The Queen of Sheba
(2 Chronicles 9:1–12)

1  וּמַֽלְכַּת־ (And the queen) שְׁבָ֗א (of Sheba) שֹׁמַ֛עַת (heard) אֶת־ (-) שֵׁ֥מַע (the report) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (of Solomon) לְשֵׁ֣ם (concerning the name) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וַתָּבֹ֥א (and she came) לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ (to test him) בְּחִידֽוֹת׃ (with difficult questions). 2  וַתָּבֹ֣א (And she came) יְרוּשָׁלְַ֗מָה (to Jerusalem) בְּחַיִל֮ (with a company) כָּבֵ֣ד (great) מְאֹד֒ (very), גְּ֠מַלִּים (with camels) נֹשְׂאִ֨ים (that bore) בְּשָׂמִ֧ים (spices), וְזָהָ֛ב (and gold) רַב־ (much) מְאֹ֖ד (very), וְאֶ֣בֶן (and stones) יְקָרָ֑ה (precious).

וַתָּבֹא֙ (And she came) אֶל־ (to) שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (Solomon), וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר (and she spoke) אֵלָ֔יו (with him) אֵ֛ת (about) כָּל־ (all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הָיָ֖ה (was) עִם־ (in) לְבָבָֽהּ׃ (her heart). 3  וַיַּגֶּד־ (And answered) לָ֥הּ (to her) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) דְּבָרֶ֑יהָ (her matters); לֹֽא־ (not) הָיָ֤ה (there was) דָּבָר֙ (a thing) נֶעְלָ֣ם (so difficult) מִן־ (for) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), אֲשֶׁ֧ר (that) לֹ֦א (not) הִגִּ֖יד (he could explain it) לָֽהּ׃ (to her).

4  וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ (And had seen) מַֽלְכַּת־ (the queen) שְׁבָ֔א (of Sheba) אֵ֖ת (-) כָּל־ (all) חָכְמַ֣ת (the wisdom) שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה (of Solomon), וְהַבַּ֖יִת (and the house) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) בָּנָֽה׃ (he had built), 5  וּמַאֲכַ֣ל (and the food on) שֻׁלְחָנ֡וֹ (his table), וּמוֹשַׁ֣ב (and the seating) עֲבָדָיו֩ (of his servants), וּמַעֲמַ֨ד (and the service) מְשָׁרְתוֹ (his ministers), וּמַלְבֻּֽשֵׁיהֶם֙ (and their apparel), וּמַשְׁקָ֔יו (and his cupbearers), וְעֹ֣לָת֔וֹ (and the burnt offerings) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (-) יַעֲלֶ֖ה (he offered up) בֵּ֣ית (to the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). וְלֹא־ (And not) הָ֥יָה (there was) בָ֛הּ (in her) ע֖וֹד (anymore) רֽוּחַ׃ (breath).

6  וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And she said) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), אֱמֶת֙ (True) הָיָ֣ה (it was) הַדָּבָ֔ר (the word) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי (I heard) בְּאַרְצִ֑י (in my land) עַל־ (about) דְּבָרֶ֖יךָ (your words) וְעַל־ (and) חָכְמָתֶֽךָ׃ (your wisdom). 7  וְלֹֽא־ (Not) הֶאֱמַ֣נְתִּי (I did believe) לַדְּבָרִ֗ים (the words) עַ֤ד (until) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בָּ֙אתִי֙ (I came) וַתִּרְאֶ֣ינָה (and saw) עֵינַ֔י (my eyes), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and indeed) לֹֽא־ (not) הֻגַּד־ (was told) לִ֖י (to me) הַחֵ֑צִי (the half) הוֹסַ֤פְתָּ (you have added) חָכְמָה֙ (wisdom) וָט֔וֹב (and prosperity) אֶל־ (to) הַשְּׁמוּעָ֖ה (the report) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שָׁמָֽעְתִּי׃ (I heard). 8  אַשְׁרֵ֣י (Blessed are) אֲנָשֶׁ֔יךָ (your men)! אַשְׁרֵ֖י (Blessed are) עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ (your servants), אֵ֑לֶּה (these) הָֽעֹמְדִ֤ים (who stand) לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ (before you) תָּמִ֔יד (continually) הַשֹּׁמְעִ֖ים (hearing) אֶת־ (-) חָכְמָתֶֽךָ׃ (your wisdom)! 9  יְהִ֨י (Be) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (your God) בָּר֔וּךְ (blessed), אֲשֶׁר֙ (who) חָפֵ֣ץ (delighted) בְּךָ֔ (in you), לְתִתְּךָ֖ (setting you) עַל־ (on) כִּסֵּ֣א (the throne) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), בְּאַהֲבַ֨ת (because has loved) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) לְעֹלָ֔ם (forever), וַיְשִֽׂימְךָ֣ (and He has appointed you) לְמֶ֔לֶךְ (king) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to do) מִשְׁפָּ֖ט (justice) וּצְדָקָֽה׃ (and righteousness).

10  וַתִּתֵּ֨ן (And she gave) לַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) מֵאָ֥ה (a hundred) וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים׀ (and twenty) כִּכַּ֣ר (talents) זָהָ֗ב (of gold), וּבְשָׂמִ֛ים (and spices) הַרְבֵּ֥ה (many) מְאֹ֖ד (very), וְאֶ֣בֶן (and stones) יְקָרָ֑ה (precious). לֹא־ (Never) בָא֩ (there came) כַבֹּ֨שֶׂם (like spice) הַה֥וּא (that) עוֹד֙ (again) לָרֹ֔ב (in such abundance) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נָתְנָ֥ה (gave) מַֽלְכַּת־ (the queen) שְׁבָ֖א (of Sheba) לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (to King) שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ (Solomon).

11  וְגַם֙ (And) אֳנִ֣י (the ships) חִירָ֔ם (of Hiram), אֲשֶׁר־ (which) נָשָׂ֥א (brought) זָהָ֖ב (gold) מֵאוֹפִ֑יר (from Ophir), הֵבִ֨יא (brought) מֵאֹפִ֜יר (from Ophir) עֲצֵ֧י (wood) אַלְמֻגִּ֛ים (almug) הַרְבֵּ֥ה (much) מְאֹ֖ד (very), וְאֶ֥בֶן (and stones) יְקָרָֽה׃ (precious). 12  וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (And made) הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) עֲצֵ֨י (of wood) הָאַלְמֻגִּ֜ים (almug) מִסְעָ֤ד (the steps) לְבֵית־ (for the house) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH), וּלְבֵ֣ית (and for house) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king), וְכִנֹּר֥וֹת (and harps) וּנְבָלִ֖ים (and stringed instruments) לַשָּׁרִ֑ים (for the singers). לֹ֣א (Never) בָֽא־ (there came again) כֵ֞ן (such) עֲצֵ֤י (wood) אַלְמֻגִּים֙ (almug), וְלֹ֣א (and not) נִרְאָ֔ה (has been seen) עַ֖ד (to) הַיּ֥וֹם (day) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

13  וְהַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (And King) שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה (Solomon) נָתַ֣ן (gave) לְמַֽלְכַּת־ (to the queen) שְׁבָ֗א (of Sheba) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) חֶפְצָהּ֙ (her desire), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whatever) שָׁאָ֔לָה (she asked), מִלְּבַד֙ (besides) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (what) נָֽתַן־ (had given) לָ֔הּ (to her) כְּיַ֖ד (according to the hand) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of king) שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה (Solomon). וַתֵּ֛פֶן (And she turned) וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ (and went) לְאַרְצָ֖הּ (to her own country), הִ֥יא (she) וַעֲבָדֶֽיהָ׃ס (and her servants).

Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor
(2 Chronicles 1:14–17; 2 Chronicles 9:13–28)

14  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And was) מִשְׁקַ֣ל (the weight) הַזָּהָ֔ב (of the gold) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בָּ֥א (came) לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (to Solomon) בְּשָׁנָ֣ה (in year) אֶחָ֑ת (one), שֵׁ֥שׁ (six) מֵא֛וֹת (hundred) שִׁשִּׁ֥ים (sixty) וָשֵׁ֖שׁ (and six) כִּכַּ֥ר (talents) זָהָֽב׃ (of gold), 15  לְבַד֙ (besides that) מֵאַנְשֵׁ֣י (from the men), הַתָּרִ֔ים (tourists), וּמִסְחַ֖ר (and from the merchandise) הָרֹכְלִ֑ים (of the traders), וְכָל־ (and from all) מַלְכֵ֥י (the kings) הָעֶ֖רֶב (of Arabia), וּפַח֥וֹת (and from the governors) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the country).

16  וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (And made) הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ (King) שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה (Solomon) מָאתַ֥יִם (two hundred) צִנָּ֖ה (large shields) זָהָ֣ב (of gold) שָׁח֑וּט (hammered); שֵׁשׁ־ (six) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) זָהָ֔ב (shekels of gold) יַעֲלֶ֖ה (went) עַל־ (into) הַצִּנָּ֥ה (shield) הָאֶחָֽת׃ (one). 17  וּשְׁלֹשׁ־ (And he made three) מֵא֤וֹת (hundred) מָֽגִנִּים֙ (shields of) זָהָ֣ב (gold) שָׁח֔וּט (hammered); שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת (three) מָנִים֙ (minas) זָהָ֔ב (of gold) יַעֲלֶ֖ה (went) עַל־ (into) הַמָּגֵ֣ן (shield) הָאֶחָ֑ת (one). וַיִּתְּנֵ֣ם (And put them) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) בֵּ֖ית (in the House) יַ֥עַר (of the Forest) הַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃פ (of Lebanon).

18  וַיַּ֧עַשׂ (And made) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) כִּסֵּא־ (a throne) שֵׁ֖ן (of ivory) גָּד֑וֹל (great), וַיְצַפֵּ֖הוּ (and he overlaid it) זָהָ֥ב (with gold) מוּפָֽז׃ (pure). 19  שֵׁ֧שׁ (Six) מַעֲל֣וֹת (steps were) לַכִּסֵּ֗ה (to the throne), וְרֹאשׁ־ (and the top) עָגֹ֤ל (round) לַכִּסֵּה֙ (of the throne was) מֵאַֽחֲרָ֔יו (at the back), וְיָדֹ֛ת (and were armrests) מִזֶּ֥ה (on this side) וּמִזֶּ֖ה (and on this side) אֶל־ (of) מְק֣וֹם (the place) הַשָּׁ֑בֶת (of the seat), וּשְׁנַ֣יִם (and two) אֲרָי֔וֹת (lions) עֹמְדִ֖ים (stood) אֵ֥צֶל (beside) הַיָּדֽוֹת׃ (the armrests). 20  וּשְׁנֵ֧ים (And two) עָשָׂ֣ר (and ten) אֲרָיִ֗ים (lions) עֹמְדִ֥ים (stood) שָׁ֛ם (there) עַל־ (on) שֵׁ֥שׁ (six) הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת (the steps), מִזֶּ֣ה (on this side) וּמִזֶּ֑ה (and on this side). לֹֽא־ (Nothing) נַעֲשָׂ֥ה (had been made) כֵ֖ן (like this) לְכָל־ (for any) מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃ (kingdoms).

21  וְ֠כֹל (And all) כְּלֵ֞י (vessels) מַשְׁקֵ֨ה (drinking) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (of King) שְׁלֹמֹה֙ (Solomon) זָהָ֔ב (were gold), וְכֹ֗ל (and all) כְּלֵ֛י (the vessels) בֵּֽית־ (of the House) יַ֥עַר (of the Forest) הַלְּבָנ֖וֹן (of Lebanon) זָהָ֣ב (were gold) סָג֑וּר (pure). אֵ֣ין (Not one was) כֶּ֗סֶף (silver)— לֹ֥א (not) נֶחְשָׁ֛ב (was it accounted) בִּימֵ֥י (in the days) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (of Solomon) לִמְאֽוּמָה׃ (as anything). 22  כִּי֩ (For) אֳנִ֨י (ships) תַרְשִׁ֤ישׁ (of Tarshish were) לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (unto the king) בַּיָּ֔ם (at sea) עִ֖ם (with) אֳנִ֣י (the ships) חִירָ֑ם (of Hiram). אַחַת֩ (Once) לְשָׁלֹ֨שׁ (in three) שָׁנִ֜ים (years) תָּב֣וֹא׀ (came) אֳנִ֣י (the ships) תַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ (of Tarshish) נֹֽשְׂאֵת֙ (bringing) זָהָ֣ב (gold) וָכֶ֔סֶף (and silver), שֶׁנְהַבִּ֥ים (ivory) וְקֹפִ֖ים (and apes), וְתֻכִּיִּֽים׃ (and peacocks).

23  וַיִּגְדַּל֙ (And surpassed) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (Solomon) מִכֹּ֖ל (all) מַלְכֵ֣י (the kings) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the earth) לְעֹ֖שֶׁר (in riches) וּלְחָכְמָֽה׃ (and wisdom). 24  וְכָ֨ל־ (And all) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the earth) מְבַקְשִׁ֖ים (sought) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֣י (the presence) שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה (of Solomon), לִשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ (to hear) אֶת־ (-) חָכְמָת֔וֹ (his wisdom) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נָתַ֥ן (had put) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) בְּלִבּֽוֹ׃ (in his heart). 25  וְהֵ֣מָּה (And they) מְבִאִ֣ים (brought) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) מִנְחָת֡וֹ (his present), כְּלֵ֣י (articles) כֶסֶף֩ (of silver) וּכְלֵ֨י (and) זָהָ֤ב (gold), וּשְׂלָמוֹת֙ (and garments), וְנֵ֣שֶׁק (and armor), וּבְשָׂמִ֔ים (and spices), סוּסִ֖ים (horses) וּפְרָדִ֑ים (and mules), דְּבַר־ (the matter) שָׁנָ֖ה (of year) בְּשָׁנָֽה׃ס (after year).

26  וַיֶּאֱסֹ֣ף (And gathered) שְׁלֹמֹה֮ (Solomon) רֶ֣כֶב (chariots) וּפָרָשִׁים֒ (and horses), וַיְהִי־ (and were) ל֗וֹ (unto him) אֶ֤לֶף (a thousand) וְאַרְבַּע־ (and four) מֵאוֹת֙ (hundred) רֶ֔כֶב (chariots), וּשְׁנֵים־ (and two) עָשָׂ֥ר (and ten) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) פָּֽרָשִׁ֑ים (horses), וַיַּנְחֵם֙ (and he placed them) בְּעָרֵ֣י (in cities) הָרֶ֔כֶב (the chariot) וְעִם־ (and with) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (in Jerusalem). 27  וַיִּתֵּ֨ן (And made) הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) הַכֶּ֛סֶף (silver) בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (in Jerusalem) כָּאֲבָנִ֑ים (as stones), וְאֵ֣ת (and) הָאֲרָזִ֗ים (cedar trees) נָתַ֛ן (he made) כַּשִּׁקְמִ֥ים (as the sycamores) אֲשֶׁר־ (that are) בַּשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה (in the Shephelah), לָרֹֽב׃ (as abundant).

28  וּמוֹצָ֧א (And were imported) הַסּוּסִ֛ים (the horses) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that were) לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (to Solomon) מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (from Egypt) וּמִקְוֵ֕ה (and Kue); סֹחֲרֵ֣י (merchants) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king) יִקְח֥וּ (bought them) מִקְוֵ֖ה (from Kue) בִּמְחִֽיר׃ (at a price). 29  וַֽ֠תַּעֲלֶה (And came up) וַתֵּצֵ֨א (and came out) מֶרְכָּבָ֤ה (a chariot) מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ (from Egypt) בְּשֵׁ֣שׁ (for six) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) כֶּ֔סֶף (shekels of silver), וְס֖וּס (and a horse) בַּחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים (fifty) וּמֵאָ֑ה (and a hundred). וְ֠כֵן (And thus) לְכָל־ (to all) מַלְכֵ֧י (the kings) הַחִתִּ֛ים (of the Hittites) וּלְמַלְכֵ֥י (and the kings) אֲרָ֖ם (of Aram) בְּיָדָ֥ם (by their hand) יֹצִֽאוּ׃פ (they brought them out).