2 Chronicles 1:17 - Exposition

Six hundred shekels of silver . Some add up in this amount the vehicle itself, harness, horse or horses necessary to it, and the expense of carriage of the whole. Whether or no horses are included may be doubtful. The amount added up reaches, according to various estimates, £90 or £70. If we take the silver shekel at 3s. 4d. according to one of the later authorities, the amount will be £100; and so for a horse £25. For all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Syria; see 2 Chronicles 8:7 , 2 Chronicles 8:8 ; 2 Chronicles 9:14 , 2 Chronicles 9:23 , 2 Chronicles 9:24 , 2 Chronicles 9:26 ; 1 Kings 4:21 , 1 Kings 4:24 ; 2 Kings 7:6 ; which last place in particular suggests that Solomon would be the more willing to assist neighbouring peoples in the purchase of horses, etc; who might be already tributary to him, or even vassals, or who might in future be in the better position to help him, when either required or hired to do so.