4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding 8 was as infinite as the sand on the seashore.
11:3 He had 700 royal wives 14 and 300 concubines; 15 his wives had a powerful influence over him. 16
1 tn Heb “said in his heart.”
2 tn Heb “Now the kingdom could return to the house of David.” The imperfect verbal form translated “could return” is understood as having a potential force here. Perhaps this is not strong enough; another option is “will return.”
3 tn This statement is introduced in the Hebrew text by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows.
4 tn Heb “I am doing according to your words.” The perfect tense is sometimes used of actions occurring at the same time a statement is made.
5 tn This statement is introduced by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows. The translation assumes that the perfect tense here indicates that the action occurs as the statement is made (i.e., “right now I give you”).
6 tn Heb “heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
7 tn Heb “so that there has not been one like you prior to you, and after you one will not arise like you.”
5 tn Heb “heart,” i.e., mind. (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
7 tn Heb “they”; the referent (your people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Or “stop and reflect”; Heb “bring back to their heart.”
9 tn Or “done wrong.”
9 tc The Old Greek translation and Syriac Peshitta have “all the kings of the earth.” See 2 Chr 9:23.
10 tn Heb “and all the earth was seeking the face of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had placed in his heart.”
11 tn Heb “wives, princesses.”
12 sn Concubines were slave women in ancient Near Eastern societies who were the legal property of their master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with their master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. The usage in the present passage suggests that after the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative (cf. also 2 Sam 21:10-14).
13 tn Heb “his wives bent his heart.”
13 tn Heb “the God.”
14 tn Heb “that you are turning their heart[s] back.”
15 tn Heb “a hearing heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
16 tn Heb “to judge.”
17 tn Heb “to understand between good and evil.”
18 tn Heb “for”; the word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.
19 tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”
20 tn Heb “to judge.”
21 tn Heb “your numerous people.”
17 tn Heb “said.”
18 tn Heb “one who keeps the covenant and the loyal love.” The expression is a hendiadys.
19 tn Heb “who walk before you with all their heart.”
19 tn Heb “on the eighth day” (that is, the day after the second seven-day sequence).
20 tn Heb “they blessed the king.”
21 tn Heb “good of heart.”
21 tn Heb “I have heard.”
22 tn Heb “by placing my name there perpetually” (or perhaps, “forever”).
23 tn Heb “and my eyes and my heart will be there all the days.”
23 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
24 tn Heb “the heart of these people could return to their master.”
25 tn Heb “You, now, you are exercising kingship over Israel.”
26 tn Heb “so your heart [i.e., disposition] might be well.”