The Splendor of Solomon

2 Chronicles 1

I don't think we can fully comprehend the sheer wealth of King Solomon. Remember Jesus said, even Solomon "in all his splendor" was not arrayed like the flowers of the fields. What exactly was the "slendor" of Solomon? I believe it was greater than we know. Silver and Gold we are told was as common as stones. Is this an exaggeration? I don't think so. Remember stones weren't prefabbed out of cement or some synthetic material back in those. Ancient stone was hewn out of massive rock quarries which required a great deal of labor and expense. Also, after Solomon famously asks God for wisdom and knowledge after being told by God to ask for whatever he wanted, God informs him he will get his request plus more wealth than any king before him or AFTER him.

Verse 12 -- "... such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like."

I take this to be any king of any kingdom. We have unearthed a great deal of riches in modern history and for sure there are extensive records of unbelievable wealth for various rulers the world over. Yet, by God's proclaimation none have exceeding or will ever exceed the wealth of Solomon. Still today there is great skipticism regarding the extent of the wealth of the kingdom of Isreal under Solomon -- much of this has to be due to the fact that Isreal was reduced to oblivion by the Babylonian conquest. God's judgement of Israel was sweeping to be sure . . . especially if you really stop to ponder the scale the wealth of Solomon as presented in this chapter. I would love to be able to go back in time just to take a glimpse.