domestic, ecclesiastical, funeral (eh. or preponderated in, the country of Sheba xvi. 14), and other purposes, and was a chief here referred to. This is probably Saba, the export from Arabia, Syria, and Persia.. Gold capital of Yemen, an important province of in abundance. Of course, it is not neces- Arabia, west of the Red Sea, north of the sary to suppose that the gold that came llldian Ocean, and extending upward nearly either now from Sheba, or even from Ophir, to IdnmlBB. The city was reputed splendid, was obtained from the immediate region ; wi the country wealthy, and long as the most seen before, there may have been a special southerly inhabited part of the world. If it market or emporium for them there. Precious were, as is believed, first occupied by Cuehitee, stones. These were used for sacred pur- it was afterwards peopled also by J oktanites poses, and for dome&tic and dress ornaments, e.nd J oksbanites, as above. In addition to and were graven upon in early times by the the two celebrated allusions to it, ever memo- Hebrews. The chief of those mentioned in rable, see as other references, Job vi. 19; Ps. the Old Testament are the carbuncle, sardius, ln:ii. 10, 15; Isa. Ix. 6; J er. vi. 20; Ezek. topaz (Exod. xxxix. 10; Ezek. xxviii. 13), nvii. 22, 23; xnviii. 13; Matt. xii. 42; diamoud, emerald, sapphire (Exod. xxxix. on. ix.1-31.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONIC!'...ES. 107