21:1 After this the following episode took place. 1 Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. 2 21:2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard so I can make a vegetable garden out of it, for it is adjacent to my palace. I will give you an even better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, 3 I will pay you silver for it.” 4
10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, 5 she came to challenge 6 him with difficult questions. 7 10:2 She arrived in Jerusalem 8 with a great display of pomp, 9 bringing with her camels carrying spices, 10 a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind. 10:3 Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king. 11 10:4 When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom, 12 the palace 13 he had built, 10:5 the food in his banquet hall, 14 his servants and attendants, 15 their robes, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings which he presented in the Lord’s temple, she was amazed. 16 10:6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight 17 was true! 10:7 I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn’t hear even half the story! 18 Your wisdom and wealth 19 surpass what was reported to me.
1 tn Heb “after these things.” The words “the following episode took place” are added for stylistic reasons.
2 sn King Ahab of Samaria. Samaria, as the capital of the northern kingdom, here stands for the nation of Israel.
3 tn Heb “if it is good in your eyes.”
4 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words: “And it will be mine as a garden of herbs.”
5 tn Heb “the report about Solomon.” The Hebrew text also has, “to the name of the
6 tn Or “test.”
7 tn Or “riddles.”
8 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
9 tn Heb “with very great strength.” The Hebrew term חַיִל (khayil, “strength”) may refer here to the size of her retinue (cf. NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV) or to the great wealth she brought with her.
10 tn Or “balsam oil.”
11 tn Heb “Solomon declared to her all her words; there was not a word hidden from the king which he did not declare to her.” If riddles are specifically in view (see v. 1), then one might translate, “Solomon explained to her all her riddles; there was no riddle too complex for the king.”
12 tn Heb “all the wisdom of Solomon.”
13 tn Heb “house.”
14 tn Heb “the food on his table.”
15 tn Heb “the seating of his servants and the standing of his attendants.”
16 tn Heb “there was no breath still in her.”
17 tn Heb “about your words [or perhaps, “deeds”] and your wisdom.”
18 tn Heb “the half was not told to me.”
19 tn Heb “good.”