8:1 1 Then Solomon convened in Jerusalem 2 Israel’s elders, all the leaders of the Israelite tribes and families, so they could witness the transferal of the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the city of David (that is, Zion). 3 8:2 All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon during the festival 4 in the month Ethanim 5 (the seventh month).
5:7 When Hiram heard Solomon’s message, he was very happy. He said, “The Lord is worthy of praise today because he 6 has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.”
5:1 (5:15) 7 King Hiram of Tyre 8 sent messengers 9 to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father’s place. (Hiram had always been an ally of David.)
1:1 King David was very old; 13 even when they covered him with blankets, 14 he could not get warm.
11:14 When there is no guidance 15 a nation falls,
but there is success 16 in the abundance of counselors.
1 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words at the beginning of ch. 8: “It so happened that when Solomon finished building the Lord’s temple and his own house, after twenty years.”
2 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
3 tn Heb “Then Solomon convened the elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, the chiefs of the fathers belonging to the sons of Israel to King Solomon [in] Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the
4 sn The festival. This was the Feast of Tabernacles, see Lev 23:34.
5 sn The month Ethanim. This would be September-October in modern reckoning.
6 tn Or “Blessed be the
7 sn The verse numbers in the English Bible differ from those in the Hebrew text (BHS) here; 5:1-18 in the English Bible corresponds to 5:15-32 in the Hebrew text. See the note at 4:21.
8 map For location see Map1-A2; Map2-G2; Map4-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3.
9 tn Heb “his servants.”
10 tn Heb “Look.” The Hebrew particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a rhetorical device by which the author invites the reader to visualize the scene for dramatic effect.
11 tn Heb “the man of God.”
12 tn Heb “came by the word of the
13 tn Heb “was old, coming into the days” (i.e., advancing in years).
14 tn Or “garments.”
15 tn The word תַּחְבֻּלוֹת (takhvulot, “guidance; direction”) is derived from the root I חָבַל (khaval, “rope-pulling” and “steering” or “directing” a ship; BDB 286 s.v.). Thus spiritual guidance is like steering a ship, here the ship of state (R. N. Whybray, Proverbs [CBC], 68; Prov 1:5). Advice is necessary for the success of a nation.
16 tn Heb “victory.” This term תְּשׁוּעָה (teshu’ah) means “salvation” or “victory” (BDB 448 s.v.); cf. NAB, TEV “security”; NRSV, NLT “safety.” Here, it connotes “success” as the antithesis of the nation falling. The setting could be one of battle or economics. Victory or success will be more likely with good advice. This assumes that the counselors are wise.