1 Kings 10:1-7
New English Translation
Solomon Entertains a Queen
10 When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon,[a] she came to challenge[b] him with difficult questions.[c] 2 She arrived in Jerusalem with a great display of pomp,[d] bringing with her camels carrying spices,[e] a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king.[f] 4 When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom,[g] the palace[h] he had built, 5 the food in his banquet hall,[i] his servants and attendants,[j] their robes, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings which he presented in the Lord’s temple, she was amazed.[k] 6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight[l] was true! 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![m] Your wisdom and wealth[n] surpass what was reported to me.
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- 1 Kings 10:1 tn Heb “the report about Solomon.”tc The Hebrew text also has, “to the name of the Lord,” which is very awkward due to its unusual syntax. The phrase is omitted in the parallel passage in 2 Chr 9:1. The word “report” is followed by the preposition ל (lamed) in Isa 23:5 and Hos 7:12 and indicates whom the message came to. And otherwise the collocation of לְשֵׁם (leshem, “to the name”) does not follow either a proper noun or the word report elsewhere in scripture. If retained, perhaps it should be translated, “for the reputation of the Lord.”
- 1 Kings 10:1 tn Or “test.”
- 1 Kings 10:1 tn Or “riddles.”
- 1 Kings 10:2 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.
- 1 Kings 10:2 tn Or “balsam oil.”
- 1 Kings 10:3 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.”
- 1 Kings 10:4 tn Heb “all the wisdom of Solomon.”
- 1 Kings 10:4 tn Heb “house.”
- 1 Kings 10:5 tn Heb “the food on his table.”
- 1 Kings 10:5 tn Heb “the seating of his servants and the standing of his attendants.”
- 1 Kings 10:5 tn Heb “there was no breath still in her.”
- 1 Kings 10:6 tn Heb “about your words [or perhaps, “deeds”] and your wisdom.”
- 1 Kings 10:7 tn Heb “the half was not told to me.”
- 1 Kings 10:7 tn Heb “good.”
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