¹ tn Heb “and Solomon son of David strengthened himself over his kingdom.”
²tn The disjunctive clause (note the waw + subject pattern) probably has a causal nuance here.
³tn Or “high place.”
⁴tn Heb “the tent of meeting of God.”
⁵sn The tabernacle was located in Gibeon, see 1 Chr 21:29.
⁶tn Heb “sought (or, “inquired of”) him.”
⁷tn Or “revealed himself.”
⁸tn Heb “ask.”
⁹tn Heb “did.”
¹⁰tn Heb “you word.”
¹¹tn Or “be firm, established.”
¹²tn The cohortative with prefixed waw following the imperative here indicates purpose/result.
¹³tn Heb “so I may go out before this nation and come in.” The expression “go out…and come in” here means “to lead” (see KB3, 425).
¹⁴tn Heb “for.” The word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.
¹⁵tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”
¹⁶tn Heb “to judge.”
¹⁷tn Heb “these numerous people of yours.”
¹⁸tn Heb “because this was in your heart (or, “mind”).”
¹⁹tn Heb “the life of those who hate you.”
²⁰tn Heb “many days.”
²¹tn Heb “wisdom and discernment are given to you.”
²²tn Heb “which was not so for the kings who were before you, and after you there will not be so.”
²³tn Heb “and Solomon came from the high place which was in Gibeon (to) Jerusalem, from before the tent of meeting, and he reigned over Israel.”
²⁴tn Or “gathered.”
²⁵tn Heb “he placed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.”
²⁶tn The words “as plentiful” are added for clarification.
²⁷tn Heb “he made.”
²⁸tn Heb “as the sycamore fig trees which are in the Shephelah.”
²⁹sn 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 KB3, 625.
³⁰tn Heb “and they brought up and brought out from Egypt a chariot for 600 silver (pieces), and a horse for 150, and in the same way to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram by their hand they brought out.”
¹sn In the Hebrew text this is 1:18; 2:1-18 in the English Bible = 1:18-2:17 in the Hebrew.
²tn Heb “and Solomon said to build a house for the name of the LORD and house for his kingship.”
³tn Heb “counted,” perhaps “conscripted.”
⁴tn Heb “carriers of loads.”
⁵tn Heb “cutters” (probably of stones).
⁶tn Heb “and 3,600 supervisers over them.”
⁷tc Some manuscripts spell the name “Hiram.”
⁸tn The words “help me” are added in the translation for clarification and stylistic reasons.
⁹tn Heb “to build for him a house to live in it.”
¹⁰tn Heb “for the name of.”
¹¹tn Heb “and the regular display.”
¹²tn Heb “permanently (is) this upon Israel.”
¹³tn Heb “Who retains strength to build for him a house, for the heavens and the heavens of heavens do not contain him? And who am I that I should build for him a house, except to sacrifice before him?”
¹⁴tn Heb “know.”
¹⁵sn As a unit of dry measure a kor was roughly equivalent to six bushels.
¹⁶tn Heb “20,000 baths.” A bath was a liquid measure roughly equivalent to six gallons.
¹⁷tn Heb “20,000 baths.” A bath was a liquid measure roughly equivalent to six gallons.
¹⁸tc Some manuscripts spell the name “Hiram.”
¹⁹tn Heb “who has given to David a wise son (who) knows discernment and insight, who will build a house for the LORD and house for his kingship.”
²⁰tn Heb “a son of a woman from the daughters of Dan, and his father a man of Tyre.”
²¹tn Heb “and we will cut down trees from Lebanon according to all your need.”
²²tn The Hebrew text adds, “to you.”
²³tn Or “on rafts.” See the note at 1 Kgs 5:9.
²⁴tn Heb “counted.”
²⁵tn Heb “made.”
²⁶tn Heb “carriers of loads.”
²⁷tn Heb “cutters” (probably of stones).
²⁸tn Heb “and 3,600 (as) supervisors to compel the people to work.”
¹sn This would be April-May, 966 B. C. by modern reckoning.
²tn Heb “and these are the founding of Solomon to build the house of God.”
³tn Heb “the length (in) cubits by the former measure was 60 cubits, and a width of 20 cubits.”
sn A cubit was a unit of measure roughly equivalent to 18 inches.
⁴tc Heb “and the porch which was in front of the length corresponding to the width of the house, 20 cubits.” The phrase tybh lkyh, “the main hall of the temple” (which appears in the parallel account in 1 Kgs 6:3) has accidentally been omitted by homoioarchton after ynp-lu, “in front of.” Note that the following form, Jrah, “the length,” also begins with the letter he. A scribe’s eye probably jumped from the initial he on lkyh to the initial he on Jrah, leaving out the intervening letters in the process.
⁵tc The Hebrew text has “100 and 20 cubits,” i.e., 180 feet. An ancient Greek witness and the Syriac version read “20 cubits,” i.e., 30 feet. It is likely that ham, “a hundred,” is a corruption of an original twma, “cubits.”
⁶tn Heb “covered.”
⁷tn Heb “the large house.”
⁸tn Heb “wood of evergreens.”
⁹tn Heb “and he put up on it palm trees and chains.”
¹⁰tn Heb “and he plated the house (with) precious stone for beauty, and the gold was the gold of Parvaim.”
¹¹tn Heb “the house of the holy place of holy places.”
¹²tn Heb “20 cubits.”
¹³tc Heb “20 cubits.” Some suggest adding, “and its height 20 cubits” (see 1 Kgs 6:20). The phrase could have been omitted by homoiteleuton.
¹⁴sn Hebrew rkk , “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.
¹⁵tn Heb “and the wings of the cherubs, their length was 20 cubits.”
¹⁶tn Heb “the wing of the one was five cubits from the touching of the wall of the house, and the other wing was five cubits from the touching of the wing of the other cherub.”
¹⁷tn Heb “and the wing of the one (djah, “the one,” should probably be emended to rjah, “the other”) cherub was five cubits, touching the wall of the house, and the other wing was five cubits, clinging to the wing of the other cherub.”
¹⁸tn Heb “the wings of these cherubs were spreading 20 cubits.”
¹⁹tn Heb “and they were standing on their feet, with their faces to the house.” An alternative translation of the last clause would be, ““with their faces to the main hall.”
²⁰tn Heb “and he made before the house two pillars, 35 cubits (in) length, and the plated capital which was on its top (was) five cubits.” The significance of the measure “35 cubits” is uncertain. According to 1 Kgs 7:15, each pillar was 18 cubits high.
²¹tn The Hebrew text adds here, “in the inner sanctuary,” but the description at this point is of the pillars, not the inner sanctuary.
²²tn Or “one on the south and the other on the north.”
²³tn The name appears to be a verbal form and probably means, “he establishes.”
²⁴n/ The meaning of this name is uncertain. For various proposals, see BDB, 126-27. One attractive option is to revocalize the name as zuoB=, “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.”
¹tn Heb “20 cubits.”
²tn Heb “20 cubits.”
³tn Heb “ten cubits.”
⁴tn Heb “He made the sea, cast.”
sn This large basin that was mounted on twelve bronze bulls and contained water for the priests to bathe themselves (see v. 6; cf. Exod 30:17-21).
⁵tn Heb “ten cubits.”
⁶tn Heb “five cubits.”
⁷tn Heb “and a measuring line went around it 30 cubits all around.”
⁸tn Heb “ten every cubit.”
⁹tn Heb “all their hindquarters were toward the inside.”
¹⁰tn Heb “3000 baths.” A bath was a liquid measure roughly equivalent to six gallons.
¹¹tn Heb “and the doors for the enclosure.”
¹²tn Heb “Hiram finished doing all the work which he did for King Solomon (on) the house of God.”
¹³tn The words “he made” are added for stylistic reasons.
¹⁴tc The Hebrew text has hcu, “he made,” which is probably a corruption of rcu, “ten” (see 1 Kgs 7:43).
¹⁵tc The Hebrew text has hcu, “he made,” which is probably a corruption of hrcu, “ten” (see 1 Kgs 7:43).
¹⁶tc Some prefer to read here “bowls,” see v. 11 and 1 Kgs 7:45.
¹⁷tn Heb “Huram Abi made for King Solomon (for) the house of the LORD.”
¹⁸tn Or perhaps, “molds.”
¹⁹tn Heb “Solomon made all these items in great abundance; the weight of the bronze was not sought.”
¹tn Heb “the bread of the face/presence.”
sn This bread was viewed as a perpetual offering to God. See Lev 24:5-9.
²tn 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 Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the city of David (it is Zion).”
³sn This was the Feast of Tabernacles, see Lev 23:34.
⁴sn This would be September-October in modern reckoning.
⁵tn Heb “the tent of assembly.”
sn See Exod 33:7-11.
⁶tn Heb “and they carried the ark of the LORD…. The priests and the Levites carried them.”
⁷tn 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.”
⁸tn The word “assigned” is added for clarification.
⁹sn These poles were used to carry the ark. See Exod 25:13-15.
¹⁰tn Heb “they could not be seen outside.”
¹¹tn Heb “in Horeb where.”
¹²tn Heb “and when the priests went from the holy place.” The syntactical relationship of this temporal clause to the following context is unclear. Perhaps the thought is completed in v. 14 after a lengthy digression.
¹³tn Heb “Indeed (or, “for”) all the priests who were found consecrated themselves without guarding divisions.”
¹⁴tn Heb “like one were the trumpeters and the musicians, causing one voice to be heard, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, and while raising a voice with trumpets and with cymbals and with instruments of music, and while praising the LORD.”
¹⁵tn Heb “and the house was filled with a cloud, the house of the LORD.”
¹⁶tn Heb “were not able to stand to serve.”
¹tn The words “O LORD” do not appear in the original text, but they are supplied for clarification; Solomon addresses the Lord in prayer at this point.
²tn Heb “turned his face.”
³tn Heb “and he blessed all the assembly of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel was standing.”
⁴tn The Hebrew text adds, “by his hand.”
⁵tn The Hebrew text adds, “by his mouth.”
⁶tn Heb “saying.”
⁷tn Heb “to build a house for my name to be there.”
sn On the significance of the Lord’s name, see the note at 1 Kgs 3:2.
⁸tn Heb for my name to be there.”
⁹tn Heb “and it was with the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.”
sn On the significance of the Lord’s “name,” see the note at 1 Kgs 3:2.
¹⁰tn Heb “Because it was with your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was with your heart.”
¹¹tn Heb “your son, the one who came out of your body, he will build the temple for my name.”
¹²tn Heb “five cubits.”
¹³tn Heb “five cubits.”
¹⁴tn Heb “three cubits.”
¹⁵tn Heb “said.”
¹⁶tn Heb “one who keeps the covenant and the loyal love.”
¹⁷tn Heb “who walk before you with all their heart.”
¹⁸tn Heb “(you) who kept to your servant David my father that which you spoke to him.”
¹⁹tn Heb “you spoke by your mouth and by your hand you fulfilled, as this day.”
²⁰tn Heb “there will not be cut off from you a man from before me sitting on the throne of Israel.”
²¹tn Heb “guard their way by walking in my law as you have walked before me.”
²²tn Or “prove to be reliable.”
²³tn Heb “Indeed, can God really live with mankind on the earth?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course not,” the force of which the translation above seeks to reflect.
²⁴tn Heb “turn to.”
²⁵tn Heb “by listening to.”
²⁶tn Heb “the loud cry and the prayer.”
²⁷tn Heb “praying before you.”
²⁸tn 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.’”
²⁹tn Heb “by listening to the prayer which your servant is praying concerning this place.”
³⁰tn Heb “listen to the requests of your servant and your people Israel which they are praying concerning this place.”
³¹tn Heb “hear and forgive.”
³²tn Heb “and if 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,”
³³tn Heb “and you, hear (from) heaven and act and judge your servants by repaying the guilty, to give his way on his head, and to declare the innocent to be innocent, to give to him according to his innocence.”
³⁴tn Or “are struck down before an enemy.”
³⁵tn Heb “confess (or perhaps “praise”) your name.”
³⁶tn Heb “and they pray and ask for help.”
³⁷tn Heb “when.” In the Hebrew text verses 26-27a actually contain one lengthy conditional sentence, which the translation has divided into two sentences for stylistic reasons.
³⁸tn Heb “they.”
³⁹tn Heb “confess (or perhaps “praise”) your name.”
⁴⁰tn The Hebrew text has “because you answer them,” as if the verb is from hnu, “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 <n}u^t=, “you afflict them,” a piel verb form from the homonym hnu, “afflict.”
⁴¹tn The translation understands yk in an emphatic or asseverative sense.
⁴²tn Heb “the good way in which they should walk.”
⁴³tn Or “for an inheritance.”
⁴⁴tn In the Hebrew text verses 28-30a actually contain one lengthy conditional sentence, which the translation has divided up for stylistic reasons.
⁴⁵tn Actually two terms appear here, both of which are usually taken as referring to locusts. Perhaps different stages of growth or different varieties are in view.
⁴⁶tn Heb “in the land, his gates.”
⁴⁷tn Heb “every prayer, every request for help which will be to all the people, to all your people Israel.”
⁴⁸tn Heb “which they know, each his pain and his affliction.”
⁴⁹tn The words “their sin” are added for clarification.
⁵⁰tn Heb “and act and give to each one according to all his ways because you know his heart.”
⁵¹tn Heb “Indeed you know, you alone, the heart of all the sons of mankind.”
⁵²tn Heb “fear.”
⁵³tn Heb “by walking in your ways.”
⁵⁴tn Heb “all the days (in) which.”
⁵⁵tn Heb “name.” See the note at 1 Kgs 3:2.
⁵⁶tn Heb “and your strong hand and your outstretched arm.”
⁵⁷tn Heb “and do all which the foreigner calls to (i.e, “requests of”) you.”
⁵⁸tn Heb “name.”
⁵⁹tn Heb “fear.”
⁶⁰tn Heb “that your name is called over this house which I built.” The Hebrew idiom “call the name over” indicates ownership. See 2 Sam 12:28.
⁶¹tn Heb “When your people go out for battle against their enemies in the way which you send them.”
⁶²tn Heb “toward this city which you have chosen and the house which I built for your name.”
⁶³tn Heb “their prayer and their request for help.”
⁶⁴tn Heb “and accomplish their justice.”
⁶⁵tn Heb “they.”
⁶⁶tn Heb “they.”
⁶⁷tn Or “stop and reflect.” The text literally reads, “bring back to their heart.”
⁶⁸tn Or “done wrong.”
⁶⁹tn Or “soul.”
⁷⁰tn Heb “name.”
⁷¹tn Heb “their prayer and their requests for help.”
⁷²tn Heb “and accomplish their justice.”
⁷³tn Heb “May your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.”
⁷⁴tn Heb “be clothed with deliverance.”
⁷⁵tn Heb “and may your loyal ones rejoice in good.”
⁷⁶tc Heb “do not turn away the face of your anointed ones.” Many medieval Hebrew manuscripts, as well as the ancient versions, read the singular, “your anointed,” which would probably refer to Solomon specifically, rather than the people.
¹tn The word “saying” is added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
²tn Heb “and the priests were standing at their posts, and the Levites with the instruments of music of the LORD.”
³tn Lit., “which David the king made to give thanks to the LORD, for lasting is his loyal love, when David praised by them.”
⁴tc The Hebrew text omits reference to the grain offerings at this point, but note that they are included in the list in the second half of the verse and in the parallel account in 1 Kgs 8:64. The construction hjnmh-taw (waw + accusative sign + noun with article), “grain offerings,” was probably accidentally omitted by homoioarchton. Note that the taw that immediately follows.
⁵tn Heb “to hold the burnt sacrifices, grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.”
⁶tn Heb “Solomon held the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel was with with him, a very great assembly from Lebo Hamath to the Stream of Egypt.”
⁷tn The words “they left” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
⁸tn Heb “good of heart.”
⁹tn Heb “and all that entered the heart of Solomon to do in the house of the LORD and in his house he successfully accomplished.”
¹⁰tn Heb “I have heard.”
¹¹tn Or “if.”
¹²tn Heb “the land,” which stands here by metonymy for the vegetation growing in it.
¹³tn Heb “over whom my name is called.” The Hebrew idiom “call the name over” indicates ownership. See 2 Sam 12:28.
¹⁴tn Heb “seek my face,” which stands here for God’s presence and acceptance.
¹⁵tn Heb “and turn from their sinful ways.”
¹⁶tn Heb “hear.”
¹⁷tn That is, restore the damage done by the drought, locusts and plague mentioned in v. 13.
¹⁸tn Heb “my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer of this place.” Note Solomon’s request in 6:40.
¹⁹tn Heb “for my name to be there perpetually (or perhaps, “forever”).”
²⁰tn Heb “and my eyes and my heart will be there all the days.”
²¹tn Heb “As for you, if you walk before me, as David your father walked, by doing all which I commanded you, (and) you keep my rules and my regulations.”
sn Verse 17 is actually a lengthy protasis (“if” section) of a conditional sentence, the apodosis (“then” section) of which appears in verse 18.
²²tn Heb “I will establish the throne of your kingdom.”
²³tn Heb “there will not be cut off from you a man ruling over Israel.”
²⁴tn The Hebrew pronoun is plural, suggesting that Solomon and all Israel (or perhaps Solomon and his successors) are in view.
²⁵tn Heb “which I placed before you.”
²⁶tn Heb “and walk and serve other gods and bow down to them.”
²⁷tn Heb “them.” The switch from the second to the third person pronoun is rhetorically effective, for it mirrors God’s rejection of his people. However, the switch is awkward and confusing in English, so the translation maintains the direct address style.
²⁸tn Heb “them.” The use of the third person pronoun is rhetorically effective, for it mirrors God’s rejection of his people. However, the use of the third person here is awkward and confusing in English, so the translation maintains the direct address style. See the preceding note.
²⁹tc Instead of “I will throw away,” the parallel text in 1 Kgs 9:7 has “I will send away.” The two verbs sound very similar in Hebrew, so the discrepency is likely due to an oral transmissional error.
tn Heb “and this temple which I consecrated for my name I will throw away from before my face.”
³⁰tn Heb “and I will make him (i.e., Israel) a proverb and a taunt,” that is, a proverbial example of destruction and an object of reproach.
³¹tn Heb “and this house which was high/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.”
³²tn Heb “and they will say.”
³³tn Heb “and they took hold of other gods and bowed down to them and served them.”
¹tn Heb “and he built…(as) cities of fortification, (with) walls, doors and a bar.”
²tn Heb “Solomon.”
³tn Heb “the cities of the chariots and the cities of the horses.”
⁴tn Heb “and all the desire of Solomon which he desired to build in Jerusalem and in Lebanon and in all the land of his kingdom.”
⁵tn Heb “all the people who were left from the Hittites the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not from Israel.”
⁶tn Heb “from their sons who were left after them in the land, whom the sons of Israel did not wipe out, and Solomon raised them up for a work crew to this day.”
⁷tn Heb “and from the sons of Israel which Solomon did not assign to the laborers for his work.”
⁸tn Heb “officers of his chariots and his horses.”
⁹tn Heb “these (were) the officials of the governors who belonged to the king, Solomon, 250, the ones ruling over the people.”
¹⁰sn See the note at 1 Kgs 2:10.
¹¹tn Heb “the porch.”
¹²tn Traditionally, “tabernacles,” or “booths.”
¹³tn Heb “and the Levites, according to their posts, to praise and to serve opposite the priests according to the matter of a day in its day.”
¹⁴tn Heb “and the gatekeepers by their divisions for a gate and a gate.”
¹⁵tn Heb “for so (was) the command of David, the man of God.”
¹⁶tn Heb “and they did not turn aside from the command of the king concerning the priests and the Levites with regard to any matter and with regard to the treasuries.”
¹⁷tn Heb “and Huram sent to him by the hand of his servants, ships, and servants (who) know the sea, and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir.”
¹⁸sn See the note at 3:8.
¹tn Heb “the report about Solomon.”
²tn Or “test.”
³tn Heb “Solomon.”
⁴tn Or “riddles.”
⁵tn Heb “with very great strength.” lyj, “strength,” may refer here to the size of her retinue or to the great wealth she brought with her.
⁶tn Or “balsam oil.”
⁷tn 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.”
⁸tn Heb “all the wisdom of Solomon.”
⁹tn Heb “house.”
¹⁰tn Heb “the food on his table.”
¹¹tn Heb “the seating of his servants and the standing of his attendants.”
¹²tc The Hebrew text has here, “and his upper room (by) which he was going up to the house of the LORD.” But wtylu, “his upper room,” should be emended to wtlu, “his burnt sacrifice(s).” See the parallel account in 1 Kgs 10:5.
¹³tn Heb “there was no breath still in her.”
¹⁴tn Heb “in my land.”
¹⁵tn Heb “about your words (or perhaps “deeds”) and your wisdom.”
¹⁶tn Heb “the half was not told to me.”
¹⁷tn Heb “How happy are your men! How happy are these servants of yours, who stand before you continually, who hear your wisdom!”
¹⁸tn Or “delighted in.”
¹⁹tn Heb “as king for the LORD your God.”
²⁰tn Heb “to make him stand permanently.”
²¹tn Heb “to do justice and righteousness.”
²²sn See the note at 3:8.
²³tn Heb “there has not been like those spices which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.”
²⁴tn Heb “who brought gold from Ophir, brought.”
²⁵tn Heb “tracks.”
²⁶tn Two types of stringed instruments are specifically mentioned, the rwnk, “zither” (?), and lbn, “harp.”
²⁷tn Heb “there was not seen like these formerly in the land of Judah.”
²⁸tn Heb “besides what she brought to the king.”
²⁹tn Heb “turned and went.”
³⁰sn See the note at 3:8.
³¹tn Heb “the weight of the gold which came to Solomon in one year was 666 units of gold.”
³²tn Heb “traveling men.”
³³tn The Hebrew text has simply “600,” with no unit of measure given.
³⁴tn The Hebrew text has simply “300,” with no unit of measure given.
³⁵sn 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. See 1 Kgs 7:2.
³⁶tn Heb “(There were) armrests on each side of the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.”
³⁷tn Heb “nothing like it had been made for any kingdom.”
³⁸tn Heb “there was no silver, it was not regarded as anything in the days of Solomon.”
³⁹tn Heb “for ships belonging to the king were going (to) Tarshish with the servants of Huram.” This probably refers to large ships either made in or capable of traveling to the distant western port of Tarshish.
⁴⁰tn Heb “servants.”
⁴¹tn Heb “the ships of Tarshish came carrying.”
⁴²tn The meaning of this word is unclear. Some suggest “baboons.”
⁴³tn Heb “King Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth with respect to wealth and wisdom.”
⁴⁴tn Heb “and all the kings of the earth were seeking the face of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had placed in his heart.”
⁴⁵tn Heb “and they were bringing each one his gift, items of silver…and mules, the matter of a year in a year.”
⁴⁶tn Heb “he placed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.”
⁴⁷tn Heb “the River.”
⁴⁸tn The words “as plentiful” are added for clarification.
⁴⁹tn Heb “he made.”
⁵⁰tn Heb “as the sycamore fig trees which are in the Shephelah.”
⁵¹tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Solomon, the former and the latter, are they not written?”
⁵²tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
¹tn Heb “come (to).”
²tn Heb “him.”
³tn Heb “They sent and called for him.”
⁴tn Heb “made our yoke burdensome.”
⁵tn 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 waw (Jdbunw, “and we will serve you”) following the imperative (lqh, “lighten”) indicates purpose/result. The conditional sentence used in the translation above is an attempt to bring out the logical relationship between these forms.
⁶tn Heb “stood before.”
⁷tn Heb “saying.”
⁸tn Heb “If today you are for good to these people and you are favorable to them and speak to them good words, they will be your servants all the days.”
⁹tn Heb “Rehoboam 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.”
¹⁰tn Heb “Lighten the yoke which your father placed on us.”
¹¹tn Heb “Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter upon us.”
¹²tn 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.
¹³tn Heb “and now my father placed upon you a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke.”
¹⁴tn Heb “My father punished you with whips, but I (will punish you) with scorpions.” “Scorpions” might allude to some type of torture, but more likely it refers to a type of whip that inflicts an especially biting, painful wound.
¹⁵tn Heb “Rehoboam.”
¹⁶tc The Hebrew text reads, “I will make heavy your yoke,” but many medieval Hebrew manuscripts and other ancient textual witnesses have, “my father made heavy your yoke.”
¹⁷tn Heb “but I will add to your yoke.”
¹⁸tn Heb “My father punished you with whips, but I (will punish you) with scorpions.” “Scorpions” might allude to some type of torture, but more likely it refers to a type of whip that inflicts an especially biting, painful wound.
¹⁹tn Heb “because this turn of events was from God.”
²⁰tn Heb “so that the LORD might bring to pass his word which he spoke.”
²¹sn 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.
²²tn Heb “each one to your tents, Israel.” The word “return” is added for stylistic reasons.
²³tn Heb “Now see your house, David.”
²⁴tn Heb “went to their tents.”
²⁵tn In the parallel account in 1 Kgs 12:18 the name appears as “Adoniram.”
¹tn Heb “he summoned the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men, accomplished in war.”
²tn Heb “and the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying.”
³tn Heb “for his thing is from me.”
⁴tn Heb “and they heard the words of the LORD and returned from going against Jeroboam.”
⁵tn Heb “he strengthened them greatly, very much.”
⁶tn Heb “and the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel supported him from all their territory.”
⁷tn Heb “he.”
⁸tn Heb “for the high places.”
⁹tn Heb “and for the goats and for the calves he had made.”
¹⁰tn Heb “and after them from all the tribes of Israel, the ones giving their heart(s) to seek the LORD God of Israel came (to) Jerusalem.”
¹¹tn Or “strengthened.”
¹²tn Or “strengthened.”
¹³tn Heb “they walked in the way of.”
¹⁴tn Heb “took for himself a wife.”
¹⁵tn The words “and of” are added in the translation for clarification and stylistic reasons.
¹⁶tn Or “concubines.”
¹⁷tn Or “concubines.”
¹⁸tn Heb “and Rehoboam appointed for a head Abijah son of Maachah for ruler among his brothers, indeed to make him king.”
¹⁹tn Heb “and he was discerning and broke up from all his sons to all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all the fortified cities.”
²⁰tn “and he asked for a multitude of wives.”
¹tn Heb “also I have rejected you into the hand of Shishak.”
²tn Or “just.”
³tn Heb “the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying.”
⁴tn Heb “and I will give to them soon deliverance.”
⁵tn Or “gush forth upon.”
⁶tn Heb “by the hand of.”
⁷tn Heb “so they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the lands.”
⁸tn Heb “runners.”
⁹tn Heb “he.”
¹⁰tn Heb “the anger of the LORD turned from him and did not destroy completely.”
¹¹tn Heb “and also in Judah there were good things.”
¹²tn Heb “and the king, Rehoboam, strengthened himself in Jerusalem and ruled.”
¹³tn Heb “Rehoboam.”
¹⁴tn Heb “the city where the LORD chose to place his name from all the tribes of Israel.”
¹⁵tn Heb “because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.”
¹⁶tn Heb “As for the events of Rehoboam, the former and the latter, are they not written?”
¹⁷tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
¹tn Heb “and Abijah bound (i.e., began) the battle with a force of warriors, 4,000 chosen men.”
²tn Heb “and Jeroboam arranged with him (for) battle with 8,000 chosen men, strong warrior(s).”
³tn Heb “Do you not know that the LORD God of Israel has given kingship to David over Israel permanently, to him and to his sons (by) a covenant of salt?”
sn For other references to a “covenant of salt,” see Lev 2:13 and Num 18:19.
⁴tn Heb “empty men, sons of wickedness.”
⁵tn Heb “strengthened themselves.”
⁶tn Heb “a young man and tender of heart.”
⁷tn Heb “the kingdom of the LORD by the hand of the sons of David.”
⁸tn Or “horde, multitude.”
⁹tn In the Hebrew text this is phrased as a rhetorical question, “Did you not banish?”
¹⁰tn Heb “whoever comes to fill his hand with a bull of a son of cattle, and seven rams, and he is a priest to no-gods.”
¹¹tn Heb “and priests serving the LORD (are) the sons of Aaron and the Levites in the work.”
¹²tn Or “for.”
¹³tn Heb “and his priests and the trumpets of the war alarm (are ready) to sound out against you.”
¹⁴tn Heb “and Jeroboam had caused to circle around an ambush to come from behind them.”
¹⁵tn Heb “Judah.”
¹⁶tn Heb “and Judah turned, and, look, to them (was) the battle in front and behind.”
¹⁷tn Heb “shouted out.”
¹⁸tn Heb “Judah.”
¹⁹tn Heb “them.”
²⁰tn Heb “struck them down with a great striking down.”
²¹tn Heb “and (the) slain from Israel fell, 5,000 chosen men.”
²²tn Heb “at that time.”
²³tn Heb “and the strength of Jeroboam was not retained again in the days of Abijah.”
²⁴tn Heb “lifted up for himself.”
¹tn Heb “and his ways and his words.”
²sn In the Hebrew text this verse is 13:23; 14:1-14 in the Hebrew text = 14:2-15 in the English text.
³tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
⁴tn Heb “in his days.”
⁵tn Heb “and Asa did the good and the right in the eyes of the LORD his God.”
⁶tn Heb “the altars of the foreigner.”
⁷tn Heb “the law and the command.”
⁸tn Heb “before him.”
⁹tn The words “the people of” are added for stylistic reasons.
¹⁰tn Heb “and we will surround (them) with wall(s) and towers, doors and bars.”
¹¹tn Heb “sought.”
¹²tn Heb “and he has given us rest all around.”
¹³tn The words “the cities” are added for stylistic reasons.
¹⁴tn Heb “a thousand thousands.”
¹⁵tn Heb “called out.”
¹⁶tn Heb “there is not with you to help between many with regard to (the one) without strength.”
¹⁷tn Heb “and in your name we have come against this multitude.”
¹⁸tn Heb “let not man retain (strength) with you.”
¹⁹tn Heb “and there fell from the Cushites so that there was not to them preservation of life.”
²⁰tn Heb “they.”
²¹tn Heb “for the terror of the LORD was upon them.”
²²tn Heb “they.”
²³tn Heb “for great plunder was in them.”
²⁴tn Heb “and also they struck down the tents of the livestock.”
¹tn Heb “went out before.”
²tn Heb “when you are with him.”
³tn Heb “he will allow himself to be found by you.”
⁴tn Heb “many days.”
⁵tn Heb “and he allowed himself to be found by them.”
⁶tn Heb “times.”
⁷tn Heb “there was peace for the one going out or the one coming in.”
⁸tn Heb “for great confusion was upon all the inhabitants of the lands.”
⁹tn Heb “threw them into confusion with all distress.”
¹⁰tn Heb “and let not your hands drop.”
¹¹tn Heb “for there is payment for your work.”
¹²tn Heb “strengthened himself.”
¹³tn Heb “the porch of the LORD.”
¹⁴tn Or “resident aliens.”
¹⁵tn Heb “had fallen upon him.”
¹⁶tn Or “in that day.”
¹⁷tn Heb “entered into a covenant.”
¹⁸tn Heb “whether small or great.”
¹⁹tn Heb “with a loud voice and with a shout and with trumpets and with horns.”
²⁰tn Heb “and with all their desire they sought him and he allowed himself to be found by them.”
²¹tn Heb “and the LORD gave them rest all around.”
²²tn Lit., “mother,” but Hebrew often uses “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
²³tn Heb “yet the heart of Asa was complete all his days.”
²⁴tn Heb “and he brought the holy things of his father and his holy things (into) the house of God, silver, gold, and items.”
¹tn Heb “and he built up Ramah so as to not permit going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.”
²tn Heb “(May there be) a covenant between me and you (as there was) between my father and your father.”
³tn Heb “so he will go up from upon me.”
⁴tn Heb “and Ben Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of the armies which belonged to him against the cities of Israel.”
⁵tn Heb “struck down.”
⁶tn Heb “building.”
⁷tn Heb “and he caused his work to cease.”
⁸tn Heb “and King Asa took all Judah and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its wood which Baasha had built.”
⁹tn Heb “and he built with them.”
¹⁰tn Heb “the seer.”
¹¹tn Or “for.”
¹²tn Heb “the eyes of the LORD move quickly through all the earth.”
¹³tn Heb “to strengthen himself with their heart, (the one) complete toward him.”
¹⁴tn Heb “and Asa was angry at the seer, and he put him (in) the house of stocks, because of his rage with him over this.”
¹⁵tn Heb “Look, the events of Asa, the former and the latter, look, they are written on the scroll of the kings of Judah and Israel.”
¹⁶tn Heb “became sick in his feet.”
¹⁷tn Heb “unto upwards (i.e., very severe) (was) his sickness, and even in his sickness he did not seek the LORD, only the healers.
¹⁸tn Heb “lay down with his fathers, and he died.”
¹⁹tn Heb “and they burned for him a large fire, very great.”
¹tn Heb “and strengthened himself over Israel.”
²tn Or perhaps, “governors.”
³tn Heb “for he walked in the ways of David his father (in) the beginning (times).”
⁴tn Heb “walked in.”
⁵tn Heb “and not like the behavior of Israel.”
⁶tn Heb “established the kingdom in his hand.”
⁷tn Heb “and he had wealth and honor in abundance.”
⁸tn Heb “and his heart was high in the ways of the LORD.” Perhaps hbg, “be high,” here means “be cheerful” (KBL3, 171) or “be encourage” (BDB, 147).
⁹tn Heb “and the terror of the LORD was upon all the kingdoms of the lands which were surrounding Judah.”
¹⁰tn Heb “and many supplies were his in the cities of Judah, and men of war, warriors of skill in Jerusalem.”
¹tn Heb “at the end of years.”
²tn The word “visit” is added for stylistic reasons.
³tn Heb “and Ahab slaughtered for him sheep and cattle in abundance, and for the people who were with him.”
⁴tn Heb “to go up.”
⁵tn Heb “Like me, like you; and like your people, my people; and with you in battle.”
⁶tn Heb “and Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel.”
⁷tn Heb “the word of the LORD.” Jehoshaphat is requesting a prophetic oracle revealing the Lord’s will in the matter and their prospects for success. For examples of such oracles, see 2 Sam 5:19, 23-24.
⁸tn Heb “Should we go against Ramoth Gilead for war or should I refrain?”
⁹tn Though Jehoshaphat requested an oracle from “the LORD” (Yahweh, Heb. hwhy), they stop short of actually using this name and substitute the title <yhlah, “the God.” This ambiguity may explain in part Jehoshaphat’s hesitancy and caution (vv. 7-8). He seems to doubt that the 400 are genuine prophets of the LORD.
¹⁰tn Heb “to seek the LORD from him.”
¹¹tn Or “hate.”
¹²tn Heb “all his days.”
¹³tn The words “his name is” are added for stylistic reasons.
¹⁴tn Heb “the words of the prophets are (with) one mouth good for the king.”
¹⁵tn Heb “let your words be like one of them and speak good.”
¹⁶sn One does not expect Micaiah, having just vowed to speak only what the Lord tells him, to agree with the other prophets and give the king an inaccurate prophecy. Micaiah’s actions became understandable later, when we discover that the Lord desires to deceive the king and lead him to his demise. The Lord even dispatches a lying spirit to deceive Ahab’s prophets. Micaiah can lie to the king because he realizes this lie is from the Lord. It is important to note that in v. 13 Micaiah only vows to speak the word of his God; he does not necessarily say he will tell the truth. In this case the Lord’s word is deceptive. Only when the king adjures him to tell the truth (v. 15), does Micaiah do so.
¹⁷tn Or “swear an oath by.”
¹⁸tn Heb “he.”
¹⁹tn Heb “he.”
²⁰tn Heb “the spirit.” The significance of the article prefixed to j^Wr is uncertain, but it could contain a clue as to this spirit’s identity, especially when interpreted in light of verse 23. 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 23 tells how Zedekiah slapped Micaiah in the face and then asked sarcastically, “Which way did the spirit from the LORD (hwhy-j^Wr, lit., “the spirit of the LORD”) go when he went from me to speak to you?” When the phrase “the spirit of the LORD” refers to the divine spirit (rather than the divine breath or mind, Isa. 40:7, 13) elsewhere, the spirit energizes an individual or group for special tasks or moves one to prophesy. This raises the possibility that the deceiving spirit of verses 20-22 is the same as the divine spirit mentioned by Zedekiah in verse 23. This would explain why the article is used on j^Wr; he can be called “the spirit” because he is the well-known spirit who energizes the prophets.
²¹tn Heb “he.”
²²tn The Hebrew text has two imperfects connected by <g^w&. These verbs could be translated as specific futures, “you will deceive and also you will prevail,” in which case the Lord is assuring the spirit of success on his mission. However, in a commissioning context (note the following imperatives) such as this, it is more likely that the imperfects are injunctive, in which case one could translate, “Deceive, and also overpower.”
²³tn Heb “the bread of affliction and the water of affliction.”
²⁴tn Heb “Listen.”
²⁵tn 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 W-O, 594. Some prefer to emend the forms to imperfects.
²⁶tn Heb “small or great.”
²⁷tn 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).
²⁸tn Heb “he.”
²⁹tn Heb “camp.”
¹tn Or “seer.”
²tn Heb “went out to his face.”
³tn Heb “and love those who hate the LORD?”
⁴tn Heb “and because of this upon you is anger from before the LORD.”
⁵tn Heb “nevertheless good things are found with you.”
⁶tn Here rub is not the well attested verb “burn,” but the less common homonym meaning “devastate, sweep away, remove.” See KB3, 146.
⁷tn Heb “and you set your heart to seek the LORD.”
⁸tn Heb “and turned them back to.”
⁹tn Heb “in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.”
¹⁰tn Heb “see what you are doing.”
¹¹tn Heb “and now let the terror of the LORD be upon you, be careful and act for there is not with the LORD our God injustice, lifting up of a face, and taking a bribe.”
¹²tn Heb “for the judgment of the LORD.”
¹³tc Heb “and to conduct a case (or, “for controversy”), and they returned (to) Jerusalem.” Some emend Wbv%Y`w^, “and they returned,” to Wbv=Y}w^, “and they lived (in).” The translation above assumes an emendation to yb@v=oy, “residents of.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “commanded.”
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “This you must do with the fear of the LORD, with honesty and with a complete heart (or “mind”).”
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “and every case which comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities.”
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “between blood pertaining to blood.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “and anger will be upon you and your brothers; do this and you will not be guilty.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “and look, Amariah the chief priest is over you with respect to every matter of the LORD, and Zebadiah…with respect ot every matter of the king.”
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “Be strong and act!”
<sup>1</sup>tc The Hebrew text has “Ammonites,” but they are mentioned just before this. Most read “Meunites” (see 26:7).
<sup>2</sup>tn Heb “they.”
<sup>3</sup>tn That is, the Dead Sea.
<sup>4</sup>tn The Hebrew text has “from Aram” (i.e., Syria), but this must be a corruption of “Edom.”
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “and he set his face to seek the LORD.”
<sup>6</sup>tn The words “the people of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “to seek from the LORD.” The verb here (vq@B!) is different than the one translated “seek” in v. 3 (vr^D*).
<sup>8</sup>tn Heb “to seek the LORD.” The verb here (vq@B!) is different than the one translated “seek” in v. 3 (vr^D*).
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “are you not God in heaven?”
<sup>10</sup>tn Heb “did you not drive out?”
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “permanently.”
<sup>12</sup>tn Or perhaps, “your covenantal partner.” See Isa 41:8.
<sup>13</sup>tn Or “sanctuary.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “for your name.”
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “sword.”
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “for your name is in this house.”
<sup>17</sup>tn Or “and you will.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “now, look, the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “whom you did not allow Israel to enter when they came from the land of Egypt.”
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “for (or, “indeed”) upon you are our eyes.”
<sup>21</sup>tn The words “the men of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>22</sup>tn The words “you people of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>23</sup>tn Or perhaps, “don’t get discouraged.”
<sup>24</sup>tn Heb “look.”
<sup>25</sup>tn Heb “the deliverance of the LORD with you.”
<sup>26</sup>tn Or perhaps, “don’t get discouraged.”
<sup>27</sup>tn The words “you people of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>28</sup>tn Heb “to worship the LORD.”
<sup>29</sup>tn Heb “arose to praise the LORD God of Israel with a very loud voice.”
<sup>30</sup>tn The words “you people of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>31</sup>tn There is a word play in the Hebrew text. The hiphil verb form wnymah, “trust,” and the niphal form wnmat, “you will be safe,” come from the same verbal root (/ma).
<sup>32</sup>tn The words “you people of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>33</sup>tn Or “consulted.”
<sup>34</sup>tn Or “is eternal.”
<sup>35</sup>tn Heb “set ambushers against.” This is probably idiomatic here for launching a surprise attack.
<sup>36</sup>tn Heb “the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir.”
<sup>37</sup>tn Heb “the sons of Ammon and Moab stood against the residents of Mount Seir.”
<sup>38</sup>tn Heb “to annihilate and to destroy.”
<sup>39</sup>tn Heb “residents.”
<sup>40</sup>tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “they helped, each one his fellow, for destruction.” The verb rzu, traditionally understood as the well-attested verb meaning “to help,” is an odd fit in this context. It is possible that it is from a homonymic root, perhaps meaning to “attack.” This root is attested in Ugaritic in a nominal form meaning “young man, warrior, hero.” For a discussion of the proposed root, see KB3, 811.
<sup>41</sup>tn The words “the men of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>42</sup>tn Heb “turned toward.”
<sup>43</sup>tn Or “army.”
<sup>44</sup>tc The Hebrew text has <yrgp, “corpses,” but this seems odd among a list of plunder. A few medieval Hebrew manuscripts read <ydgb, “clothes.”
<sup>45</sup>tn Heb “and they snatched away for themselves so that there was no carrying away.”
<sup>46</sup>tn Heb “and they were three days looting the plunder for it was great.”
<sup>47</sup>tn Heb “for there.”
<sup>48</sup>tn The name hkrb, “Berachah,” which means “blessing,” is derived from the verbal root Jrb, “to bless, praise,” which appears earlier in the verse.
<sup>49</sup>tn Heb “and the terror of God (or, “a great terror”) was upon all the kingdoms of the lands.” It is uncertain if <yhla should be understood as a proper name here, or taken in an idiomatic superlative sense.
<sup>50</sup>tn Heb “and his God gave him rest all around.”
<sup>51</sup>tn Heb “he walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn from it, doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD.”
<sup>52</sup>tn Heb “and still the people did not set their heart(s) on the God of their fathers.”
<sup>53</sup>tn Heb “the rest of the events of Jehoshaphat, the former and the latter, look, they are written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani, which are taken up in the scroll of the kings of Israel.”
<sup>54</sup>tn Heb “he.”
<sup>55</sup>tn Heb “he made an alliance with him.”
<sup>56</sup>tn Heb “when.”
<sup>1</sup>tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
<sup>2</sup>tn Heb “and Jehoram arose over the kingdom of his father and strengthened himself.”
<sup>3</sup>tn Heb “and he killed all his brothers with the sword.”
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife.”
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
<sup>6</sup>tn Heb “house.”
<sup>7</sup>tn Or “covenant.”
<sup>8</sup>tn Heb “which he made to David, just as he had promised to give him and his sons a lamp all the days.”
sn The metaphorical “lamp” symbolizes the Davidic dynasty.
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “in his days Edom rebelled from under the hand of Judah and enthroned a king over them.”
<sup>10</sup>tc Heb “and he arose at night and defeated Edom, who had surrounded him, and the chariot officers.” The Hebrew text as it stands gives the impression that Jehoram was surrounded and launched a victorious nighttime counterattack. Yet v. 10 goes on to state that the Edomite revolt was successful. The translation above assumes an emendation of the Hebrew text. Adding a third masculine singular pronominal suffix to the accusative sign before Edom (reading wta, “him,” instead of just ta) and taking Edom as the subject of verbs allows one to translate the verse in a way that is more consistent with the context, which depicts an Israelite defeat, not victory. See also 2 Kgs 8:21.
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “and Edom rebelled from under the hand of Judah until this day.”
<sup>12</sup>tn Heb “from under his hand.” The suffix may refer to Judah or, more specifically, to Jehoram.
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “he.” This could refer to Judah, but the context focuses on Jehoram’s misdeeds. See especially v. 11.
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “and he caused the residents of Jerusalem to commit adultery.” In this context spiritual unfaithfulness to the LORD is in view.
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “and drove Judah away.”
<sup>16</sup>tn In the Hebrew text the sentence begins with “because” and is completed in v. 14.
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “walked in the ways.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “in the ways of.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “and you walked in the way of the kings of Israel and caused Judah and the residents of Jerusalem to commit adultery, like the house of Ahab causes to commit adultery.”
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “the house of your father.”
<sup>21</sup>tn Heb “strike with a great striking.”
<sup>22</sup>tn Heb “and you (will have) a serious illness, an illness of the intestines until your intestines come out because of the illness days upon days.”
<sup>23</sup>tn Heb “the spirit of the Philistines.”
<sup>24</sup>tn Heb “broke it up.”
<sup>25</sup>tn Heb “all the property which was found in the house of the king.”
<sup>26</sup>tn Heb “in his intestines with an illness (for which) there was no healer.”
<sup>27</sup>tn Heb “and it was to days from days, and about the time of the going out of the end for the days , two, his intestines came out with his illness and he died in severe illness.”
<sup>28</sup>tn Heb “and his people did not make for him a fire, like the fire of his fathers.”
<sup>29</sup>tn Heb “and he went without desire.”
<sup>1</sup>tn Heb “for all the older (ones) the raiding party that came with the Arabs to the camp had killed.”
<sup>2</sup>tn The Hebrew text has “42,” but the parallel passage in 2 Kgs 8:26 reads “22.”
<sup>3</sup>tn Hebrew tb, “daughter,” can refer, as here, to a granddaughter. See KB3, 166.
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “and also he walked in the ways of the house of Ahab.”
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “for his mother was his adviser to do evil.”
<sup>6</sup>tn That is, the members of Ahab’s royal house.
<sup>7</sup>tn Jehoram and Joram are alternate spellings of the king’s name.
<sup>8</sup>tn Heb “he.”
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “which the Syrians inflicted (on) him.”
<sup>10</sup>tn The Hebrew text has “Azariah.”
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “From God was the downfall of Ahaziah by going to Joram.”
<sup>12</sup>tn Heb “he.”
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “anointed.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “to cut off the house of Ahab.”
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “said.”
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “and there was no one belonging to the house of Ahaziah to retain strength for kingship.”
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “she arose and she destroyed all the royal offspring.” The verb <wq, “arise,” is here used in an auxiliary sense to indicate that she embarked on a campaign to destroy the royal offspring. See Cogan and Tadmor, II Kings, 125.
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “house of Judah.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “the king.” See v. 11.
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “stole.”
<sup>21</sup>tn Heb “and he was with them in the house of God hiding.”
<sup>1</sup>tn Or “covenant.”
<sup>2</sup>tn Heb “people.”
<sup>3</sup>tn Heb “house.”
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “and be with the king in his coming out and in his going out.”
<sup>5</sup>tn The words “the men of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>6</sup>tn The Hebrew text lists two different types of shields here.
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “and he stationed all the people, each with his weapon in his hand, from the south shoulder of the house to the north shoulder of the house, at the altar and at the house, near the king all around.”
<sup>8</sup>tn Hebrew twdu normally means “witness” or “testimony.” Here it probably refers to some tangible symbol of kingship, perhaps a piece of jewelry such as an amulet or neck chain. See the discussion in Cogan and Tadmor, II Kings, 128. Some suggest that a document is in view, perhaps a copy of the royal protocol or of the stipulations of the Davidic covenant. See KB3, 790-91.
<sup>9</sup>tn Or “they made him king and anointed him.”
<sup>10</sup>tn The Hebrew text reads, “and Athaliah heard the sound of the people, the runners.”
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “she came to the people.”
<sup>12</sup>tn Heb “and she saw, and look.”
<sup>13</sup>tn Or “conspiracy, conspiracy.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “ranks.”
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “for the priest had said, ‘Do not put her to death in the house of the LORD.’”
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “and they placed hands on her, and she went through the entrance of the gate of the horses (into) the house of the king.”
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “and Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and [between] all the people and [between] the king, to become a people for the LORD.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Or “tore down.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Or “images.”
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “as it is written in.”
<sup>21</sup>tn Heb “took.”
<sup>22</sup>tn The Hebrew text adds “with the sword.”
<sup>1</sup>tn Heb “and Joash did what was proper in the eyes of the LORD.”
<sup>2</sup>tn Heb “all the days of.”
<sup>3</sup>tn Heb “and it was, later, there was with the heart (or, “mind”) of Joash to repair the house of the LORD.”
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “the head.”
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “sought.”
<sup>6</sup>tn Heb “bring.”
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “the tent of testimony.”
<sup>8</sup>tn Heb “and the king said and they made a chest and placed it in the gate of the house of the LORD outside.”
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “and they gave voice in Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the LORD the tax of Moses the servant of God upon Israel in the wilderness.”
<sup>10</sup>tn Heb “doers of the work.”
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “and the doers of the work worked, and the repairs went up for the work by their hand.”
<sup>12</sup>tn Heb “and they caused the house of God to stand according to its measurements and they strengthened it.”
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “and Jehoidada grew old and was full of days and died; (he was) 130 years old when he died.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “came and bowed down to the king.”
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “to them.”
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “served.”
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “and there was anger upon Judah and Jerusalem because of this guilt of theirs.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “and he sent among them prophets to bring them back to the LORD.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “testified among.”
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “clothed.”
<sup>21</sup>tn Heb “did not remember.”
<sup>22</sup>tn Heb “his.”
<sup>23</sup>tn Heb “he.”
<sup>24</sup>tn Heb “and seek.” “Vengeance” is added for clarification.
<sup>25</sup>tn Heb “turning.”
<sup>26</sup>tn Heb “went up against him.”
<sup>27</sup>tn Heb “though with a small amount of men the army of Aram came, the LORD gave into their hand an army (that was) very large.”
<sup>28</sup>tn Heb “they.”
<sup>29</sup>tn Heb “they.”
<sup>30</sup>tn Heb “executed judgments (on) Joash.”
<sup>31</sup>tn Heb “because of the shed blood of.”
<sup>32</sup>tc The Hebrew text has the plural ynb, “sons,” but the final yod is dittographic. Note the yod that immediately follows.
<sup>33</sup>tn The Hebrew text adds, “and he died.”
<sup>34</sup>tn Heb “And his sons and the abundance of the oracle(s) against him, and the founding of the house of God, look are they not written on the writing of the scroll of the kings?”
<sup>1</sup>tn Heb “he did what was proper in the eyes of the LORD.”
<sup>2</sup>tn Heb “a complete heart (or “mind”).”
<sup>3</sup>tn Heb “when the kingdom was secure upon him.”
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “he killed his servants, the ones who had struck down the king, his father.”
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “as it is written in the scroll of the law of Moses which the LORD commanded, saying.”
<sup>6</sup>tn Heb “on account of sons.”
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “on account of fathers.”
<sup>8</sup>sn This law is recorded in Deut 24:16.
<sup>9</sup>tn The words “the people of” are added for stylistic reasons.
<sup>10</sup>tn Heb “young men going out to war.”
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “holding a spear and a shield.”
<sup>12</sup>tn Heb “man of God.”
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “Israel, all the sons of Ephraim.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “cause you to stumble.”
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “to cause to stumble.”
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “said to the man of God.”
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “man of God.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “and Amaziah separated them, the troops who came to him from Ephraim, to go to their place.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “and Amaziah strengthened himself and led his people and went to the Valley of Salt.”
<sup>20</sup>tn Or “struck down.”
<sup>21</sup>tn Heb “sons.”
<sup>22</sup>tn Heb “and threw them from the top of the cliff.”
<sup>23</sup>tn Heb “all of them.”
<sup>24</sup>tn Heb “smashed in pieces.”
<sup>25</sup>tn Heb “had sent back from going with him to the battle.”
<sup>26</sup>tn Heb “stripped.”
<sup>27</sup>tn Heb “struck down.”
<sup>28</sup>tn Heb “sons.”
<sup>29</sup>tn Heb “caused them to stand for him as gods.”
<sup>30</sup>tn Heb “seeking,” perhaps in the sense of “consulting” (an oracle from).”
<sup>31</sup>tn Heb “the gods of the people.”
<sup>32</sup>tn Heb “hand.”
<sup>33</sup>tn Heb “he.”
<sup>34</sup>tn Heb “Stop yourself! Why should they strike you down?”
<sup>35</sup>tn The verb Juy, “has decided,” is from the same root as Juwy, “counselor” in v. 16 and hxu, “advice” later in v. 17. The wordplay highlights the appropriate nature of the divine punishment. Amaziah rejected the counsel of God’s prophet; now he would be the victim of God’s “counsel.”
<sup>36</sup>tn The words “with his advisers” are added in the translation for clarification.
<sup>37</sup>tn Heb “let us look at each other (in the) face.” The expression refers here to meeting in battle. See v. 21.
<sup>38</sup>sn Judah is the thorn in the allegory. Amaziah’s success had deceived him into thinking he was on the same level as the major powers in the area (symbolized by the cedar). In reality he was not capable of withstanding an attack by a real military power such as Israel (symbolized by the wild animal).
<sup>39</sup>tn Heb “you say (to yourself), ‘look, you have defeated Edom.’”
<sup>40</sup>tn Heb “and your heart is lifted up to glorify.”
<sup>41</sup>tn Heb “Why get involved in calamity and fall, you and Judah with you?”
<sup>42</sup>tn Heb “did not listen.”
<sup>43</sup>tn Heb “because it was from God in order to give them into the hand because they sought the gods of Edom.”
<sup>44</sup>tn Heb “looked at each other (in the) face.”
<sup>45</sup>tn Heb “and Judah was struck down before Israel and they fled, each to his tent.”
<sup>46</sup>tn Heb “400 cubits.” A cubit was a unit of measure roughly equivalent to 18 inches.
<sup>47</sup>tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Amaziah, the former and the latter, are they not--look they are written on the scroll of the kings of Judah and Israel.”
<sup>48</sup>tn Heb “and they conspired against him (with) a conspiracy in Jerusalem.”
<sup>49</sup>tn Heb “and they sent after him to Lachish.”
<sup>50</sup>tn Heb “and they carried him on horses.”
<sup>51</sup>tc The Hebrew text has “Judah,” but some medieval manuscripts read “David,” as does the parallel passage in 2 Kgs 14:20.
<sup>1</sup>tn Heb “he.”
<sup>2</sup>sn This must refer to Amaziah.
<sup>3</sup>tn Heb “he did what was proper in the eyes of the LORD, according to all which Amaziah his father had done.”
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “sought.”
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “in the days of.”
<sup>6</sup>tn Heb “in the days of his seeking.”
<sup>7</sup>tn Or “prosper.”
<sup>8</sup>tn Heb “went out and fought.”
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “in Ashdod and among the Philistines.”
<sup>10</sup>tn The words “in his campaigns” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “and his name went to.”
<sup>12</sup>tn On the meaning of uwxqm, see KB3, 628.
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “Shephelah.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “workers and vinedressers in the hills and in Carmel.” The words “he had” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “for a lover of the ground he (was).”
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “help.”
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “and his name went out to a distant place, for he did extraordinarily to be helped until he was strong.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “his heart was high (i.e., proud) to destroy.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Or “was unfaithful to.”
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “stood against.”
<sup>21</sup>tn Or “been unfaithful.”
<sup>22</sup>tn Heb “angry.”
<sup>23</sup>tn Traditionally, “leprosy,” but this was probably a skin disorder of some type, not leprosy/Hansen’s disease. See 2 Kgs 5:1.
<sup>24</sup>tn Heb “turned toward.”
<sup>25</sup>tn The precise meaning of tyvpjh tyb, “house of ???,” is uncertain. For a discussion of various proposals, see Cogan and Tadmor, II Kings, 166-67.
<sup>26</sup>tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Uzziah, the former and the latter, Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, recorded.”
<sup>27</sup>tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
<sup>28</sup>tn Heb “a field of burial.”
<sup>29</sup>tn Heb “for they said, ‘he had a skin disease.’”
<sup>1</sup>tn Heb “he did what was proper in the eyes of the LORD, according to all which Uzziah his father had done.”
<sup>2</sup>tn Heb “except he did not enter the house of the LORD.”
<sup>3</sup>tn Heb “Ophel.” See KB3, 861.
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “fought with.”
<sup>5</sup>sn As a unit of dry measure a kor was roughly equivalent to six bushels.
<sup>6</sup>tn The unit of measure is omitted in the Hebrew text.
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “This the sons of Ammon brought to him, and in the second year and the third.”
<sup>8</sup>tn Heb “because he established his ways before the LORD his God.”
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Jotham, and his battles and his ways, look, they are written on the scroll of the kings of Israel and Judah.”
<sup>10</sup>tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
<sup>1</sup>tn Heb “and he did not do what was proper in the eyes of the LORD, like David his father.”
<sup>2</sup>tn Heb “he walked in the ways of.”
<sup>3</sup>sn This may refer to child sacrifice, though some interpret it as a less drastic cultic practice. For discussion see Cogan and Tadmor, II Kings, 266-67.
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “like the abominable practices of the nations.”
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “they.”
<sup>6</sup>tn Heb “and took captive from him a great captivity and brought (them) to Damascus.”
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “who struck him down with a great striking.”
<sup>8</sup>tn Heb “the loot.”
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “and you killed them with anger (that) reaches as far as heaven.”
<sup>10</sup>tn Heb “saying.”
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “to enslave as male servants and female servants.”
<sup>12</sup>tn Heb “sons.”
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “for the rage of the anger of the LORD is upon you.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “men from.”
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “arose against.”
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “for to the guilt of the LORD upon us you are saying to add to our sins and our guilty deeds.”
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “for great is (the) guilt to us and rage of anger is upon Israel.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “and the men who were designated by names arose and took the captives and all their naked ones they clothed from the loot.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “and poured oil on them.”
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “and they led them on donkeys, with respect to everyone stumbling.”
<sup>21</sup>tn The Hebrew text has the plural, “kings,” but note the singular in v. 20.
<sup>22</sup>tn Heb “Shephelah.”
<sup>23</sup>tn Or “subdued.”
<sup>24</sup>tn The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verbal form to emphasize the degree of Ahaz’s unfaithfulness.
<sup>25</sup>tn Heb “and he caused him distress and did not strengthen him.”
<sup>26</sup>tn Heb “divided up,” but some read JL@j!, “despoiled.”
<sup>27</sup>tn Heb “the gods of Damascus, the ones who had defeated him.” The words “he thought” are added in the translation for clarification. The perspective is Ahaz’s, not the narrator’s! Another option is that “the kings” has been accidentally omitted after “gods of.” See v. 23b.
<sup>28</sup>tn Heb “said.”
<sup>29</sup>tn Heb “As for the rest of his events, and all his ways, the former and the latter, look, they are written on the scroll of the kings of Judah and Israel.”
<sup>30</sup>tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
<sup>1</sup>tn The parallel passage in 2 Kgs 18:2 has “Abi.”
<sup>2</sup>tn Heb “he did what was proper in the eyes of the LORD, according to all which David his father had done.”
<sup>3</sup>tn Heb “turned their faces.”
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “and turned the back.”
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “and he made them (an object) of dread and devastation and hissing.”
<sup>6</sup>tn Heb “fell by the sword.”
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “are in captivity.”
<sup>8</sup>tn Heb “now it is with my heart (or “mind”).”
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “so that the rage of his anger might turn from us.” The jussive with waw conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding statement of intention.
<sup>10</sup>tn Heb “to stand before him to serve him and to be his servants and sacrificers.”
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “and the Levites arose.”
<sup>12</sup>tn The Hebrew text has the plural “words.”
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “in the temple of the LORD.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “porch of the LORD.”
<sup>15</sup>sn Perhaps these terms refer metonymically to the royal court, the priests and Levites, and the people, respectively.
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “he.”
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “said.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Or “seer.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “stood with” (i.e., stood holding).
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “with the words.”
<sup>21</sup>tn Or “seer.”
<sup>22</sup>tn Heb “filled your hand.”
<sup>23</sup>tn Or “thank offerings.”
<sup>24</sup>tn Heb “and all who were willing of heart.”
<sup>25</sup>tn Heb “and the number of burnt sacrifices which the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, 200 lambs; for a burnt sacrifice to the LORD were all these.”
<sup>26</sup>tn Heb “the burnt sacrifices.”
<sup>27</sup>tn Heb “for the Levites were more pure of heart (or “mind”) to consecrate themselves than the priests.”
<sup>28</sup>tn Or “established.”
<sup>29</sup>tn Heb “prepared.”
<sup>30</sup>tn Heb “the people.”
<sup>31</sup>tn Heb “for quickly was the matter.”
<sup>1</sup>tn Heb “that.”
<sup>2</sup>tn Heb “and the thing was proper in the eyes of.”
<sup>3</sup>tn Heb “and they caused to stand a word to cause a voice to pass through.”
<sup>4</sup>tn The words “inviting the people” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “because not for abundance had they done as written.”
<sup>6</sup>tn Heb “the runners.”
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “and according to the command of the king, saying.”
<sup>8</sup>tn The jussive with waw conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “to the survivors who are left to you from the palm of the kings of Assyria.”
<sup>10</sup>tn Heb “and he made them a devastation” (or, perhaps, “object of horror”).
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “don’t stiffen your neck.”
<sup>12</sup>tn Heb “give a hand.” On the meaning of the idiom here, see KB3, 387.
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “so that the rage of his anger might turn from you.” The jussive with waw conjunctive indicates purpose/result after the preceding imperative.
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “turn (his) face from you.”
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “and they were mocking them and ridiculing them.”
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “also in Judah the hand of God was to give to them one heart (or “mind”) to do the command of the king and the officials by the word of the LORD.”
<sup>17</sup>tn The Hebrew text adds, “a very large assembly.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “and they arose and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem, and all the incense altars they removed and threw into the Kidron Valley.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “from the hand of the Levites.”
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “were over the slaughter of.”
<sup>21</sup>tn Heb “of everyone not pure to consecrate to the LORD.”
<sup>22</sup>tn Heb “without what is written.”
<sup>23</sup>tn Heb “make atonement for.”
<sup>24</sup>tn Heb “everyone (who) has prepared his heart (or, “mind”) to seek God.”
<sup>25</sup>tn Heb “and not according to the purification of the holy place.”
<sup>26</sup>tn Heb “listened.”
<sup>27</sup>tn Heb “healed.”
<sup>28</sup>tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “and they were praising the LORD day by day, the Levites and the priests with instruments of strength to the LORD.” The phrase zu-ylkb, “with instruments of strength,” might refer to loud sounding musical instruments. The translation above assumes an emendation to zu-lkb, “with all strength” (see 1 Chr 13:8, as well as KB3, 805, and BDB, 739).
<sup>29</sup>tn Heb “and Hezekiah spoke to the heart of all the Levites.” On the meaning of the idiom “speak to the heart of” here, see KB3, 210.
<sup>30</sup>tn Heb “who demonstrated skill (with) good skill for the LORD.”
<sup>31</sup>tn Heb “and they ate (during) the appointed time (for) seven days.” duwm, “appointed time,” is probably an adverbial accusative of time referring to the festival. However, some understand it as metonymically referring to the food eaten during the festival. See BDB, 417.
<sup>32</sup>tn Heb “the assembly.”
<sup>33</sup>tn Heb “they rejoiced.”
<sup>34</sup>tn Heb “and there was great joy in Jerusalem, for from the days of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, there was nothing like this in Jerusalem.”
<sup>35</sup>tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “and it was heard with their voice.” BDB (1034) interprets this to mean, “hearing was granted to their voice.” It is possible that the name hwhy, “the LORD,” has been accidentally omitted.
<sup>1</sup>tn Heb “all Israel.”
<sup>2</sup>tn Or “tore down.”
<sup>3</sup>tn Heb “the high places and the altars from all Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and in Manasseh until finished.”
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “and the sons of Israel returned, each to his possession to their cities.”
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “and Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each in accordance with his service for the priests and for the Levites.”
<sup>6</sup>tn Heb “in the gates of the encampments of the LORD.”
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “the portion of the king (was).”
<sup>8</sup>tn Heb “as written.”
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “said to.”
<sup>10</sup>tn Heb “hold firmly.”
<sup>11</sup>tn Heb “and when the word spread out.”
<sup>12</sup>tn Heb “the sons of Israel multiplied.”
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “and the sons of Israel and Judah.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Heb “heaps, heaps.” Repetition of the noun draws attention to the large number of heaps.
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “they began the heaps, to establish.”
<sup>16</sup>tn Heb “they blessed the LORD and his people Israel.”
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “and they prepared.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “tenth.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “and holy things in faithfulness.”
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “to their brothers.”
<sup>21</sup>tn Heb “like great, like small” (i.e., old and young alike).
<sup>22</sup>tn Heb “in addition enrolling them by males from a son of three years and upwards, to everyone who enters the house of the LORD for a matter of a day in its day, for their service by their duties according to their divisions.”
<sup>23</sup>tn Heb “the priests in the fields of the pastureland of their cities in every city and city.”
<sup>24</sup>tn Heb “designated by names.”
<sup>25</sup>tn Heb “and in all the work which he began with regard to the service of the house of God and with respect to the law and with respect to the commandment, to seek his God; with all his heart he acted and he succeeded.”
<sup>1</sup>tn Heb “and he said to break into them for himself.”
<sup>2</sup>tn Heb “and his face was for war against Jerusalem.”
<sup>3</sup>tn Heb “the waters of the springs.”
<sup>4</sup>tn Heb “and they closed up all the springs and the stream that flows in the midst of the land.”
<sup>5</sup>tn Heb “saying.”
<sup>6</sup>tn Heb “he.”
<sup>7</sup>tn Heb “strengthened himself and built.”
<sup>8</sup>tn Heb “and outside the wall another one.”
<sup>9</sup>tn Heb “and he placed officers of war over the people.”
<sup>10</sup>tn Heb “he spoke to their heart(s).”
<sup>11</sup>tn Or perhaps, “don’t be discouraged.”
<sup>12</sup>tn Heb “for with us (is) a greater (one) than with him.”
<sup>13</sup>tn Heb “With him is an arm of flesh.”
<sup>14</sup>tn Or “people.”
<sup>15</sup>tn Heb “servants.”
<sup>16</sup>tn The words “the people of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
<sup>17</sup>tn Heb “On what are you trusting that (you) are living during the siege in Jerusalem.”
<sup>18</sup>tn Heb “hand.”
<sup>19</sup>tn Heb “Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give you over to die by hunger and thirst, saying, ‘The LORD our God will rescue us from the hand of the king of Assyria’?’
<sup>20</sup>tn Heb “Did not he, Hezekiah, eliminate?”
<sup>21</sup>tn Heb “his.”
<sup>22</sup>tn Heb “hand.”
<sup>23</sup>tn Heb “hand.”
<sup>24</sup>tn Heb “how much less.”
<sup>25</sup>tn The verb is plural, suggesting that the preceding <kyhla be translated “your gods,” rather than “your God.”
<sup>26</sup>tn Heb “spoke against.”
<sup>27</sup>tn Heb “and speaking against him, saying.”
<sup>28</sup>tn Heb “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand.”
<sup>29</sup>tn Heb “and he returned with shame of face to his land.”
<sup>30</sup>tn Heb “and some from those who went out from him, from his inward parts.”
<sup>31</sup>tn Heb “and from the hand of all.”
<sup>32</sup>tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “and he led him from all around.” However, the translation above assumes an emendation to bybsm <h#l* jn^Y`w^, “and he gave rest to them from all around.” See 2 Chr 15:15 and 20:30.
³³tn Or perhaps, “offerings.”
³⁴tn Heb “lifted up in the eyes of.”
³⁵tn Heb “was sick to the point of dying.”
³⁶tn Heb “and he spoke to him and a sign he gave to him.”
³⁷tn Heb “but not according to the benefit (given) to him did Hezekiah repay, for his heart was high, and there was anger against him and against Judah and Jerusalem.”
³⁸tn Heb “and Hezekiah humbled himself in the height of his heart, he and the residents of Jerusalem, and the anger of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.”
³⁹tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “and shields and all the desirable items.” The translation above assumes an emendation of <yngm, “shields,” to <yndgm, “precious items.” See v. 23.
⁴⁰tn Heb “and stalls for all beasts and beasts, and flocks for the stalls.” The repetition of hmhb, “beast,” here indicates various kinds of livestock.
⁴¹tn Heb “and cities he made for himself.”
⁴²tn Heb “and when the envoys of the officials of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire concerning the sign which was in the land, (arrived).”
⁴³tn Heb “to know all (that was) in his heart (or, “mind”).”
⁴⁴tn Heb “and the rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and his faithful acts, look they are written in the vision of Isaiah son of Amoz the prophet upon the scroll of the kings of Judah and Israel.”
⁴⁵tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
⁴⁶tn Heb “and honor they did to him in his death, all Judah and the residents of Jerusalem.”
¹tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
²tn Heb “like the abominable practices of the nations.”
³tn The phrase <ymvh abx lk, traditionally translated “all the host of heaven,” refers to the heavenly lights, including stars and planets. In 1 Kgs 22:19 these heavenly bodies are pictured as members of the Lord’s royal court or assembly, but many other texts view them as the illegitimate objects of pagan and Israelite worship.
⁴tn Or “served.”
⁵tn Heb “In Jerusalem my name will be permanently.”
⁶sn This may refer to child sacrifice, though some interpret it as a less drastic cultic practice. For discussion see Cogan and Tadmor, II Kings, 266-67..
⁷tn Heb “and he set up a ritual pit, along with a conjurer.” Hebrew bwa, “ritual pit,” refers to a pit used by a magician to conjure up underworld spirits. In 1 Sam 28:7 the witch of Endor is called a bwa tlub, “owner of a ritual pit.” See H. Hoffner, JBL 86 (1967), 385-401. Also check TDOT.
⁸tn Heb “and he multiplied doing what is evil in the eyes of the LORD, angering him.”
⁹tn Heb “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I chose from all the tribes of Israel, I will place my name permanently (or perhaps “forever”).”
¹⁰tn Heb “I will not again make the feet of Israel wander from the land which I established for their fathers.”
¹¹tn The words “the people of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
¹²tn Heb “spoke to.”
¹³tn Heb “and they seized him with hooks.”
¹⁴tn Or “distress.”
¹⁵tn Heb “appeased the face of the LORD his God.”
¹⁶tn Or “greatly.”
¹⁷tn Heb “he.”
¹⁸tn Heb “was entreated by him,” or “allowed himself to be entreated by him.”
¹⁹tn Heb “heard.”
²⁰tn The words “the people of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
²¹tn Or “seers.”
²²tn Heb “look, they are.”
²³tn Heb “and his prayer and being entreated by him, and all his sin and his unfaithfulness and the places where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself—look, they are written on the words of his seers.”
²⁴tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
²⁵tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
²⁶tn Or “served.”
²⁷tn Heb “as Manasseh his father had humbled himself.”
²⁸tn Heb “for he, Amon, multiplied guilt.”
²⁹tn Heb “and the people of the land.”
¹tn Heb “he did what was proper in the eyes of the LORD.”
²tn Heb “and walked in the ways of David his father.”
³tn Heb “purifying.”
⁴tn Heb “and they tore down before him the altars of the Baals.”
⁵tn “In their ruins” is the marginal reading (qere) of the Hebrew text.
⁶tn Heb “to purify the land and the house.”
⁷tn The words “the people of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
⁸tn The words “the people of” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
⁹tc The Hebrew consonantal text (kethib) assumes the reading, “and the residents of.” The marginal reading (qere) is “and they returned.”
¹⁰tn Heb “doer(s) of the work.”
¹¹tn Heb “and they gave it to the doers of the work who were working in the house of the LORD to restore and to repair the house.”
¹²tn Heb “of the houses that the kings of Judah had destroyed.”
¹³tn Heb “(were) over the laborers and were directing every doer of work for work assignment and work assignment.”
¹⁴tn Heb “returned still the king a word, saying.”
¹⁵tn Heb “that was found in the house of the LORD.”
¹⁶tn Or “inquire of.”
¹⁷tn Heb “concerning.”
¹⁸tn Heb “for great is the anger of the LORD which has been ignited against us.”
¹⁹tn Heb “by doing according to all that is written on this scroll.”
²⁰tn Heb “and those who (were sent by) the king.”
²¹tn Heb “the keeper of the clothes.”
²²tn Or “second.” For a discussion of the possible location of this district, see Cogan and Tadmor, II Kings, 283.
²³tn Heb “and they spoke to her like this.”
²⁴tn Or “burned incense.”
²⁵tn Heb “angering me with all the work of their hands.” The translation assumes this refers to idols they have manufactured (note the preceding reference to “other gods”). However, it is possible that this is a general reference to their sinful practices, in which case one might translate, “angering me by all the things they do.”
²⁶tn Heb “Because your heart was tender.”
²⁷tn Heb “Therefore, look, I am gathering you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your tomb in peace.”
²⁸tn Heb “and the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.”
²⁹tc This assumes an emendation to wdwmu, see 23:13. The Hebrew text has “at his place.”
³⁰tn Lit. “cut,” that is, “made, agreed to.”
³¹tn Heb “walk after.”
³²tn Or “soul.”
³³tn Heb “words.”
³⁴tn Heb “and he caused to stand everyone who was found in Jerusalem and Benjamin.”
³⁵tn Or “caused, forced.”
³⁶tn Heb “all his days.”
¹tn Heb “written.”
²tn Heb “and stand in the sanctuary by the divisions of the house of the fathers for your brothers, the sons of the people, and a division of the house of a father for the Levites.”
³tn Heb “according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.”
⁴tn Heb “and Josiah supplied for the sons of the people sheep, lambs and sons of goats, the whole for the Passover sacrifices for everyone who was found according to the number of 30,000, and 3,000 cattle. These were from the property of the king.”
⁵tn Heb “and the service was prepared.”
⁶tn Heb “from their hand.”
⁷tn Heb “and they put aside the burnt offering(s) to give them to the divisions of the house of the fathers for the sons of the people to bring near to the LORD as it is written in the scroll of Moses--and the same with the cattle.”
⁸tn Or “seer.”
⁹tn Heb “After all this, (by) which Josiah prepared the temple.”
¹⁰tn Heb “he.”
¹¹tn Heb “What to me and to you, king of Judah?”
¹²tn Heb “Not against you, you, today, but against the house of my battle.”
¹³tn Heb “Stop yourself from (opposing) God who is with me and let him not destroy you.”
¹⁴tn Heb “and Josiah did not turn his face from him.”
¹⁵tn Heb “listen to.”
¹⁶tn Heb “carry me away.”
¹⁷tn Heb “and his faithful acts according to what is written in the law of the LORD.”
¹⁸tn Heb “look, they are written.”
¹tn Or “fine.”
²tn Heb “his.”
³tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
⁴tn Heb “came up against him.”
⁵tn Heb “to carry him away.”
⁶tn Or “temple.”
⁷tn Heb “in Babylon.”
⁸tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Jehoiakim, and his horrible deeds which he did and that which was found against him, look, they are written on the scroll of the kings of Israel and Judah.”
⁹tc The Hebrew text reads “eight,” but some ancient textual witnesses, as well as the parallel text in 2 Kgs 24:8, have “18.”
¹⁰tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
¹¹tn Heb “sent and brought him.”
¹²tn Heb “and he made Zedekiah his brother king.” According to the parallel text in 2 Kgs 24:17, Zedekiah was Jehoiachin’s uncle, not brother. So many understand ja here in its less specific sense of “relative.”
¹³tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
¹⁴tn Or “made him swear an oath.”
¹⁵tn Heb “and he stiffened his neck and strengthened his heart from returning.”
¹⁶tn Heb “like the abominable practices of the nations.”
¹⁷tn Heb “and the LORD God of their fathers sent against them by the hand of his messengers, getting up early and sending.”
¹⁸tn Heb “his words.”
¹⁹tn All three verbal forms (“mocked,” “despised,” and “ridiculed”) are active participles in the Hebrew text, indicating continual or repeated action. They made a habit of rejecting God’s prophetic messengers.
²⁰tn Heb “until the anger of the LORD went up against his people until there was no healer.”
²¹tn Heb “killed with the sword.”
²²tn Heb “in the house of their sanctuary.”
²³tn Or “show compassion to.”
²⁴tn Heb “he.”
²⁵tn Heb “to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah.”
²⁶tn Or “accepted.”
²⁷sn According to Lev 25:4, the land was to remain uncultivated every seventh year. Lev 26:33-35 warns that the land would experience a succession of such sabbatical rests if the people disobeyed God, for he would send them away into exile.
²⁸sn See Jer 25:11.
²⁹tn Lit., “all the days of the desolation it rested to fulfill the 70 years.”
sn Cyrus’s edict (see vv. 22-23) occurred about 50 years after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B. C., which is most naturally understood as the beginning point of the “days of desolation” mentioned in v. 21. The number “70” is probably used in a metaphorical sense, indicating a typical lifetime and suggesting a thorough or complete judgment that would not be lifted until an entirely new generation emerged.
³⁰tn The words “the reign of” are added in the translation for clarification.
³¹tn Heb “to complete the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah.”
sn See Jer 29:10.
³²tn Heb “stirred the spirit of.”
³³tn Heb “Whoever (is) among you from all his people--may the LORD his God (be) with him so that he may go up.”