TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
I - Chapter 5
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1Shlomo's rule extended over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and the boundary of Egypt. They brought Shlomo tribute and were subject to him all his life.
אוּשְׁלֹמֹה הָיָה מוֹשֵׁל בְּכָל־הַמַּמְלָכוֹת מִן־הַנָּהָר אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים וְעַד גְּבוּל מִצְרָיִם מַגִּשִׁים מִנְחָה וְעֹבְדִים אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹה כָּל־יְמֵי חַיָּיו׃
2Shlomo's daily provisions consisted of 30 kors of semolina, and 60 kors of [ordinary] flour,
בוַיְהִי לֶחֶם־שְׁלֹמֹה לְיוֹם אֶחָד שְׁלֹשִׁים כֹּר סֹלֶת וְשִׁשִּׁים כֹּר קָמַח׃
310 fattened oxen, 20 pasture-fed oxen, and 100 sheep and goats, besides deer and gazelles, roebucks and fatted geese.
געֲשָׂרָה בָקָר בְּרִאִים וְעֶשְׂרִים בָּקָר רְעִי וּמֵאָה צֹאן לְבַד מֵאַיָּל וּצְבִי וְיַחְמוּר וּבַרְבֻּרִים אֲבוּסִים׃
4For he controlled the whole region west of the Euphrates—all the kings west of the Euphrates, from Tiphsah to Azza—and he had peace on all his borders roundabout.
דכִּי־הוּא רֹדֶה בְּכָל־עֵבֶר הַנָּהָר מִתִּפְסַח וְעַד־עַזָּה בְּכָל־מַלְכֵי עֵבֶר הַנָּהָר וְשָׁלוֹם הָיָה לוֹ מִכָּל־עֲבָרָיו מִסָּבִיב׃
5All the days of Shlomo, Yehuda and Yisrael from Dan to Be'er Sheva dwelt in safety, everyone under his own vine and under his own fig tree.
הוַיֵּשֶׁב יְהוּדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לָבֶטַח אִישׁ תַּחַת גַּפְנוֹ וְתַחַת תְּאֵנָתוֹ מִדָּן וְעַד־בְּאֵר שָׁבַע כֹּל יְמֵי שְׁלֹמֹה׃
6Shlomo had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariotry and 12,000 horsemen.
ווַיְהִי לִשְׁלֹמֹה אַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף אֻרְוׂת סוּסִים לְמֶרְכָּבוֹ וּשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר אֶלֶף פָּרָשִׁים׃
7All those prefects, each during his month, would furnish provisions for King Shlomo and for all who were admitted to King Shlomo's table; they did not fall short in anything.
זוְכִלְכְּלוּ הַנִּצָּבִים הָאֵלֶּה אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה וְאֵת כָּל־הַקָּרֵב אֶל־שֻׁלְחַן הַמֶּלֶךְ־שְׁלֹמֹה אִישׁ חָדְשׁוֹ לֹא יְעַדְּרוּ דָּבָר׃
8They would also, each in his turn, deliver barley and straw for the horses and the swift steeds to the places where they were stationed.
חוְהַשְּׂעֹרִים וְהַתֶּבֶן לַסּוּסִים וְלָרָכֶשׁ יָבִאוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה־שָּׁם אִישׁ כְּמִשְׁפָּטוֹ׃
9Hashem endowed Shlomo with wisdom and discernment in great measure, with understanding as vast as the sands on the seashore.
טוַיִּתֵּן אֱלֹהִים חָכְמָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה וּתְבוּנָה הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד וְרֹחַב לֵב כַּחוֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם׃
10Shlomo's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the Kedemites and than all the wisdom of the Egyptians.
יוַתֵּרֶב חָכְמַת שְׁלֹמֹה מֵחָכְמַת כָּל־בְּנֵי־קֶדֶם וּמִכֹּל חָכְמַת מִצְרָיִם׃
11He was the wisest of all men: [wiser] than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Hayman, Chalkol, and Darda the sons of Mahol. His fame spread among all the surrounding nations.
יאוַיֶּחְכַּם מִכָּל־הָאָדָם מֵאֵיתָן הָאֶזְרָחִי וְהֵימָן וְכַלְכֹּל וְדַרְדַּע בְּנֵי מָחוֹל וַיְהִי־שְׁמוֹ בְכָל־הַגּוֹיִם סָבִיב׃
12He composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered one thousand and five.
יבוַיְדַבֵּר שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים מָשָׁל וַיְהִי שִׁירוֹ חֲמִשָּׁה וָאָלֶף׃
13He discoursed about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall; and he discoursed about beasts, birds, creeping things, and fishes.
יגוַיְדַבֵּר עַל־הָעֵצִים מִן־הָאֶרֶז אֲשֶׁר בַּלְּבָנוֹן וְעַד הָאֵזוֹב אֲשֶׁר יֹצֵא בַּקִּיר וַיְדַבֵּר עַל־הַבְּהֵמָה וְעַל־הָעוֹף וְעַל־הָרֶמֶשׂ וְעַל־הַדָּגִים׃
14Men of all peoples came to hear Shlomo's wisdom, [sent] by all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
ידוַיָּבֹאוּ מִכָּל־הָעַמִּים לִשְׁמֹעַ אֵת חָכְמַת שְׁלֹמֹה מֵאֵת כָּל־מַלְכֵי הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר שָׁמְעוּ אֶת־חָכְמָתוֹ׃
15King Hiram of Tyre sent his officials to Shlomo when he heard that he had been anointed king in place of his father; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.
טווַיִּשְׁלַח חִירָם מֶלֶךְ־צוֹר אֶת־עֲבָדָיו אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹה כִּי שָׁמַע כִּי אֹתוֹ מָשְׁחוּ לְמֶלֶךְ תַּחַת אָבִיהוּ כִּי אֹהֵב הָיָה חִירָם לְדָוִד כָּל־הַיָּמִים׃
16Shlomo sent this message to Hiram:
טזוַיִּשְׁלַח שְׁלֹמֹה אֶל־חִירָם לֵאמֹר׃
17“You know that my father David could not build a house for the name of Hashem his God because of the enemies that encompassed him, until Hashem had placed them under the soles of his feet.
יזאַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת־דָּוִד אָבִי כִּי לֹא יָכֹל לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו מִפְּנֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה אֲשֶׁר סְבָבֻהוּ עַד תֵּת־יְהֹוָה אֹתָם תַּחַת כַּפּוֹת רגלו [רַגְלָי׃]
18But now Hashem my God has given me respite all around; there is no adversary and no mischance.
יחוְעַתָּה הֵנִיחַ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי לִי מִסָּבִיב אֵין שָׂטָן וְאֵין פֶּגַע רָע׃
19And so I propose to build a house for the name of Hashem my God, as Hashem promised my father David, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for My name.'
v'-hi-n'-NEE o-MAYR liv-NOT BA-yit l'-SHAYM a-do-NAI e-lo-HAI ka-a-SHER di-BER a-do-NAI el da-VID a-VEE lay-MOR bin-KHA a-SHER e-TAYN takh-TE-kha al kis-E-kha hu yiv-NEH ha-BA-yit lish-MEE
יטוְהִנְנִי אֹמֵר לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָי כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־דָּוִד אָבִי לֵאמֹר בִּנְךָ אֲשֶׁר אֶתֵּן תַּחְתֶּיךָ עַל־כִּסְאֶךָ הוּא־יִבְנֶה הַבַּיִת לִשְׁמִי׃
5:19 I propose to build a house for the name of Hashem my God
Because King Shlomo reigns over a united and strong kingdom living at peace, he is able to embark upon the building of the Beit Hamikdash in Yerushalayim. The Talmud (Zevachim 118) relates that the Mishkan stood in Gilgal for 14 years, in Shilo for 369 years, and in Nov and Givon together for another 57 years, equaling a total of 440 years. After this period, work on a permanent House of God can finally begin. This monumental project is the high point of the history of the People of Israel. The purpose of the exodus from Egypt was to receive the Torah and to observe it in Eretz Yisrael, which includes serving Hashem in the place He chose — the Beit Hamikdash in Yerushalayim (see Exodus 6:6-8). This Temple would serve as a focal point for worship of God, by the Children of Israel and the rest of the world.
20Please, then, give orders for cedars to be cut for me in the Lebanon. My servants will work with yours, and I will pay you any wages you may ask for your servants; for as you know, there is none among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”
כוְעַתָּה צַוֵּה וְיִכְרְתוּ־לִי אֲרָזִים מִן־הַלְּבָנוֹן וַעֲבָדַי יִהְיוּ עִם־עֲבָדֶיךָ וּשְׂכַר עֲבָדֶיךָ אֶתֵּן לְךָ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תֹּאמֵר כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ כִּי אֵין בָּנוּ אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ לִכְרָת־עֵצִים כַּצִּדֹנִים׃
21When Hiram heard Shlomo's message, he was overjoyed. “Praised be Hashem this day,” he said, “for granting David a wise son to govern this great people.”
כאוַיְהִי כִּשְׁמֹעַ חִירָם אֶת־דִּבְרֵי שְׁלֹמֹה וַיִּשְׂמַח מְאֹד וַיֹּאמֶר בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לְדָוִד בֵּן חָכָם עַל־הָעָם הָרָב הַזֶּה׃
22So Hiram sent word to Shlomo: “I have your message; I will supply all the cedar and cypress logs you require.
כבוַיִּשְׁלַח חִירָם אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹה לֵאמֹר שָׁמַעְתִּי אֵת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַחְתָּ אֵלָי אֲנִי אֶעֱשֶׂה אֶת־כָּל־חֶפְצְךָ בַּעֲצֵי אֲרָזִים וּבַעֲצֵי בְרוֹשִׁים׃
23My servants will bring them down to the sea from the Lebanon; and at the sea I will make them into floats and [deliver them] to any place that you designate to me. There I shall break them up for you to carry away. You, in turn, will supply the food I require for my household.”
כגעֲבָדַי יֹרִדוּ מִן־הַלְּבָנוֹן יָמָּה וַאֲנִי אֲשִׂימֵם דֹּבְרוֹת בַּיָּם עַד־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר־תִּשְׁלַח אֵלַי וְנִפַּצְתִּים שָׁם וְאַתָּה תִשָּׂא וְאַתָּה תַּעֲשֶׂה אֶת־חֶפְצִי לָתֵת לֶחֶם בֵּיתִי׃
24So Hiram kept Shlomo provided with all the cedar and cypress wood he required,
כדוַיְהִי חִירוֹם נֹתֵן לִשְׁלֹמֹה עֲצֵי אֲרָזִים וַעֲצֵי בְרוֹשִׁים כָּל־חֶפְצוֹ׃
25and Shlomo delivered to Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as provisions for his household and 20 kors of beaten oil. Such was Shlomo's annual payment to Hiram.
כהוּשְׁלֹמֹה נָתַן לְחִירָם עֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף כֹּר חִטִּים מַכֹּלֶת לְבֵיתוֹ וְעֶשְׂרִים כֹּר שֶׁמֶן כָּתִית כֹּה־יִתֵּן שְׁלֹמֹה לְחִירָם שָׁנָה בְשָׁנָה׃
26Hashem had given Shlomo wisdom, as He had promised him. There was friendship between Hiram and Shlomo, and the two of them made a treaty.
כווַיהֹוָה נָתַן חָכְמָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר־לוֹ וַיְהִי שָׁלֹם בֵּין חִירָם וּבֵין שְׁלֹמֹה וַיִּכְרְתוּ בְרִית שְׁנֵיהֶם׃
27King Shlomo imposed forced labor on all Yisrael; the levy came to 30,000 men.
כזוַיַּעַל הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה מַס מִכָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְהִי הַמַּס שְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף אִישׁ׃
28He sent them to the Lebanon in shifts of 10,000 a month: they would spend one month in the Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.
כחוַיִּשְׁלָחֵם לְבָנוֹנָה עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים בַּחֹדֶשׁ חֲלִיפוֹת חֹדֶשׁ יִהְיוּ בַלְּבָנוֹן שְׁנַיִם חֳדָשִׁים בְּבֵיתוֹ וַאֲדֹנִירָם עַל־הַמַּס׃
29Shlomo also had 70,000 porters and 80,000 quarriers in the hills,
כטוַיְהִי לִשְׁלֹמֹה שִׁבְעִים אֶלֶף נֹשֵׂא סַבָּל וּשְׁמֹנִים אֶלֶף חֹצֵב בָּהָר׃
30apart from Shlomo's 3,300 officials who were in charge of the work and supervised the gangs doing the work.
ללְבַד מִשָּׂרֵי הַנִּצָּבִים לִשְׁלֹמֹה אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַמְּלָאכָה שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת הָרֹדִים בָּעָם הָעֹשִׂים בַּמְּלָאכָה׃
31The king ordered huge blocks of choice stone to be quarried, so that the foundations of the house might be laid with hewn stones.
לאוַיְצַו הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיַּסִּעוּ אֲבָנִים גְּדֹלוֹת אֲבָנִים יְקָרוֹת לְיַסֵּד הַבָּיִת אַבְנֵי גָזִית׃
32Shlomo's masons, Hiram's masons, and the men of Gebal shaped them. Thus the timber and the stones for building the house were made ready.1
לבוַיִּפְסְלוּ בֹּנֵי שְׁלֹמֹה וּבֹנֵי חִירוֹם וְהַגִּבְלִים וַיָּכִינוּ הָעֵצִים וְהָאֲבָנִים לִבְנוֹת הַבָּיִת׃
