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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

II - Chapter 1

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Shlomo son of David took firm hold of his kingdom, for Hashem his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

vai-yit-cha-ZEK sh'-lo-MO ben da-VEED al mal-KHU-to, va-a-do-NAI e-lo-HAV i-MO, vai-ye-ga-DE-le-HU l'-ma-a-LAH

אוַיִּתְחַזֵּ֛ק שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בֶן־דָּוִ֖יד עַל־מַלְכוּת֑וֹ וַיהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַֽיְגַדְּלֵ֖הוּ לְמָֽעְלָה׃

2Shlomo summoned all Yisrael—the officers of thousands and of hundreds, and the judges, and all the chiefs of all Yisrael, the heads of the clans.

vai-YO-mer sh'-LO-mo l'-KOL yis-ra-AYL l'-sa-RAY ha-a-la-FEEM v'-ha-ME-ot u-la-sho-f'-TEEM u-l'-KOL na-SEE l'-KOL yis-ra-AYL ra-SHAY ha-a-VOt

בוַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה לְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל לְשָׂרֵי֩ הָאֲלָפִ֨ים וְהַמֵּא֜וֹת וְלַשֹּׁפְטִ֗ים וּלְכֹ֛ל נָשִׂ֥יא לְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל רָאשֵׁ֥י הָאָבֽוֹת׃

3Then Shlomo, and all the assemblage with him, went to the shrine at Givon, for the Tent of Meeting, which Moshe the servant of Hashem had made in the wilderness, was there.

vai-YEL-khu she-LO-mo v'-kol ha-ka-HAL i-MO la-ba-MA a-SHER b'-gi-VON, kee-SHAM ha-YA o-HAYL mo-ED ha-e-lo-HEEM a-SHER a-SA mo-SHEH e-VED a-do-NAI ba-mid-BAR

גוַיֵּלְכ֗וּ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ וְכׇל־הַקָּהָ֣ל עִמּ֔וֹ לַבָּמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּגִבְע֑וֹן כִּי־שָׁ֣ם הָיָ֗ה אֹ֤הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֛ה מֹשֶׁ֥ה עֶבֶד־יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

4But the Aron of Hashem David had brought up from Kiryat Ye'arim to the place which David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it in Yerushalayim.)

a-VAL a-ron ha-e-lo-HEEM he-e-LAH da-VID mi-ki-rit ya-a-RIM ba-he-KHEEN LO da-VID, KEE na-TA-lo O-hel bi-ru-sha-LA-im.

דאֲבָ֗ל אֲר֤וֹן הָאֱלֹהִים֙ הֶעֱלָ֤ה דָוִיד֙ מִקִּרְיַ֣ת יְעָרִ֔ים בַּהֵכִ֥ין ל֖וֹ דָּוִ֑יד כִּ֧י נָֽטָה־ל֛וֹ אֹ֖הֶל בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

5The bronze mizbayach, which Betzalel son of Uri son of Chur had made, was also there before the Mishkan of Hashem, and Shlomo and the assemblage resorted to it.

u-miz-BAKH ha-ne-KHO-shet a-SHER a-SA b'-tza-l'-EL ben-u-REE ben-KHUR, SHAHM lif-NEI mish-KAN a-do-NAI, va-yid-r'-SHE-hu sh'-lo-MO v'-ha-ka-HAL

הוּמִזְבַּ֣ח הַנְּחֹ֗שֶׁת אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשָׂה֙ בְּצַלְאֵל֙ בֶּן־אוּרִ֣י בֶן־ח֔וּר שָׁ֕ם לִפְנֵ֖י מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּדְרְשֵׁ֥הוּ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה וְהַקָּהָֽל׃

6There Shlomo ascended the bronze mizbayach before Hashem, which was at the Tent of Meeting, and on it sacrificed a thousand burnt offerings.

vai-YA-al SHE-lo-MO sham al miZ-BAT ha-ne-KHO-shet lif-NEY a-do-NAI a-SHER l'-o-HEL mo-ED vai-YA-al a-LAV o-LOT a-LEF

ווַיַּ֩עַל֩ שְׁלֹמֹ֨ה שָׁ֜ם עַל־מִזְבַּ֤ח הַנְּחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לְאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיַּ֧עַל עָלָ֛יו עֹל֖וֹת אָֽלֶף׃

7That night, Hashem appeared to Shlomo and said to him, “Ask, what shall I grant you?”

ba-la-YE-la ha-HU nir-AH e-lo-HEEM lish-LO-mo va-YO-mer LO she-AL MAH et-EN-lakh

זבַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֔וּא נִרְאָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לִשְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ שְׁאַ֖ל מָ֥ה אֶתֶּן־לָֽךְ׃

8Shlomo said to Hashem, “You dealt most graciously with my father David, and now You have made me king in his stead.

vai-YO-mer sh'-lo-MO lay-lo-HEEM, a-TAH a-SEE-ta im da-VEED a-VEE khe-SED ga-DOL, v'-him-lakh-TA-nee ta-kh'-TA-yav

חוַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁלֹמֹה֙ לֵאלֹהִ֔ים אַתָּ֗ה עָשִׂ֛יתָ עִם־דָּוִ֥יד אָבִ֖י חֶ֣סֶד גָּד֑וֹל וְהִמְלַכְתַּ֖נִי תַּחְתָּֽיו׃

9Now, O Hashem, let Your promise to my father David be fulfilled; for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.

a-TAH a-do-NAI e-lo-HEEM ye-a-MEN d'-va-RE-kha im da-VEED a-VEE, kee a-TAH him-lakh-TA-nee al-a-AM rav ka-a-FAR ha-A-retz

טעַתָּה֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים יֵֽאָמֵן֙ דְּבָ֣רְךָ֔ עִ֖ם דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֑י כִּ֤י אַתָּה֙ הִמְלַכְתַּ֔נִי עַל־עַ֕ם רַ֖ב כַּעֲפַ֥ר הָאָֽרֶץ׃

10Grant me then the wisdom and the knowledge to lead this people, for who can govern Your great people?”

a-TAH khokh-MAH u-ma-DA ten LEE v'-AY-tz'-AH lif-NAY ha-am ha-ZEH v'-a-VO-ah kee MEE yish-POT et a-m'-KHA ha-ZEH ha-ga-DOL

יעַתָּ֗ה חׇכְמָ֤ה וּמַדָּע֙ תֶּן־לִ֔י וְאֵ֥צְאָ֛ה לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָם־הַזֶּ֖ה וְאָב֑וֹאָה כִּֽי־מִ֣י יִשְׁפֹּ֔ט אֶת־עַמְּךָ֥ הַזֶּ֖ה הַגָּדֽוֹל׃

1:10   For who can govern Your great people

Supreme court building in Jerusalem

When given the opportunity to make a request of Hashem, Shlomo asks for wisdom and understanding to be able to judge the nation properly. Just as David his father “executed true justice among all his people” (I Chronicles 18:14) though he was “a man of battles and have shed blood” (Chronicles 28:3), Shlomo’s reign will be similarly characterized by justice. While the wars to secure Israel’s borders are significant, what personifies the Land of Israel in general, and the city of Yerushalayim in particular, is justice and righteousness (see, for example, Isaiah 33:5). Thus, Eretz Yisrael is inherited through justice (Deuteronomy 16:20), justice allows for the land to flourish, and conversely, a lack of justice leads to its downfall and destruction. The Beit Hamikdash, built by Shlomo, is the seat of justice (Deuteronomy 17:8-10), and it is where the High Court would meet. In making this request of God, Shlomo sought to ensure that he would lead the Nation of Israel, in the Land of Israel, in justice and truth. Today, the State of Israel has an established judicial system which continues to pursue justice in the Holy Land, ensuring that the population is law-abiding and protecting the rights of its citizens. Like the High Court of old, Israel’s Supreme Court is located in Yerushalayim.

11Hashem said to Shlomo, “Because you want this, and have not asked for wealth, property, and glory, nor have you asked for the life of your enemy, or long life for yourself, but you have asked for the wisdom and the knowledge to be able to govern My people over whom I have made you king,

va-YO-mer e-lo-HEEM lish-LO-mo YA-an a-SHER ha-Y'-ta ZOT im l'-va-VE-kha v'-LO sha-AL-ta o-SHER n'-kha-SEEM v'-ka-VOD v'-ET NE-fesh so-NE-e-KHA v'-GAM ya-MEEM ra-BEEM l'-sha-aL-ta va-TISH-al-l'-KHA kha-K'-MAH u-ma-DA a-SHER tish-POt et a-MEE a-SHER him-laKH-TEE-kha a-LAV

יאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֣ים ׀ לִשְׁלֹמֹ֡ה יַ֣עַן אֲשֶׁר֩ הָיְתָ֨ה זֹ֜את עִם־לְבָבֶ֗ךָ וְלֹֽא־שָׁ֠אַ֠לְתָּ עֹ֣שֶׁר נְכָסִ֤ים וְכָבוֹד֙ וְאֵת֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ שֹׂנְאֶ֔יךָ וְגַם־יָמִ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים לֹ֣א שָׁאָ֑לְתָּ וַתִּֽשְׁאַל־לְךָ֙ חׇכְמָ֣ה וּמַדָּ֔ע אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּשְׁפּוֹט֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִמְלַכְתִּ֖יךָ עָלָֽיו׃

12wisdom and knowledge are granted to you, and I grant you also wealth, property, and glory, the like of which no king before you has had, nor shall any after you have.”

ha-CHO-kh'-MAH v'-ha-ma-DA-a NA-t'-UN LAKH, v'-o-SHER u-n'-KHA-SEEM v'-ka-VOHD ET-ten-LAKH, a-SHER lo-HA-yah KHEYN la-m'-la-KHEEM a-SHER l'-fa-NE-kha, v'-a-kha-RE-kha lo yi-H'-yeh-KHEYN.

יבהַחׇכְמָ֥ה וְהַמַּדָּ֖ע נָת֣וּן לָ֑ךְ וְעֹ֨שֶׁר וּנְכָסִ֤ים וְכָבוֹד֙ אֶתֶּן־לָ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ לֹא־הָ֣יָה כֵ֗ן לַמְּלָכִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְאַחֲרֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א יִֽהְיֶה־כֵּֽן׃

13From the shrine at Givon, from the Tent of Meeting, Shlomo went to Yerushalayim and reigned over Yisrael.

vai-YA-vo sh'-LO-mo la-ba-MAH a-SHER b'-gi-VON y'-ru-sha-LA-im mi-lif-NAY o-HAYL mo-EYD, vai-YIM-lokh al yis-ra-AYL.

יגוַיָּבֹ֨א שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה לַבָּמָ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־בְּגִבְעוֹן֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם מִלִּפְנֵ֖י אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיִּמְלֹ֖ךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

14Shlomo assembled chariots and horsemen; he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses that he stationed in the chariot towns and with the king in Yerushalayim.

vai-ye-a-SOF sh'-LO-mo RE-khev u-fa-RA-sheem, va-Y'-hee-LO e-LEF v'-ar-BA m'-OT RE-khev u-sh'-NEEM a-SA-r' e-LEF pa-RA-sheem, vai-ya-NEE-khem b'-a-REI ha-RE-khev v'-im ha-ME-lekh bi-ru-sha-LA-im.

ידוַיֶּֽאֱסֹ֣ף שְׁלֹמֹה֮ רֶ֣כֶב וּפָרָשִׁים֒ וַֽיְהִי־ל֗וֹ אֶ֤לֶף וְאַרְבַּע־מֵאוֹת֙ רֶ֔כֶב וּשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֖לֶף פָּרָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּנִּיחֵם֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הָרֶ֔כֶב וְעִם־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

15The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Yerushalayim as stones, and cedars as plentiful as the sycamores in the Shephelah.

vai-YI-ten ha-ME-lekh et ha-KE-sef v'-et ha-ZA-hav bi-ru-sha-LA-yim ka-a-va-NEEM v'-ET ha-a-RA-zeem na-TAN ka-shi-K'-MEEM a-SHER ba-sh'-PE-la la-ROV

טווַיִּתֵּ֨ן הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־הַכֶּ֧סֶף וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֛ב בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם כָּאֲבָנִ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת הָאֲרָזִ֗ים נָתַ֛ן כַּשִּׁקְמִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־בַּשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה לָרֹֽב׃

16Shlomo's horses were imported from Egypt and from Que; the king's traders would buy them from Que at the market price.

u-mo-TZA ha-su-SEEM a-SHER lish-LO-mo mi-mitz-RA-yim u-mik-VE so-cha-REI ha-ME-lekh mik-VE yik-KHE-khu bi-m'-KHEER

טזוּמוֹצָ֧א הַסּוּסִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וּמִקְוֵ֕א סֹחֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מִקְוֵ֥א יִקְח֖וּ בִּמְחִֽיר׃

17A chariot imported from Egypt cost 600 shekalim of silver, and a horse 150. These in turn were exported by them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Arameans.

vai-ya-a-LU vai-yo-TZI-u mi-mitz-RA-yim mer-KA-vah b'-shesh me-OT ke-SEF v'-SUS ba-cha-MI-shim u-m'-a-HAH v'-KHEIN l'-KOL mal-KHEI ha-KHEE-teem u-mal-KHEI a-RAHM b'-ya-DAM yo-TZI-u

יזוַֽ֠יַּעֲל֠וּ וַיּוֹצִ֨יאוּ מִמִּצְרַ֤יִם מֶרְכָּבָה֙ בְּשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת כֶּ֔סֶף וְס֖וּס בַּֽחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים וּמֵאָ֑ה וְ֠כֵ֠ן לְכׇל־מַלְכֵ֧י הַחִתִּ֛ים וּמַלְכֵ֥י אֲרָ֖ם בְּיָדָ֥ם יוֹצִֽיאוּ׃

18Then Shlomo resolved to build a House for the name of Hashem and a royal palace for himself.

vai-YO-mer sh'-lo-MO l'-no-TOT ba-YIT l'-SHEM a-do-NAI u-va-YIT l'-mal-khu-TO

יחוַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה לִבְנ֥וֹת בַּ֙יִת֙ לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה וּבַ֖יִת לְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃