9:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, 1 she came to challenge 2 him 3 with difficult questions. 4 She arrived in Jerusalem 5 with a great display of pomp, 6 bringing with her camels carrying spices, 7 a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind. 9:2 Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king. 8 9:3 When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom, 9 the palace 10 he had built, 9:4 the food in his banquet hall, 11 his servants and attendants 12 in their robes, his cupbearers in their robes, and his burnt sacrifices which he presented in the Lord’s temple, 13 she was amazed. 14 9:5 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight 15 was true! 9:6 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! 16 Your wisdom surpasses what was reported to me.
1 tn Heb “the report about Solomon.”
2 tn Or “test.”
3 tn Heb “Solomon.” The recurrence of the proper name here is redundant in terms of contemporary English style, so the pronoun has been used in the translation instead.
4 tn Or “riddles.”
5 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
6 tn Heb “with very great strength.” The Hebrew word חַיִל (khayil, “strength”) may refer here to the size of her retinue or to the great wealth she brought with her.
7 tn Or “balsam oil.”
8 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.”
9 tn Heb “all the wisdom of Solomon.”
10 tn Heb “house.”
11 tn Heb “the food on his table.”
12 tn Heb “the seating of his servants and the standing of his attendants.”
13 tc The Hebrew text has here, “and his upper room [by] which he was going up to the house of the
14 tn Or “it took her breath away”; Heb “there was no breath still in her.”
15 tn Heb “about your words [or perhaps, “deeds”] and your wisdom.”
16 tn Heb “the half was not told to me.”