10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, 1 she came to challenge 2 him with difficult questions. 3 10:2 She arrived in Jerusalem 4 with a great display of pomp, 5 bringing with her camels carrying spices, 6 a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind. 10:3 Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king. 7
10:23 King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth. 8 10:24 Everyone 9 in the world wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom. 10
1 tn Heb “the report about Solomon.” The Hebrew text also has, “to the name of the
2 tn Or “test.”
3 tn Or “riddles.”
4 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
5 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.
6 tn Or “balsam oil.”
7 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.”
8 tn Heb “King Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth with respect to wealth and with respect to wisdom.”
9 tc The Old Greek translation and Syriac Peshitta have “all the kings of the earth.” See 2 Chr 9:23.
10 tn Heb “and all the earth was seeking the face of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had placed in his heart.”