Except in Ecclesiastes 2:8 , where 'the peculiar treasure of kings' is gathered by Solomon, these expressions both in the O.T. and in the N.T. refer to what God's people are to Him. Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 26:18; Psalm 135:4; Titus 2:14 . The terms imply a possession upon which a specially choice value is set. 1 Peter 2:9 is a little different "Ye are 'a people for a possession': cf. Malachi 3:17 .