translation_id: net-engnet

label: NET study note

text: Concubines were slave women in ancient Near Eastern societies who were the legal property of their master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with their master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. The usage in the present passage suggests that after the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative (cf. also 2 Sam 21:10-14 ).


text: The hill east of Jerusalem refers to the Mount of Olives. map For location see Map5-B1 ; Map6-F3 ; Map7-E2 ; Map8-F2 ; Map10-B3 ; JP1-F4 ; JP2-F4 ; JP3-F4 ; JP4-F4 .


text: A high place . The “high places” were places of worship that were naturally or artificially elevated (see 1 Kgs 3:2 ).


text: These two occasions are mentioned in 1 Kgs 3:5 and 9:2 .


text: So Hadad asked Pharaoh … This lengthy description of Hadad’s exile in Egypt explains why Hadad wanted to oppose Solomon and supports the author’s thesis that his hostility to Solomon found its ultimate source in divine providence. Though Hadad enjoyed a comfortable life in Egypt, when the Lord raised him up (apparently stirring up his desire for vengeance) he decided to leave the comforts of Egypt and return to Edom.


text: The city of his father David . The phrase refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7 .


text: Because of this. Reference is made to the idolatry mentioned earlier.


text: The city of his father David. The phrase refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7 .