2 Chronicles 9:1-7

Context

Solomon Entertains a Queen

9:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon,¹ she came to challenge² him³ with difficult questions.⁴ She arrived in Jerusalem⁵ 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 palace¹⁰ he had built, 9:4 the food in his banquet hall,¹¹ his servants and attendants¹² 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 insight¹⁵ 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. 9:7 Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy!¹⁷

[9:1] ¹tn Heb “the report about Solomon.”

[9:1] ²tn Or “test.”

[9:1] ³tn 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.

[9:1] ⁴tn Or “riddles.”

[9:1] ⁵map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[9:1] ⁶tn 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.

[9:1] ⁷tn Or “balsam oil.”

[9:2] ⁸tn 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.”

[9:3] ⁹tn Heb “all the wisdom of Solomon.”

[9:3] ¹⁰tn Heb “house.”

[9:4] ¹¹tn Heb “the food on his table.”

[9:4] ¹²tn Heb “the seating of his servants and the standing of his attendants.”

[9:4] ¹³tc 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.

[9:4] ¹⁴tn Or “it took her breath away”; Heb “there was no breath still in her.”

[9:5] ¹⁵tn Heb “about your words [or perhaps, “deeds”] and your wisdom.”

[9:6] ¹⁶tn Heb “the half was not told to me.”

[9:7] ¹⁷tn Heb “How happy are your men! How happy are these servants of yours, who stand before you continually, who hear your wisdom!”