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19 There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom.[a]

20 All of King Solomon’s cups were made of gold, and all the household items in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest were made of pure gold. There were no silver items, for silver was not considered very valuable in Solomon’s time.[b] 21 The king had a fleet of large merchant ships[c] manned by Huram’s men[d] that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet[e] came into port with cargoes of[f] gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.[g]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 9:19 tn Heb “nothing like it had been made for any kingdom.”
  2. 2 Chronicles 9:20 tn Heb “there was no silver regarded as anything in the days of Solomon.”
  3. 2 Chronicles 9:21 tn Heb “for ships belonging to the king were going [to] Tarshish.” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish.
  4. 2 Chronicles 9:21 tn Heb “servants.”
  5. 2 Chronicles 9:21 tn Heb “the fleet of Tarshish [ships].”
  6. 2 Chronicles 9:21 tn Heb “the ships of Tarshish came carrying.”
  7. 2 Chronicles 9:21 tn The meaning of this word is unclear; some suggest it refers to “baboons.” NEB has “monkeys,” NASB, NRSV “peacocks,” and NIV “baboons.”