2 Chronicles 9:2-7

9:2 Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king. ¹  9:3 When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom, ²  the palace ³  he had built, 9:4 the food in his banquet hall, ⁴  his servants and attendants ⁵  in their robes, his cupbearers in their robes, and his burnt sacrifices which he presented in the Lord’s temple, ⁶  she was amazed. ⁷  9:5 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight ⁸  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! ⁹  Your wisdom surpasses what was reported to me. 9:7 Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy! ¹⁰ 

¹ 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.”

² tn Heb “all the wisdom of Solomon.”

³ tn Heb “house.”

³ tn Heb “the food on his table.”

⁴ tn Heb “the seating of his servants and the standing of his attendants.”

⁵ tc The Hebrew text has here, “and his upper room [by] which he was going up to the house of the Lord.” But עֲלִיָּתוֹ (’aliyyato, “his upper room”) should be emended to עֹלָתוֹ, (’olato, “his burnt sacrifice[s]”). See the parallel account in 1 Kgs 10:5.

⁶ tn Or “it took her breath away”; Heb “there was no breath still in her.”

⁴ tn Heb “about your words [or perhaps, “deeds”] and your wisdom.”

⁵ tn Heb “the half was not told to me.”

⁶ tn Heb “How happy are your men! How happy are these servants of yours, who stand before you continually, who hear your wisdom!”