13. six hundred and threescore and six] This may be called a “round” number, for a system of counting based on the number six was known in ancient times, e.g. among the Assyrians. Taken literally, the amount, which would be equal to about £4,000,000 and of course of vastly greater purchasing power than the same sum to-day, is fantastically large. For similar high figures, compare 1 Chronicles xxii. 14 (note).
¹⁴beside that which the chapmen and merchants brought: and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
14. chapmen] The English word means “merchant”; compare the verb, “to chaffer” and the German “Kaufmann.” The Hebrew word means literally “those who go about” as merchants.
governors] Hebrew paḥoth (plural of peḥah; compare “Pasha”), a word applied specially to governors of provinces of the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian empires. Presumably governors outside the land of Israel are here meant.
¹⁵And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
15. targets] Hebrew ṣinnah, a word meaning a large shield; compare 1 Samuel xvii. 7. On the other hand in verse 16 (Hebrew māgēn) small shields are meant. The English renderings should be transposed so as to read “shields” in verse 15 and “targets” in verse 16.
six hundred shekels] About 21 lbs. avoirdupois.
went to one target] Render (also in verse 16) were spread upon one target.
¹⁶And he made three hundred shields 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. ¹⁷Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
16. shields] See note on verse 15.