1 Raja-raja 8:41-43

8:41 “Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your reputation. ¹  8:42 When they hear about your great reputation ²  and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds, ³  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. ⁴  Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation, ⁵  obey ⁶  you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you. ⁷ 

1 Raja-raja 10:1-2

Solomon Entertains a Queen

10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, ⁸  she came to challenge ⁹  him with difficult questions. ¹⁰  10:2 She arrived in Jerusalem ¹¹  with a great display of pomp, ¹²  bringing with her camels carrying spices, ¹³  a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind.

[8:41]  ¹ tn Heb “your name.” In the OT the word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor. The “name” of the Lord sometimes designates the Lord himself, being indistinguishable from the proper name.

[8:42]  ² tn Heb “your great name.” See the note on the word “reputation” in the previous verse.

[8:42]  ³ tn Heb “and your strong hand and your outstretched arm.”

[8:43]  ⁴ tn Heb “and do all which the foreigner calls to [i.e., “requests of”] you.”

[8:43]  ⁵ tn Heb “your name.” See the note on the word “reputation” in v. 41.

[8:43]  ⁶ tn Heb “fear.”

[8:43]  ⁷ 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.

[10:1]  ⁸ tn Heb “the report about Solomon.” The Hebrew text also has, “to the name of the Lord,” which fits very awkwardly in the sentence. If retained, perhaps it should be translated, “because of the reputation of the Lord.” The phrase, which is omitted in the parallel passage in 2 Chr 9:1, may be an addition based on the queen’s declaration of praise to the Lord in v. 9.

[10:1]  ⁹ tn Or “test.”

[10:1]  ¹⁰ tn Or “riddles.”

[10:2]  ¹¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[10:2]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ tn Or “balsam oil.”