1 Kings 4:34

4:34 People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom; ¹  they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.

1 Kings 8:30

8:30 Respond to the request of your servant and your people Israel for this place. ²  Hear from inside your heavenly dwelling place ³  and respond favorably. ⁴ 

1 Kings 8:42

8:42 When they hear about your great reputation ⁵  and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds, ⁶  they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple.

---

¹ tn Heb “the wisdom of Solomon.”

² tn Heb “listen to the request of your servant and your people Israel which they are praying concerning this place.”

³ tn Heb “and you, hear inside your dwelling place, inside heaven.” The precise nuance of the preposition אֶל (’el), used here with the verb “hear,” is unclear. One expects the preposition “from,” which appears in the parallel text in 2 Chr 6:21. The nuance “inside; among” is attested for אֶל (see Gen 23:19; 1 Sam 10:22; Jer 4:3), but in each case a verb of motion is employed with the preposition, unlike 1 Kgs 8:30. The translation above (“from inside”) is based on the demands of the immediate context rather than attested usage elsewhere.

⁴ tn Heb “hear and forgive.”

⁵ tn Heb “your great name.” See the note on the word “reputation” in the previous verse.

⁶ tn Heb “and your strong hand and your outstretched arm.”