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TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
I - Chapter 26
Translation and Transliteration of
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1The divisions of the gatekeepers: Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaf.
l'-makh-l'-KOT l'-sho-a-REEM la-kor-KHEEM m'-she-lem-YA-hu ven ko-RAY min b'-NAY a-SAF
אלְמַחְלְק֖וֹת לְשֹׁעֲרִ֑ים לַקׇּרְחִ֕ים מְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־קֹרֵ֖א מִן־בְּנֵ֥י אָסָֽף׃
26:1 The divisions of the gatekeepers

Rambam (1135-1204)
In addition to their role as singers, the Leviim also served as gatekeepers; these were the two main tasks given to the Leviim in the Beit Hamikdash. Both of these jobs were considered significant and essential. The Book of Ezra lists both singers and gatekeepers among the exiles who returned to the Land of Israel to rebuild the Temple (Ezra 2:41-42). In fact, Rambam (Beit Habechira 8:1) writes that there is a positive biblical commandment to guard the Beit Hamikdash as a display of honor to the Temple, and to Hashem. He writes, “Even though there is no concern of enemies or robbers entering the Beit Hamikdash, guarding it is a show of honor. There is no comparison between a palace with guards to a palace without them.” The Temple, and by extension all of Eretz Yisrael, is the King’s palace, and we must treat it with the proper awe and respect.
2Sons of Meshelemiah: Zecharya the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
v'-lim-she-le-MYAH-hu ba-NEEM, ze-khar-YAH-hu ha-be-KHOR, ye-di-a-EL ha-she-NI, ze-va-d'-YAH-hu ha-sh'-lee-SHI, yat-ni-a-EL ha-r'-vee-EE.
בוְלִמְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֖הוּ בָּנִ֑ים זְכַרְיָ֤הוּ הַבְּכוֹר֙ יְדִיעֲאֵ֣ל הַשֵּׁנִ֔י זְבַדְיָ֙הוּ֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י יַתְנִיאֵ֖ל הָרְבִיעִֽי׃
3Elam the fifth, Yehochanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
AY-lam ha-kha-MEE-shee, y'-ho-KHA-nan ha-shi-SHEE, el-y'-ho-EY-nai ha-sh'-vee-EE.
געֵילָ֤ם הַחֲמִישִׁי֙ יְהוֹחָנָ֣ן הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י אֶלְיְהוֹעֵינַ֖י הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃
4Sons of Oved Edom: Shemaya the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
u-l'-o-VED e-DOM ba-NEEM, sh'-ma-YAH ha-b'-KOR, y'-ho-ZA-vad ha-SHE-nee, yo-AKH ha-sh'-lee-SHEE, v'-sa-KHAR ha-r'-vee-EE, u-ne-tan-A-EL ha-cha-mee-SHEE.
דוּלְעֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֖ם בָּנִ֑ים שְׁמַעְיָ֤ה הַבְּכוֹר֙ יְהוֹזָבָ֣ד הַשֵּׁנִ֔י יוֹאָ֤ח הַשְּׁלִשִׁי֙ וְשָׂכָ֣ר הָרְבִיעִ֔י וּנְתַנְאֵ֖ל הַחֲמִישִֽׁי׃
5Ammiel the sixth, Yissachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth—for Hashem had blessed him.
a-mi-YA-el ha-shi-SHI yis-sa-SHAR ha-sh'-vi-I p'-u-l'-TAI ha-sh'-mi-NI kee ve-re-KHO e-lo-HEEM
העַמִּיאֵ֤ל הַשִּׁשִּׁי֙ יִשָּׂשכָ֣ר הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י פְּעֻלְּתַ֖י הַשְּׁמִינִ֑י כִּ֥י בֵרְכ֖וֹ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
6To his son Shemaya were born sons who exercised authority in their clans because they were men of substance.
v'-li-sh'-ma-YA b'-no no-LAD ba-NEEM ha-mim-sha-LEEM l'-vayt a-vee-HEM, kee-gi-BO-ray kha-YEEL hay-MAH
ווְלִֽשְׁמַעְיָ֤ה בְנוֹ֙ נוֹלַ֣ד בָּנִ֔ים הַמִּמְשָׁלִ֖ים לְבֵ֣ית אֲבִיהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־גִבּ֥וֹרֵי חַ֖יִל הֵֽמָּה׃
7The sons of Shemaya: Othni, Rephael, Oved, Elzabad—his brothers, men of ability, were Elihu and Semachiah.
b'-NAY sh'-ma-YA o-TA-nee u-r'-fa-AYL u-o-VED el-za-VAHD e-kha-YAV b'-NAY-kha-YIL e-li-HU u-s'-ma-kha-YA-hu
זבְּנֵ֣י שְׁמַֽעְיָ֗ה עׇ֠תְנִ֠י וּרְפָאֵ֨ל וְעוֹבֵ֧ד אֶלְזָבָ֛ד אֶחָ֖יו בְּנֵי־חָ֑יִל אֱלִיה֖וּ וּסְמַכְיָֽהוּ׃
8All these, sons of Obededom; they and their sons and brothers, strong and able men for the service—62 of Obededom.
kol-E-leh mi-b'-NAY o-VED e-DOM, HAY-mah u-v'-NAY-hem va-a-KHEY-hem, eesh-KHAY-il ba-KO-akh la-a-vo-DAH, shi-SHEEM u-sh'-NA-yim la-o-VED e-DOM.
חכׇּל־אֵ֜לֶּה מִבְּנֵ֣י ׀ עֹבֵ֣ד אֱדֹ֗ם הֵ֤מָּה וּבְנֵיהֶם֙ וַאֲחֵיהֶ֔ם אִֽישׁ־חַ֥יִל בַּכֹּ֖חַ לַעֲבֹדָ֑ה שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וּשְׁנַ֖יִם לְעֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹֽם׃
9Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, able men—18.
v'-lim-she-le-MYAH-hu ba-NEEM v'-a-KHEEM b'-nay-kha-YIL sh'-MO-nah a-SAR. (S)
טוְלִמְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֗הוּ בָּנִ֧ים וְאַחִ֛ים בְּנֵי־חָ֖יִל שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃
10Hosah of the Merarites had sons: Shimri the chief (he was not the first-born, but his father designated him chief),
u-l'-kho-SAH min b'-NAY m'-ra-REE ba-NEEM, shi-m'-REE ha-ROSH, ki lo-ha-YAH v'-KHOHR, va-y'-see-MAY-hu a-VEE-hu l'-ROSH
יוּלְחֹסָ֥ה מִן־בְּנֵי־מְרָרִ֖י בָּנִ֑ים שִׁמְרִ֤י הָרֹאשׁ֙ כִּ֣י לֹֽא־הָיָ֣ה בְכ֔וֹר וַיְשִׂימֵ֥הוּ אָבִ֖יהוּ לְרֹֽאשׁ׃
11Chilkiyahu the second, Tebaliah the third, Zecharya the fourth. All the sons and brothers of Hosah—13.
khil-ki-YA-hu ha-she-NI, t'-val-YA-hu ha-sh'-li-SHI, z'-khar-YA-hu ha-r'-vi-I, kol ba-NEEM v'-a-KHEEM l'-kho-SA sh'-lo-SHA a-SAHR
יאחִלְקִיָּ֤הוּ הַשֵּׁנִי֙ טְבַלְיָ֣הוּ הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֔י זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ הָרְבִעִ֑י כׇּל־בָּנִ֧ים וְאַחִ֛ים לְחֹסָ֖ה שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃
12These are the divisions of the gatekeepers, by their chief men, [who worked in] shifts corresponding to their kinsmen, ministering in the House of Hashem.
l'-AY-leh makh-l'-KOT ha-sho-a-RIM l'-ra-SHAY ha-ge-va-REEM mish-ma-ROT l'-u-MAT a-KHAY-hem l'-sha-RAYT b'-beyt a-do-NAI
יבלְ֠אֵ֠לֶּה מַחְלְק֨וֹת הַשֹּׁעֲרִ֜ים לְרָאשֵׁ֧י הַגְּבָרִ֛ים מִשְׁמָר֖וֹת לְעֻמַּ֣ת אֲחֵיהֶ֑ם לְשָׁרֵ֖ת בְּבֵ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃
13They cast lots, small and great alike, by clans, for each gate.
vai-ya-pee-LO go-RA-lot ka-ka-TON ka-ga-DOL l'-veit a-vo-TAM l'-sha-AR va-sha-AR
יגוַיַּפִּ֨ילוּ גוֹרָל֜וֹת כַּקָּטֹ֧ן כַּגָּד֛וֹל לְבֵ֥ית אֲבוֹתָ֖ם לְשַׁ֥עַר וָשָֽׁעַר׃
14The lot for the east [gate] fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots [for] Zecharya his son, a prudent counselor, and his lot came out to be the north [gate].
vai-YI-pol ha-go-RAL miz-RA-khah le-she-lem-YA-hu u-ze-khar-YA-hu ve-NO yo-ETZ b'-se-KHEL hi-pi-LOO go-RA-lot vai-YAY-tzay go-RA-lo tza-FO-nah
ידוַיִּפֹּ֧ל הַגּוֹרָ֛ל מִזְרָ֖חָה לְשֶׁלֶמְיָ֑הוּ וּזְכַרְיָ֨הוּ בְנ֜וֹ יוֹעֵ֣ץ ׀ בְּשֶׂ֗כֶל הִפִּ֙ילוּ֙ גּֽוֹרָל֔וֹת וַיֵּצֵ֥א גוֹרָל֖וֹ צָפֽוֹנָה׃
15For Oved Edom, the south [gate], and for his sons, the vestibule.
l'-o-VED e-DOM ne-G'-bah u-l'-va-NAV beit ha-a-su-PEEM
טולְעֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֖ם נֶ֑גְבָּה וּלְבָנָ֖יו בֵּ֥ית הָאֲסֻפִּֽים׃
16For Shuppim and for Hosah, the west [gate], with the Shallecheth gate on the ascending highway. Watch corresponded to watch:
l'-shu-PEEM u-l'-kho-SA la-ma-a-RAV im sha-AR sha-LE-khet ba-m'-si-LAH ha-o-LAH mish-MAR l'-u-MAT mish-MAR
טזלְשֻׁפִּ֤ים וּלְחֹסָה֙ לַֽמַּעֲרָ֔ב עִ֚ם שַׁ֣עַר שַׁלֶּ֔כֶת בַּֽמְסִלָּ֖ה הָעוֹלָ֑ה מִשְׁמָ֖ר לְעֻמַּ֥ת מִשְׁמָֽר׃
17At the east—six Leviim; at the north—four daily; at the south—four daily; at the vestibule—two by two;
la-miz-RAKH ha-l'-vee-YIM shi-SHAH la-tza-FO-nah la-YOM ar-BAH la-ne-G'-bah la-YOM ar-BAH, v'-la-a-su-PEEM sh'-na-YIM sh'-na-YIM. (s)
יזלַמִּזְרָח֮ הַלְוִיִּ֣ם שִׁשָּׁה֒ לַצָּפ֤וֹנָה לַיּוֹם֙ אַרְבָּעָ֔ה לַנֶּ֥גְבָּה לַיּ֖וֹם אַרְבָּעָ֑ה וְלָאֲסֻפִּ֖ים שְׁנַ֥יִם שְׁנָֽיִם׃
18at the colonnade on the west—four at the causeway and two at the colonnade.
la-par-BAR la-ma-a-RAV ar-BA-a la-msi-LAH sh'-NA-yim la-par-BAR
יחלַפַּרְבָּ֖ר לַֽמַּעֲרָ֑ב אַרְבָּעָה֙ לַֽמְסִלָּ֔ה שְׁנַ֖יִם לַפַּרְבָּֽר׃
19These were the divisions of the gatekeepers of the sons of Korach and the sons of Merari.
AY-leh makh-le-KOT ha-sho-a-REEM li-v'-NAY ha-ko-r'-khee v'-li-v'-NAY m'-ra-REE
יטאֵ֗לֶּה מַחְלְקוֹת֙ הַשֹּׁ֣עֲרִ֔ים לִבְנֵ֥י הַקׇּרְחִ֖י וְלִבְנֵ֥י מְרָרִֽי׃
20And the Leviim: Achiya over the treasuries of the House of Hashem and the treasuries of the dedicated things.
v'-hal-vi-YIM a-khi-YAH al-o-tz'-ROT bayt ha-e-lo-HEEM u-l'-o-tz'-ROT ha-ko-da-SHEEM.
כוְֽהַלְוִיִּ֑ם אֲחִיָּ֗ה עַל־אֽוֹצְרוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וּלְאֹצְר֖וֹת הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃
21The sons of Ladan: the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan; the chiefs of the clans of Ladan, the Gershonite—Yechieli.
b'-NAY la-ADAN, b'-NAY ha-ger-shu-NEE, l'-la-ADAN, ra-SHAY ha-a-VOT, l'-la-ADAN, ha-ger-shu-NEE, ye-khi-a-AY-lee
כאבְּנֵ֣י לַ֠עְדָּ֠ן בְּנֵ֨י הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֜י לְלַעְדָּ֗ן רָאשֵׁ֧י הָאָב֛וֹת לְלַעְדָּ֥ן הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֖י יְחִיאֵלִֽי׃
22The sons of Yechieli: Zetham and Yoel; his brother was over the treasuries of the House of Hashem.
b'-NAY y'-khee-a-LEE, ZAY-tam v'-yo-AYL a-KHEE-vu al o-t'-ROT bayt a-do-NAI. (Selah)
כבבְּנֵ֖י יְחִיאֵלִ֑י זֵתָם֙ וְיוֹאֵ֣ל אָחִ֔יו עַל־אֹצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃
23Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Chevronites, the Uzzielites:
la-a-ma-RA-mee, la-yitz-ha-REE, la-khev-ro-NEE, la-a-zi-a-LEE
כגלַֽעַמְרָמִי֙ לַיִּצְהָרִ֔י לַחֶבְרוֹנִ֖י לָעׇזִּיאֵלִֽי׃
24Shebuel son of Gershom son of Moshe was the chief officer over the treasuries.
u-sh'-bu-EL ben ge-RE-shom ben mo-SHE na-GID al ha-o-tza-ROT. (S)
כדוּשְׁבֻאֵל֙ בֶּן־גֵּרְשׁ֣וֹם בֶּן־מֹשֶׁ֔ה נָגִ֖יד עַל־הָאֹצָרֽוֹת׃
25And his brothers: Eliezer, his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Yoram, his son Zichri, his son Shelomith—
v'-e-KHA-yav le-e-li-EZ-er re-KHAV-ya-HU b'-NO vi-sha-YA-hu b'-NO v'-yo-RAM b'-NO v'-zikh-RI b'-NO (u-sh'-lo-MEET) [u-sh'-lo-MEET] b'-NO
כהוְאֶחָ֖יו לֶאֱלִיעֶ֑זֶר רְחַבְיָ֨הוּ בְנ֜וֹ וִישַׁעְיָ֤הֽוּ בְנוֹ֙ וְיֹרָ֣ם בְּנ֔וֹ וְזִכְרִ֥י בְנ֖וֹ (ושלמות) [וּשְׁלֹמִ֥ית] בְּנֽוֹ׃
26that Shelomith and his brothers were over all the treasuries of dedicated things that were dedicated by King David and the chiefs of the clans, and the officers of thousands and hundreds and the other army officers;
HU sh'-LO-mot v'-e-KHAV al kol o-t'-ROT ha-ko-da-SHEEM a-SHER hi-k'-DISH da-VID ha-ME-lekh v'-ra-SHEI ha-a-VOT l'-sa-rei-ha-a-la-FEEM v'-ha-me-Ot v'-sa-rei ha-tza-VA
כוה֧וּא שְׁלֹמ֣וֹת וְאֶחָ֗יו עַ֣ל כׇּל־אֹצְר֤וֹת הַקֳּדָשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִקְדִּ֜ישׁ דָּוִ֣יד הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְרָאשֵׁ֧י הָאָב֛וֹת לְשָׂרֵֽי־הָאֲלָפִ֥ים וְהַמֵּא֖וֹת וְשָׂרֵ֥י הַצָּבָֽא׃
27they dedicated some of the booty of the wars to maintain the House of Hashem.
min ha-mil-cha-MOT u-min ha-sha-LAL hi-k'-di-SHU l'-cha-ZEK l'-vayt a-do-NAI
כזמִן־הַמִּלְחָמ֥וֹת וּמִן־הַשָּׁלָ֖ל הִקְדִּ֑ישׁוּ לְחַזֵּ֖ק לְבֵ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃
28All that Shmuel the seer had dedicated, and Shaul son of Keesh, and Avner son of Ner, and Yoav son of Tzeruya—or [what] any other man had dedicated, was under the charge of Shelomith and his brothers.
v'-KOL ha-hik-DISH sh'-MU-el ha-RO-eh v'-sha-UL ben-KISH v'-av-NER ben-NER v'-yo-AV ben-TZE-ru-YAH kol ha-mak-DISH al yad sh'-lo-MEET v'-e-KHA-yav.
כחוְכֹ֨ל הַהִקְדִּ֜ישׁ שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל הָרֹאֶה֙ וְשָׁא֣וּל בֶּן־קִ֔ישׁ וְאַבְנֵ֣ר בֶּן־נֵ֔ר וְיוֹאָ֖ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֑ה כֹּ֚ל הַמַּקְדִּ֔ישׁ עַ֥ל יַד־שְׁלֹמִ֖ית וְאֶחָֽיו׃
29The Izharites: Chenaniah and his sons were over Yisrael as clerks and magistrates for affairs outside [the sanctuary].
la-yitz-ha-REE k'-nan-YA-hu u-va-NAV la-me-la-KHA ha-khee-TZO-na al yis-ra-AYL l'-shot-REEM u-l'-shof-TEEM
כטלַיִּצְהָרִ֞י כְּנַנְיָ֣הוּ וּבָנָ֗יו לַמְּלָאכָ֤ה הַחִֽיצוֹנָה֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְשֹׁטְרִ֖ים וּלְשֹׁפְטִֽים׃
30The Chevronites: Hashabiah and his brothers, capable men, 1,700, supervising Yisrael on the west side of the Yarden in all matters of Hashem and the service of the king.
la-chev-ro-NEE cha-shav-ya-HU v'-e-cha-YAV b'-nay cha-YIL e-LEF u-sh'-va-m'-OT al p'-ku-DAT yis-ra-AYL me-E-ver la-yar-DEN ma-a-RA-vah l'-KOL me-LE-khet a-do-NAI v'-la-a-vo-DAT ha-ME-lekh
ללַחֶבְרוֹנִ֡י חֲשַׁבְיָ֩הוּ֩ וְאֶחָ֨יו בְּנֵי־חַ֜יִל אֶ֣לֶף וּשְׁבַע־מֵא֗וֹת עַ֚ל פְּקֻדַּ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן מַעְרָ֑בָה לְכֹל֙ מְלֶ֣אכֶת יְהֹוָ֔ה וְלַעֲבֹדַ֖ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
31The Chevronites: Jeriah, the chief of the Chevronites—they were investigated in the fortieth year of David's reign by clans of all their lines, and men of substance were found among them in Jazer-gilead.
la-chev-ro-NEE ye-ree-YAH ha-ROSH la-chev-ro-NEE l'-to-l'-DO-tav l'-a-VOt bi-sh'-NAT ha-ar-BA-eem l'-mal-KHUT da-VEED nid-RA-shu va-yi-MA-tze va-HEM gi-vo-REI cha-YIL b'-ya-e-ZEER gil-AHD
לאלַֽחֶבְרוֹנִי֙ יְרִיָּ֣ה הָרֹ֔אשׁ לַֽחֶבְרוֹנִ֥י לְתֹלְדֹתָ֖יו לְאָב֑וֹת בִּשְׁנַ֨ת הָאַרְבָּעִ֜ים לְמַלְכ֤וּת דָּוִיד֙ נִדְרָ֔שׁוּ וַיִּמָּצֵ֥א בָהֶ֛ם גִּבּ֥וֹרֵי חַ֖יִל בְּיַעְזֵ֥יר גִּלְעָֽד׃
32His brothers, able men, 2,700, chiefs of clans—David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Menashe in all matters of Hashem and matters of the king.
v'-e-KHA-yav b'-nay-kha-YIL al-PA-yim u-sh'-VA may-OT ra-SHAY ha-a-VOt va-ya-f'-KEE-dem da-VEED ha-ME-lekh al ha-ra-u-VEE-nee v'-ha-ga-DEE va-kha-TZI sh'-VET ha-me-NASH-ee l'-KOL d'-VAR ha-e-lo-HEEM u-d'-VAR ha-ME-lekh. (P)
לבוְאֶחָ֣יו בְּנֵי־חַ֗יִל אַלְפַּ֛יִם וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת רָאשֵׁ֣י הָאָב֑וֹת וַֽיַּפְקִידֵ֞ם דָּוִ֣יד הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עַל־הָראוּבֵנִ֤י וְהַגָּדִי֙ וַחֲצִי֙ שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשִּׁ֔י לְכׇל־דְּבַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וּדְבַ֥ר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃