This verse is a continuation of the sentence begun in the previous verse, but it will be desirable in many languages to begin a new sentence at this point by repeating the appropriate verb; for example, Good News Translation has “She saw….” All of the things mentioned here could be literally seen by the queen of Sheba.
The food of his table probably refers both to the large quantity and the large variety of food on the royal table (see 1 Kgs 4.22-23). This alludes not only to the food for Solomon, but for all his guests.
The seating of his officials: Officials renders the Hebrew noun often translated “servants.” The Hebrew noun translated seating may refer to the place where a person sits or to the place where a person lives. Like Revised Standard Version, the following modern versions all seem to understand this phrase as referring to the order in which the king’s officials were seated at the table: “the seating of his ministers” (New American Bible), “the courtiers sitting around him” (Revised English Bible), and “the seating of his courtiers” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). However, Good News Translation understands it to refer to “the living quarters for his officials.” New Jerusalem Bible is similar with “the accommodation for his officials.” Many French translations follow this interpretation (for example, Parole de Vie, Nouvelle version Segond révisée, Nouvelle Bible Segond, La Bible du Semeur, Bible de Jérusalem, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Chouraqui, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous, Osty-Trinquet) Either of these two interpretations is acceptable, and translators must simply choose between the two. In countries where French has been a major language, it may be best to follow the understanding that is found in most French translations.
The attendance of his servants, and their clothing: The Hebrew noun rendered attendance comes from a root meaning “to stand.” The whole phrase here most likely refers to servants waiting on those who are eating. Compare the following translations: “his attendants … in their livery standing behind” (Revised English Bible) and “the service and attire of his attendants” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Other interpreters understand the phrase more generally as “the organisation of his staff and the way they were dressed” (New Jerusalem Bible; similarly Good News Translation).
Cupbearers is literally “ones giving drink.” These were servants whose duty was to serve wine at the royal table. Other renderings include “valets” (New Revised Standard Version) and “butlers” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).
His burnt offerings which he offered at the house of the LORD: Revised Standard Version has followed the ancient translations of the Masoretic Text here, that is, the Septuagint, the Syriac and the Latin, which agree with the parallel text in 1 Kgs 10.5. A number of other modern translations also follow the Septuagint here (so New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Moffatt). However, the Masoretic Text says “his ascent [or, upper rooms] which he went up to the house of the LORD.” In Hebrew the words for “his ascent” and “his burnt offerings” are nearly identical in spelling. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the reading in the Masoretic Text and notes that the words the house of the LORD are a normal complement for the noun “ascent” taken in the sense of “to go up.” Furthermore, if the Hebrew had said “his burnt offerings which he offered,” normal Hebrew usage would lead us to expect the words “to the LORD” as the complement. If the Masoretic Text is followed, the sense seems to be that the ascent, or steps, into the Temple must have been artistically beautiful. Revised English Bible says “the stairs by which he went up to the house of the LORD.” Anchor Bible is similar with “the steps by which he went up to the house of Yahweh.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh provides another possible meaning for the Hebrew here, saying “the procession with which he went up to the House of the LORD” (similarly Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bijbel in Gewone Taal).
There was no more spirit in her: The Hebrew noun rendered spirit may also be translated “breath” (so La Bible Pléiade). For this whole clause New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “it took her breath away.” This is exaggerated language which indicates the great admiration that the queen had upon seeing all of Solomon’s wealth. Modern versions differ greatly in their renderings of this summary expression as follows: “All these things amazed her” (New Century Version), “she was overcome with amazement” (Revised English Bible), and “she was overwhelmed” (New International Version; similarly Moffatt). This clause comes at the very end of the description of what the queen of Sheba witnessed, but it may be more natural in some languages to place it earlier in this verse. New Living Translation, for example, begins the verse with “she was breathless.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .