1 Raja-raja 1:1--22:52
Konteks1:1 King David was very old; 1 even when they covered him with blankets, 2 he could not get warm. 1:2 His servants advised 3 him, “A young virgin must be found for our master, the king, 4 to take care of the king’s needs 5 and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you 6 and keep our master, the king, warm.” 7 1:3 So they looked through all Israel 8 for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 1:4 The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her. 9
1:5 Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, 10 was promoting himself, 11 boasting, 12 “I will be king!” He managed to acquire 13 chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. 14 1:6 (Now his father had never corrected 15 him 16 by saying, “Why do you do such things?” He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom. 17 ) 1:7 He collaborated 18 with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported 19 him. 20 1:8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s elite warriors 21 did not ally themselves 22 with Adonijah. 1:9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened steers at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, 23 as well as all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. 1:10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors, 24 or his brother Solomon.
1:11 Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Has it been reported to you 25 that Haggith’s son Adonijah has become king behind our master David’s back? 26 1:12 Now 27 let me give you some advice as to how 28 you can save your life and your son Solomon’s life. 1:13 Visit 29 King David and say to him, ‘My master, O king, did you not solemnly promise 30 your servant, “Surely your son Solomon will be king after me; he will sit on my throne”? So why has Adonijah become king?’ 1:14 While 31 you are still there speaking to the king, I will arrive 32 and verify your report.” 33
1:15 So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters. 34 (The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.) 1:16 Bathsheba bowed down on the floor before 35 the king. The king said, “What do you want?” 1:17 She replied to him, “My master, you swore an oath to your servant by the Lord your God, ‘Solomon your son will be king after me and he will sit on my throne.’ 1:18 But now, look, Adonijah has become king! But you, 36 my master the king, are not even aware of it! 37 1:19 He has sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon. 1:20 Now, 38 my master, O king, all Israel is watching anxiously to see who is named to succeed my master the king on the throne. 39 1:21 If a decision is not made, 40 when my master the king is buried with his ancestors, 41 my son Solomon and I 42 will be considered state criminals.” 43
1:22 Just then, 44 while she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 1:23 The king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” Nathan entered and bowed before the king with his face to the floor. 45 1:24 Nathan said, “My master, O king, did you announce, ‘Adonijah will be king after me; he will sit on my throne’? 1:25 For today he has gone down and sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king’s sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. At this moment 46 they are having a feast 47 in his presence, and they have declared, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 48 1:26 But he did not invite me – your servant – or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon. 1:27 Has my master the king authorized this without informing your servants 49 who should succeed my master the king on his throne?” 50
1:28 King David responded, 51 “Summon Bathsheba!” 52 She came and stood before the king. 53 1:29 The king swore an oath: “As certainly as the Lord lives (he who has rescued me 54 from every danger), 1:30 I will keep 55 today the oath I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel: ‘Surely Solomon your son will be king after me; he will sit in my place on my throne.’” 1:31 Bathsheba bowed down to the king with her face to the floor 56 and said, “May my master, King David, live forever!”
1:32 King David said, “Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, 57 and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king, 1:33 and he 58 told them, “Take your master’s 59 servants with you, put my son Solomon on my mule, and lead him down to Gihon. 60 1:34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint 61 him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 1:35 Then follow him up as he comes and sits on my throne. He will be king in my place; I have decreed 62 that he will be ruler over Israel and Judah.” 1:36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada responded 63 to the king: “So be it! 64 May the Lord God of my master the king confirm it! 65 1:37 As the Lord is with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and may he make him an even greater king than my master King David!” 66
1:38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites 67 went down, put Solomon on King David’s mule, and led him to Gihon. 1:39 Zadok the priest took a horn filled with olive oil 68 from the tent and poured it on 69 Solomon; the trumpet was blown and all the people declared, “Long live King Solomon!” 1:40 All the people followed him up, playing flutes and celebrating so loudly they made the ground shake. 70
1:41 Now Adonijah and all his guests heard the commotion just as they had finished eating. 71 When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he asked, “Why is there such a noisy commotion in the city?” 72 1:42 As he was still speaking, Jonathan 73 son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, for 74 an important man like you must be bringing good news.” 75 1:43 Jonathan replied 76 to Adonijah: “No! 77 Our master 78 King David has made Solomon king. 1:44 The king sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites and they put him on the king’s mule. 1:45 Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed 79 him king in Gihon. They went up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the sound you hear. 1:46 Furthermore, Solomon has assumed the royal throne. 80 1:47 The king’s servants have even come to congratulate 81 our master 82 King David, saying, ‘May your God 83 make Solomon more famous than you and make him an even greater king than you!’ 84 Then the king leaned 85 on the bed 1:48 and said 86 this: ‘The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because 87 today he has placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.’” 88
1:49 All of Adonijah’s guests panicked; 89 they jumped up and rushed off their separate ways. 1:50 Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. 90 1:51 Solomon was told, “Look, Adonijah fears you; 91 see, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘May King Solomon solemnly promise 92 me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’” 1:52 Solomon said, “If he is a loyal subject, 93 not a hair of his head will be harmed, but if he is found to be a traitor, 94 he will die.” 1:53 King Solomon sent men to bring him down 95 from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon told him, “Go home.” 96
2:1 When David was close to death, 97 he told 98 Solomon his son: 2:2 “I am about to die. 99 Be strong and become a man! 2:3 Do the job the Lord your God has assigned you 100 by following his instructions 101 and obeying 102 his rules, commandments, regulations, and laws as written in the law of Moses. Then you will succeed in all you do and seek to accomplish, 103 2:4 and the Lord will fulfill his promise to me, 104 ‘If your descendants watch their step 105 and live faithfully in my presence 106 with all their heart and being, 107 then,’ he promised, 108 ‘you will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ 109
2:5 “You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me – how he murdered two commanders of the Israelite armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. 110 During peacetime he struck them down like he would in battle; 111 when he shed their blood as if in battle, he stained his own belt and the sandals on his feet. 112 2:6 Do to him what you think is appropriate, 113 but don’t let him live long and die a peaceful death. 114
2:7 “Treat fairly 115 the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and provide for their needs, 116 because they helped me 117 when I had to flee from your brother Absalom.
2:8 “Note well, you still have to contend with Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, 118 who tried to call down upon me a horrible judgment when I went to Mahanaim. 119 He came down and met me at the Jordan, and I solemnly promised 120 him by the Lord, ‘I will not strike you down 121 with the sword.’ 2:9 But now 122 don’t treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; 123 make sure he has a bloody death.” 124
2:10 Then David passed away 125 and was buried in the city of David. 126 2:11 David reigned over Israel forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years, and in Jerusalem 127 thirty-three years.
2:12 Solomon sat on his father David’s throne, and his royal authority 128 was firmly solidified.
2:13 Haggith’s son Adonijah visited Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. She asked, “Do you come in peace?” He answered, “Yes.” 129 2:14 He added, 130 “I have something to say to you.” She replied, “Speak.” 2:15 He said, “You know that the kingdom 131 was mine and all Israel considered me king. 132 But then the kingdom was given to my brother, for the Lord decided it should be his. 133 2:16 Now I’d like to ask you for just one thing. Please don’t refuse me.” 134 She said, “Go ahead and ask.” 135 2:17 He said, “Please ask King Solomon if he would give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife, for he won’t refuse you.” 136 2:18 Bathsheba replied, “That’s fine, 137 I’ll speak to the king on your behalf.”
2:19 So Bathsheba visited King Solomon to speak to him on Adonijah’s behalf. The king got up to greet 138 her, bowed to her, and then sat on his throne. He ordered a throne to be brought for the king’s mother, 139 and she sat at his right hand. 2:20 She said, “I would like to ask you for just one small favor. 140 Please don’t refuse me.” 141 He said, 142 “Go ahead and ask, my mother, for I would not refuse you.” 2:21 She said, “Allow Abishag the Shunammite to be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.” 2:22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why just request Abishag the Shunammite for him? 143 Since he is my older brother, you should also request the kingdom for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”
2:23 King Solomon then swore an oath by the Lord, “May God judge me severely, 144 if Adonijah does not pay for this request with his life! 145 2:24 Now, as certainly as the Lord lives (he who made me secure, allowed me to sit on my father David’s throne, and established a dynasty 146 for me as he promised), Adonijah will be executed today!” 2:25 King Solomon then sent 147 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he killed Adonijah. 148
2:26 The king then told Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your property 149 in Anathoth. You deserve to die, 150 but today I will not kill you because you did carry the ark of the sovereign Lord before my father David and you suffered with my father through all his difficult times.” 151 2:27 Solomon dismissed Abiathar from his position as priest of the Lord, 152 fulfilling the decree of judgment the Lord made in Shiloh against the family of Eli. 153
2:28 When the news reached Joab (for Joab had supported 154 Adonijah, although he had not supported Absalom), he 155 ran to the tent of the Lord and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. 156 2:29 When King Solomon heard 157 that Joab had run to the tent of the Lord and was right there beside the altar, he ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, 158 “Go, strike him down.” 2:30 When Benaiah arrived at the tent of the Lord, he said to him, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But he replied, “No, I will die here!” So Benaiah sent word to the king and reported Joab’s reply. 159 2:31 The king told him, “Do as he said! Strike him down and bury him. Take away from me and from my father’s family 160 the guilt of Joab’s murderous, bloody deeds. 161 2:32 May the Lord punish him for the blood he shed; 162 behind my father David’s back he struck down and murdered with the sword two men who were more innocent and morally upright than he 163 – Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. 2:33 May Joab and his descendants be perpetually guilty of their shed blood, but may the Lord give perpetual peace to David, his descendants, his family, 164 and his dynasty.” 165 2:34 So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and executed Joab; 166 he was buried at his home in the wilderness. 2:35 The king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada to take his place at the head of 167 the army, and the king appointed Zadok the priest to take Abiathar’s place. 168
2:36 Next the king summoned 169 Shimei and told him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem 170 and live there – but you may not leave there to go anywhere! 171 2:37 If you ever do leave and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will certainly die! You will be responsible for your own death.” 172 2:38 Shimei said to the king, “My master the king’s proposal is acceptable. 173 Your servant will do as you say.” 174 So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time. 175
2:39 Three years later two of Shimei’s servants ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath. Shimei was told, “Look, your servants are in Gath.” 2:40 So Shimei got up, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to find his servants; Shimei went and brought back his servants from Gath. 2:41 When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had then returned, 2:42 the king summoned 176 Shimei and said to him, “You will recall 177 that I made you take an oath by the Lord, and I solemnly warned you, ‘If you ever leave and go anywhere, 178 know for sure that you will certainly die.’ You said to me, ‘The proposal is acceptable; I agree to it.’ 179 2:43 Why then have you broken the oath you made before the Lord and disobeyed the order I gave you?” 180 2:44 Then the king said to Shimei, “You are well aware of the way you mistreated my father David. 181 The Lord will punish you for what you did. 182 2:45 But King Solomon will be empowered 183 and David’s dynasty 184 will endure permanently before the Lord.” 2:46 The king then gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada who went and executed Shimei. 185
So Solomon took firm control of the kingdom. 186
3:1 Solomon made an alliance by marriage with Pharaoh, king of Egypt; he married Pharaoh’s daughter. He brought her to the City of David 187 until he could finish building his residence and the temple of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. 188 3:2 Now the people were offering sacrifices at the high places, 189 because in those days a temple had not yet been built to honor the Lord. 190 3:3 Solomon demonstrated his loyalty to the Lord by following 191 the practices 192 of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
3:4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for it had the most prominent of the high places. 193 Solomon would offer up 194 a thousand burnt sacrifices on the altar there. 3:5 One night in Gibeon the Lord appeared 195 to Solomon in a dream. God said, “Tell 196 me what I should give you.” 3:6 Solomon replied, “You demonstrated 197 great loyalty to your servant, my father David, as he served 198 you faithfully, properly, and sincerely. 199 You have maintained this great loyalty to this day by allowing his son to sit on his throne. 200 3:7 Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in my father David’s place, even though I am only a young man and am inexperienced. 201 3:8 Your servant stands 202 among your chosen people; 203 they are a great nation that is too numerous to count or number. 3:9 So give your servant a discerning mind 204 so he can make judicial decisions for 205 your people and distinguish right from wrong. 206 Otherwise 207 no one is able 208 to make judicial decisions for 209 this great nation of yours.” 210 3:10 The Lord 211 was pleased that Solomon made this request. 212 3:11 God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies, 213 3:12 I 214 grant your request, 215 and give 216 you a wise and discerning mind 217 superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you. 218 3:13 Furthermore, I am giving 219 you what you did not request – riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation. 220 3:14 If you follow my instructions 221 by obeying 222 my rules and regulations, just as your father David did, 223 then I will grant you long life.” 224 3:15 Solomon then woke up and realized it was a dream. 225 He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant, offered up burnt sacrifices, presented peace offerings, 226 and held a feast for all his servants.
3:16 Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 3:17 One of the women said, “My master, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was with me in the house. 3:18 Then three days after I had my baby, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one else in the house except the two of us. 227 3:19 This woman’s child suffocated 228 during the night when she rolled 229 on top of him. 3:20 She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your servant was sleeping. She put him in her arms, and put her dead son in my arms. 3:21 I got up in the morning to nurse my son, and there he was, 230 dead! But when I examined him carefully in the morning, I realized it was not my baby.” 231 3:22 The other woman said, “No! My son is alive; your son is dead!” But the first woman replied, “No, your son is dead; my son is alive.” Each presented her case before the king. 232
3:23 The king said, “One says, ‘My son is alive; your son is dead,’ while the other says, ‘No, your son is dead; my son is alive.’” 3:24 The king ordered, “Get me a sword!” So they placed a sword before the king. 3:25 The king then said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other!” 3:26 The real mother 233 spoke up to the king, for her motherly instincts were aroused. 234 She said, “My master, give her the living child! Whatever you do, don’t kill him!” 235 But the other woman said, “Neither one of us will have him! Let them cut him in two!” 3:27 The king responded, “Give the first woman the living child; don’t kill him. She is the mother.” 3:28 When all Israel heard about the judicial decision which the king had rendered, they respected 236 the king, for they realized 237 that he possessed supernatural wisdom 238 to make judicial decisions.
4:1 King Solomon ruled over all Israel. 4:2 These were his officials:
Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.
4:3 Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, wrote down what happened. 239
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records.
4:4 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of 240 the army.
Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
4:5 Azariah son of Nathan was supervisor of 241 the district governors.
Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to 242 the king.
4:6 Ahishar was supervisor of the palace. 243
Adoniram son of Abda was supervisor of 244 the work crews. 245
4:7 Solomon had twelve district governors appointed throughout Israel who acquired supplies for the king and his palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year. 4:8 These were their names:
Ben-Hur was in charge of the hill country of Ephraim.
4:9 Ben-Deker was in charge of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan.
4:10 Ben-Hesed was in charge of Arubboth; he controlled Socoh and all the territory of Hepher.
4:11 Ben-Abinadab was in charge of Naphath Dor. (He was married to Solomon’s daughter Taphath.)
4:12 Baana son of Ahilud was in charge of Taanach and Megiddo, 246 as well as all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah and on past Jokmeam.
4:13 Ben-Geber was in charge of Ramoth Gilead; he controlled the tent villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan, including sixty large walled cities with bronze bars locking their gates.
4:14 Ahinadab son of Iddo was in charge of Mahanaim.
4:15 Ahimaaz was in charge of Naphtali. (He married Solomon’s daughter Basemath.)
4:16 Baana son of Hushai was in charge of Asher and Aloth.
4:17 Jehoshaphat son of Paruah was in charge of Issachar.
4:18 Shimei son of Ela was in charge of Benjamin.
4:19 Geber son of Uri was in charge of the land of Gilead (the territory which had once belonged to King Sihon of the Amorites and to King Og of Bashan). He was sole governor of the area.
4:20 The people of Judah and Israel were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore; they had plenty to eat and drink and were happy. 4:21 (5:1) 247 Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River 248 to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms paid tribute as Solomon’s subjects throughout his lifetime. 249 4:22 Each day Solomon’s royal court consumed 250 thirty cors 251 of finely milled flour, sixty cors of cereal, 4:23 ten calves fattened in the stall, 252 twenty calves from the pasture, and a hundred sheep, not to mention rams, gazelles, deer, and well-fed birds. 4:24 His royal court was so large because 253 he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah 254 to Gaza; he was at peace with all his neighbors. 255 4:25 All the people of Judah and Israel had security; everyone from Dan to Beer Sheba enjoyed the produce of their vines and fig trees throughout Solomon’s lifetime. 256 4:26 Solomon had 4,000 257 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. 4:27 The district governors acquired supplies for King Solomon and all who ate in his royal palace. 258 Each was responsible for one month in the year; they made sure nothing was lacking. 4:28 Each one also brought to the assigned location his quota of barley and straw for the various horses. 259
4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding 260 was as infinite as the sand on the seashore. 4:30 Solomon was wiser than all the men of the east and all the sages of Egypt. 261 4:31 He was wiser than any man, including Ethan the Ezrahite or Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He was famous in all the neighboring nations. 262 4:32 He composed 263 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. 4:33 He produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant, 264 from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls. He also produced manuals on biology, describing 265 animals, birds, insects, and fish. 4:34 People from all nations came to hear Solomon’s display of wisdom; 266 they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.
5:1 (5:15) 267 King Hiram of Tyre 268 sent messengers 269 to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father’s place. (Hiram had always been an ally of David.) 5:2 Solomon then sent this message to Hiram: 5:3 “You know that my father David was unable to build a temple to honor the Lord 270 his God, for he was busy fighting battles on all fronts while the Lord subdued his enemies. 271 5:4 But now the Lord my God has made me secure on all fronts; there is no adversary or dangerous threat. 5:5 So I have decided 272 to build a temple to honor the Lord 273 my God, as the Lord instructed my father David, ‘Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, is the one who will build a temple to honor me.’ 274 5:6 So now order some cedars of Lebanon to be cut for me. My servants will work with your servants. I will pay your servants whatever you say is appropriate, for you know that we have no one among us who knows how to cut down trees like the Sidonians.”
5:7 When Hiram heard Solomon’s message, he was very happy. He said, “The Lord is worthy of praise today because he 275 has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.” 5:8 Hiram then sent this message to Solomon: “I received 276 the message you sent to me. I will give you all the cedars and evergreens you need. 277 5:9 My servants will bring the timber down from Lebanon to the sea. I will send it by sea in raft-like bundles to the place you designate. 278 There I will separate the logs 279 and you can carry them away. In exchange you will supply the food I need for my royal court.” 280
5:10 So Hiram supplied the cedars and evergreens Solomon needed, 281 5:11 and Solomon supplied Hiram annually with 20,000 cors 282 of wheat as provision for his royal court, 283 as well as 20,000 baths 284 of pure 285 olive oil. 286 5:12 So the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. And Hiram and Solomon were at peace and made a treaty. 287
5:13 King Solomon conscripted 288 work crews 289 from throughout Israel, 30,000 men in all. 5:14 He sent them to Lebanon in shifts of 10,000 men per month. They worked in Lebanon for one month, and then spent two months at home. Adoniram was supervisor of 290 the work crews. 5:15 Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers 291 and 80,000 stonecutters 292 in the hills, 5:16 besides 3,300 293 officials who supervised the workers. 294 5:17 By royal order 295 they supplied large valuable stones in order to build the temple’s foundation with chiseled stone. 5:18 Solomon’s and Hiram’s construction workers, 296 along with men from Byblos, 297 did the chiseling and prepared the wood and stones for the building of the temple. 298
6:1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites left Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, during the month Ziv 299 (the second month), he began building the Lord’s temple. 6:2 The temple King Solomon built for the Lord was 90 feet 300 long, 30 feet 301 wide, and 45 feet 302 high. 6:3 The porch in front of the main hall of the temple was 30 feet 303 long, corresponding to the width of the temple. It was 15 feet 304 wide, extending out from the front of the temple. 6:4 He made framed windows for the temple. 6:5 He built an extension all around the walls of the temple’s main hall and holy place and constructed side rooms in it. 305 6:6 The bottom floor of the extension was seven and a half feet 306 wide, the middle floor nine feet 307 wide, and the third floor ten and a half 308 feet wide. He made ledges 309 on the temple’s outer walls so the beams would not have to be inserted into the walls. 310 6:7 As the temple was being built, only stones shaped at the quarry 311 were used; the sound of hammers, pickaxes, or any other iron tool was not heard at the temple while it was being built. 6:8 The entrance to the bottom 312 level of side rooms was on the south side of the temple; stairs went up 313 to the middle floor and then on up to the third 314 floor. 6:9 He finished building the temple 315 and covered it 316 with rafters 317 and boards made of cedar. 318 6:10 He built an extension all around the temple; it was seven and a half feet high 319 and it was attached to the temple by cedar beams.
6:11 320 The Lord said 321 to Solomon: 6:12 “As for this temple you are building, if you follow 322 my rules, observe 323 my regulations, and obey all my commandments, 324 I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David. 325 6:13 I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”
6:14 So Solomon finished building the temple. 326 6:15 He constructed the walls inside the temple with cedar planks; he paneled the inside with wood from the floor of the temple to the rafters 327 of the ceiling. He covered the temple floor with boards made from the wood of evergreens. 6:16 He built a wall 30 feet in from the rear of the temple as a partition for an inner sanctuary that would be the most holy place. 328 He paneled the wall with cedar planks from the floor to the rafters. 329 6:17 The main hall in front of the inner sanctuary was 60 feet long. 330 6:18 The inside of the temple was all cedar and was adorned with carvings of round ornaments and of flowers in bloom. Everything was cedar; no stones were visible. 331
6:19 He prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord could be placed there. 6:20 The inner sanctuary was 30 feet 332 long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He plated it with gold, 333 as well as the cedar altar. 334 6:21 Solomon plated the inside of the temple with gold. 335 He hung golden chains in front of the inner sanctuary and plated the inner sanctuary 336 with gold. 6:22 He plated the entire inside of the temple with gold, as well as the altar inside the inner sanctuary. 337
6:23 In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubs of olive wood; each stood 15 feet 338 high. 6:24 Each of the first cherub’s wings was seven and a half feet long; its entire wingspan was 15 feet. 339 6:25 The second cherub also had a wingspan of 15 feet; it was identical to the first in measurements and shape. 340 6:26 Each cherub stood 15 feet high. 341 6:27 He put the cherubs in the inner sanctuary of the temple. 342 Their wings were spread out. One of the first cherub’s wings touched one wall and one of the other cherub’s wings touched the opposite wall. The first cherub’s other wing touched the second cherub’s other wing in the middle of the room. 343 6:28 He plated the cherubs with gold.
6:29 On all the walls around the temple, inside and out, 344 he carved 345 cherubs, palm trees, and flowers in bloom. 6:30 He plated the floor of the temple with gold, inside and out. 346 6:31 He made doors of olive wood at the entrance to the inner sanctuary; the pillar on each doorpost was five-sided. 347 6:32 On the two doors made of olive wood he carved 348 cherubs, palm trees, and flowers in bloom, and he plated them with gold. 349 He plated the cherubs and the palm trees with hammered gold. 350 6:33 In the same way he made doorposts of olive wood for the entrance to the main hall, only with four-sided pillars. 351 6:34 He also made 352 two doors out of wood from evergreens; each door had two folding leaves. 353 6:35 He carved cherubs, palm trees, and flowers in bloom and plated them with gold, leveled out over the carvings. 6:36 He built the inner courtyard with three rows of chiseled stones and a row of cedar beams.
6:37 In the month Ziv 354 of the fourth year of Solomon’s reign 355 the foundation was laid for the Lord’s temple. 6:38 In the eleventh year, in the month Bul 356 (the eighth month) the temple was completed in accordance with all its specifications and blueprints. It took seven years to build. 357
7:1 Solomon took thirteen years to build his palace. 358 7:2 He named 359 it “The Palace of the Lebanon Forest”; 360 it was 150 feet 361 long, 75 feet 362 wide, and 45 feet 363 high. It had four rows of cedar pillars and cedar beams above the pillars. 7:3 The roof above the beams supported by the pillars was also made of cedar; there were forty-five beams, fifteen per row. 7:4 There were three rows of windows arranged in sets of three. 364 7:5 All of the entrances 365 were rectangular in shape 366 and they were arranged in sets of three. 367 7:6 He made a colonnade 368 75 feet 369 long and 45 feet 370 wide. There was a porch in front of this and pillars and a roof in front of the porch. 371 7:7 He also made a throne room, called “The Hall of Judgment,” where he made judicial decisions. 372 It was paneled with cedar from the floor to the rafters. 373 7:8 The palace where he lived was constructed in a similar way. 374 He also constructed a palace like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married. 375 7:9 All of these were built with the best 376 stones, chiseled to the right size 377 and cut with a saw on all sides, 378 from the foundation to the edge of the roof 379 and from the outside to the great courtyard. 7:10 The foundation was made of large valuable stones, measuring either 15 feet or 12 feet. 380 7:11 Above the foundation 381 the best 382 stones, chiseled to the right size, 383 were used along with cedar. 7:12 Around the great courtyard were three rows of chiseled stones and one row of cedar beams, like the inner courtyard of the Lord’s temple and the hall of the palace. 384
7:13 King Solomon sent for Hiram 385 of Tyre. 386 7:14 He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, 387 and his father was a craftsman in bronze from Tyre. He had the skill and knowledge 388 to make all kinds of works of bronze. He reported to King Solomon and did all the work he was assigned.
7:15 He fashioned two bronze pillars; each pillar was 27 feet 389 high and 18 feet 390 in circumference. 7:16 He made two bronze tops for the pillars; each was seven-and-a-half feet high. 391 7:17 The latticework on the tops of the pillars was adorned with ornamental wreaths and chains; the top of each pillar had seven groupings of ornaments. 392 7:18 When he made the pillars, there were two rows of pomegranate-shaped ornaments around the latticework covering the top of each pillar. 393 7:19 The tops of the two pillars in the porch were shaped like lilies and were six feet high. 394 7:20 On the top of each pillar, right above the bulge beside the latticework, there were two hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments arranged in rows all the way around. 395 7:21 He set up the pillars on the porch in front of the main hall. He erected one pillar on the right 396 side and called it Jakin; 397 he erected the other pillar on the left 398 side and called it Boaz. 399 7:22 The tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So the construction of the pillars was completed.
7:23 He also made the large bronze basin called “The Sea.” 400 It measured 15 feet 401 from rim to rim, was circular in shape, and stood seven-and-a-half feet 402 high. Its circumference was 45 feet. 403 7:24 Under the rim all the way around it 404 were round ornaments 405 arranged in settings 15 feet long. 406 The ornaments were in two rows and had been cast with “The Sea.” 407 7:25 “The Sea” stood on top of twelve bulls. Three faced northward, three westward, three southward, and three eastward. “The Sea” was placed on top of them, and they all faced outward. 408 7:26 It was four fingers thick and its rim was like that of a cup shaped like a lily blossom. It could hold about 12,000 gallons. 409
7:27 He also made ten bronze movable stands. Each stand was six feet 410 long, six feet 411 wide, and four-and-a-half feet 412 high. 7:28 The stands were constructed with frames between the joints. 7:29 On these frames and joints were ornamental lions, bulls, and cherubs. Under the lions and bulls were decorative wreaths. 413 7:30 Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles and four supports. Under the basin the supports were fashioned on each side with wreaths. 414 7:31 Inside the stand was a round opening that was a foot-and-a-half deep; it had a support that was two and one-quarter feet long. 415 On the edge of the opening were carvings in square frames. 416 7:32 The four wheels were under the frames and the crossbars of the axles were connected to the stand. Each wheel was two and one-quarter feet 417 high. 7:33 The wheels were constructed like chariot wheels; their crossbars, rims, spokes, and hubs were made of cast metal. 7:34 Each stand had four supports, one per side projecting out from the stand. 418 7:35 On top of each stand was a round opening three-quarters of a foot deep; 419 there were also supports and frames on top of the stands. 7:36 He engraved ornamental cherubs, lions, and palm trees on the plates of the supports and frames wherever there was room, 420 with wreaths 421 all around. 7:37 He made the ten stands in this way. All of them were cast in one mold and were identical in measurements and shape.
7:38 He also made ten bronze basins, each of which could hold about 240 gallons. 422 Each basin was six feet in diameter; 423 there was one basin for each stand. 7:39 He put five basins on the south side of the temple and five on the north side. He put “The Sea” on the south side, in the southeast corner.
7:40 Hiram also made basins, shovels, and bowls. He 424 finished all the work on the Lord’s temple he had been assigned by King Solomon. 425 7:41 He made 426 the two pillars, the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars, the latticework for the bowl-shaped tops of the two pillars, 7:42 the four hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments for the latticework of the two pillars (each latticework had two rows of these ornaments at the bowl-shaped top of the pillar), 7:43 the ten movable stands with their ten basins, 7:44 the big bronze basin called “The Sea” with its twelve bulls underneath, 427 7:45 and the pots, shovels, and bowls. All these items King Solomon assigned Hiram to make for the Lord’s temple 428 were made from polished bronze. 7:46 The king had them cast in earth foundries 429 in the region of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan. 7:47 Solomon left all these items unweighed; there were so many of them they did not weigh the bronze. 430
7:48 Solomon also made all these items for the Lord’s temple: the gold altar, the gold table on which was kept the Bread of the Presence, 431 7:49 the pure gold lampstands at the entrance to the inner sanctuary (five on the right and five on the left), the gold flower-shaped ornaments, lamps, and tongs, 7:50 the pure gold bowls, trimming shears, basins, pans, and censers, and the gold door sockets for the inner sanctuary (the most holy place) and for the doors of the main hall of the temple. 7:51 When King Solomon finished constructing the Lord’s temple, he 432 put the holy items that belonged to his father David (the silver, gold, and other articles) in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.
8:1 433 Then Solomon convened in Jerusalem 434 Israel’s elders, all the leaders of the Israelite tribes and families, so they could witness the transferal of the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the city of David (that is, Zion). 435 8:2 All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon during the festival 436 in the month Ethanim 437 (the seventh month). 8:3 When all Israel’s elders had arrived, the priests lifted the ark. 8:4 The priests and Levites carried the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, 438 and all the holy items in the tent. 439 8:5 Now King Solomon and all the Israelites who had assembled with him went on ahead of the ark and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted or numbered. 440
8:6 The priests brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its assigned 441 place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubs. 8:7 The cherubs’ wings extended over the place where the ark sat; the cherubs overshadowed the ark and its poles. 442 8:8 The poles were so long their ends were visible from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from beyond that point. 443 They have remained there to this very day. 8:9 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb. 444 It was there that 445 the Lord made an agreement with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 8:10 Once the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the Lord’s temple. 8:11 The priests could not carry out their duties 446 because of the cloud; the Lord’s glory filled his temple. 447
8:12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives in thick darkness. 8:13 O Lord, 448 truly I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.” 8:14 Then the king turned around 449 and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there. 450 8:15 He said, “The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled 451 what he promised 452 my father David. 8:16 He told David, 453 ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in which to live. 454 But I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’ 8:17 Now my father David had a strong desire 455 to build a temple to honor the Lord God of Israel. 456 8:18 The Lord told my father David, ‘It is right for you to have a strong desire to build a temple to honor me. 457 8:19 But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.’ 458 8:20 The Lord has kept the promise he made. 459 I have taken my father David’s place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built this temple for the honor 460 of the Lord God of Israel 8:21 and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the Lord made with our ancestors 461 when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
8:22 Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward the sky. 462 8:23 He prayed: 463 “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You maintain covenantal loyalty 464 to your servants who obey you with sincerity. 465 8:24 You have kept your word to your servant, my father David; 466 this very day you have fulfilled what you promised. 467 8:25 Now, O Lord, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, ‘You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel, 468 provided that your descendants watch their step and serve me as you have done.’ 469 8:26 Now, O God of Israel, may the promise you made 470 to your servant, my father David, be realized. 471
8:27 “God does not really live on the earth! 472 Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built! 8:28 But respond favorably to 473 your servant’s prayer and his request for help, O Lord my God. Answer 474 the desperate prayer 475 your servant is presenting to you 476 today. 8:29 Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. 477 May you answer your servant’s prayer for this place. 478 8:30 Respond to the request of your servant and your people Israel for this place. 479 Hear from inside your heavenly dwelling place 480 and respond favorably. 481
8:31 “When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple, be willing to forgive the accused if the accusation is false. 482 8:32 Listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve. 483
8:33 “The time will come when 484 your people Israel are defeated by an enemy 485 because they sinned against you. If they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, 486 and pray for your help 487 in this temple, 8:34 then listen from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.
8:35 “The time will come when 488 the skies are shut up tightly and no rain falls because your people 489 sinned against you. When they direct their prayers toward this place, renew their allegiance to you, 490 and turn away from their sin because you punish 491 them, 8:36 then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly 492 you will then teach them the right way to live 493 and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess. 494
8:37 “The time will come when the land suffers from a famine, a plague, blight and disease, or a locust 495 invasion, or when their enemy lays siege to the cities of the land, 496 or when some other type of plague or epidemic occurs. 8:38 When all your people Israel pray and ask for help, 497 as they acknowledge their pain 498 and spread out their hands toward this temple, 8:39 then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin, 499 and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of his motives. 500 (Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.) 501 8:40 Then they will obey 502 you throughout their lifetimes as 503 they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.
8:41 “Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your reputation. 504 8:42 When they hear about your great reputation 505 and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds, 506 they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple. 8:43 Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners. 507 Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation, 508 obey 509 you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you. 510
8:44 “When you direct your people to march out and fight their enemies, 511 and they direct their prayers to the Lord 512 toward his chosen city and this temple I built for your honor, 513 8:45 then listen from heaven to their prayers for help 514 and vindicate them. 515
8:46 “The time will come when your people 516 will sin against you (for there is no one who is sinless!) and you will be angry with them and deliver them over to their enemies, who will take them as prisoners to their own land, 517 whether far away or close by. 8:47 When your people 518 come to their senses 519 in the land where they are held prisoner, they will repent and beg for your mercy in the land of their imprisonment, admitting, ‘We have sinned and gone astray; 520 we have done evil.’ 8:48 When they return to you with all their heart and being 521 in the land where they are held prisoner, 522 and direct their prayers to you toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor, 523 8:49 then listen from your heavenly dwelling place to their prayers for help 524 and vindicate them. 525 8:50 Forgive all the rebellious acts of your sinful people and cause their captors to have mercy on them. 526 8:51 After all, 527 they are your people and your special possession 528 whom you brought out of Egypt, from the middle of the iron-smelting furnace. 529
8:52 “May you be attentive 530 to your servant’s and your people Israel’s requests for help and may you respond to all their prayers to you. 531 8:53 After all, 532 you picked them out of all the nations of the earth to be your special possession, 533 just as you, O sovereign Lord, announced through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”
8:54 When Solomon finished presenting all these prayers and requests to the Lord, he got up from before the altar of the Lord where he had kneeled and spread out his hands toward the sky. 534 8:55 When he stood up, he pronounced a blessing over the entire assembly of Israel, saying in a loud voice: 8:56 “The Lord is worthy of praise because he has made Israel his people secure 535 just as he promised! Not one of all the faithful promises he made through his servant Moses is left unfulfilled! 536 8:57 May the Lord our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors. May he not abandon us or leave us. 8:58 May he make us submissive, 537 so we can follow all his instructions 538 and obey 539 the commandments, rules, and regulations he commanded our ancestors. 8:59 May the Lord our God be constantly aware of these requests of mine I have presented to him, 540 so that he might vindicate 541 his servant and his people Israel as the need arises. 8:60 Then 542 all the nations of the earth will recognize that the Lord is the only genuine God. 543 8:61 May you demonstrate wholehearted devotion to the Lord our God 544 by following 545 his rules and obeying 546 his commandments, as you are presently doing.” 547
8:62 The king and all Israel with him were presenting sacrifices to the Lord. 8:63 Solomon offered as peace offerings 548 to the Lord 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. Then the king and all the Israelites dedicated the Lord’s temple. 8:64 That day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that is in front of the Lord’s temple. He offered there burnt sacrifices, grain offerings, and the fat from the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that stood before the Lord was too small to hold all these offerings. 549 8:65 At that time Solomon and all Israel with him celebrated a festival before the Lord our God for two entire weeks. This great assembly included people from all over the land, from Lebo Hamath in the north to the Brook of Egypt 550 in the south. 551 8:66 On the fifteenth day after the festival started, 552 he dismissed the people. They asked God to empower the king 553 and then went to their homes, happy and content 554 because of all the good the Lord had done for his servant David and his people Israel.
9:1 After Solomon finished building the Lord’s temple, the royal palace, and all the other construction projects he had planned, 555 9:2 the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, in the same way he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 556 9:3 The Lord said to him, “I have answered 557 your prayer and your request for help that you made to me. I have consecrated this temple you built by making it my permanent home; 558 I will be constantly present there. 559 9:4 You must serve me with integrity and sincerity, just as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations. 560 9:5 Then I will allow your dynasty to rule over Israel permanently, 561 just as I promised your father David, ‘You will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ 562
9:6 “But if you or your sons ever turn away from me, fail to obey the regulations and rules I instructed you to keep, 563 and decide to serve and worship other gods, 564 9:7 then I will remove Israel from the land 565 I have given them, I will abandon this temple I have consecrated with my presence, 566 and Israel will be mocked and ridiculed 567 among all the nations. 9:8 This temple will become a heap of ruins; 568 everyone who passes by it will be shocked and will hiss out their scorn, 569 saying, ‘Why did the Lord do this to this land and this temple?’ 9:9 Others will then answer, 570 ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God, who led their ancestors 571 out of Egypt. They embraced other gods whom they worshiped and served. 572 That is why the Lord has brought all this disaster down on them.’”
9:10 After twenty years, during which Solomon built the Lord’s temple and the royal palace, 573 9:11 King Solomon gave King Hiram of Tyre 574 twenty cities in the region of Galilee, because Hiram had supplied Solomon with cedars, evergreens, and all the gold he wanted. 9:12 When Hiram went out from Tyre to inspect the cities Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them. 575 9:13 Hiram asked, 576 “Why did you give me these cities, my friend 577 ?” He called that area the region of Cabul, a name which it has retained to this day. 578 9:14 Hiram had sent to the king one hundred twenty talents 579 of gold.
9:15 Here are the details concerning the work crews 580 King Solomon conscripted 581 to build the Lord’s temple, his palace, the terrace, the wall of Jerusalem, 582 and the cities of 583 Hazor, 584 Megiddo, 585 and Gezer. 9:16 (Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had attacked and captured Gezer. He burned it and killed the Canaanites who lived in the city. He gave it as a wedding present to his daughter, who had married Solomon.) 9:17 Solomon built up Gezer, lower Beth Horon, 9:18 Baalath, Tadmor in the wilderness, 586 9:19 all the storage cities that belonged to him, 587 and the cities where chariots and horses were kept. 588 He built whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout his entire kingdom. 589 9:20 Now several non-Israelite peoples were left in the land after the conquest of Joshua, including the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 590 9:21 Their descendants remained in the land (the Israelites were unable to wipe them out completely). Solomon conscripted them for his work crews, and they continue in that role to this very day. 591 9:22 Solomon did not assign Israelites to these work crews; 592 the Israelites served as his soldiers, attendants, officers, charioteers, and commanders of his chariot forces. 593 9:23 These men were also in charge of Solomon’s work projects; there were a total of 550 men who supervised the workers. 594 9:24 Solomon built the terrace as soon as Pharaoh’s daughter moved up from the city of David 595 to the palace Solomon built for her. 596
9:25 Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings 597 on the altar he had built for the Lord, burning incense along with them before the Lord. He made the temple his official worship place. 598
9:26 King Solomon also built ships 599 in Ezion Geber, which is located near Elat in the land of Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. 9:27 Hiram sent his fleet and some of his sailors, who were well acquainted with the sea, to serve with Solomon’s men. 600 9:28 They sailed 601 to Ophir, took from there four hundred twenty talents 602 of gold, and then brought them to King Solomon.
10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, 603 she came to challenge 604 him with difficult questions. 605 10:2 She arrived in Jerusalem 606 with a great display of pomp, 607 bringing with her camels carrying spices, 608 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. 609 10:4 When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom, 610 the palace 611 he had built, 10:5 the food in his banquet hall, 612 his servants and attendants, 613 their robes, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings which he presented in the Lord’s temple, she was amazed. 614 10:6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight 615 was true! 10:7 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! 616 Your wisdom and wealth 617 surpass what was reported to me. 10:8 Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy! 618 10:9 May the Lord your God be praised because he favored 619 you by placing you on the throne of Israel! Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he made you king so you could make just and right decisions.” 620 10:10 She gave the king 120 talents 621 of gold, a very large quantity of spices, and precious gems. The quantity of spices the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon has never been matched. 622 10:11 (Hiram’s fleet, which carried gold from Ophir, also brought from Ophir a very large quantity of fine timber and precious gems. 10:12 With the timber the king made supports 623 for the Lord’s temple and for the royal palace and stringed instruments 624 for the musicians. No one has seen so much of this fine timber to this very day. 625 ) 10:13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she requested, besides what he had freely offered her. 626 Then she left and returned 627 to her homeland with her attendants.
10:14 Solomon received 666 talents 628 of gold per year, 629 10:15 besides what he collected from the merchants, 630 traders, Arabian kings, and governors of the land. 10:16 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; 600 measures 631 of gold were used for each shield. 10:17 He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; three minas 632 of gold were used for each of these shields. The king placed them in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest. 633
10:18 The king made a large throne decorated with ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. 10:19 There were six steps leading up to the throne, and the back of it was rounded on top. The throne had two armrests with a statue of a lion standing on each side. 634 10:20 There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom. 635
10:21 All of King Solomon’s cups were made of gold, and all the household items in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest were made of pure gold. There were no silver items, for silver was not considered very valuable in Solomon’s time. 636 10:22 Along with Hiram’s fleet, the king had a fleet of large merchant ships 637 that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet 638 came into port with cargoes of 639 gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. 640
10:23 King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth. 641 10:24 Everyone 642 in the world wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom. 643 10:25 Year after year visitors brought their gifts, which included items of silver, items of gold, clothes, perfume, spices, horses, and mules. 644
10:26 Solomon accumulated 645 chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem. 646 10:27 The king made silver as plentiful 647 in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was 648 as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands. 649 10:28 Solomon acquired his horses from Egypt 650 and from Que; the king’s traders purchased them from Que. 10:29 They paid 600 silver pieces for each chariot from Egypt and 150 silver pieces for each horse. They also sold chariots and horses to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria. 651
11:1 King Solomon fell in love with many foreign women (besides Pharaoh’s daughter), including Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites. 11:2 They came from nations about which the Lord had warned the Israelites, “You must not establish friendly relations with them! 652 If you do, they will surely shift your allegiance to their gods.” 653 But Solomon was irresistibly attracted to them. 654
11:3 He had 700 royal wives 655 and 300 concubines; 656 his wives had a powerful influence over him. 657 11:4 When Solomon became old, his wives shifted his allegiance to 658 other gods; he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been. 659 11:5 Solomon worshiped 660 the Sidonian goddess Astarte and the detestable Ammonite god Milcom. 661 11:6 Solomon did evil in the Lord’s sight; 662 he did not remain loyal to 663 the Lord, like his father David had. 11:7 Furthermore, 664 on the hill east of Jerusalem 665 Solomon built a high place 666 for the detestable Moabite god Chemosh 667 and for the detestable Ammonite god Milcom. 668 11:8 He built high places for all his foreign wives so they could burn incense and make sacrifices to their gods. 669
11:9 The Lord was angry with Solomon because he had shifted his allegiance 670 away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him on two occasions 671 11:10 and had warned him about this very thing, so that he would not follow other gods. 672 But he did not obey 673 the Lord’s command. 11:11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you insist on doing these things and have not kept the covenantal rules I gave you, 674 I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. 11:12 However, for your father David’s sake I will not do this while you are alive. I will tear it away from your son’s hand instead. 11:13 But I will not tear away the entire kingdom; I will leave 675 your son one tribe for my servant David’s sake and for the sake of my chosen city Jerusalem.”
11:14 The Lord brought 676 against Solomon an enemy, Hadad the Edomite, a descendant of the Edomite king. 11:15 During David’s campaign against Edom, 677 Joab, the commander of the army, while on a mission to bury the dead, killed every male in Edom. 11:16 For six months Joab and the entire Israelite army 678 stayed there until they had exterminated every male in Edom. 679 11:17 Hadad, 680 who was only a small boy at the time, escaped with some of his father’s Edomite servants and headed for Egypt. 681 11:18 They went from Midian to Paran; they took some men from Paran and went to Egypt. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, supplied him with a house and food and even assigned him some land. 682 11:19 Pharaoh liked Hadad so well 683 he gave him his sister-in-law (Queen Tahpenes’ sister) as a wife. 684 11:20 Tahpenes’ sister gave birth to his son, 685 named Genubath. Tahpenes raised 686 him in Pharaoh’s palace; Genubath grew up in Pharaoh’s palace among Pharaoh’s sons. 11:21 While in Egypt Hadad heard that David had passed away 687 and that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead. So Hadad asked Pharaoh, “Give me permission to leave 688 so I can return to my homeland.” 11:22 Pharaoh said to him, “What do you lack here that makes you want to go to your homeland?” 689 Hadad replied, 690 “Nothing, but please give me permission to leave.” 691
11:23 God also brought against Solomon 692 another enemy, Rezon son of Eliada who had run away from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah. 11:24 He gathered some men and organized a raiding band. 693 When David tried to kill them, 694 they went to Damascus, where they settled down and gained control of the city. 11:25 He was Israel’s enemy throughout Solomon’s reign and, like Hadad, caused trouble. He loathed 695 Israel and ruled over Syria.
11:26 Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon’s servants, rebelled against 696 the king. He was an Ephraimite 697 from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. 11:27 This is what prompted him to rebel against the king: 698 Solomon built a terrace and he closed up a gap in the wall of the city of his father David. 699 11:28 Jeroboam was a talented man; 700 when Solomon saw that the young man was an accomplished worker, he made him the leader of the work crew from the tribe 701 of Joseph. 11:29 At that time, when Jeroboam had left Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road; the two of them were alone in the open country. Ahijah 702 was wearing a brand new robe, 11:30 and he grabbed the robe 703 and tore it into twelve pieces. 11:31 Then he told Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces, for this is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Look, I am about to tear the kingdom from Solomon’s hand and I will give ten tribes to you. 11:32 He will retain one tribe, for my servant David’s sake and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel. 11:33 I am taking the kingdom from him 704 because they have 705 abandoned me and worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte, the Moabite god Chemosh, and the Ammonite god Milcom. They have not followed my instructions 706 by doing what I approve and obeying my rules and regulations, like Solomon’s father David did. 707 11:34 I will not take the whole kingdom from his hand. I will allow him to be ruler for the rest of his life for the sake of my chosen servant David who kept my commandments and rules. 11:35 I will take the kingdom from the hand of his son and give ten tribes to you. 708 11:36 I will leave 709 his son one tribe so my servant David’s dynasty may continue to serve me 710 in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as my home. 711 11:37 I will select 712 you; you will rule over all you desire to have and you will be king over Israel. 11:38 You must obey 713 all I command you to do, follow my instructions, 714 do what I approve, 715 and keep my rules and commandments, like my servant David did. Then I will be with you and establish for you a lasting dynasty, as I did for David; 716 I will give you Israel. 11:39 I will humiliate David’s descendants because of this, 717 but not forever.” 718 11:40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam escaped to Egypt and found refuge with King Shishak of Egypt. 719 He stayed in Egypt until Solomon died.
11:41 The rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, including all his accomplishments and his wise decisions, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of Solomon. 720 11:42 Solomon ruled over all Israel from Jerusalem 721 for forty years. 11:43 Then Solomon passed away 722 and was buried in the city of his father David. 723 His son Rehoboam replaced him as king. 724
12:1 Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel had gathered in 725 Shechem to make Rehoboam 726 king. 12:2 727 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard the news, he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since. 728 12:3 They sent for him, 729 and Jeroboam and the whole Israelite assembly came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 12:4 “Your father made us work too hard. 730 Now if you lighten the demands he made and don’t make us work as hard, we will serve you.” 731 12:5 He said to them, “Go away for three days, then return to me.” So the people went away.
12:6 King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served 732 his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, 733 “How do you advise me to answer these people?” 12:7 They said to him, “Today if you show a willingness to help these people and grant their request, they will be your servants from this time forward.” 734 12:8 But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up. 735 12:9 He asked them, “How do you advise me 736 to respond to these people who said to me, ‘Lessen the demands your father placed on us’?” 737 12:10 The young advisers with whom Rehoboam 738 had grown up said to him, “Say this to these people who have said to you, ‘Your father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden.’ 739 Say this to them: ‘I am a lot harsher than my father! 740 12:11 My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. 741 My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.’” 742
12:12 Jeroboam and all the people reported 743 to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had ordered when he said, “Return to me on the third day.” 12:13 The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men 12:14 and followed 744 the advice of the younger ones. He said, “My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. 745 My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.” 746 12:15 The king refused to listen to the people, because the Lord was instigating this turn of events 747 so that he might bring to pass the prophetic announcement he had made 748 through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
12:16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, “We have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse! 749 Return to your homes, O Israel! 750 Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!” 751 So Israel returned to their homes. 752 12:17 (Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.) 12:18 King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, 753 the supervisor of the work crews, 754 out after them, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to jump into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 755 12:19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty to this very day. 12:20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No one except the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty. 756
12:21 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from all of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin 757 to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon. 12:22 But God told Shemaiah the prophet, 758 12:23 “Say this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah, and to all Judah and Benjamin, as well as the rest of the people, 12:24 ‘The Lord says this: “Do not attack and make war with your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you go home, for I have caused this to happen.”’” 759 They obeyed the Lord and went home as the Lord had ordered them to do. 760
12:25 761 Jeroboam built up Shechem in the Ephraimite hill country and lived there. From there he went out and built up Penuel. 12:26 Jeroboam then thought to himself: 762 “Now the Davidic dynasty could regain the kingdom. 763 12:27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, 764 their loyalty could shift to their former master, 765 King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.” 12:28 After the king had consulted with his advisers, 766 he made two golden calves. Then he said to the people, 767 “It is too much trouble for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look, Israel, here are your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 12:29 He put one in Bethel 768 and the other in Dan. 12:30 This caused Israel to sin; 769 the people went to Bethel and Dan to worship the calves. 770
12:31 He built temples 771 on the high places and appointed as priests people who were not Levites. 12:32 Jeroboam inaugurated a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, 772 like the festival celebrated in Judah. 773 On the altar in Bethel he offered sacrifices to the calves he had made. 774 In Bethel he also appointed priests for the high places he had made.
12:33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month (a date he had arbitrarily chosen) 775 Jeroboam 776 offered sacrifices on the altar he had made in Bethel. 777 He inaugurated a festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to offer sacrifices. 13:1 Just then 778 a prophet 779 from Judah, sent by the Lord, arrived in Bethel, 780 as Jeroboam was standing near the altar ready to offer a sacrifice. 13:2 With the authority of the Lord 781 he cried out against the altar, “O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says, ‘Look, a son named Josiah will be born to the Davidic dynasty. He will sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who offer sacrifices on you. Human bones will be burned on you.’” 782 13:3 That day he also announced 783 a sign, “This is the sign the Lord has predetermined: 784 The altar will be split open and the ashes 785 on it will fall to the ground.” 786 13:4 When the king heard what the prophet 787 cried out against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam, standing at the altar, extended his hand 788 and ordered, 789 “Seize him!” The hand he had extended shriveled up 790 and he could not pull it back. 13:5 The altar split open and the ashes 791 fell from the altar to the ground, 792 in fulfillment of the sign the prophet had announced with the Lord’s authority. 793 13:6 The king pled with 794 the prophet, 795 “Seek the favor of 796 the Lord your God and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored.” So the prophet sought the Lord’s favor 797 and the king’s hand was restored to its former condition. 798 13:7 The king then said to the prophet, “Come home with me and have something to eat. I’d like to give a present.” 13:8 But the prophet said to the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, 799 I could not go with you and eat and drink 800 in this place. 13:9 For the Lord gave me strict orders, 801 ‘Do not eat or drink 802 there and do not go home the way you came.’” 13:10 So he started back on another road; he did not travel back on the same road he had taken to Bethel.
13:11 Now there was an old prophet living in Bethel. 803 When his sons came home, they told their father 804 everything the prophet 805 had done in Bethel that day and all the words he had spoken to the king. 806 13:12 Their father asked them, “Which road did he take?” His sons showed him 807 the road the prophet 808 from Judah had taken. 13:13 He then told his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” When they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it 13:14 and took off after the prophet, 809 whom he found sitting under an oak tree. He asked him, “Are you the prophet 810 from Judah?” He answered, “Yes, I am.” 13:15 He then said to him, “Come home with me and eat something.” 13:16 But he replied, “I can’t go back with you 811 or eat and drink 812 with you in this place. 13:17 For the Lord gave me strict orders, 813 ‘Do not eat or drink 814 there; do not go back the way you came.’” 13:18 The old prophet then said, 815 “I too am a prophet like you. An angel told me with the Lord’s authority, 816 ‘Bring him back with you to your house so he can eat and drink.’” 817 But he was lying to him. 818 13:19 So the prophet went back with him and ate and drank in his house. 819
13:20 While they were sitting at the table, the Lord spoke through the old prophet 820 13:21 and he cried out to the prophet from Judah, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You 821 have rebelled against the Lord 822 and have not obeyed the command the Lord your God gave you. 13:22 You went back and ate and drank in this place, even though he said to you, “Do not eat or drink there.” 823 Therefore 824 your corpse will not be buried in your ancestral tomb.’” 825
13:23 When the prophet from Judah finished his meal, 826 the old prophet saddled his visitor’s donkey for him. 827 13:24 As the prophet from Judah was traveling, a lion attacked him on the road and killed him. 828 His corpse was lying on the road, and the donkey and the lion just stood there beside it. 829 13:25 Some men came by 830 and saw the corpse lying in the road with the lion standing beside it. 831 They went and reported what they had seen 832 in the city where the old prophet lived. 13:26 When the old prophet who had invited him to his house heard the news, 833 he said, “It is the prophet 834 who rebelled against the Lord. 835 The Lord delivered him over to the lion and it ripped him up 836 and killed him, just as the Lord warned him.” 837 13:27 He told his sons, “Saddle my donkey,” and they did so. 838 13:28 He went and found the corpse lying in the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside it; 839 the lion had neither eaten the corpse nor attacked the donkey. 13:29 The old prophet 840 picked up the corpse of the prophet, 841 put it on the donkey, and brought it back. The old prophet then entered the city to mourn him and to bury him. 13:30 He put the corpse into his own tomb, and they 842 mourned over him, saying, “Ah, my brother!” 13:31 After he buried him, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the tomb where the prophet 843 is buried; put my bones right beside his bones, 13:32 for the prophecy he announced with the Lord’s authority 844 against the altar in Bethel 845 and against all the temples on the high places in the cities of the north 846 will certainly be fulfilled.”
13:33 After this happened, Jeroboam still did not change his evil ways; 847 he continued to appoint common people 848 as priests at the high places. Anyone who wanted the job he consecrated as a priest. 849 13:34 This sin caused Jeroboam’s dynasty 850 to come to an end and to be destroyed from the face of the earth.
14:1 851 At that time Jeroboam’s son Abijah became sick. 14:2 Jeroboam told his wife, “Disguise 852 yourself so that people cannot recognize you are Jeroboam’s wife. Then go to Shiloh; Ahijah the prophet, who told me I would rule over this nation, lives there. 853 14:3 Take 854 ten loaves of bread, some small cakes, and a container of honey and visit him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.”
14:4 Jeroboam’s wife did as she was told. She went to Shiloh and visited Ahijah. 855 Now Ahijah could not see; he had lost his eyesight in his old age. 856 14:5 But the Lord had told Ahijah, “Look, Jeroboam’s wife is coming to find out from you what will happen to her son, for he is sick. Tell her so-and-so. 857 When she comes, she will be in a disguise.” 14:6 When Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps as she came through the door, he said, “Come on in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you pretending to be someone else? I have been commissioned to give you bad news. 858 14:7 Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says: “I raised you up 859 from among the people and made you ruler over my people Israel. 14:8 I tore the kingdom away from the Davidic dynasty and gave it to you. But you are not like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me wholeheartedly by doing only what I approve. 860 14:9 You have sinned more than all who came before you. You went and angered me by making other gods, formed out of metal; you have completely disregarded me. 861 14:10 So I am ready to bring disaster 862 on the dynasty 863 of Jeroboam. I will cut off every last male belonging to Jeroboam in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated. 864 I will burn up the dynasty of Jeroboam, just as one burns manure until it is completely consumed. 865 14:11 Dogs will eat the members of your family 866 who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.”’ Indeed, the Lord has announced it!
14:12 “As for you, get up and go home. When you set foot in the city, the boy will die. 14:13 All Israel will mourn him and bury him. He is the only one in Jeroboam’s family 867 who will receive a decent burial, for he is the only one in whom the Lord God of Israel found anything good. 14:14 The Lord will raise up a king over Israel who will cut off Jeroboam’s dynasty. 868 It is ready to happen! 869 14:15 The Lord will attack Israel, making it like a reed that sways in the water. 870 He will remove Israel from this good land he gave to their ancestors 871 and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, 872 because they angered the Lord by making Asherah poles. 873 14:16 He will hand Israel over to their enemies 874 because of the sins which Jeroboam committed and which he made Israel commit.”
14:17 So Jeroboam’s wife got up and went back to 875 Tirzah. As she crossed the threshold of the house, the boy died. 14:18 All Israel buried him and mourned for him, just as the Lord had predicted 876 through his servant the prophet Ahijah.
14:19 The rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign, including the details of his battles and rule, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 877 14:20 Jeroboam ruled for twenty-two years; then he passed away. 878 His son Nadab replaced him as king.
14:21 Now Rehoboam son of Solomon ruled in Judah. He 879 was forty-one years old when he became king and he ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, 880 the city the Lord chose from all the tribes of Israel to be his home. 881 His mother was an Ammonite woman 882 named Naamah.
14:22 Judah did evil in the sight of 883 the Lord. They made him more jealous by their sins than their ancestors had done. 884 14:23 They even built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. 14:24 There were also male cultic prostitutes 885 in the land. They committed the same horrible sins as the nations 886 that the Lord had driven out from before the Israelites.
14:25 In King Rehoboam’s fifth year, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. 14:26 He took away the treasures of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace; he took everything, including all the golden shields that Solomon had made. 14:27 King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned them to the officers of the royal guard 887 who protected the entrance to the royal palace. 14:28 Whenever the king visited the Lord’s temple, the royal guard carried them and then brought them back to the guardroom.
14:29 The rest of the events of Rehoboam’s reign, including his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the
Kings of Judah. 888 14:30 Rehoboam and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other. 14:31 Rehoboam passed away 889 and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His mother was an Ammonite named Naamah. His son Abijah 890 replaced him as king.
15:1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah 891 became king over Judah. 15:2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. 892 His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. 893 15:3 He followed all the sinful practices of his father before him. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had been. 894 15:4 Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God maintained his dynasty 895 in Jerusalem by giving him a son 896 to succeed him 897 and by protecting Jerusalem. 898 15:5 He did this 899 because David had done what he approved 900 and had not disregarded any of his commandments 901 his entire lifetime, except for the incident involving Uriah the Hittite. 15:6 Rehoboam 902 and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other throughout Abijah’s 903 lifetime. 15:7 The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. 904 Abijah and Jeroboam had been at war with each other. 15:8 Abijah passed away 905 and was buried 906 in the city of David. His son Asa replaced him as king.
15:9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Asa became the king of Judah. 15:10 He ruled for forty-one years in Jerusalem. 907 His grandmother 908 was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 15:11 Asa did what the Lord approved 909 like his ancestor 910 David had done. 15:12 He removed the male cultic prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the disgusting idols 911 his ancestors 912 had made. 15:13 He also removed Maacah his grandmother 913 from her position as queen because she had made a loathsome Asherah pole. Asa cut down her Asherah pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 15:14 The high places were not eliminated, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord throughout his lifetime. 914 15:15 He brought the holy items that he and his father had made into the Lord’s temple, including the silver, gold, and other articles. 915
15:16 Now Asa and King Baasha of Israel were continually at war with each other. 916 15:17 King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah and established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah. 917 15:18 Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace and handed it to his servants. He then told them to deliver it 918 to Ben Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: 15:19 “I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. 919 See, I have sent you silver and gold as a present. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land.” 920 15:20 Ben Hadad accepted King Asa’s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. 921 They conquered 922 Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, and all the territory of Naphtali, including the region of Kinnereth. 923 15:21 When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying 924 Ramah and settled down in Tirzah. 15:22 King Asa ordered all the men of Judah (no exemptions were granted) to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. 925 King Asa used the materials to build up 926 Geba (in Benjamin) and Mizpah.
15:23 The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, including all his successes and accomplishments, as well as a record of the cities he built, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. 927 Yet when he was very old he developed a foot disease. 928 15:24 Asa passed away 929 and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king.
15:25 In the second year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Jeroboam’s son Nadab became the king of Israel; he ruled Israel for two years. 15:26 He did evil in the sight of 930 the Lord. He followed in his father’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin. 931
15:27 Baasha son of Ahijah, from the tribe of Issachar, conspired against Nadab 932 and assassinated him in Gibbethon, which was in Philistine territory. This happened while Nadab and all the Israelite army were besieging Gibbethon. 15:28 Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah and replaced him as king. 15:29 When he became king, he executed Jeroboam’s entire family. He wiped out everyone who breathed, 933 just as the Lord had predicted 934 through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. 15:30 This happened because of the sins which Jeroboam committed and which he made Israel commit. These sins angered the Lord God of Israel. 935
15:31 The rest of the events of Nadab’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 936 15:32 Asa and King Nadab of Israel were continually at war with each other.
15:33 In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah; he ruled for twenty-four years. 15:34 He did evil in the sight of 937 the Lord; he followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin. 938
16:1 Jehu son of Hanani received from the Lord this message predicting Baasha’s downfall: 939 16:2 “I raised you up 940 from the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel. Yet you followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps 941 and encouraged my people Israel to sin; their sins have made me angry. 942 16:3 So I am ready to burn up 943 Baasha and his family, and make your family 944 like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat. 16:4 Dogs will eat the members of Baasha’s family 945 who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.”
16:5 The rest of the events of Baasha’s reign, including his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 946 16:6 Baasha passed away 947 and was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah replaced him as king. 16:7 The prophet Jehu son of Hanani received from the Lord the message predicting the downfall of Baasha and his family because of all the evil Baasha had done in the sight of the Lord. 948 His actions angered the Lord (including the way he had destroyed Jeroboam’s dynasty), so that his family ended up like Jeroboam’s. 949
16:8 In the twenty-sixth year of King Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha’s son Elah became king over Israel; he ruled in Tirzah for two years. 16:9 His servant Zimri, a commander of half of his chariot force, conspired against him. While Elah was drinking heavily 950 at the house of Arza, who supervised the palace in Tirzah, 16:10 Zimri came in and struck him dead. (This happened in the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah.) Zimri replaced Elah as king. 951 16:11 When he became king and occupied the throne, he killed Baasha’s entire family. He did not spare any male belonging to him; he killed his relatives and his friends. 952 16:12 Zimri destroyed Baasha’s entire family, just as the Lord had predicted to Baasha 953 through Jehu the prophet. 16:13 This happened because of all the sins which Baasha and his son Elah committed and which they made Israel commit. They angered the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols. 954
16:14 The rest of the events of Elah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 955
16:15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri became king over Israel; he ruled for seven days in Tirzah. Zimri’s revolt took place while the army was deployed 956 in Gibbethon, which was in Philistine territory. 16:16 While deployed there, the army received this report: 957 “Zimri has conspired against the king and assassinated him.” 958 So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day in the camp. 16:17 Omri and all Israel went up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah. 16:18 When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he went into the fortified area of the royal palace. He set the palace on fire and died in the flames. 959 16:19 This happened because of the sins he committed. He did evil in the sight of 960 the Lord and followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to continue sinning. 961
16:20 The rest of the events of Zimri’s reign, including the details of his revolt, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 962
16:21 At that time the people of Israel were divided in their loyalties. Half the people supported Tibni son of Ginath and wanted to make him king; the other half supported Omri. 16:22 Omri’s supporters were stronger than those who supported Tibni son of Ginath. Tibni died; Omri became king.
16:23 In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri became king over Israel. He ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 16:24 He purchased the hill of Samaria 963 from Shemer for two talents 964 of silver. He launched a construction project there 965 and named the city he built after Shemer, the former owner of the hill of Samaria. 16:25 Omri did more evil in the sight of 966 the Lord than all who were before him. 16:26 He followed in the footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat and encouraged Israel to sin; 967 they angered the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols. 968
16:27 The rest of the events of Omri’s reign, including his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 969 16:28 Omri passed away 970 and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab replaced him as king. 971
16:29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri’s son Ahab became king over Israel. Ahab son of Omri ruled over Israel for twenty-two years in Samaria. 972 16:30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of 973 the Lord than all who were before him. 16:31 As if following in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not bad enough, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Then he worshiped and bowed to Baal. 974 16:32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal he had built in Samaria. 16:33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he 975 did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
16:34 During Ahab’s reign, 976 Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. 977 Abiram, his firstborn son, died when he laid the foundation; 978 Segub, his youngest son, died when he erected its gates, 979 just as the Lord had warned 980 through Joshua son of Nun. 981
17:1 Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As certainly as the Lord God of Israel lives (whom I serve), 982 there will be no dew or rain in the years ahead unless I give the command.” 983 17:2 The Lord told him: 984 17:3 “Leave here and travel eastward. Hide out in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan. 17:4 Drink from the stream; I have already told 985 the ravens to bring you food 986 there.” 17:5 So he did 987 as the Lord told him; he went and lived in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan. 17:6 The ravens would bring him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he would drink from the stream.
17:7 After a while, 988 the stream dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 17:8 The Lord told him, 989 17:9 “Get up, go to Zarephath in Sidonian territory, and live there. I have already told 990 a widow who lives there to provide for you.” 17:10 So he got up and went to Zarephath. When he went through the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. He called out to her, “Please give me a cup 991 of water, so I can take a drink.” 17:11 As she went to get it, he called out to her, “Please bring me a piece of bread.” 992 17:12 She said, “As certainly as the Lord your God lives, I have no food, except for a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. Right now I am gathering a couple of sticks for a fire. Then I’m going home to make one final meal for my son and myself. After we have eaten that, we will die of starvation.” 993 17:13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you planned. 994 But first make a small cake for me and bring it to me; then make something for yourself and your son. 17:14 For this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The jar of flour will not be empty and the jug of oil will not run out until the day the Lord makes it rain on the surface of the ground.’” 17:15 She went and did as Elijah told her; there was always enough food for Elijah and for her and her family. 995 17:16 The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, just as the Lord had promised 996 through Elijah.
17:17 After this 997 the son of the woman who owned the house got sick. His illness was so severe he could no longer breathe. 17:18 She asked Elijah, “Why, prophet, have you come 998 to me to confront me with 999 my sin and kill my son?” 17:19 He said to her, “Hand me your son.” He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him down on his bed. 17:20 Then he called out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, are you also bringing disaster on this widow I am staying with by killing her son?” 17:21 He stretched out over the boy three times and called out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, please let this boy’s breath return to him.” 17:22 The Lord answered Elijah’s prayer; the boy’s breath returned to him and he lived. 17:23 Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upper room to the house, and handed him to his mother. Elijah then said, “See, your son is alive!” 17:24 The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a prophet and that the Lord really does speak through you.” 1000
18:1 Some time later, in the third year of the famine, the Lord told Elijah, 1001 “Go, make an appearance before Ahab, so I may send rain on the surface of the ground.” 18:2 So Elijah went to make an appearance before Ahab.
Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 1002 18:3 So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who supervised the palace. (Now Obadiah was a very loyal follower of the Lord. 1003 18:4 When Jezebel was killing 1004 the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them in two caves in two groups of fifty. He also brought them food and water.) 18:5 Ahab told Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grazing areas 1005 so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to kill 1006 some of the animals.” 18:6 They divided up the land between them; Ahab went 1007 one way and Obadiah went the other.
18:7 As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him. 1008 When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, “Is it really you, my master, Elijah?” 18:8 He replied, “Yes, 1009 go and say to your master, ‘Elijah is back.’” 1010 18:9 Obadiah 1011 said, “What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution? 1012 18:10 As certainly as the Lord your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, ‘He’s not here,’ he makes them 1013 swear an oath that they could not find you. 18:11 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back.”’ 1014 18:12 But when I leave you, the Lord’s spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you. 1015 If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me. 1016 That would not be fair, 1017 because your servant has been a loyal follower of 1018 the Lord from my youth. 18:13 Certainly my master is aware of what I did 1019 when Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets. I hid one hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves in two groups of fifty and I brought them food and water. 18:14 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back,”’ 1020 but he will kill me.” 18:15 But Elijah said, “As certainly as the Lord who rules over all 1021 lives (whom I serve), 1022 I will make an appearance before him today.”
18:16 When Obadiah went and informed Ahab, the king went to meet Elijah. 1023 18:17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he 1024 said to him, “Is it really you, the one who brings disaster 1025 on Israel?” 18:18 Elijah 1026 replied, “I have not brought disaster 1027 on Israel. But you and your father’s dynasty have, by abandoning the Lord’s commandments and following the Baals. 18:19 Now send out messengers 1028 and assemble all Israel before me at Mount Carmel, as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel supports. 1029
18:20 Ahab sent messengers to all the Israelites and had the prophets assemble at Mount Carmel. 18:21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? 1030 If the Lord is the true God, 1031 then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!” But the people did not say a word. 18:22 Elijah said to them: 1032 “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. 18:23 Let them bring us two bulls. Let them choose one of the bulls for themselves, cut it up into pieces, and place it on the wood. But they must not set it on fire. I will do the same to the other bull and place it on the wood. But I will not set it on fire. 18:24 Then you 1033 will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the Lord. The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.” 1034 All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.” 1035
18:25 Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls for yourselves and go first, for you are the majority. Invoke the name of your god, but do not light a fire.” 1036 18:26 So they took a bull, as he had suggested, 1037 and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.” But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped 1038 around on the altar they had made. 1039 18:27 At noon Elijah mocked them, “Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.” 1040 18:28 So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, 1041 mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood. 1042 18:29 Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, 1043 but there was no sound, no answer, and no response. 1044
18:30 Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. 1045 18:31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, “Israel will be your new 1046 name.” 1047 18:32 With the stones he constructed an altar for the Lord. 1048 Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs 1049 of seed. 18:33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. 18:34 Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.” When they had done so, 1050 he said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time. 18:35 The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench. 18:36 When it was time for the evening offering, 1051 Elijah the prophet approached the altar 1052 and prayed: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove 1053 today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 18:37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God 1054 and that you are winning back their allegiance.” 1055 18:38 Then fire from the Lord fell from the sky. 1056 It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench. 18:39 When all the people saw this, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “The Lord is the true God! 1057 The Lord is the true God!” 18:40 Elijah told them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let even one of them escape!” So they seized them, and Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley and executed 1058 them there.
18:41 Then Elijah told Ahab, “Go on up and eat and drink, for the sound of a heavy rainstorm can be heard.” 1059 18:42 So Ahab went on up to eat and drink, while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel. He bent down toward the ground and put his face between his knees. 18:43 He told his servant, “Go on up and look in the direction of the sea.” So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” 1060 Seven times Elijah sent him to look. 1061 18:44 The seventh time the servant 1062 said, “Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man’s hand, is rising up from the sea.” Elijah 1063 then said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won’t overtake you.’” 1064 18:45 Meanwhile the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind blew, and there was a heavy rainstorm. Ahab rode toward 1065 Jezreel. 18:46 Now the Lord energized Elijah with power; 1066 he tucked his robe into his belt 1067 and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
19:1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword. 19:2 Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning, 1068 “May the gods judge me severely 1069 if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!” 1070
19:3 Elijah was afraid, 1071 so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there, 19:4 while he went a day’s journey into the desert. He went and sat down under a shrub 1072 and asked the Lord to take his life: 1073 “I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.” 1074 19:5 He stretched out 1075 and fell asleep under the shrub. All of a sudden an angelic messenger 1076 touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 19:6 He looked and right there by his head was a cake baking on hot coals and a jug of water. He ate and drank and then slept some more. 1077 19:7 The Lord’s angelic messenger came back again, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, for otherwise you won’t be able to make the journey.” 1078 19:8 So he got up and ate and drank. That meal gave him the strength to travel forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
19:9 He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the Lord spoke to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:10 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 1079 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 1080 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 1081 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 1082 19:11 The Lord 1083 said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by.”
A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, 1084 but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 19:12 After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper. 1085 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a sudden 1086 a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 19:14 He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal 1087 to the Lord, the sovereign God, 1088 even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, 1089 torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” 1090 19:15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the Desert of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. 19:16 You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. 19:17 Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. 19:18 I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.” 1091
19:19 Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen; he was near the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his robe over him. 19:20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you.” Elijah 1092 said to him, “Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?” 19:21 Elisha 1093 went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke. 1094 He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.
20:1 Now King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled all his army, along with thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria 1095 and besieged and attacked it. 1096 20:2 He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city. 1097 20:3 He said to him, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘Your silver and your gold are mine, as well as the best of your wives and sons.’” 20:4 The king of Israel replied, “It is just as you say, my master, O king. I and all I own belong to you.”
20:5 The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent this message to you, “You must give me your silver, gold, wives, and sons.” 20:6 But now at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you and they will search through your palace and your servants’ houses. They will carry away all your valuables.” 1098 20:7 The king of Israel summoned all the leaders 1099 of the land and said, “Notice how this man is looking for trouble. 1100 Indeed, he demanded my wives, sons, silver, and gold, and I did not resist him.” 20:8 All the leaders and people said to him, “Do not give in or agree to his demands.” 1101 20:9 So he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, “Say this to my master, the king, ‘I will give you everything you demanded at first from your servant, but I am unable to agree to this latest demand.’” 1102 So the messengers went back and gave their report.
20:10 Ben Hadad sent another message to him, “May the gods judge me severely 1103 if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.” 1104 20:11 The king of Israel replied, “Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off.” 1105 20:12 When Ben Hadad received this reply, 1106 he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. 1107 He ordered his servants, “Get ready to attack!” So they got ready to attack the city.
20:13 Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Do you see this huge army? 1108 Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 20:14 Ahab asked, “By whom will this be accomplished?” 1109 He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab 1110 asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”
20:15 So Ahab 1111 assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000. 1112 20:16 They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily 1113 in their quarters. 1114 20:17 The servants of the district governors led the march. When Ben Hadad sent messengers, they reported back to him, “Men are marching out of Samaria.” 1115 20:18 He ordered, “Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.” 1116 20:19 They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them. 20:20 Each one struck down an enemy soldier; 1117 the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen. 20:21 Then the king of Israel marched out and struck down the horses and chariots; he thoroughly defeated 1118 Syria.
20:22 The prophet 1119 visited the king of Israel and instructed him, “Go, fortify your defenses. 1120 Determine 1121 what you must do, for in the spring 1122 the king of Syria will attack 1123 you.” 20:23 Now the advisers 1124 of the king of Syria said to him: “Their God is a god of the mountains. That’s why they overpowered us. But if we fight them in the plains, we will certainly overpower them. 20:24 So do this: Dismiss the kings from their command, and replace them with military commanders. 20:25 Muster an army like the one you lost, with the same number of horses and chariots. 1125 Then we will fight them in the plains; we will certainly overpower them.” He approved their plan and did as they advised. 1126
20:26 In the spring 1127 Ben Hadad mustered the Syrian army 1128 and marched to Aphek to fight Israel. 1129 20:27 When the Israelites had mustered and had received their supplies, they marched out to face them in battle. When the Israelites deployed opposite them, they were like two small flocks 1130 of goats, but the Syrians filled the land. 20:28 The prophet 1131 visited the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Syrians said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,” I will hand over to you this entire huge army. 1132 Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
20:29 The armies were deployed opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began, and the Israelites killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers in one day. 20:30 The remaining 27,000 ran to Aphek and went into the city, but the wall fell on them. 1133 Now Ben Hadad ran into the city and hid in an inner room. 1134 20:31 His advisers 1135 said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind. 1136 Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads 1137 and surrender 1138 to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.” 20:32 So they put sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel. They said, “Your servant 1139 Ben Hadad says, ‘Please let me live!’” Ahab 1140 replied, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.” 1141 20:33 The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, “Ben Hadad is your brother.” Ahab 1142 then said, “Go, get him.” So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his chariot. 20:34 Ben Hadad 1143 said, “I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets 1144 in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.” 1145 Ahab then said, “I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.” 1146 So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him.
20:35 One of the members of the prophetic guild, speaking with divine authority, ordered his companion, “Wound me!” 1147 But the man refused to wound him. 20:36 So the prophet 1148 said to him, “Because you have disobeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him. 20:37 He found another man and said, “Wound me!” So the man wounded him severely. 1149 20:38 The prophet then went and stood by the road, waiting for the king. He also disguised himself by putting a bandage down over his eyes. 20:39 When the king passed by, he called out to the king, “Your servant went out into the heat 1150 of the battle, and then a man turned aside and brought me a prisoner. 1151 He told me, ‘Guard this prisoner. If he ends up missing for any reason, 1152 you will pay with your life or with a talent 1153 of silver.’ 1154 20:40 Well, it just so happened that while your servant was doing this and that, he disappeared.” The king of Israel said to him, “Your punishment is already determined by your own testimony.” 1155 20:41 The prophet 1156 quickly removed the bandage from his eyes and the king of Israel recognized he was one of the prophets. 20:42 The prophet 1157 then said to him, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Because you released a man I had determined should die, you will pay with your life and your people will suffer instead of his people.’” 1158 20:43 The king of Israel went home to Samaria 1159 bitter and angry.
21:1 After this the following episode took place. 1160 Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. 1161 21:2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard so I can make a vegetable garden out of it, for it is adjacent to my palace. I will give you an even better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, 1162 I will pay you silver for it.” 1163 21:3 But Naboth replied to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.” 1164
21:4 So Ahab went into his palace, bitter and angry that Naboth the Jezreelite had said, 1165 “I will not sell to you my ancestral inheritance.” 1166 He lay down on his bed, pouted, 1167 and would not eat. 21:5 Then his wife Jezebel came in and said to him, “Why do you have a bitter attitude and refuse to eat?” 21:6 He answered her, “While I was talking to Naboth the Jezreelite, I said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard for silver, or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not sell you my vineyard.’” 1168 21:7 His wife Jezebel said to him, “You are the king of Israel! 1169 Get up, eat some food, and have a good time. 1170 I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”
21:8 She wrote out orders, 1171 signed Ahab’s name to them, 1172 and sealed them with his seal. She then sent the orders 1173 to the leaders 1174 and to the nobles who lived in Naboth’s city. 1175 21:9 This is what she wrote: 1176 “Observe a time of fasting and seat Naboth in front of the people. 21:10 Also seat two villains opposite him and have them testify, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
21:11 The men of the 1177 city, the leaders 1178 and the nobles who lived there, 1179 followed the written orders Jezebel had sent them. 1180 21:12 They observed a time of fasting and put Naboth in front of the people. 21:13 The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they dragged him 1181 outside the city and stoned him to death. 1182 21:14 Then they reported to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.” 1183
21:15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she 1184 said to Ahab, “Get up, take possession of the vineyard Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell you for silver, for Naboth is no longer alive; he’s dead.” 21:16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, 1185 he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
21:17 The Lord told Elijah the Tishbite: 1186 21:18 “Get up, go down and meet King Ahab of Israel who lives in Samaria. He is at the vineyard of Naboth; he has gone down there to take possession of it. 21:19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Haven’t you committed murder and taken possession of the property of the deceased?”’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “In the spot where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood they will also lick up your blood – yes, yours!”’”
21:20 When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, 1187 “So, you have found me, my enemy!” Elijah 1188 replied, “I have found you, because you are committed 1189 to doing evil in the sight of 1190 the Lord. 21:21 The Lord says, 1191 ‘Look, I am ready to bring disaster 1192 on you. I will destroy you 1193 and cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated. 1194 21:22 I will make your dynasty 1195 like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah because you angered me and made Israel sin.’ 1196 21:23 The Lord says this about Jezebel, ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the outer wall 1197 of Jezreel.’ 21:24 As for Ahab’s family, dogs will eat the ones 1198 who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.” 21:25 (There had never been anyone like Ahab, who was firmly committed 1199 to doing evil in the sight of 1200 the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. 1201 21:26 He was so wicked he worshiped the disgusting idols, 1202 just like the Amorites 1203 whom the Lord had driven out from before the Israelites.)
21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected. 21:28 The Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, 1204 21:29 “Have you noticed how Ahab shows remorse 1205 before me? Because he shows remorse before me, I will not bring disaster on his dynasty during his lifetime, but during the reign of his son.” 1206
22:1 There was no war between Syria and Israel for three years. 1207 22:2 In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to visit 1208 the king of Israel. 22:3 The king of Israel said to his servants, “Surely you recognize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, though we are hesitant to reclaim it from the king of Syria.” 1209 22:4 Then he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I will support you; my army and horses are at your disposal.” 1210 22:5 Then Jehoshaphat added, 1211 “First seek an oracle from the Lord.” 1212 22:6 So the king of Israel assembled about four hundred prophets and asked them, “Should I attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” 1213 They said, “Attack! The sovereign one 1214 will hand it over to the king.” 22:7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that we may ask him?” 22:8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will. 1215 But I despise 1216 him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. 1217 Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things.” 22:9 The king of Israel summoned an official and said, “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”
22:10 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones, 1218 dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. 1219 All the prophets were prophesying before them. 22:11 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed.’” 22:12 All the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.” 22:13 Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed. 1220 Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success.” 1221 22:14 But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the Lord lives, I will say what the Lord tells me to say.”
22:15 When he came before the king, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?” He answered him, “Attack! You will succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king.” 1222 22:16 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you solemnly promise in 1223 the name of the Lord to tell me only the truth?” 22:17 Micaiah 1224 said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the Lord said, ‘They have no master. They should go home in peace.’” 22:18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?” 22:19 Micaiah 1225 said, “That being the case, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left. 22:20 The Lord said, ‘Who will deceive Ahab, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die 1226 there?’ One said this and another that. 22:21 Then a spirit 1227 stepped forward and stood before the Lord. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord asked him, ‘How?’ 22:22 He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The Lord 1228 said, ‘Deceive and overpower him. 1229 Go out and do as you have proposed.’ 22:23 So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.” 22:24 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said, “Which way did the Lord’s spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?” 22:25 Micaiah replied, “Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.” 22:26 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king’s son. 22:27 Say, ‘This is what the king says, “Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water 1230 until I safely return.”’” 1231 22:28 Micaiah said, “If you really do safely return, then the Lord has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Take note, 1232 all you people.”
22:29 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead. 22:30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and then enter 1233 into the battle; but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and then entered into the battle. 22:31 Now the king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight common soldiers or high-ranking officers; 1234 fight only the king of Israel.” 22:32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel.” So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 22:33 When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him. 22:34 Now an archer shot an arrow at random, 1235 and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king 1236 ordered his charioteer, “Turn around and take me from the battle line, 1237 because I’m wounded.” 22:35 While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening; the blood from the wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot. 22:36 As the sun was setting, a cry went through the camp, “Each one should return to his city and to his homeland.” 22:37 So the king died and was taken to Samaria, where they buried him. 1238 22:38 They washed off the chariot at the pool of Samaria (this was where the prostitutes bathed); 1239 dogs licked his blood, just as the Lord had said would happen. 1240
22:39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, including a record of his accomplishments and how he built a luxurious palace and various cities, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 1241 22:40 Ahab passed away. 1242 His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.
22:41 In the fourth year of King Ahab’s reign over Israel, Asa’s son Jehoshaphat became king over Judah. 22:42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. 1243 His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 22:43 He followed in his father Asa’s footsteps and was careful to do what the Lord approved. 1244 (22:44) 1245 However, the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. 22:44 (22:45) Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.
22:45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, including his successes and military exploits, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. 1246 22:46 He removed from the land any male cultic prostitutes who had managed to survive the reign of his father Asa. 1247 22:47 There was no king in Edom at this time; a governor ruled. 22:48 Jehoshaphat built a fleet of large merchant ships 1248 to travel to Ophir for gold, but they never made the voyage because they were shipwrecked in Ezion Geber. 22:49 Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my sailors join yours in the fleet,” 1249 but Jehoshaphat refused.
22:50 Jehoshaphat passed away 1250 and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor 1251 David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.
22:51 In the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah, Ahab’s son Ahaziah became king over Israel in Samaria. 1252 He ruled for two years over Israel. 22:52 He did evil in the sight of 1253 the Lord and followed in the footsteps 1254 of his father and mother; like Jeroboam son of Nebat, he encouraged Israel to sin. 1255
[1:1] 1 tn Heb “was old, coming into the days” (i.e., advancing in years).
[1:2] 4 tn Heb “let them seek for my master, the king, a young girl, a virgin.” The third person plural subject of the verb is indefinite (see GKC 460 §144.f). The appositional expression, “a young girl, a virgin,” is idiomatic; the second term specifically defines the more general first term (see IBHS 230 §12.3b).
[1:2] 5 tn Heb “and she will stand before the king.” The Hebrew phrase “stand before” can mean “to attend; to serve” (BDB 764 s.v. עָמַד).
[1:2] 6 tn Heb “and she will lie down in your bosom.” The expression might imply sexual intimacy (see 2 Sam 12:3 [where the lamb symbolizes Bathsheba] and Mic 7:5), though v. 4b indicates that David did not actually have sex with the young woman.
[1:2] 7 tn Heb “and my master, the king, will be warm.”
[1:3] 8 tn Heb “through all the territory of Israel.”
[1:4] 9 tn Heb “did not know her.”
[1:5] 10 tn Heb “son of Haggith,” but since this formula usually designates the father (who in this case was David), the translation specifies that David was Adonijah’s father.
[1:5] sn Haggith was one of David’s wives (2 Sam 3:4; 2 Chr 3:2).
[1:5] 11 tn Heb “lifting himself up.”
[1:5] 13 tn Or “he acquired for himself.”
[1:5] 14 tn Heb “to run ahead of him.”
[1:6] 16 tn Heb “did not correct him from his days.” The phrase “from his days” means “from his earliest days,” or “ever in his life.” See GKC 382 §119.w, n. 2.
[1:6] 17 tn Heb “and she gave birth to him after Absalom.” This does not imply they had the same mother; Absalom’s mother was Maacah, not Haggith (2 Sam 3:4).
[1:7] 18 tn Heb “his words were.”
[1:7] 19 tn Heb “helped after” (i.e., stood by).
[1:7] 20 tn Heb “Adonijah.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[1:8] 21 tn Or “bodyguard” (Heb “mighty men”).
[1:9] 23 tc The ancient Greek version omits this appositional phrase.
[1:10] 24 tn Or “bodyguard” (Heb “mighty men”).
[1:11] 25 tn Heb “Have you not heard?”
[1:11] 26 tn Heb “and our master David does not know.”
[1:12] 27 tn Heb “now, come.” The imperative of הָלַךְ (halakh) is here used as an introductory interjection. See BDB 234 s.v. חָלַךְ.
[1:13] 29 tn Heb “come, go to.” The imperative of הָלַךְ (halakh) is here used as an introductory interjection. See BDB 234 s.v. חָלַךְ.
[1:13] 30 tn Or “swear an oath to.”
[1:14] 31 tn In the Hebrew text the sentence is introduced by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”), which here draws attention to Nathan’s concluding word of assurance and support. For this use of the word, see HALOT 252 s.v. הִנֵּה.
[1:14] 32 tc The Hebrew text reads, “I will come after you.”
[1:14] 33 tn Heb “fill up [i.e., confirm] your words.”
[1:16] 35 tn Heb “bowed low and bowed down to.”
[1:18] 36 tc Instead of עַתָּה (’attah, “now”) many Hebrew
[1:18] 37 tn Heb “you do not know [about it].”
[1:20] 38 tc Many Hebrew
[1:20] 39 tn Heb “the eyes of all Israel are upon you to declare to them who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him.”
[1:21] 40 tn The words “if a decision is not made” are added for clarification.
[1:21] 41 tn Heb “lies down with his fathers.”
[1:21] 42 tn Heb “I and my son Solomon.” The order has been reversed in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[1:21] 43 tn Heb “will be guilty”; NASB “considered offenders”; TEV “treated as traitors.”
[1:22] 44 tn Heb “look.” The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) here draws attention to Nathan’s arrival and invites the audience to view the scene through the eyes of the participants.
[1:23] 45 tn Heb “ground.” Since this was indoors, “floor” is more appropriate than “ground.”
[1:25] 47 tn Heb “eating and drinking.”
[1:25] 48 tn Heb “let the king, Adonijah, live!”
[1:27] 49 tc Many Hebrew
[1:27] 50 tn Heb “From my master the king is this thing done, and you did not make known to your servants who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him?”
[1:28] 51 tn Heb “answered and said.”
[1:28] 52 sn Summon Bathsheba. Bathsheba must have left the room when Nathan arrived (see 1:22).
[1:28] 53 tn Heb “she came before the king and stood before the king.”
[1:29] 54 tn Or “ransomed my life.”
[1:30] 55 tn Or “carry out, perform.”
[1:31] 56 tn Heb “bowed low, face [to] the ground, and bowed down to the king.”
[1:32] 57 sn Summon…Nathan. Nathan must have left the room when Bathsheba reentered.
[1:33] 59 tn The plural form is used in the Hebrew text to indicate honor and authority.
[1:33] 60 tn Heb “mount Solomon my son on the mule that belongs to me and take him down to Gihon.”
[1:34] 61 tn Or “designate” (i.e., by anointing with oil).
[1:36] 63 tn Heb “answered and said.”
[1:36] 65 tn Heb “So may the
[1:37] 66 tn Heb “and may he make his throne greater than the throne of my master King David.”
[1:38] 67 sn The Kerethites and Pelethites were members of David’s royal guard (see 2 Sam 8:18). The Kerethites may have been descendants of an ethnic group originating in Crete.
[1:39] 68 tn Heb “the horn of oil.” This has been specified as olive oil in the translation for clarity.
[1:39] sn A horn filled with oil. An animal’s horn was used as an oil flask in the anointing ceremony.
[1:40] 70 tn Heb “and all the people went up after him, and the people were playing flutes and rejoicing with great joy and the ground split open at the sound of them.” The verb בָּקַע (baqa’, “to split open”), which elsewhere describes the effects of an earthquake, is obviously here an exaggeration for the sake of emphasis.
[1:41] 71 tn Heb “And Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard, now they had finished eating.”
[1:41] 72 tn Heb “Why is the city’s sound noisy?”
[1:42] 73 tn The Hebrew text has “look” at this point. The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh), “look draws attention to Jonathan’s arrival and invites the audience to view the scene through the eyes of the participants.
[1:42] 75 tn Heb “you are a man of strength [or “ability”] and you bring a message [that is] good.” Another option is to understand the phrase אִישׁ חַיִל (’ish khayil) in the sense of “a worthy man,” that is “loyal.” See also 1 Kgs 1:52 and HALOT 311 s.v. חַיִל.
[1:43] 76 tn Heb “answered and said.”
[1:43] 77 tn For a similar use of אֲבָל (’aval), see Gen 17:19, where God rejects Abraham’s proposal and offers an alternative.
[1:43] 78 tn The plural form is used in the Hebrew text to indicate honor and authority.
[1:45] 79 tn I.e., designated by anointing with oil.
[1:46] 80 tn Heb “And also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.”
[1:47] 82 tn The plural form is used in the Hebrew text to indicate honor and authority.
[1:47] 83 tc Many Hebrew
[1:47] 84 tn Heb “make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.” The term שֵׁם (shem, “name”) is used here of one’s fame and reputation.
[1:47] 85 tn Or “bowed down; worshiped.”
[1:48] 86 tn The Hebrew text reads, “and the king said.”
[1:48] 87 tn Or “Blessed be the
[1:48] 88 tn Heb “and my eyes are seeing.”
[1:49] 89 tn Or “were afraid, trembled.”
[1:50] 90 sn Grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. The “horns” of the altar were the horn-shaped projections on the four corners of the altar (see Exod 27:2). By going to the holy place and grabbing hold of the horns of the altar, Adonijah was seeking asylum from Solomon.
[1:51] 91 tn Heb “King Solomon.” The name and title have been replaced by the pronoun (“you”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[1:51] 92 tn Or “swear an oath to.”
[1:52] 93 tn Heb “if he is a man of strength [or ability].” In this context, where Adonijah calls himself a “servant,” implying allegiance to the new king, the phrase אִישׁ חַיִל (’ish khayil) probably carries the sense of “a worthy man,” that is, “loyal” (see HALOT 311 s.v. חַיִל).
[1:52] 94 tn Heb “but if evil is found in him.”
[1:53] 95 tn Heb “sent and they brought him down.”
[1:53] 96 tn Heb “Go to your house.”
[2:1] 97 tn Heb “and the days of David approached to die.”
[2:2] 99 tn Heb “going the way of all the earth.”
[2:3] 100 tn Heb “keep the charge of the
[2:3] 101 tn Heb “by walking in his ways.”
[2:3] 103 tn Heb “then you will cause to succeed all which you do and all which you turn there.”
[2:4] 104 tn Heb “then the
[2:4] 105 tn Heb “guard their way.”
[2:4] 106 tn Heb “by walking before me in faithfulness.”
[2:4] 109 tn Heb “there will not be cut off from you a man from upon the throne of Israel.”
[2:5] 110 tn Heb “what he did to the two commanders…and he killed them.”
[2:5] 111 tn Heb “he shed the blood of battle in peace.”
[2:5] 112 tn Heb “and he shed the blood of battle when he killed which is on his waist and on his sandal[s] which are on his feet.” That is, he covered himself with guilt and his guilt was obvious to all who saw him.
[2:6] 113 tn Heb “according to your wisdom.”
[2:6] 114 tn Heb “and do not bring down his grey hair in peace [to] Sheol.”
[2:7] 115 tn Heb “do loyalty with”; or “act faithfully toward.”
[2:7] 116 tn Heb “and let them be among the ones who eat [at] your table.”
[2:7] 117 tn Heb “drew near to.”
[2:8] 118 tn Heb “Look, with you is Shimei….”
[2:8] 119 tn Heb “and he cursed me with a horrible curse on the day I went to Mahanaim.”
[2:8] 120 tn Or “swore an oath to.”
[2:9] 122 tc The Lucianic recension of the Old Greek and the Vulgate have here “you” rather than “now.” The two words are homonyms in Hebrew.
[2:9] 123 tn Heb “what you should do to him.”
[2:9] 124 tn Heb “bring his grey hair down in blood [to] Sheol.”
[2:10] 125 tn Heb “and David lay down with his fathers.”
[2:10] 126 sn The phrase the city of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
[2:11] 127 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[2:13] 129 tn Heb “[in] peace.”
[2:14] 130 tn Heb “and he said.”
[2:15] 132 tn Heb “set their face to me to be king.”
[2:15] 133 tn Heb “and the kingdom turned about and became my brother’s, for from the
[2:16] 134 tn Heb “Do not turn back my face.”
[2:16] 135 tn Heb “She said, ‘Speak!’”
[2:17] 136 tn Heb “Say to Solomon the king, for he will not turn back your face, that he might give to me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife.”
[2:18] 137 tn Heb “[It is] good!”
[2:19] 139 tn Heb “he set up a throne for the mother of the king.”
[2:20] 140 tn Or “I’d like to make just one request of you.”
[2:20] 141 tn Heb “Do not turn back my face.”
[2:20] 142 tn Heb “and the king said to her.”
[2:22] 143 tn Heb “for Adonijah.”
[2:23] 144 tn Heb “So may God do to me, and so may he add.”
[2:23] 145 tn Heb “if with his life Adonijah has not spoken this word.”
[2:25] 147 tn The Hebrew text adds, “by the hand of.”
[2:25] 148 tn Heb “and he struck him and he died.”
[2:26] 150 tn Heb “you are a man of death.”
[2:26] 151 tn Heb “and because you suffered through all which my father suffered.”
[2:27] 152 tn Heb “Solomon drove out Abiathar from being a priest to the
[2:27] 153 tn Heb “fulfilling the word of the
[2:28] 154 tn Heb “turned after” (also later in this verse).
[2:28] 155 tn Heb “Joab.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[2:28] 156 sn Grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. The “horns” of the altar were the horn-shaped projections on the four corners of the altar (see Exod 27:2). By going to the holy place and grabbing hold of the horns of the altar, Joab was seeking asylum from Solomon.
[2:29] 157 tn Heb “and it was related to King Solomon.”
[2:29] 158 tn Heb “so Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying.”
[2:30] 159 tn Heb “saying, “In this way Joab spoke and in this way he answered me.”
[2:31] 161 tn Heb “take away the undeserved bloodshed which Joab spilled from upon me and from upon the house of my father.”
[2:32] 162 tn Heb “The
[2:32] 163 tn Heb “because he struck down two men more innocent and better than he and he killed them with the sword, and my father David did not know.”
[2:33] 165 tn Heb “his throne.”
[2:34] 166 tn Heb “struck him and killed him.” The referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[2:35] 168 tc The Old Greek translation includes after v. 35 some fourteen verses that are absent from the MT.
[2:36] 169 tn Heb “sent and summoned.”
[2:36] 170 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[2:36] 171 tn Heb “and you may not go out from there here or there.”
[2:37] 172 tn Heb “your blood will be upon your head.”
[2:38] 173 tn Heb “Good is the word, as my master the king has spoken.”
[2:38] 174 tn Heb “so your servant will do.”
[2:38] 175 tn Heb “many days.”
[2:42] 176 tn Heb “sent and summoned.”
[2:42] 177 tn Heb “Is it not [true]…?” In the Hebrew text the statement is interrogative; the rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course it is.”
[2:42] 178 tn Heb “here or there.”
[2:42] 179 tn Heb “good is the word; I have heard.”
[2:43] 180 tn Heb “Why have you not kept the oath [to] the
[2:44] 181 tn Heb “You know all the evil, for your heart knows, which you did to David my father.”
[2:44] 182 tn Heb “The
[2:46] 185 tn “The king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada and he went out and struck him down and he died.”
[2:46] 186 tn “And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.”
[3:1] 187 sn The phrase City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
[3:1] 188 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[3:2] 189 sn Offering sacrifices at the high places. The “high places” were places of worship that were naturally or artificially elevated.
[3:2] 190 tn Heb “for the name of the
[3:3] 191 tn Heb “Solomon loved the
[3:3] 192 tn Or “policies, rules.”
[3:4] 193 tn Heb “for it was the great high place.”
[3:4] 194 tn The verb form is an imperfect, which is probably used here in a customary sense to indicate continued or repeated action in past time. See GKC 314 §107.b.
[3:5] 195 tn Or “revealed himself.”
[3:6] 198 tn Heb “walked before.”
[3:6] 199 tn Heb “in faithfulness and in innocence and in uprightness of heart with you.”
[3:6] 200 tn Heb “and you have kept to him this great loyalty and you gave to him a son [who] sits on his throne as this day.”
[3:7] 201 tn Heb “and I do not know going out or coming in.”
[3:8] 202 tn There is no verb expressed in the Hebrew text; “stands” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
[3:8] 203 tn Heb “your people whom you have chosen.”
[3:9] 204 tn Heb “a hearing heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
[3:9] 206 tn Heb “to understand between good and evil.”
[3:9] 207 tn Heb “for”; the word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.
[3:9] 208 tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”
[3:9] 210 tn Heb “your numerous people.”
[3:10] 211 tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here and in v.15 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).
[3:10] 212 tn Heb “And the thing was good in the eyes of the Lord, for Solomon asked for this thing.”
[3:11] 213 tn Heb “because you asked for this thing, and did not ask for yourself many days and did not ask for yourself riches and did not ask for the life of your enemies, but you asked for yourself understanding to hear judgment.”
[3:12] 214 tn This statement is introduced in the Hebrew text by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows.
[3:12] 215 tn Heb “I am doing according to your words.” The perfect tense is sometimes used of actions occurring at the same time a statement is made.
[3:12] 216 tn This statement is introduced by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows. The translation assumes that the perfect tense here indicates that the action occurs as the statement is made (i.e., “right now I give you”).
[3:12] 217 tn Heb “heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
[3:12] 218 tn Heb “so that there has not been one like you prior to you, and after you one will not arise like you.”
[3:13] 219 tn The translation assumes that the perfect tense here indicates that the action occurs as the statement is made.
[3:13] 220 tn Heb “so that there is not one among the kings like you all your days.” The LXX lacks the words “all your days.”
[3:14] 221 tn Heb “walk in my ways.”
[3:14] 224 tn Heb “I will lengthen your days.”
[3:15] 225 tn Heb “and look, a dream.”
[3:15] 226 tn Or “tokens of peace”; NIV, TEV “fellowship offerings.”
[3:18] 227 sn There was no one else in the house except the two of us. In other words, there were no other witnesses to the births who could identify which child belonged to which mother.
[3:19] 229 tn Heb “lay, slept.”
[3:21] 231 tn Heb “look, it was not my son to whom I had given birth.”
[3:22] 232 tn Heb “they spoke before the king.” Another option is to translate, “they argued before the king.”
[3:26] 233 tn Heb “the woman whose son was alive.”
[3:26] 234 tn Heb “for her compassions grew warm for her son.”
[3:26] 235 tn The infinitive absolute before the negated jussive emphasizes the main verb.
[3:28] 236 tn Heb “feared,” perhaps in the sense, “stood in awe of.”
[3:28] 238 tn Heb “the wisdom of God within him.”
[4:3] 239 tn Heb “were scribes”; NASB, NIV, NRSV “secretaries”; TEV, NLT “court secretaries.”
[4:5] 242 tn Heb “close associate of”; KJV, ASV, NASB “the king’s friend” (a title for an adviser, not just an acquaintance).
[4:6] 243 tn Heb “over the house.”
[4:6] 245 sn The work crews. This Hebrew word (מַס, mas) refers to a group of laborers conscripted for royal or public service.
[4:12] 246 map For location see Map1 D4; Map2 C1; Map4 C2; Map5 F2; Map7 B1.
[4:21] 247 sn Beginning with 4:21, the verse numbers through 5:18 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 4:21 ET = 5:1 HT, 4:22 ET = 5:2 HT, etc., through 5:18 ET = 5:32 HT. Beginning with 6:1 the numbering of verses in the English Bible and the Hebrew text is again the same.
[4:21] 248 tn Heb “the River” (also in v. 24). This is the standard designation for the Euphrates River in biblical Hebrew.
[4:21] 249 tn Heb “[They] were bringing tribute and were serving Solomon all the days of his life.”
[4:22] 250 tn Heb “the food of Solomon for each day was.”
[4:22] 251 tn As a unit of dry measure a cor was roughly equivalent to six bushels.
[4:23] 252 tn The words “in the stall” are added for clarification; note the immediately following reference to cattle from the pasture.
[4:24] 253 tn Heb “because.” The words “his royal court was so large” are added to facilitate the logical connection with the preceding verse.
[4:24] 254 sn Tiphsah. This was located on the Euphrates River.
[4:24] 255 tn Heb “for he was ruling over all [the region] beyond the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kingdoms beyond the River, and he had peace on every side all around.”
[4:25] 256 tn Heb “Judah and Israel lived securely, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beer Sheba, all the days of Solomon.”
[4:26] 257 tn The Hebrew text has “40,000,” but this is probably an inflated number (nevertheless it is followed by KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV, TEV, CEV). Some Greek
[4:27] 258 tn Heb “everyone who drew near to the table of King Solomon.”
[4:28] 259 tn Heb “barley and straw for the horses and the steeds they brought to the place which was there, each according to his measure.”
[4:29] 260 tn Heb “heart,” i.e., mind. (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
[4:30] 261 tn Heb “the wisdom of Solomon was greater than the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.”
[4:31] 262 tn Heb “his name was in all the surrounding nations.”
[4:33] 264 tn Heb “he spoke about plants.”
[4:33] 265 tn Heb “he spoke about.”
[4:34] 266 tn Heb “the wisdom of Solomon.”
[5:1] 267 sn The verse numbers in the English Bible differ from those in the Hebrew text (BHS) here; 5:1-18 in the English Bible corresponds to 5:15-32 in the Hebrew text. See the note at 4:21.
[5:1] 268 map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
[5:1] 269 tn Heb “his servants.”
[5:3] 270 tn Heb “a house for the name of the
[5:3] 271 tn Heb “because of the battles which surrounded him until the
[5:5] 272 tn Heb “Look, I am saying.”
[5:5] 273 tn Heb “a house for the name of the
[5:5] 274 tn Heb “a house for my name.” The word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor. The “name” of the
[5:7] 275 tn Or “Blessed be the
[5:8] 277 tn Heb “I will satisfy all your desire with respect to cedar wood and with respect to the wood of evergreens.”
[5:9] 278 tn Heb “I will place them [on? as?] rafts in the sea to the place where you designate to me.” This may mean he would send them by raft, or that he would tie them in raft-like bundles, and have ships tow them down to an Israelite port.
[5:9] 279 tn Heb “smash them,” i.e., untie the bundles.
[5:9] 280 tn Heb “as for you, you will satisfy my desire by giving food for my house.”
[5:10] 281 tn Heb “and Hiram gave to Solomon cedar wood and the wood of evergreens, all his desire.”
[5:11] 282 sn As a unit of dry measure a cor was roughly equivalent to six bushels.
[5:11] 283 tn Heb “his house.”
[5:11] 284 tc The Hebrew text has “twenty cors,” but the ancient Greek version and the parallel text in 2 Chr 2:10 read “twenty thousand baths.”
[5:11] sn A bath was a liquid measure equivalent to almost six gallons.
[5:11] 286 tn Heb “and Solomon supplied Hiram with twenty thousand cors of wheat…pure olive oil. So Solomon would give to Hiram year by year.”
[5:12] 287 tn Heb “a covenant,” referring to a formal peace treaty or alliance.
[5:13] 288 tn Heb “raised up.”
[5:13] 289 sn Work crews. This Hebrew word (מַס, mas) refers to a group of laborers conscripted for royal or public service.
[5:15] 291 tn Heb “carriers of loads.”
[5:15] 292 tn Heb “cutters” (probably of stones).
[5:16] 293 tc Some Greek
[5:16] 294 tn Heb “besides thirty-three hundred from the officials of Solomon’s governors who were over the work, the ones ruling over the people, the ones doing the work.”
[5:17] 295 tn Heb “and the king commanded.”
[5:18] 297 tn Heb “the Gebalites.” The reading is problematic and some emend to a verb form meaning, “set the borders.”
[5:18] 298 tc The LXX includes the words “for three years.”
[6:1] 299 sn During the month Ziv. This would be April-May, 966
[6:2] 300 tn Heb “sixty cubits.” A cubit was a unit of measure roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 45 cm. Measurements in vv. 2-10 have been converted to feet in the translation for clarity.
[6:2] 301 tn Heb “twenty cubits.”
[6:2] 302 tn Heb “thirty cubits.”
[6:3] 303 tn Heb “twenty cubits.”
[6:3] 304 tn Heb “ten cubits.”
[6:5] 305 tn Heb “and he built on the wall of the temple an extension all around, the walls of the temple all around, for the main hall and for the holy place, and he made side rooms all around.”
[6:6] 306 tn Heb “five cubits.”
[6:6] 307 tn Heb “six cubits.”
[6:6] 308 tn Heb “seven cubits.”
[6:6] 309 tn Or “offsets” (ASV, NAB, NASB, NRSV); NIV “offset ledges.”
[6:6] 310 tn Heb “so that [the beams] would not have a hold in the walls of the temple.”
[6:7] 311 tn Heb “finished stone of the quarry,” i.e., stones chiseled and shaped at the time they were taken out of the quarry.
[6:8] 312 tc The Hebrew text has “middle,” but the remainder of the verse suggests this is an error.
[6:8] 313 tn Heb “by stairs they went up.” The word translated “stairs” occurs only here. Other options are “trapdoors” or “ladders.”
[6:8] 314 tc The translation reads with a few medieval Hebrew
[6:9] 315 tn Heb “ built the house and completed it.”
[6:9] 317 tn The word occurs only here; the precise meaning is uncertain.
[6:9] 318 tn Heb “and rows with cedar wood.”
[6:10] 319 tn Heb “five cubits.” This must refer to the height of each floor or room.
[6:11] 320 tc The LXX lacks vv. 11-14.
[6:11] 321 tn Heb “the word of the
[6:12] 324 tn Heb “and keep all my commandments by walking in them.”
[6:12] 325 tn Heb “I will establish my word with you which I spoke to David your father.”
[6:14] 326 tn Heb “ built the house and completed it.”
[6:15] 327 tc The MT reads קִירוֹת (qirot, “walls”), but this should be emended to קוֹרוֹת (qorot, “rafters”). See BDB 900 s.v. קוֹרָה.
[6:16] 328 tn Heb “He built twenty cubits from the rear areas of the temple with cedar planks from the floor to the walls, and he built it on the inside for an inner sanctuary, for a holy place of holy places.”
[6:16] 329 tc The MT has קְלָעִים (qÿla’im, “curtains”), but this should be emended to קוֹרוֹת (qorot, “rafters”). See BDB 900 s.v. קוֹרָה.
[6:17] 330 tn Heb “and the house was forty cubits, that is, the main hall before it.”
[6:18] 331 tn Heb “Cedar was inside the temple, carvings of gourds (i.e., gourd-shaped ornaments) and opened flowers; the whole was cedar, no stone was seen.”
[6:20] 332 tn Heb “twenty cubits” (this measurement occurs three times in this verse).
[6:20] 333 tn Heb “with plated gold” (or perhaps, “with pure gold”).
[6:20] 334 tn Heb “he plated [the] altar of cedar.”
[6:21] 335 tn Heb “with plated gold” (or perhaps, “with pure gold”).
[6:22] 337 tn Heb “all the temple he plated with gold until all the temple was finished; and the whole altar which was in the inner sanctuary he plated with gold.”
[6:23] 338 tn Heb “ten cubits” (a cubit was a unit of measure roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 45 cm).
[6:24] 339 tn Heb “The first wing of the [one] cherub was five cubits, and the second wing of the cherub was five cubits, ten cubits from the tips of his wings to the tips of his wings.”
[6:25] 340 tn Heb “and the second cherub was ten cubits, the two cherubs had one measurement and one shape.”
[6:26] 341 tn Heb “the height of the first cherub was ten cubits; and so was the second cherub.”
[6:27] 342 tn Heb “in the midst of the inner house,” i.e., in the inner sanctuary.
[6:27] 343 tn Heb “and their wings were in the middle of the room, touching wing to wing.”
[6:29] 344 sn Inside and out probably refers to the inner and outer rooms within the building.
[6:29] 345 tn Heb “carved engravings of carvings.”
[6:30] 346 sn Inside and out probably refers to the inner and outer rooms within the building.
[6:31] 347 tn Heb “the pillar, doorposts, a fifth part” (the precise meaning of this description is uncertain).
[6:32] 348 tn Heb “carved carvings of.”
[6:32] 349 tn Heb “he plated [with] gold” (the precise object is not stated).
[6:32] 350 tn Heb “and he hammered out the gold on the cherubs and the palm trees.”
[6:33] 351 tn Heb “and so he did at the entrance of the main hall, doorposts of olive wood, from a fourth.”
[6:34] 352 tn The words “he also made” are added for stylistic reasons.
[6:34] 353 tc Heb “two of the leaves of the first door were folding, and two of the leaves of the second door were folding.” In the second half of the description, the MT has קְלָעִים (qÿla’im, “curtains”), but this is surely a corruption of צְלָעִים (tsÿla’im, “leaves”) which appears in the first half of the statement.
[6:37] 354 sn In the month Ziv. This would be April-May, 966
[6:37] 355 tn The words “of Solomon’s reign” are added for clarification. See v. 1.
[6:38] 356 sn In the month Bul. This would be October-November 959
[6:38] 357 tn Heb “he built it in seven years.”
[7:1] 358 tn Heb “His house Solomon built in thirteen years and he completed all his house.”
[7:2] 360 sn The Palace of the Lebanon Forest. This name was appropriate because of the large amount of cedar, undoubtedly brought from Lebanon, used in its construction. The cedar pillars in the palace must have given it the appearance of a forest.
[7:2] 361 tn Heb “one hundred cubits.”
[7:2] 362 tn Heb “fifty cubits.”
[7:2] 363 tn Heb “thirty cubits.”
[7:4] 364 tn Heb “and framed [windows in] three rows, and opening to opening three times.” The precise meaning of this description is uncertain. Another option might be, “overhung [in] three rows.” This might mean they were positioned high on the walls.
[7:5] 365 tn Heb “all of the doors and doorposts.”
[7:5] 366 sn Rectangular in shape. That is, rather than arched.
[7:5] 367 tn Heb “and all the entrances and the doorposts [had] four frames, and in front of opening to opening three times” (the precise meaning of the description is uncertain).
[7:6] 368 tn Heb “a porch of pillars.”
[7:6] 369 tn Heb “fifty cubits.”
[7:6] 370 tn Heb “thirty cubits.”
[7:6] 371 tn Heb “and a porch was in front of them (i.e., the aforementioned pillars) and pillars and a roof in front of them (i.e., the aforementioned pillars and porch).” The precise meaning of the term translated “roof” is uncertain; it occurs only here and in Ezek 41:25-26.
[7:7] 372 tn Heb “and a porch for the throne, where he was making judicial decisions, the Porch of Judgment, he made.”
[7:7] 373 tc The Hebrew text reads, “from the floor to the floor.” The second occurrence of the term הַקַּרְקָע (haqqarqa’, “the floor”) is probably an error; one should emend to הַקּוֹרוֹת (haqqorot, “the rafters”). See 6:16.
[7:8] 374 tn Heb “and his house where he lived, the other court [i.e., as opposed to the great court], separated from the house belonging to the hall, was like this work [i.e., this style of architecture].”
[7:8] 375 tn Heb “and a house he was making for the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Solomon had taken, like this porch.”
[7:9] 376 tn Or “valuable” (see 5:17).
[7:9] 377 tn Heb “according to the measurement of chiseled [stone].”
[7:9] 378 tn Heb “inside and out.”
[7:9] 379 tn The precise meaning of the Hebrew word טְפָחוֹת (tÿfakhot) is uncertain, but it is clear that the referent stands in opposition to the foundation.
[7:10] 380 tn Heb “stones of ten cubits and stones of eight cubits” (it is unclear exactly what dimension is being measured). If both numbers refer to the length of the stones (cf. NCV, CEV, NLT), then perhaps stones of two different sizes were used in some alternating pattern.
[7:11] 381 tn Heb “on top,” or “above.”
[7:11] 382 tn Or “valuable” (see 5:17).
[7:11] 383 tn Heb “according to the measurement of chiseled [stone].”
[7:12] 384 tn Or “the porch of the temple.”
[7:13] 385 tn Heb “King Solomon sent and took Hiram from Tyre.” In 2 Chr 2:13 (MT v. 12) and 4:11, 16 his name is spelled “Huram.”
[7:13] 386 map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
[7:14] 387 tn 2 Chr 2:14 (13 HT) says “from the daughters of Dan.”
[7:14] 388 tn Heb “he was filled with the skill, understanding, and knowledge.”
[7:15] 389 tn Heb “eighteen cubits.”
[7:15] 390 tn Heb “twelve cubits.”
[7:16] 391 tn Heb “two capitals he made to place on the tops of the pillars, cast in bronze; five cubits was the height of the first capital, and five cubits was the height of the second capital.”
[7:17] 392 tn Heb “there were seven for the first capital, and seven for the second capital.”
[7:18] 393 tn Heb “he made the pillars, and two rows surrounding one latticework to cover the capitals which were on top of the pomegranates, and so he did for the second latticework.” The translation supplies “pomegranates” after “two rows,” and understands “pillars,” rather than “pomegranates,” to be the correct reading after “on top of.” The latter change finds support from many Hebrew
[7:19] 394 tn Heb “the capitals which were on the top of the pillars were the work of lilies, in the porch, four cubits.” It is unclear exactly what dimension is being measured.
[7:20] 395 tn Heb “and the capitals on the two pillars, also above, close beside the bulge which was beside the latticework, two hundred pomegranates in rows around, on the second capital.” The precise meaning of the word translated “bulge” is uncertain.
[7:21] 397 sn The name Jakin appears to be a verbal form and probably means, “he establishes.”
[7:21] 399 sn The meaning of the name Boaz is uncertain. For various proposals, see BDB 126-27 s.v. בעז. One attractive option is to revocalize the name as בְּעֹז (be’oz, “in strength”) and to understand it as completing the verbal form on the first pillar. Taking the words together and reading from right to left, one can translate the sentence, “he establishes [it] in strength.”
[7:23] 400 tn Heb “He made the sea, cast.”
[7:23] sn This large basin that was mounted on twelve bronze bulls and contained water for the priests to bathe themselves (2 Chr 4:6; cf. Exod 30:17-21).
[7:23] 401 tn Heb “ten cubits.”
[7:23] 402 tn Heb “five cubits.”
[7:23] 403 tn Heb “and a measuring line went around it thirty cubits all around.”
[7:24] 404 tn Heb “The Sea.” The proper noun has been replaced by the pronoun (“it”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[7:24] 405 tn Or “gourd-shaped ornaments.”
[7:24] 406 tn Heb “ten cubits surrounding the sea all around.” The precise meaning of this description is uncertain.
[7:24] 407 tn Heb “the gourd-shaped ornaments were in two rows, cast in its casting.”
[7:25] 408 tn Heb “all their hindquarters were toward the inside.”
[7:26] 409 tn Heb “two thousand baths” (a bath was a liquid measure roughly equivalent to six gallons).
[7:27] 410 tn Heb “four cubits.”
[7:27] 411 tn Heb “four cubits.”
[7:27] 412 tn Heb “three cubits.”
[7:29] 413 tn The precise meaning of these final words is uncertain. A possible literal translation would be, “wreaths, the work of descent.”
[7:30] 414 tn The precise meaning of this last word, translated “wreaths,” is uncertain.
[7:31] 415 tn Heb “And its opening from the inside to the top and upwards [was] a cubit, and its opening was round, the work of a stand, a cubit-and-a-half.” The precise meaning of this description is uncertain.
[7:31] 416 tn Heb “also over its opening were carvings and their frames [were] squared, not round.”
[7:32] 417 tn Heb “a cubit-and-a-half” (a cubit was a unit of measure roughly equivalent to 18 inches or 45 cm).
[7:34] 418 tn Heb “four shoulders to the four sides of each stand, from the stand its shoulders.” The precise meaning of the description is uncertain.
[7:35] 419 tn Heb “and on top of the stand, a half cubit [in] height, round all around” (the meaning of this description is uncertain).
[7:36] 420 tn Heb “according to the space of each.”
[7:36] 421 tn The precise meaning of this last word, translated “wreaths,” is uncertain.
[7:38] 422 tn Heb “forty baths” (a bath was a liquid measure roughly equivalent to six gallons).
[7:38] 423 tn Heb “four cubits, each basin.” It is unclear which dimension is being measured.
[7:40] 424 tn Heb “Hiram.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[7:40] 425 tn Heb “Hiram finished doing all the work which he did for King Solomon [on] the house of the
[7:41] 426 tn The words “he made” are added for stylistic reasons.
[7:44] 427 tn Heb “underneath ‘The Sea.’”
[7:45] 428 tn Heb “which Hiram made for King Solomon [for] the house of the
[7:46] 429 tn Or perhaps, “molds.”
[7:47] 430 tn Heb “Solomon left all the items, due to their very great abundance; the weight of the bronze was not sought.”
[7:48] 431 tn Heb “the bread of the face [or presence].” Many recent English versions employ “the bread of the Presence,” although this does not convey much to the modern reader.
[7:48] sn This bread was viewed as a perpetual offering to God and was regarded as holy. See Lev 24:5-9.
[7:51] 432 tn Heb “Solomon.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[8:1] 433 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words at the beginning of ch. 8: “It so happened that when Solomon finished building the Lord’s temple and his own house, after twenty years.”
[8:1] 434 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[8:1] 435 tn Heb “Then Solomon convened the elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, the chiefs of the fathers belonging to the sons of Israel to King Solomon [in] Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the
[8:2] 436 sn The festival. This was the Feast of Tabernacles, see Lev 23:34.
[8:2] 437 sn The month Ethanim. This would be September-October in modern reckoning.
[8:4] 438 tn Heb “the tent of assembly.”
[8:4] sn The tent of meeting. See Exod 33:7-11.
[8:4] 439 tn Heb “and they carried the ark of the
[8:5] 440 tn Heb “And King Solomon and all the assembly of Israel, those who had been gathered to him, [were] before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle which could not be counted or numbered because of the abundance.”
[8:6] 441 tn The word “assigned” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
[8:7] 442 sn And its poles. These poles were used to carry the ark. See Exod 25:13-15.
[8:8] 443 tn Heb “they could not be seen outside.”
[8:9] 444 sn Horeb is another name for Mount Sinai.
[8:9] 445 tn Heb “in Horeb where.”
[8:11] 446 tn Heb “were not able to stand to serve.”
[8:11] 447 tn Heb “the house of the
[8:13] 448 tn The words “O
[8:14] 449 tn Heb “turned his face.”
[8:14] 450 tn Heb “and he blessed all the assembly of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel was standing.”
[8:15] 451 tn The Hebrew text reads, “by his hand.”
[8:15] 452 tn The Hebrew text reads, “by his mouth.”
[8:16] 454 tn Heb “to build a house for my name to be there.”
[8:16] sn To build a temple in which to live (Heb “to build a house for my name to be there”). In the OT, the word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor. The “name” of the
[8:17] 455 tn Heb “and it was with the heart of David my father.”
[8:17] 456 tn Heb “to build a house for the name of the
[8:18] 457 tn Heb “Because it was with your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was with your heart.”
[8:19] 458 tn Heb “your son, the one who came out of your body, he will build the temple for my name.”
[8:20] 459 tn Heb “his word that he spoke.”
[8:21] 461 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 34, 40, 48, 53, 57, 58).
[8:23] 464 tn Heb “one who keeps the covenant and the loyal love.” The expression is a hendiadys.
[8:23] 465 tn Heb “who walk before you with all their heart.”
[8:24] 466 tn Heb “[you] who kept to your servant David my father that which you spoke to him.”
[8:24] 467 tn Heb “you spoke by your mouth and by your hand you fulfilled, as this day.”
[8:25] 468 tn Heb “there will not be cut off from you a man from before me sitting on the throne of Israel.”
[8:25] 469 tn Heb “guard their way by walking before me as you have walked before me.”
[8:26] 470 tn Heb “the words that you spoke.”
[8:26] 471 tn Or “prove to be reliable.”
[8:27] 472 tn Heb “Indeed, can God really live on the earth?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course not,” the force of which the translation above seeks to reflect.
[8:28] 474 tn Heb “by listening to.”
[8:28] 475 tn Heb “the loud cry and the prayer.”
[8:28] 476 tn Heb “praying before you.”
[8:29] 477 tn Heb “so your eyes might be open toward this house night and day, toward the place about which you said, ‘My name will be there.’”
[8:29] 478 tn Heb “by listening to the prayer which your servant is praying concerning this place.”
[8:30] 479 tn Heb “listen to the request of your servant and your people Israel which they are praying concerning this place.”
[8:30] 480 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.
[8:30] 481 tn Heb “hear and forgive.”
[8:31] 482 tn Heb “and forgive the man who sins against his neighbor when one takes up against him a curse to curse him and the curse comes before your altar in this house.” In the Hebrew text the words “and forgive” conclude v. 30, but the accusative sign at the beginning of v. 31 suggests the verb actually goes with what follows in v. 31. The parallel text in 2 Chr 6:22 begins with “and if,” rather than the accusative sign. In this case “forgive” must be taken with what precedes, and v. 31 must be taken as the protasis (“if” clause) of a conditional sentence, with v. 32 being the apodosis (“then” clause) that completes the sentence.
[8:31] sn Be willing to forgive the accused if the accusation is false. At first it appears that Solomon is asking God to forgive the guilty party. But in v. 32 Solomon asks the
[8:32] 483 tn Heb “and you, hear [from] heaven and act and judge your servants by declaring the guilty to be guilty, to give his way on his head, and to declare the innocent to be innocent, to give to him according to his innocence.”
[8:33] 484 tn Heb “when.” In the Hebrew text vv. 33-34 actually contain one lengthy conditional sentence, which the translation has divided into two sentences for stylistic reasons.
[8:33] 485 tn Or “are struck down before an enemy.”
[8:33] 486 tn Heb “confess [or perhaps, “praise”] your name.”
[8:33] 487 tn Heb “and they pray and ask for help.”
[8:35] 488 tn Heb “when.” In the Hebrew text vv. 35-36a actually contain one lengthy conditional sentence, which the translation has divided into two sentences for stylistic reasons.
[8:35] 489 tn Heb “they”; the referent (your people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[8:35] 490 tn Heb “confess [or perhaps, “praise”] your name.”
[8:35] 491 tn The Hebrew text has “because you answer them,” as if the verb is from עָנָה (’anah, “to answer”). However, this reference to a divine answer is premature, since the next verse asks for God to intervene in mercy. It is better to revocalize the consonantal text as תְעַנֵּם (tÿ’annem, “you afflict them”), a Piel verb form from the homonym עָנָה (“to afflict”).
[8:36] 492 tn The translation understands כִּי (ki) in an emphatic or asseverative sense.
[8:36] 493 tn Heb “the good way in which they should walk.”
[8:36] 494 tn Or “for an inheritance.”
[8:37] 495 tn Actually two Hebrew terms appear here, both of which are usually taken as referring to locusts. Perhaps different stages of growth or different varieties are in view.
[8:37] 496 tn Heb “in the land, his gates.”
[8:38] 497 tn Heb “every prayer, every request for help which will be to all the people, to all your people Israel.”
[8:38] 498 tn Heb “which they know, each the pain of his heart.”
[8:39] 499 tn The words “their sin” are added for clarification.
[8:39] 500 tn Heb “and act and give to each one according to all his ways because you know his heart.” In the Hebrew text vv. 37-39a actually contain one lengthy conditional sentence, which the translation has divided up for stylistic reasons.
[8:39] 501 tn Heb “Indeed you know, you alone, the heart of all the sons of mankind.”
[8:40] 503 tn Heb “all the days [in] which.”
[8:41] 504 tn Heb “your name.” In the OT the word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor. The “name” of the
[8:42] 505 tn Heb “your great name.” See the note on the word “reputation” in the previous verse.
[8:42] 506 tn Heb “and your strong hand and your outstretched arm.”
[8:43] 507 tn Heb “and do all which the foreigner calls to [i.e., “requests of”] you.”
[8:43] 508 tn Heb “your name.” See the note on the word “reputation” in v. 41.
[8:43] 510 tn Heb “that your name is called over this house which I built.” The Hebrew idiom “to call the name over” indicates ownership. See 2 Sam 12:28.
[8:44] 511 tn Heb “When your people go out for battle against their enemies in the way which you send them.”
[8:44] 512 tn Or perhaps “to you, O
[8:44] 513 tn Heb “your name.” See the note on the word “reputation” in v. 41.
[8:45] 514 tn Heb “their prayer and their request for help.”
[8:45] 515 tn Heb “and accomplish their justice.”
[8:46] 516 tn Heb “they”; the referent (your people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[8:46] 517 tn Heb “the land of the enemy.”
[8:47] 518 tn Heb “they”; the referent (your people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[8:47] 519 tn Or “stop and reflect”; Heb “bring back to their heart.”
[8:47] 520 tn Or “done wrong.”
[8:48] 522 tn Heb “in the land of their enemies.”
[8:48] 523 tn Heb “your name.” See the note on the word “reputation” in v. 41.
[8:49] 524 tn Heb “their prayer and their request for help.”
[8:49] 525 tn Heb “and accomplish their justice.”
[8:50] 526 tn Heb “and forgive your people who have sinned against you, [forgive] all their rebellious acts by which they rebelled against you, and grant them mercy before their captors so they will show them mercy.”
[8:51] 528 tn Heb “inheritance.”
[8:51] 529 tn The Hebrew term כּוּר (kur, “furnace,” cf. Akkadian ku„ru) is a metaphor for the intense heat of purification. A כּוּר was not a source of heat but a crucible (“iron-smelting furnace”) in which precious metals were melted down and their impurities burned away (see I. Cornelius, NIDOTTE 2:618-19). Thus Egypt served not as a place of punishment for the Israelites, but as a place of refinement to bring Israel to a place of submission to divine sovereignty.
[8:51] sn From the middle of the iron-smelting furnace. The metaphor of a furnace suggests fire and heat and is an apt image to remind the people of the suffering they endured while slaves in Egypt.
[8:52] 530 tn Heb “May your eyes be open.”
[8:52] 531 tn Heb “to listen to them in all their calling out to you.”
[8:53] 533 tn Heb “your inheritance.”
[8:54] 534 tn Or “toward heaven.”
[8:56] 535 tn Heb “he has given a resting place to his people Israel.”
[8:56] 536 tn Heb “not one word from his entire good word he spoke by Moses his servant has fallen.”
[8:58] 537 tn Heb “to bend our hearts toward him.” The infinitive is subordinate to the initial prayer, “may the
[8:58] 538 tn Heb “to walk in all his ways.”
[8:59] 540 tn Heb “May these words of mine, which I have requested before the
[8:59] 541 tn Heb “accomplish the justice of.”
[8:60] 543 tn Heb “the
[8:61] 544 tn Heb “may your hearts be complete with the
[8:61] 545 tn Heb “walking in.”
[8:61] 547 tn Heb “as this day.”
[8:63] 548 tn Or “tokens of peace”; NIV, TEV “fellowship offerings.”
[8:64] 549 tn Heb “to hold the burnt sacrifices, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.”
[8:65] 550 tn Or “the Wadi of Egypt” (NAB, NIV, NRSV); CEV “the Egyptian Gorge.”
[8:65] 551 tn Heb “Solomon held at that time the festival, and all Israel was with him, a great assembly from Lebo Hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the
[8:66] 552 tn Heb “on the eighth day” (that is, the day after the second seven-day sequence).
[8:66] 553 tn Heb “they blessed the king.”
[8:66] 554 tn Heb “good of heart.”
[9:1] 555 tn Heb “and all the desire of Solomon which he wanted to do.”
[9:2] 556 sn In the same way he had appeared to him at Gibeon. See 1 Kgs 3:5.
[9:3] 557 tn Heb “I have heard.”
[9:3] 558 tn Heb “by placing my name there perpetually” (or perhaps, “forever”).
[9:3] 559 tn Heb “and my eyes and my heart will be there all the days.”
[9:4] 560 tn Heb “As for you, if you walk before me, as David your father walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, by doing all which I commanded you, [and] you keep my rules and my regulations.” Verse 4 is actually a lengthy protasis (“if” section) of a conditional sentence, the apodosis (“then” section) of which appears in v. 5.
[9:5] 561 tn Heb “I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever.”
[9:5] 562 tn Heb “there will not be cut off from you a man from upon the throne of Israel.”
[9:6] 563 tn Heb “which I placed before you.”
[9:6] 564 tn Heb “and walk and serve other gods and bow down to them.”
[9:7] 565 tn Heb “I will cut off Israel from upon the surface of the land.”
[9:7] 566 tn Heb “and the temple which I consecrated for my name I will send away from before my face.”
[9:7] sn Instead of “I will send away,” the parallel text in 2 Chr 7:20 has “I will throw away.” The two verbs sound very similar in Hebrew, so the discrepancy is likely due to an oral transmissional error.
[9:7] 567 tn Heb “will become a proverb and a taunt,” that is, a proverbial example of destruction and an object of reproach.
[9:8] 568 tn Heb “and this house will be high [or elevated].” The statement makes little sense in this context, which predicts the desolation that judgment will bring. Some treat the clause as concessive, “Even though this temple is lofty [now].” Others, following the lead of several ancient versions, emend the text to, “this temple will become a heap of ruins.”
[9:8] 569 tn Heb “hiss,” or perhaps “whistle.” This refers to a derisive sound one would make when taunting an object of ridicule.
[9:9] 570 tn Heb “and they will say.”
[9:9] 572 tn Heb “and they took hold of other gods and bowed down to them and served them.”
[9:10] 573 tn Heb “the two houses, the house of the
[9:11] 574 map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
[9:12] 575 tn Heb “they were not agreeable in his eyes.”
[9:13] 576 tn Heb “and he said.”
[9:13] 577 tn Heb “my brother.” Kings allied through a parity treaty would sometimes address each other as “my brother.” See 1 Kgs 20:32-33.
[9:13] 578 tn Heb “he called them the land of Cabul to this day.” The significance of the name is unclear, though it appears to be disparaging. The name may be derived from a root, attested in Akkadian and Arabic, meaning “bound” or “restricted.” Some propose a wordplay, pointing out that the name “Cabul” sounds like a Hebrew phrase meaning, “like not,” or “as good as nothing.”
[9:14] 579 tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 9,000 pounds of gold (cf. NCV, NLT); CEV “five tons”; TEV “4,000 kilogrammes.”
[9:15] 580 sn The work crews. This Hebrew word מַס (mas) refers to a group of laborers conscripted for royal or public service.
[9:15] 581 tn Heb “raised up.”
[9:15] 582 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[9:15] 583 tn The words “the cities of” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[9:15] 584 map For location see Map1 D2; Map2 D3; Map3 A2; Map4 C1.
[9:15] 585 map For location see Map1 D4; Map2 C1; Map4 C2; Map5 F2; Map7 B1.
[9:18] 586 tn The Hebrew text has “in the wilderness, in the land.”
[9:19] 587 tn Heb “to Solomon.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[9:19] 588 tn Heb “the cities of the chariots and the cities of the horses.”
[9:19] 589 tn Heb “and the desire of Solomon which he desired to build in Jerusalem and in Lebanon and in all the land of his kingdom.”
[9:20] 590 tn Heb “all the people who were left from the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not from the sons of Israel.”
[9:21] 591 tn Heb “their sons who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel were unable to wipe out, and Solomon raised them up for a crew of labor to this day.”
[9:22] 592 sn These work crews. The work crews referred to here must be different than the temporary crews described in 5:13-16.
[9:22] 593 tn Heb “officers of his chariots and his horses.”
[9:23] 594 tn Heb “these [were] the officials of the governors who were over the work belonging to Solomon, five hundred fifty, the ones ruling over the people, the ones doing the work.”
[9:24] 595 sn The phrase city of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
[9:24] 596 tn Heb “As soon as Pharaoh’s daughter went up from the city of David to her house which he built for her, then he built the terrace.”
[9:25] 597 tn Or “tokens of peace”; NIV, TEV “fellowship offerings.”
[9:25] 598 tn Heb “and he made complete the house.”
[9:26] 599 tn Or “a fleet” (in which case “ships” would be implied).
[9:27] 600 tn Heb “and Hiram sent with the fleet his servants, men of ships, [who] know the sea, [to be] with the servants of Solomon.”
[9:28] 602 tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 31,500 pounds of gold (cf. NCV); CEV, NLT “sixteen tons”; TEV “more than 14,000 kilogrammes.”
[10:1] 603 tn Heb “the report about Solomon.” The Hebrew text also has, “to the name of the
[10:2] 606 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[10:2] 607 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.
[10:2] 608 tn Or “balsam oil.”
[10:3] 609 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.”
[10:4] 610 tn Heb “all the wisdom of Solomon.”
[10:5] 612 tn Heb “the food on his table.”
[10:5] 613 tn Heb “the seating of his servants and the standing of his attendants.”
[10:5] 614 tn Heb “there was no breath still in her.”
[10:6] 615 tn Heb “about your words [or perhaps, “deeds”] and your wisdom.”
[10:7] 616 tn Heb “the half was not told to me.”
[10:8] 618 tn Heb “How happy are your men! How happy are these servants of yours, who stand before you continually, who hear your wisdom!”
[10:9] 619 tn Or “delighted in.”
[10:9] 620 tn Heb “to do justice and righteousness.”
[10:10] 621 tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 9,000 pounds of gold (cf. NCV, NLT); CEV “five tons”; TEV “4,000 kilogrammes.”
[10:10] 622 tn Heb “there has not come like those spices yet for quantity which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.”
[10:12] 623 tn This Hebrew architectural term occurs only here. The meaning is uncertain; some have suggested “banisters” or “parapets”; cf. TEV, NLT “railings.” The parallel passage in 2 Chr 9:11 has a different word, meaning “tracks,” or perhaps “steps.”
[10:12] 624 tn Two types of stringed instruments are specifically mentioned, the כִּנּוֹר (kinnor, “zither” [?]), and נֶבֶל (nevel, “harp”).
[10:12] 625 tn Heb “there has not come thus, the fine timber, and there has not been seen to this day.”
[10:13] 626 tn Heb “besides what he had given her according to the hand of King Solomon.”
[10:13] 627 tn Heb “turned and went.”
[10:14] 628 tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 50,000 pounds of gold (cf. NCV); CEV, NLT “twenty-five tons”; TEV “almost 23,000 kilogrammes.”
[10:14] 629 tn Heb “the weight of the gold which came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold.”
[10:15] 630 tn Heb “traveling men.”
[10:16] 631 tn The Hebrew text has simply “six hundred,” with no unit of measure given.
[10:17] 632 sn Three minas. The mina was a unit of measure for weight.
[10:17] 633 sn The Palace of the Lebanon Forest. This name was appropriate because of the large amount of cedar, undoubtedly brought from Lebanon, used in its construction. The cedar pillars in the palace must have given it the appearance of a forest.
[10:19] 634 tn Heb “[There were] armrests on each side of the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.”
[10:20] 635 tn Heb “nothing like it had been made for all the kingdoms.”
[10:21] 636 tn Heb “there was no silver, it was not regarded as anything in the days of Solomon.”
[10:22] 637 tn Heb “a fleet of Tarshish [ships].” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish.
[10:22] 638 tn Heb “the fleet of Tarshish [ships].”
[10:22] 639 tn Heb “came carrying.”
[10:22] 640 tn The meaning of this word is unclear. Some suggest “baboons.”
[10:23] 641 tn Heb “King Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth with respect to wealth and with respect to wisdom.”
[10:24] 642 tc The Old Greek translation and Syriac Peshitta have “all the kings of the earth.” See 2 Chr 9:23.
[10:24] 643 tn Heb “and all the earth was seeking the face of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had placed in his heart.”
[10:25] 644 tn Heb “and they were bringing each one his gift, items of silver…and mules, the matter of a year in a year.”
[10:26] 646 tn Heb “he placed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.”
[10:26] map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[10:27] 647 tn The words “as plentiful” are added for clarification.
[10:27] 649 tn Heb “as the sycamore fig trees which are in the Shephelah.”
[10:28] 650 sn From Egypt. Because Que is also mentioned, some prefer to see in vv. 28-29 a reference to Mutsur. Que and Mutsur were located in Cilicia/Cappadocia (in modern southern Turkey). See HALOT 625 s.v. מִצְרַיִם.
[10:29] 651 tn Heb “and a chariot went up and came out of Egypt for six hundred silver [pieces], and a horse for one hundred fifty, and in the same way to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram by their hand they brought out.”
[11:2] 652 tn Heb “you must not go into them, and they must not go into you.”
[11:2] 653 tn Heb “Surely they will bend your heart after their gods.” The words “if you do” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[11:2] 654 tn Heb “Solomon clung to them for love.” The pronominal suffix, translated “them,” is masculine here, even though it appears the foreign women are in view. Perhaps this is due to attraction to the masculine forms used of the nations earlier in the verse.
[11:3] 655 tn Heb “wives, princesses.”
[11:3] 656 sn Concubines were slave women in ancient Near Eastern societies who were the legal property of their master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with their master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. The usage in the present passage suggests that after the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative (cf. also 2 Sam 21:10-14).
[11:3] 657 tn Heb “his wives bent his heart.”
[11:4] 658 tn Heb “bent his heart after.”
[11:4] 659 tn Heb “his heart was not complete with the
[11:5] 660 tn Heb “walked after.”
[11:5] 661 tn Heb “Milcom, the detestable thing of the Ammonites.”
[11:6] 662 tn Heb “in the eyes of the
[11:6] 663 tn The idiomatic statement reads in Hebrew, “he did not fill up after.”
[11:7] 665 sn The hill east of Jerusalem refers to the Mount of Olives.
[11:7] map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[11:7] 666 sn A high place. The “high places” were places of worship that were naturally or artificially elevated (see 1 Kgs 3:2).
[11:7] 667 tn Heb “Chemosh, the detestable thing of Moab.”
[11:7] 668 tc The MT reads “Molech,” but Milcom must be intended (see vv. 5, 33).
[11:8] 669 tn Heb “and the same thing he did for all his foreign wives, [who] were burning incense and sacrificing to their gods.”
[11:9] 670 tn Heb “bent his heart.”
[11:9] 671 sn These two occasions are mentioned in 1 Kgs 3:5 and 9:2.
[11:10] 672 tn Heb “and had commanded him concerning this thing not to walk after other gods.”
[11:11] 674 tn Heb “Because this is with you, and you have not kept my covenant and my rules which I commanded you.”
[11:14] 676 tn Or “raised up.”
[11:15] 677 tn Heb “when David was [fighting (?)] with Edom.”
[11:16] 678 tn Heb “and all Israel.”
[11:16] 679 tn Heb “until he had cut off every male in Edom.”
[11:17] 680 tn The MT reads “Adad,” an alternate form of the name Hadad.
[11:17] 681 tn Heb “and Adad fled, he and Edomite men from the servants of his father, to go to Egypt, and Hadad was a small boy.”
[11:18] 682 tn Heb “and they arose from Midian and went to Paran and they took men with them from Paran and went to Egypt to Pharaoh king of Egypt and he gave to him a house and food and he said to him, and a land he gave to him.” Something seems to be accidentally omitted after “and he said to him.”
[11:19] 683 tn Heb “and Hadad found great favor in the eyes of Pharaoh.”
[11:19] 684 tn Heb “and he gave to him a wife, the sister of his wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.”
[11:20] 685 tn Heb “bore him Genubath his son.”
[11:20] 686 tc The Hebrew text reads וַתִּגְמְלֵהוּ (vattigmÿlehu, “weaned him”) but a slight alteration of the consonantal text yields וַתִּגְדְלֵהוּ (vattigdÿlehu, “raised him”), which seems to make better sense.
[11:21] 687 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[11:21] 688 tn Heb “send me away.”
[11:22] 689 tn Heb “Indeed what do you lack with me, that now you are seeking to go to your land?”
[11:22] 690 tn Heb “and he said.”
[11:22] 691 sn So Hadad asked Pharaoh… This lengthy description of Hadad’s exile in Egypt explains why Hadad wanted to oppose Solomon and supports the author’s thesis that his hostility to Solomon found its ultimate source in divine providence. Though Hadad enjoyed a comfortable life in Egypt, when the
[11:23] 692 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Solomon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[11:24] 693 tn Heb “and he was the officer of a raiding band.”
[11:24] 694 tn The Hebrew text reads “when David killed them.” This phrase is traditionally joined with what precedes. The ancient Greek version does not reflect the phrase and some suggest that it has been misplaced from the end of v. 23.
[11:25] 695 tn The construction (Qal of קוּץ + בְּ [quts + bet] preposition) is rare, but not without parallel (see Lev 20:23).
[11:26] 696 tn Heb “raised a hand against.”
[11:26] 697 tn Heb “Ephrathite,” which here refers to an Ephraimite (see HALOT 81 s.v. אֶפְרַיִם).
[11:27] 698 tn Heb “this is the matter concerning which he raised a hand against the king.”
[11:27] 699 sn The city of his father David. The phrase refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
[11:28] 700 tn Heb “man of strength.”
[11:29] 702 tn The Hebrew text has simply “he,” making it a bit unclear whether Jeroboam or Ahijah is the subject, but in the Hebrew word order Ahijah is the nearer antecedent, and this is followed by the present translation.
[11:30] 703 tn Heb “and Ahijah grabbed the new robe that was on him.”
[11:33] 704 tn The words “I am taking the kingdom from him” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[11:33] 705 tc This is the reading of the MT; the LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate read “he has.”
[11:33] 706 tn Heb “walked in my ways.”
[11:33] 707 tn Heb “by doing what is right in my eyes, my rules and my regulations, like David his father.”
[11:35] 708 tn Heb “and I will give it to you, ten tribes.”
[11:36] 710 tn Heb “so there might be a lamp for David my servant all the days before me in Jerusalem.” The metaphorical “lamp” symbolizes the Davidic dynasty. Because this imagery is unfamiliar to the modern reader, the translation “so my servant David’s dynasty may continue to serve me” has been used.
[11:36] 711 tn Heb “so there might be a lamp for David my servant all the days before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for myself to put my name there.”
[11:38] 713 tn Heb “If you obey.” In the Hebrew text v. 38 is actually one long conditional sentence, which has been broken into two parts in the translation for stylistic purposes.
[11:38] 714 tn Heb “walk in my ways.”
[11:38] 715 tn Heb “do what is right in my eyes.”
[11:38] 716 tn Heb “I will build for you a permanent house, like I built for David.”
[11:39] 717 sn Because of this. Reference is made to the idolatry mentioned earlier.
[11:39] 718 tn Heb “but not all the days.”
[11:40] 719 tn Heb “but Jeroboam arose and ran away to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt.”
[11:41] 720 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Solomon, and all which he did, and his wisdom, are they not written on the scroll of the events of Solomon?”
[11:42] 721 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[11:43] 722 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[11:43] 723 sn The city of his father David. The phrase refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
[11:43] 724 tc Before this sentence the Old Greek translation includes the following words: “And it so happened that when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard – now he was in Egypt where he had fled from before Solomon and was residing in Egypt – he came straight to his city in the land of Sarira which is on mount Ephraim. And king Solomon slept with his fathers.”
[12:1] 725 tn Heb “come [to].”
[12:1] 726 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Rehoboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:2] 727 tc Verse 2 is not included in the Old Greek translation. See the note on 11:43.
[12:2] 728 tn Heb “and Jeroboam lived in Egypt.” The parallel text in 2 Chr 10:2 reads, “and Jeroboam returned from Egypt.” In a purely consonantal text the forms “and he lived” and “and he returned” are identical (וישׁב).
[12:3] 729 tn Heb “They sent and called for him.”
[12:4] 730 tn Heb “made our yoke burdensome.”
[12:4] 731 tn Heb “but you, now, lighten the burdensome work of your father and the heavy yoke which he placed on us, and we will serve you.” In the Hebrew text the prefixed verbal form with vav (וְנַעַבְדֶךָ, [vÿna’avdekha] “and we will serve you”) following the imperative (הָקֵל [haqel], “lighten”) indicates purpose (or result). The conditional sentence used in the translation above is an attempt to bring out the logical relationship between these forms.
[12:6] 732 tn Heb “stood before.”
[12:7] 734 tn Heb “If today you are a servant to these people and you serve them and answer them and speak to them good words, they will be your servants all the days.”
[12:8] 735 tn Heb “He rejected the advice of the elders which they advised and he consulted the young men with whom he had grown up, who stood before him.” The referent (Rehoboam) of the initial pronoun (“he”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:9] 736 tn In the Hebrew text the verb “we will respond” is plural, although it can be understood as an editorial “we.” The ancient versions have the singular here.
[12:9] 737 tn Heb “Lighten the yoke which your father placed on us.”
[12:10] 738 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Rehoboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:10] 739 tn Heb “Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter upon us.”
[12:10] 740 tn Heb “My little one is thicker than my father’s hips.” The referent of “my little one” is not clear. The traditional view is that it refers to the little finger. As the following statement makes clear, Rehoboam’s point is that he is more harsh and demanding than his father.
[12:11] 741 tn Heb “and now my father placed upon you a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke.”
[12:11] 742 tn Heb “My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.” “Scorpions” might allude to some type of torture using poisonous insects, but more likely it refers to a type of whip that inflicts an especially biting, painful wound. Cf. CEV “whips with pieces of sharp metal.”
[12:14] 744 tn Heb “and spoke to them according to.”
[12:14] 745 tn Heb “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke.”
[12:14] 746 tn Heb “My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.” See the note on the same phrase in v. 11.
[12:15] 747 tn Heb “because this turn of events was from the
[12:15] 748 tn Heb “so that he might bring to pass his word which the
[12:16] 749 sn We have no portion in David; no share in the son of Jesse. Their point seems to be that they have no familial relationship with David that brings them any benefits or places upon them any obligations. They are being treated like outsiders.
[12:16] 750 tn Heb “to your tents, Israel.” The word “return” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[12:16] 751 tn Heb “Now see your house, David.”
[12:16] 752 tn Heb “went to their tents.”
[12:18] 753 tc The MT has “Adoram” here, but the Old Greek translation and Syriac Peshitta have “Adoniram.” Cf. 1 Kgs 4:6.
[12:18] 754 sn The work crews. See the note on this expression in 4:6.
[12:18] 755 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[12:20] 756 tn Heb “there was no one [following] after the house of David except the tribe of Judah, it alone.”
[12:21] 757 tn Heb “he summoned all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, accomplished in war.”
[12:22] 758 tn Heb “and the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying.”
[12:24] 759 tn Heb “for this thing is from me.”
[12:24] 760 tn Heb “and they heard the word of the
[12:25] 761 tc The Old Greek translation has here a lengthy section consisting of twenty-three verses that are not found in the MT.
[12:26] 762 tn Heb “said in his heart.”
[12:26] 763 tn Heb “Now the kingdom could return to the house of David.” The imperfect verbal form translated “could return” is understood as having a potential force here. Perhaps this is not strong enough; another option is “will return.”
[12:27] 764 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[12:27] 765 tn Heb “the heart of these people could return to their master.”
[12:28] 766 tn The words “with his advisers” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[12:28] 767 tn Heb “to them,” although this may be a corruption of “to the people.” Cf. the Old Greek translation.
[12:29] 768 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[12:30] 769 tn Heb “and this thing became a sin.”
[12:30] 770 tc The MT reads “and the people went before the one to Dan.” It is likely that some words have been accidentally omitted and that the text originally said, “and the people went before the one at Bethel and before the one at Dan.”
[12:31] 771 tn The Hebrew text has the singular, but the plural is preferable here (see 1 Kgs 13:32). The Old Greek translation and the Vulgate have the plural.
[12:32] 772 sn The eighth month would correspond to October-November in modern reckoning.
[12:32] 773 sn The festival he celebrated in Judah probably refers to the Feast of Tabernacles (i.e., Booths or Temporary Shelters), held in the seventh month (September-October). See also 1 Kgs 8:2.
[12:32] 774 tn Heb “and he offered up [sacrifices] on the altar; he did this in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made.”
[12:33] 775 tn Heb “which he had chosen by himself.”
[12:33] 776 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jeroboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:33] 777 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[13:1] 778 tn Heb “Look.” The Hebrew particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a rhetorical device by which the author invites the reader to visualize the scene for dramatic effect.
[13:1] 779 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[13:1] 780 tn Heb “came by the word of the
[13:2] 781 tn Heb “by the word of the
[13:2] 782 sn ‘Look…you.’ For the fulfillment of this prophecy see 2 Kgs 23:15-20.
[13:3] 785 tn Heb “the fat.” Reference is made to burnt wood mixed with fat. See HALOT 234 s.v. דשׁן.
[13:3] 786 tn Heb “will be poured out.”
[13:4] 787 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[13:4] 788 tn Heb “Jeroboam extended his hand from the altar.”
[13:4] 790 tn Heb “dried up” or “withered.” TEV and NLT interpret this as “became paralyzed.”
[13:5] 791 tn Heb “the fat.” Reference is made to burnt wood mixed with fat. See HALOT 234 s.v. דשׁן.
[13:5] 792 tn Heb “were poured out from the altar.”
[13:5] 793 tn Heb “according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the
[13:6] 794 tn Heb “The king answered and said to.”
[13:6] 795 tn Heb “the man of God” (a second time later in this verse, and once in v. 7 and v. 8).
[13:6] 796 tn Heb “appease the face of.”
[13:6] 797 tn Heb “appeased the face of the
[13:6] 798 tn Heb “and it was as in the beginning.”
[13:8] 800 tn Heb “eat food and drink water.”
[13:9] 801 tn Heb “for this he commanded me by the word of the
[13:9] 802 tn Heb “eat food and drink water.”
[13:11] 803 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[13:11] 804 tn Heb “and his son came and told him.” The MT has the singular here, but several other textual witnesses have the plural, which is more consistent with the second half of the verse and with vv. 12-13.
[13:11] 805 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[13:11] 806 tn Heb “all the actions which the man of God performed that day in Bethel, the words which he spoke to the king, and they told them to their father.”
[13:12] 807 tn The Hebrew text has “and his sons saw” (וַיִּרְאוּ [vayyir’u], Qal from רָאָה [ra’ah]). In this case the verbal construction (vav consecutive + prefixed verbal form) would have to be understood as pluperfect, “his sons had seen.” Such uses of this construction are rare at best. Consequently many, following the lead of the ancient versions, prefer to emend the verbal form to a Hiphil with pronominal suffix (וַיַּרְאֻהוּ [vayyar’uhu], “and they showed him”).
[13:12] 808 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[13:14] 809 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[13:14] 810 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[13:16] 811 tn Heb “I am unable to return with you or to go with you.”
[13:16] 812 tn Heb “eat food and drink water.”
[13:17] 813 tn Heb “for a word to me by the word of the
[13:17] 814 tn Heb “eat food and drink water.”
[13:18] 815 tn Heb “and he said to him.”
[13:18] 816 tn Heb “by the word of the
[13:18] 817 tn Heb “eat food and drink water.”
[13:18] 818 tn Or “deceiving him.”
[13:18] sn He was lying to him. The motives and actions of the old prophet are difficult to understand. The old man’s response to the prophet’s death (see vv. 26-32) suggests he did not trick him with malicious intent. The old prophet probably wanted the honor of entertaining such a celebrity, or perhaps simply desired some social interaction with a fellow prophet.
[13:19] 819 tn Heb “and he returned with him and ate food in his house and drank water.”
[13:20] 820 tn Heb “and the word of the
[13:21] 821 tn The Hebrew text has “because” at the beginning of the sentence. In the Hebrew text vv. 21-22 are one long sentence comprised of a causal clause giving the reason for divine punishment (vv. 21-22a) and the main clause announcing the punishment (v. 22b). The translation divides this lengthy sentence for stylistic reasons.
[13:21] 822 tn Heb “the mouth [i.e., command] of the
[13:22] 823 tn Heb “and you returned and ate food and drank water in the place about which he said to you, ‘do not eat food and do not drink water.’”
[13:22] 824 tn “Therefore” is added for stylistic reasons. See the note at 1 Kgs 13:21 pertaining to the grammatical structure of vv. 21-22.
[13:22] 825 tn Heb “will not go to the tomb of your fathers.”
[13:23] 826 tn Heb “and after he had eaten food and after he had drunk.”
[13:23] 827 tn Heb “and he saddled for him the donkey, for the prophet whom he had brought back.”
[13:24] 828 tn Heb “and he went and a lion met him in the road and killed him.”
[13:24] 829 tn Heb “and his corpse fell on the road, and the donkey was standing beside it, and the lion was standing beside the corpse.”
[13:25] 830 tn Heb “Look, men were passing by.”
[13:25] 831 tn Heb “the corpse.” The noun has been replaced by the pronoun (“it”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[13:25] 832 tn The words “what they had seen” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[13:26] 833 tn Heb “and the prophet who had brought him back from the road heard.”
[13:26] 834 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[13:26] 835 tn Heb “the mouth of the
[13:26] 836 tn Heb “broke him,” or “crushed him.”
[13:26] 837 tn Heb “according to the word of the
[13:27] 838 tn Heb “and they saddled [it].”
[13:28] 839 tn Heb “the corpse.” The noun has been replaced by the pronoun (“it”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[13:29] 840 tn Heb “the prophet.” The word “old” has been supplied in the translation to distinguish this individual from the other prophet.
[13:29] 841 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[13:30] 842 tn “They” is the reading of the Hebrew text here; perhaps this is meant to include not only the old prophet but his sons (cf. v. 31).
[13:31] 843 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[13:32] 844 tn Heb “for the word which he cried out by the word of the
[13:32] 845 map For location see Map4 G4; Map5 C1; Map6 E3; Map7 D1; Map8 G3.
[13:32] 846 tn Heb “Samaria.” The name of Israel’s capital city here stands for the northern kingdom as a whole. Actually Samaria was not built and named until several years after this (see 1 Kgs 16:24), so it is likely that the author of Kings, writing at a later time, is here adapting the old prophet’s original statement.
[13:33] 847 tn Heb “did not turn from his evil way.”
[13:33] 848 sn The expression common people refers to people who were not Levites. See 1 Kgs 12:31.
[13:33] 849 tn Heb “and one who had the desire he was filling his hand so that he became [one of] the priests of the high places.”
[14:1] 851 tc Some
[14:2] 852 tn Heb “Get up, change yourself.”
[14:2] 853 tn Heb “look, Ahijah the prophet is there, he told me [I would be] king over this nation.”
[14:3] 854 tn Heb “take in your hand.”
[14:4] 855 tn Heb “and the wife of Jeroboam did so; she arose and went to Shiloh and entered the house of Ahijah.”
[14:4] 856 tn Heb “his eyes were set because of his old age.”
[14:5] 857 sn Tell her so-and-so. Certainly the
[14:6] 858 tn Heb “I am sent to you [with] a hard [message].”
[14:7] 859 tn The Hebrew text has “because” at the beginning of the sentence. In the Hebrew text vv. 7-11 are one long sentence comprised of a causal clause giving the reason for divine punishment (vv. 7-9) and the main clause announcing the punishment (vv. 10-11). The translation divides this lengthy sentence for stylistic reasons.
[14:8] 860 tn Heb “what was right in my eyes.”
[14:9] 861 tn Heb “you went and you made for yourself other gods, metal [ones], angering me, and you threw me behind your back.”
[14:10] 862 sn Disaster. There is a wordplay in the Hebrew text. The word translated “disaster” (רָעָה, ra’ah) is from the same root as the expression “you have sinned” in v. 9 (וַתָּרַע [vattara’], from רָעַע, [ra’a’]). Jeroboam’s sins would receive an appropriate punishment.
[14:10] 864 tn Heb “and I will cut off from Jeroboam those who urinate against a wall (including both those who are) restrained and let free (or “abandoned”) in Israel.” The precise meaning of the idiomatic phrase עָצוּר וְעָזוּב (’atsur vÿ’azuv) is uncertain. For various options see HALOT 871 s.v. עצר 6 and M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 107. The two terms are usually taken as polar opposites (“slaves and freemen” or “minors and adults”), but Cogan and Tadmor, on the basis of contextual considerations (note the usage with אֶפֶס [’efes], “nothing but”) in Deut 32:36 and 2 Kgs 14:26, argue convincingly that the terms are synonyms, meaning “restrained and abandoned,” and refer to incapable or incapacitated individuals.
[14:10] 865 tn The traditional view understands the verb בָּעַר (ba’ar) to mean “burn.” Manure was sometimes used as fuel (see Ezek 4:12, 15). However, an alternate view takes בָּעַר as a homonym meaning “sweep away” (HALOT 146 s.v. II בער). In this case one might translate, “I will sweep away the dynasty of Jeroboam, just as one sweeps away manure it is gone” (cf. ASV, NASB, TEV). Either metaphor emphasizes the thorough and destructive nature of the coming judgment.
[14:11] 866 tn The Hebrew text has “belonging to Jeroboam” here.
[14:14] 869 tn Heb “This is the day. What also now?” The precise meaning of the second half of the statement is uncertain.
[14:15] 870 tn The elliptical Hebrew text reads literally “and the
[14:15] 871 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 22, 31).
[14:15] 872 tn Heb “the River.” In biblical Hebrew this is a typical reference to the Euphrates River. The name “Euphrates” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[14:15] 873 tn Heb “because they made their Asherah poles that anger the
[14:15] sn Asherah was a leading deity of the Canaanite pantheon, wife/sister of El and goddess of fertility. She was commonly worshiped at shrines in or near groves of evergreen trees, or, failing that, at places marked by wooden poles. These were to be burned or cut down (Deut 12:3; 16:21; Judg 6:25, 28, 30; 2 Kgs 18:4).
[14:16] 874 tn Heb “and he will give [up] Israel.”
[14:17] 875 tn Heb “went and entered.”
[14:18] 876 tn Heb “according to the word of the
[14:19] 877 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Jeroboam, how he fought and how he ruled, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
[14:20] 878 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[14:21] 879 tn Heb “Rehoboam.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[14:21] 880 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[14:21] 881 tn Heb “the city where the
[14:21] 882 tn Heb “an Ammonite”; the word “woman” is implied.
[14:22] 883 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[14:22] 884 tn Heb “and they made him jealous more than all which their fathers had done by their sins which they sinned.”
[14:24] 885 tc The Old Greek translation has “a conspiracy” rather than “male cultic prostitutes.”
[14:24] 886 tn Heb “they did according to all the abominable acts of the nations.”
[14:29] 888 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Rehoboam, and all which he did, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?”
[14:31] 889 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[14:31] 890 tn In the Hebrew text the name is spelled “Abijam” here and in 1 Kgs 15:1-8.
[15:1] 891 tc The Old Greek also has the phrase “the son of Rehoboam.”
[15:2] 892 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[15:2] 893 sn Abishalom (also in v. 10) is a variant of the name Absalom (cf. 2 Chr 11:20). The more common form is used by TEV, NLT.
[15:3] 894 tn Heb “his heart was not complete with the
[15:4] 895 tn Heb “gave him a lamp.”
[15:4] 896 tc The Old Greek has the plural “his sons.”
[15:4] 897 tn Heb “by raising up his son after him.”
[15:4] 898 tn Heb “and by causing Jerusalem to stand firm.”
[15:5] 899 tn The words “he did this” are added for stylistic reasons.
[15:5] 900 tn Heb “what was right in the eyes of the
[15:5] 901 tn Heb “and had not turned aside from all which he commanded him.”
[15:6] 902 tc Most Hebrew
[15:6] 903 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Abijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[15:7] 904 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Abijah, and all which he did, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?”
[15:8] 905 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.” The Old Greek also has these words: “in the twenty-eighth year of Jeroboam.”
[15:8] 906 tn Heb “and they buried him.”
[15:10] 907 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[15:10] 908 tn Heb “mother,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
[15:11] 909 tn Heb “what was right in the eyes of the
[15:11] 910 tn Heb “father,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
[15:12] 911 tn The word used here, גִלּוּלִים [gillulim], is always used as a disdainful reference to idols. It is generally thought to have originally referred to “dung pellets” (cf. KBL 183 s.v. גִלּוּלִים). It is only one of several terms used in this way, such as “worthless things” (אֱלִילִים, ’elilim), “vanities” or “empty winds” (הֲבָלִים, havalim).
[15:12] 912 tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 24).
[15:13] 913 tn Heb “mother,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
[15:14] 914 tn Heb “yet the heart of Asa was complete with the
[15:15] 915 tn Heb “and he brought the holy things of his father and his holy things (into) the house of the
[15:16] 916 tn Heb “There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.”
[15:17] 917 tn Heb “and he built up Ramah so as to not permit going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.”
[15:18] 918 tn Heb “King Asa sent it.”
[15:19] 919 tn Heb “[May there be] a covenant between me and you [as there was] between my father and your father.”
[15:19] 920 tn Heb “so he will go up from upon me.”
[15:20] 921 tn Heb “and Ben Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of the armies which belonged to him against the cities of Israel.”
[15:20] 922 tn Heb “he struck down.”
[15:20] 923 tn Heb “and all Kinnereth together with all the land of Naphtali.”
[15:21] 924 tn Heb “building.”
[15:22] 925 tn Heb “and King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, there was no one exempt, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its wood which Baasha had built.”
[15:22] 926 tn Heb “and King Asa built with them.”
[15:23] 927 tn Heb “As for the rest of all the events of Asa, and all his strength and all which he did and the cities which he built, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?”
[15:23] 928 tn Heb “Yet in the time of his old age he became sick in his feet.”
[15:24] 929 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[15:26] 930 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[15:26] 931 tn Heb “and he walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”
[15:27] 932 tn Heb “against him”; the referent (Nadab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[15:29] 933 tn Heb “and when he became king, he struck down all the house of Jeroboam; he did not leave any breath to Jeroboam until he destroyed him.”
[15:29] 934 tn Heb “according to the word of the
[15:30] 935 tn Heb “because of Jeroboam which he committed and which he made Israel commit, by his provocation by which he made the
[15:31] 936 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Nadab, and all which he did, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
[15:34] 937 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[15:34] 938 tn Heb “and he walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”
[16:1] 939 tn Heb “and the word of the
[16:2] 940 tn The Hebrew text has “because” at the beginning of the sentence. In the Hebrew text vv. 2-3 are one sentence comprised of a causal clause giving the reason for divine punishment (v. 2) and the main clause announcing the punishment (v. 3). The translation divides this sentence for stylistic reasons.
[16:2] 941 tn Heb “walked in the way of Jeroboam.”
[16:2] 942 tn Heb “angering me by their sins.”
[16:3] 943 tn The traditional view understands the verb בָּעַר (ba’ar) to mean “burn.” However, an alternate view takes בָּעַר (ba’ar) as a homonym meaning “sweep away” (HALOT 146 s.v. II בער). In this case one might translate, “I am ready to sweep away Baasha and his family.” Either metaphor emphasizes the thorough and destructive nature of the coming judgment.
[16:3] 944 tc The Old Greek, Syriac Peshitta, and some
[16:4] 945 tn Heb “the ones belonging to Baasha.”
[16:5] 946 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Baasha, and that which he did and his strength, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
[16:6] 947 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[16:7] 948 tn Heb “and also through Jehu son of Hanani the word of the
[16:7] 949 tn Heb “angering him by the work of his hands, so that he was like the house of Jeroboam, and because of how he struck it down.”
[16:9] 950 tn Heb “while he was drinking and drunken.”
[16:10] 951 tn Heb “and he became king in his place.”
[16:11] 952 tn Heb “and he did not spare any belonging to him who urinate against a wall, [including] his kinsmen redeemers and his friends.”
[16:12] 953 tn Heb “according to the word of the
[16:13] 954 tn Heb “angering the
[16:14] 955 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Elah, and all which he did, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
[16:15] 956 tn Heb “Now the people were encamped.
[16:16] 957 tn Heb “and the people who were encamped heard.”
[16:16] 958 tn Heb “has conspired against and also has struck down the king.”
[16:18] 959 tn Heb “and he burned the house of the king over him with fire and he died.”
[16:19] 960 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[16:19] 961 tn Heb “walking in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he did to make Israel sin.”
[16:20] 962 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Zimri, and his conspiracy which he conspired, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
[16:24] 963 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[16:24] 964 tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 150 pounds of silver.
[16:24] 965 tn Heb “he built up the hill.”
[16:25] 966 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[16:26] 967 tn Heb “walked in all the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”
[16:26] 968 tn Heb “angering the
[16:27] 969 tn Heb “As for the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his strength which he demonstrated, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
[16:28] 970 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[16:28] 971 tc The Old Greek has eight additional verses here. Cf. 1 Kgs 22:41-44.
[16:29] 972 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[16:30] 973 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[16:31] 974 tn Heb “and he went and served Baal and bowed down to him.”
[16:31] sn The Canaanites worshiped Baal as a storm and fertility god.
[16:33] 975 tn Heb “Ahab”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[16:34] 976 tn Heb “in his days.”
[16:34] 977 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
[16:34] 978 tn Heb “with Abiram, his firstborn, he founded it.”
[16:34] 979 tn Heb “with Segub, his youngest, he set up its gates.”
[16:34] 980 tn Heb “according to the word of the
[16:34] 981 sn Warned through Joshua son of Nun. For the background to this statement, see Josh 6:26, where Joshua pronounces a curse on the one who dares to rebuild Jericho. Here that curse is viewed as a prophecy spoken by God through Joshua.
[17:1] 982 tn Heb “before whom I stand.”
[17:1] 983 tn Heb “except at the command of my word.”
[17:2] 984 tn Heb “and the word of the
[17:4] 985 tn Heb “commanded.”
[17:4] 986 tn Heb “to provide for you.”
[17:5] 987 tn Heb “So he went and did.”
[17:7] 988 tn Heb “And it came about at the end of days.”
[17:8] 989 tn Heb “And the word of the
[17:9] 990 tn Heb “Look, I have commanded.”
[17:10] 991 tn Heb “a little.”
[17:11] 992 tn The Hebrew text also includes the phrase “in your hand.”
[17:12] 993 tn Heb “Look, I am gathering two sticks and then I will go and make it for me and my son and we will eat it and we will die.”
[17:13] 994 tn Heb “according to your word.”
[17:15] 995 tn Heb “and she ate, she and he and her house [for] days.”
[17:16] 996 tn Heb “out, according to the word of the
[17:17] 997 tn Heb “after these things.”
[17:18] 998 tn Heb “What to me and to you, man of God, that you have come.”
[17:18] 999 tn Heb “to make me remember.”
[17:24] 1000 tn Heb “you are a man of God and the word of the
[17:24] sn This episode is especially significant in light of Ahab’s decision to promote Baal worship in Israel. In Canaanite mythology the drought that swept over the region (v. 1) would signal that Baal, a fertility god responsible for providing food for his subjects, had been defeated by the god of death and was imprisoned in the underworld. While Baal was overcome by death and unable to function like a king, Israel’s God demonstrated his sovereignty and superiority to death by providing food for a widow and restoring life to her son. And he did it all in Sidonian territory, Baal’s back yard, as it were. The episode demonstrates that Israel’s God, not Baal, is the true king who provides food and controls life and death. This polemic against Baalism reaches its climax in the next chapter, when the
[18:1] 1001 tn Heb “the word of the
[18:2] 1002 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[18:3] 1003 tn Heb “now Obadiah greatly feared the
[18:4] 1004 tn Heb “cutting off.”
[18:5] 1006 tn Heb “to cut off.”
[18:6] 1007 tn The Hebrew text has “alone” here and again in reference to Obadiah toward the end of the verse.
[18:7] 1008 tn Heb “look, Elijah [came] to meet him.”
[18:8] 1009 tn Heb “[It is] I.”
[18:8] 1010 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
[18:9] 1011 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Obadiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:9] 1012 tn Heb “to kill me.”
[18:10] 1013 tn Heb “he makes the kingdom or the nation swear an oath.”
[18:11] 1014 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
[18:12] 1015 tn Heb “to [a place] which I do not know.”
[18:12] 1016 tn Heb “and I will go to inform Ahab and he will not find you and he will kill me.”
[18:12] 1017 tn The words “that would not be fair” are added to clarify the logic of Obadiah’s argument.
[18:12] 1018 tn Heb “has feared the
[18:13] 1019 tn Heb “Has it not been told to my master what I did…?” The rhetorical question expects an answer, “Of course it has!”
[18:14] 1020 tn Heb “Look, Elijah”; or “Elijah is here.”
[18:15] 1021 tn Traditionally, “the
[18:15] 1022 tn Heb “(before whom I stand).”
[18:16] 1023 tn Heb “Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.”
[18:18] 1026 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:19] 1028 tn The word “messengers” is supplied in the translation both here and in v. 20 for clarification.
[18:19] 1029 tn Heb “who eat at the table of Jezebel.”
[18:21] 1030 tn Heb “How long are you going to limp around on two crutches?” (see HALOT 762 s.v. סְעִפִּים). In context this idiomatic expression refers to indecision rather than physical disability.
[18:21] 1031 tn Heb “the God.”
[18:22] 1032 tn Heb “to the people.”
[18:24] 1033 tn Elijah now directly addresses the prophets.
[18:24] 1034 tn Heb “the God.”
[18:24] 1035 tn Heb “The matter [i.e., proposal] is good [i.e., acceptable].”
[18:25] 1036 tc The last sentence of v. 25 is absent in the Syriac Peshitta.
[18:26] 1037 tn Heb “and they took the bull which he allowed them.”
[18:26] 1038 tn Heb “limped” (the same verb is used in v. 21).
[18:26] 1039 tc The MT has “which he made,” but some medieval Hebrew
[18:27] 1040 sn Elijah’s sarcastic proposals would have been especially offensive and irritating to Baal’s prophets, for they believed Baal was imprisoned in the underworld as death’s captive during this time of drought. Elijah’s apparent ignorance of their theology is probably designed for dramatic effect; indeed the suggestion that Baal is away on a trip or deep in sleep comes precariously close to the truth as viewed by the prophets.
[18:28] 1041 tn Or “as was their custom.”
[18:28] 1042 tn Heb “until blood poured out on them.”
[18:28] sn mutilated…covered with blood. This self-mutilation was a mourning rite designed to facilitate Baal’s return from the underworld.
[18:29] 1043 tn Heb “when noon passed they prophesied until the offering up of the offering.”
[18:29] 1044 tc The Old Greek translation and Syriac Peshitta include the following words here: “When it was time to offer the sacrifice, Elijah the Tishbite spoke to the prophets of the abominations: ‘Stand aside for the time being, and I will offer my burnt offering.’ So they stood aside and departed.”
[18:29] sn In 2 Kgs 4:31 the words “there was no sound and there was no response” are used to describe a dead boy. Similar words are used here to describe the god Baal as dead and therefore unresponsive.
[18:30] 1045 sn Torn down. The condition of the altar symbolizes the spiritual state of the people.
[18:31] 1046 tn The word “new” is implied but not actually present in the Hebrew text.
[18:31] 1047 sn Israel will be your new name. See Gen 32:28; 35:10.
[18:32] 1048 tn Heb “and he built the stones into an altar in the name of the
[18:32] 1049 tn A seah was a dry measure equivalent to about seven quarts.
[18:34] 1050 tn The words “when they had done so” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[18:36] 1051 tn Heb “at the offering up of the offering.”
[18:36] 1052 tn The words “the altar” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[18:36] 1053 tn Heb “let it be known.”
[18:37] 1054 tn Heb “the God.”
[18:37] 1055 tn Heb “that you are turning their heart[s] back.”
[18:38] 1056 tn The words “from the sky” are added for stylistic reasons.
[18:39] 1057 tn Heb “the God” (the phrase occurs twice in this verse).
[18:40] 1058 tn Or “slaughtered.”
[18:41] 1059 tn Heb “for [there is] the sound of the roar of the rain.”
[18:43] 1060 sn So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” Several times in this chapter those addressed by Elijah obey his orders. In vv. 20 and 42 Ahab does as instructed, in vv. 26 and 28 the prophets follow Elijah’s advice, and in vv. 30, 34, 40 and 43 the people and servants do as they are told. By juxtaposing Elijah’s commands with accounts of those commands being obeyed, the narrator emphasizes the authority of the
[18:43] 1061 tn Heb “He said, ‘Return,’ seven times.”
[18:44] 1062 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the servant) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:44] 1063 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:44] 1064 tn Heb “so that the rain won’t restrain you.”
[18:45] 1065 tn Heb “rode and went to.”
[18:46] 1066 tn Heb “and the hand of the
[18:46] 1067 tn Heb “and girded up his loins.” The idea is that of gathering up the robes and tucking them into the sash or belt so that they do not get in the way of the legs when running (or working or fighting).
[19:2] 1069 tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”
[19:2] 1070 tn Heb “I do not make your life like the life of one of them.”
[19:3] 1071 tc The MT has “and he saw,” but some medieval Hebrew
[19:4] 1072 tn Or “broom tree” (also in v. 5).
[19:4] 1073 tn Heb “and asked with respect to his life to die.”
[19:5] 1076 tn Heb “Look, a messenger.”
[19:6] 1077 tn Heb “and again lay down”
[19:7] 1078 tn Heb “for the journey is too great for you.”
[19:10] 1079 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
[19:10] 1080 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
[19:10] 1081 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
[19:10] 1082 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
[19:11] 1083 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
[19:11] 1084 tn Heb “tearing away the mountains and breaking the cliffs” (or perhaps, “breaking the stones”).
[19:12] 1085 tn Heb “a voice, calm, soft.”
[19:14] 1087 tn Or “very zealous.” The infinitive absolute preceding the finite verb emphasizes the degree of his zeal and allegiance.
[19:14] 1088 tn Traditionally, “the God of hosts.”
[19:14] 1089 tn Heb “abandoned your covenant.”
[19:14] 1090 tn Heb “and they are seeking my life to take it.”
[19:18] 1091 tn Heb “I have kept in Israel seven thousand, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and all the mouths that have not kissed him.”
[19:20] 1092 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:21] 1093 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:21] 1094 tn Heb “and with the equipment of the oxen he cooked them, the flesh.”
[20:1] 1095 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[20:1] 1096 tn Heb “and he went up and besieged Samaria and fought against it.”
[20:2] 1097 tn Heb “to the city.”
[20:6] 1098 tn Heb “all that is desirable to your eyes they will put in their hand and take.”
[20:7] 1100 tn Heb “Know and see that this [man] is seeking trouble.”
[20:8] 1101 tn Heb “Do not listen and do not be willing.”
[20:9] 1102 tn Heb “all which you sent to your servant in the beginning I will do, but this thing I am unable to do.”
[20:10] 1103 tn Heb “So may the gods do to me, and so may they add.”
[20:10] 1104 tn Heb “if the dirt of Samaria suffices for the handfuls of all the people who are at my feet.”
[20:11] 1105 sn The point of the saying is that someone who is still preparing for a battle should not boast as if he has already won the battle. A modern parallel would be, “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”
[20:12] 1106 tn Heb “When he heard this word.”
[20:12] 1107 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
[20:13] 1108 tn Heb “this great horde.”
[20:14] 1109 tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[20:14] 1110 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:15] 1111 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:15] 1112 tn Heb “after them he assembled all the people, all the sons of Israel, seven thousand.”
[20:16] 1113 tn Heb “drinking and drunken.”
[20:16] 1114 tn Heb “in the temporary shelters.” This is probably referring to tents.
[20:17] 1115 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[20:18] 1116 tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”
[20:20] 1117 tn Heb “each struck down his man.”
[20:21] 1118 tn Heb “struck down Aram with a great striking down.”
[20:22] 1119 tn The definite article indicates previous reference, that is, “the prophet mentioned earlier” (see v. 13).
[20:22] 1120 tn Heb “strengthen yourself.”
[20:22] 1121 tn Heb “know and see.”
[20:22] 1122 tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”
[20:22] 1123 tn Heb “go up against.”
[20:23] 1124 tn Or “servants.”
[20:25] 1125 tn Heb “And you, you muster an army like the one that fell from you, horse like horse and chariot like chariot.”
[20:25] 1126 tn Heb “he listened to their voice and did so.”
[20:26] 1127 tn Heb “at the turning of the year.”
[20:26] 1128 tn Heb “mustered Aram.”
[20:26] 1129 tn Heb “and went up to Aphek for battle with Israel.”
[20:27] 1130 tn The noun translated “small flocks” occurs only here. The common interpretation derives the word from the verbal root חשׂף, “to strip off; to make bare.” In this case the noun refers to something “stripped off” or “made bare.” HALOT 359 s.v. II חשׂף derives the noun from a proposed homonymic verbal root (which occurs only in Ps 29:9) meaning “cause a premature birth.” In this case the derived noun could refer to goats that are undersized because they are born prematurely.
[20:28] 1131 tn Heb “the man of God.”
[20:28] 1132 tn Heb “I will place all this great horde in your hand.”
[20:30] 1133 tn Heb “and the remaining ones fled to Aphek to the city and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men, the ones who remained.”
[20:30] 1134 tn Heb “and Ben Hadad fled and went into the city, [into] an inner room in an inner room.”
[20:31] 1135 tn Or “servants.”
[20:31] 1136 tn Or “merciful.” The word used here often means “devoted” or “loyal.” Perhaps the idea is that the Israelite kings are willing to make treaties with other kings.
[20:31] 1137 sn Sackcloth was worn as a sign of sorrow and repentance. The precise significance of the ropes on the head is uncertain, but it probably was a sign of submission. These actions were comparable to raising a white flag on the battlefield or throwing in the towel in a boxing match.
[20:32] 1139 sn Your servant. By referring to Ben Hadad as Ahab’s servant, they are suggesting that Ahab make him a subject in a vassal treaty arrangement.
[20:32] 1140 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:32] 1141 sn He is my brother. Ahab’s response indicates that he wants to make a parity treaty and treat Ben Hadad as an equal partner.
[20:33] 1142 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:34] 1143 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ben Hadad) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:34] 1144 tn Heb “streets,” but this must refer to streets set up with stalls for merchants to sell their goods. See HALOT 299 s.v. חוּץ.
[20:34] 1145 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[20:34] 1146 tn Heb “I will send you away with a treaty.” The words “Ahab then said” are supplied in the translation. There is nothing in the Hebrew text to indicate that the speaker has changed from Ben Hadad to Ahab. Some suggest adding “and he said” before “I will send you away.” Others prefer to maintain Ben Hadad as the speaker and change the statement to, “Please send me away with a treaty.”
[20:35] 1147 tn Heb “Now a man from the sons of the prophets said to his companion by the word of the
[20:36] 1148 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:37] 1149 tn Heb “and the man wounded him, wounding and bruising.”
[20:39] 1151 tn Heb “man” (also a second time later in this verse).
[20:39] 1152 tn Heb “if being missed, he is missed.” The emphatic infinitive absolute before the finite verbal form lends solemnity to the warning.
[20:39] 1153 tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 75 pounds of silver.
[20:39] 1154 tn Heb “your life will be in place of his life, or a unit of silver you will pay.”
[20:40] 1155 tn Heb “so [i.e., in accordance with his testimony] is your judgment, you have determined [it].”
[20:41] 1156 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:42] 1157 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the prophet) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:42] 1158 tn Heb “Because you sent away the man of my destruction [i.e., that I determined should be destroyed] from [my/your?] hand, your life will be in place of his life, and your people in place of his people.”
[20:43] 1159 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[21:1] 1160 tn Heb “after these things.” The words “the following episode took place” are added for stylistic reasons.
[21:1] 1161 sn King Ahab of Samaria. Samaria, as the capital of the northern kingdom, here stands for the nation of Israel.
[21:1] map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[21:2] 1162 tn Heb “if it is good in your eyes.”
[21:2] 1163 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words: “And it will be mine as a garden of herbs.”
[21:3] 1164 tn Heb “Far be it from me, by the
[21:4] 1165 tn Heb “on account of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite spoke to him.”
[21:4] 1166 tn Heb “I will not give to you the inheritance of my fathers.”
[21:4] 1167 tn Heb “turned away his face.”
[21:6] 1168 tn Heb “While I was talking…, I said…, he said….” Ahab’s explanation is one lengthy sentence in the Hebrew text, which is divided in the English translation for stylistic reasons.
[21:7] 1169 tn Heb “You, now, you are exercising kingship over Israel.”
[21:7] 1170 tn Heb “so your heart [i.e., disposition] might be well.”
[21:8] 1172 tn Heb “in the name of Ahab.”
[21:8] 1175 tn Heb “to the nobles who were in his city, the ones who lived with Naboth.”
[21:9] 1176 tn Heb “she wrote on the scrolls, saying.”
[21:11] 1179 tn Heb “and the nobles who were living in his city.”
[21:11] 1180 tn Heb “did as Jezebel sent to them, just as was written in the scrolls which she sent to them.”
[21:13] 1181 tn Heb “led him.”
[21:13] 1182 tn Heb “and they stoned him with stones and he died.”
[21:14] 1183 tn Heb “Naboth was stoned and he died.” So also in v. 15.
[21:15] 1184 tn Heb “Jezebel”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“she”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[21:16] 1185 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words here: “he tore his garments and put on sackcloth. After these things.”
[21:17] 1186 tn Heb “the word of the
[21:20] 1187 tn Heb “and Ahab said to Elijah.” The narrative is elliptical and streamlined. The words “when Elijah arrived” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[21:20] 1188 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[21:20] 1189 tn Heb “you have sold yourself.”
[21:20] 1190 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[21:21] 1191 tn The introductory formula “the
[21:21] 1192 sn Disaster. There is a wordplay in the Hebrew text. The word translated “disaster” (רָעָה, ra’ah) is similar to the word translated “evil” (v. 20, הָרַע, hara’). Ahab’s sins would receive an appropriate punishment.
[21:21] 1193 tn Heb “I will burn after you.” Some take the verb בָּעַר (ba’ar) to mean here “sweep away.” See the discussion of this verb in the notes at 14:10 and 16:3.
[21:21] 1194 tn Heb “and I will cut off from Ahab those who urinate against a wall, [including both those who are] restrained and let free [or “abandoned”] in Israel.” The precise meaning of the idiomatic phrase עָצוּר וְעָזוּב (’atsur vÿ’azuv, translated here “weak and incapacitated”) is uncertain. For various options see HALOT 871 s.v. עצר and M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 107. The two terms are usually taken as polar opposites (“slaves and freemen” or “minors and adults”), but Cogan and Tadmor, on the basis of contextual considerations (note the usage with אֶפֶס (’efes), “nothing but”) in Deut 32:36 and 2 Kgs 14:26, argue convincingly that the terms are synonyms, meaning “restrained and abandoned,” and refer to incapable or incapacitated individuals.
[21:22] 1196 tn Heb “because of the provocation by which you angered [me], and you caused Israel to sin.”
[21:23] 1197 tc A few Hebrew
[21:24] 1198 tn “Dogs will eat the ones who belonging to Ahab who die in the city.”
[21:25] 1199 tn Heb “who sold himself.”
[21:25] 1200 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[21:25] 1201 tn Heb “like Ahab…whom his wife Jezebel incited.”
[21:26] 1202 tn The Hebrew word used here, גִלּוּלִים (gillulim) is always used as a disdainful reference to idols. It is generally thought to have originally referred to “dung pellets” (cf. KBL 183 s.v. גִלּוּלִים). It is only one of several terms used in this way, such as אֱלִילִים (’elilim, “worthless things”) and הֲבָלִים (havalim, “vanities” or “empty winds”).
[21:26] 1203 tn Heb “He acted very abominably by walking after the disgusting idols, according to all which the Amorites had done.”
[21:28] 1204 tn Heb “the word of the
[21:29] 1205 tn Or “humbles himself.” The expression occurs a second time later in this verse.
[21:29] 1206 tn Heb “I will not bring the disaster during his days, [but] in the days of his son I will bring the disaster on his house.”
[22:1] 1207 tn Heb “and they lived three years without war between Aram and Israel.”
[22:2] 1208 tn The word “visit” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[22:3] 1209 tn Heb “Do you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, and we hesitate to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course, you must know!”
[22:4] 1210 tn Heb “Like me, like you; like my people, like your people; like my horses; like your horses.”
[22:5] 1211 tn Heb “and Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel.”
[22:5] 1212 tn Heb “the word of the
[22:6] 1213 tn Heb “Should I go against Ramoth Gilead for war or should I refrain?”
[22:6] 1214 tn Though Jehoshaphat requested an oracle from “the
[22:8] 1215 tn Heb “to seek the
[22:8] 1217 tn The words “his name is” are supplied for stylistic reasons.
[22:10] 1218 tn Heb “were sitting, a man on his throne.”
[22:10] 1219 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[22:13] 1220 tn Heb “the words of the prophets are [with] one mouth good for the king.”
[22:13] 1221 tn Heb “let your words be like the word of each of them and speak good.”
[22:15] 1222 sn “Attack! You will succeed; the
[22:16] 1223 tn Or “swear an oath by.”
[22:17] 1224 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[22:19] 1225 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Micaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[22:20] 1226 tn Heb “and fall.”
[22:21] 1227 tn Heb “the spirit.” The significance of the article prefixed to רוּחַ (ruakh) is uncertain, but it could contain a clue as to this spirit’s identity, especially when interpreted in light of v. 24. It is certainly possible, and probably even likely, that the article is used in a generic or dramatic sense and should be translated, “a spirit.” In the latter case it would show that this spirit was vivid and definite in the mind of Micaiah the storyteller. However, if one insists that the article indicates a well-known or universally known spirit, the following context provides a likely referent. Verse 24 tells how Zedekiah slapped Micaiah in the face and then asked sarcastically, “Which way did the spirit from the
[22:22] 1228 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
[22:22] 1229 tn The Hebrew text has two imperfects connected by וְגַם (vÿgam). These verbs could be translated as specific futures, “you will deceive and also you will prevail,” in which case the
[22:27] 1230 tn Heb “the bread of affliction and the water of affliction.”
[22:27] 1231 tn Heb “come in peace.” So also in v. 28.
[22:30] 1233 tn The Hebrew verbal forms could be imperatives (“Disguise yourself and enter”), but this would make no sense in light of the immediately following context. The forms are better interpreted as infinitives absolute functioning as cohortatives. See IBHS 594 §35.5.2a. Some prefer to emend the forms to imperfects.
[22:31] 1234 tn Heb “small or great.”
[22:34] 1235 tn Heb “now a man drew a bow in his innocence” (i.e., with no specific target in mind, or at least without realizing his target was the king of Israel).
[22:34] 1236 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[22:37] 1238 tn Heb “and the king died and he came to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.”
[22:38] 1239 tn Heb “now the prostitutes bathed.”
[22:38] 1240 tn Heb “according to the word of the
[22:39] 1241 tn Heb “As for the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the house of ivory which he built and all the cities which he built, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
[22:40] 1242 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[22:42] 1243 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[22:43] 1244 tn Heb “he walked in all the way of Asa his father and did not turn from it, doing what is right in the eyes of the
[22:43] 1245 sn Beginning with 22:43b, the verse numbers through 22:53 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), because 22:43b in the English Bible = 22:44 in the Hebrew text. The remaining verses in the chapter differ by one, with 22:44-53 ET = 22:45-54 HT.
[22:45] 1246 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Jehoshaphat, and his strength that he demonstrated and how he fought, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?”
[22:46] 1247 tn Heb “and the rest of the male cultic prostitutes who were left in the days of Asa his father, he burned from the land.” Some understand the verb בִּעֵר (bi’er) to mean “sweep away” here rather than “burn.” See the note at 1 Kgs 14:10.
[22:46] sn Despite Asa’s opposition to these male cultic prostitutes (see 1 Kgs 15:12) some of them had managed to remain in the land. Jehoshaphat finished what his father had started.
[22:48] 1248 tn Heb “a fleet of Tarshish [ships].” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish.
[22:49] 1249 tn Heb “Let my servants go with your servants in the fleet.”
[22:50] 1250 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
[22:50] 1251 tn Heb “with his fathers in the city of his father.”
[22:51] 1252 map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.
[22:52] 1253 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
[22:52] 1255 tn Heb “and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat who made Israel sin.”
