Contact Us

TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

II - Chapter 2

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Shlomo mustered 70,000 basket carriers and 80,000 quarriers in the hills, with 3,600 men supervising them.

vai-YIS-por SHE-lo-MO sh'-LO-mom E-lef EESH sa-BAL u-sh'-mo-NEEM E-lef EESH kho-TZEV ba-HAR u-m'-na-tz'-KHEEM a-lay-HEM sh'-LO-shet a-la-FEEM v'-shaysh ME-ot.

אוַיִּסְפֹּ֨ר שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֙לֶף֙ אִ֣ישׁ סַבָּ֔ל וּשְׁמוֹנִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ חֹצֵ֣ב בָּהָ֑ר וּמְנַצְּחִ֣ים עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃

2Shlomo sent this message to King Huram of Tyre, “In view of what you did for my father David in sending him cedars to build a palace for his residence—

vai-YISH-lakh she-LO-mo el khu-RAM me-lekh-TSOR lay-MOR ka-a-SHER a-SEE-ta im da-VEED a-VEE va-tish-LAKH-lo a-ra-ZEEM liv-NOT-lo va-YEET la-SHE-vet BO

בוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה אֶל־חוּרָ֥ם מֶֽלֶךְ־צֹ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ עִם־דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֔י וַתִּֽשְׁלַֽח־ל֣וֹ אֲרָזִ֔ים לִבְנֽוֹת־ל֥וֹ בַ֖יִת לָשֶׁ֥בֶת בּֽוֹ׃

3see, I intend to build a House for the name of Hashem my God; I will dedicate it to Him for making incense offering of sweet spices in His honor, for the regular rows of bread, and for the morning and evening burnt offerings on Shabbatot, new moons, and festivals, as is Yisrael's eternal duty.

hi-NAY a-NEE vo-neh BA-yit l'-SHAYM a-do-NAI e-lo-HAI l'-hak-DEESH LO l'-hak-TEER l'-fa-NAV k'-TO-ret sa-MEEM u-ma-a-RE-khet ta-MEED v'-o-LOT la-BO-ker v'-la-E-rev la-sha-ba-TOT v'-le-kho-da-SHEEM ul-mo-a-DAY a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu l'-o-LAM ZOT al yis-ra-AYL

גהִנֵּה֩ אֲנִ֨י בֽוֹנֶה־בַּ֜יִת לְשֵׁ֣ם ׀ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֗י לְהַקְדִּ֣ישׁ ל֡וֹ לְהַקְטִ֣יר לְפָנָ֣יו קְטֹֽרֶת־סַמִּים֩ וּמַעֲרֶ֨כֶת תָּמִ֤יד וְעֹלוֹת֙ לַבֹּ֣קֶר וְלָעֶ֔רֶב לַשַּׁבָּתוֹת֙ וְלֶ֣חֳדָשִׁ֔ים וּֽלְמוֹעֲדֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ לְעוֹלָ֖ם זֹ֥את עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

 2:3   New moons

The Hebrew word for ‘month’ is chodesh (חודש), which comes from the word chadash (חדש), meaning ‘new’. Sanctifying the new moon each month is the very first biblical commandment given collectively to the People of Israel (Exodus 12:2). As opposed to pagan worship, which requires a steady force such as the sun to venerate, the People of Israel were told to sanctify the moon which waxes and wanes on a monthly basis. The message is that no matter how dark life may seem, societies, nations and individuals can always change for the better. Our optimistic scanning of the black-blue skies for the first sliver of the new moon every month is our testimony to the possibility of growth, change and development. We must learn to sanctify that change.

4The House that I intend to build will be great, inasmuch as our God is greater than all gods.

v'-ha-BA-yit a-SHER a-NEE bo-NEH ga-DOL, kee-ga-DOL e-lo-HEE-nu mi-KOL ha-e-lo-HEEM

דוְהַבַּ֛יִת אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י בוֹנֶ֖ה גָּד֑וֹל כִּֽי־גָד֥וֹל אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ מִכׇּל־הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

5Who indeed is capable of building a House for Him! Even the heavens to their uttermost reaches cannot contain Him, and who am I that I should build Him a House—except as a place for making burnt offerings to Him?

u-mee ya-a-TZAR-KO-akh liv-NOT-lo va-YIT ki ha-sha-MA-yim u-sh'-MAY ha-sha-MA-yim lo ye-khal-K'-lu-HU u-mee a-NEE a-SHER ev-NEH-LO va-YIT ki im l'-ha-k'-TEER l'-fa-NAV

הוּמִ֤י יַֽעֲצׇר־כֹּ֙חַ֙ לִבְנֽוֹת־ל֣וֹ בַ֔יִת כִּ֧י הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וּשְׁמֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם לֹ֣א יְכַלְכְּלֻ֑הוּ וּמִ֤י אֲנִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶבְנֶה־לּ֣וֹ בַ֔יִת כִּ֖י אִם־לְהַקְטִ֥יר לְפָנָֽיו׃

6Now send me a craftsman to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue yarn, and who knows how to engrave, alongside the craftsmen I have here in Yehuda and in Yerushalayim, whom my father David provided.

v'-a-TAH sh'-LAKH-lee eesh-kha-KHAM la-a-SOT ba-za-HAV u-va-KE-sef u-va-ne-KHO-shet u-va-bar-ZET u-va-ar-GE-van v'-khar-MEEL u-t'-KHE-let v'-yo-DAY-a l'-fa-TE-akh pi-TU-kheeM im-ha-kha-KHA-meem a-SHER i-MEE bi-Y'-hu-DAH u-vi-Y'-ru-sha-LA-im a-SHER he-KHEEN da-VEED a-VEE

ווְעַתָּ֡ה שְֽׁלַֽח־לִ֣י אִישׁ־חָכָ֡ם לַעֲשׂוֹת֩ בַּזָּהָ֨ב וּבַכֶּ֜סֶף וּבַנְּחֹ֣שֶׁת וּבַבַּרְזֶ֗ל וּבָֽאַרְגְּוָן֙ וְכַרְמִ֣יל וּתְכֵ֔לֶת וְיֹדֵ֖עַ לְפַתֵּ֣חַ פִּתּוּחִ֑ים עִם־הַחֲכָמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר עִמִּי֙ בִּיהוּדָ֣ה וּבִירוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵכִ֖ין דָּוִ֥יד אָבִֽי׃

7Send me cedars, cypress, and algum wood from the Lebanon, for I know that your servants are skilled at cutting the trees of Lebanon. My servants will work with yours

u-sh'-LAKH-li a-tzay a-RA-zim b'-ro-SHEEM v'-al-gu-MEEM me-ha-le-va-NON, kee a-NEE ya-da-TEE a-SHER a-va-DE-kha yo-de-EEM likh-ROT a-tzay le-va-NON, v'-hi-NEH a-va-DAI im-a-va-DE-kha.

זוּֽשְׁלַֽח־לִי֩ עֲצֵ֨י אֲרָזִ֜ים בְּרוֹשִׁ֣ים וְאַלְגּוּמִּים֮ מֵֽהַלְּבָנוֹן֒ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יָדַ֔עְתִּי אֲשֶׁ֤ר עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ יֽוֹדְעִ֔ים לִכְר֖וֹת עֲצֵ֣י לְבָנ֑וֹן וְהִנֵּ֥ה עֲבָדַ֖י עִם־עֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃

8to provide me with a great stock of timber; for the House that I intend to build will be singularly great.

u-l'-ha-KHEEN lee ay-TZEEM la-ROV, kee ha-BA-yit a-SHER a-NEE bo-NEH ga-DOL v'-ha-f'-LAY

חוּלְהָכִ֥ין לִ֛י עֵצִ֖ים לָרֹ֑ב כִּ֥י הַבַּ֛יִת אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י בוֹנֶ֖ה גָּד֥וֹל וְהַפְלֵֽא׃

9I have allocated for your servants, the wood-cutters who fell the trees, 20,000 kor of crushed wheat and 20,000 kor of barley, 20,000 batim of wine and 20,000 batim of oil.”

v'-hi-NEH la-KHOT-vim l'-khor-TAY ha-e-TZEEM na-TA-tee khee-TEEM ma-KOT la-a-va-DE-kha ko-REEM e-SREEM e-LEF u-s'-O-REEM ko-REEM e-SREEM a-LEF v'-ya-YIN ba-TEEM e-SREEM e-LEF v'-SHE-men ba-TEEM e-SREEM a-LEF. (SA)

טוְהִנֵּ֣ה לַֽחֹטְבִ֣ים לְֽכֹרְתֵ֣י הָעֵצִ֡ים נָתַ֩תִּי֩ חִטִּ֨ים ׀ מַכּ֜וֹת לַעֲבָדֶ֗יךָ כֹּרִים֙ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים אֶ֔לֶף וּשְׂעֹרִ֕ים כֹּרִ֖ים עֶשְׂרִ֣ים אָ֑לֶף וְיַ֗יִן בַּתִּים֙ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים אֶ֔לֶף וְשֶׁ֕מֶן בַּתִּ֖ים עֶשְׂרִ֥ים אָֽלֶף׃

10Huram, king of Tyre, sent Shlomo this written message in reply, “Because Hashem loved His people, He made you king over them.”

vai-YO-mer KHO-ram ME-lekh-TSOR bi-KH'-tav va-yish-LAKH el SHE-lo-MO b'-a-ha-VAT a-do-NAI et a-MO, ne-ta-N'-KHA a-LAY-hem ME-lekh

יוַיֹּ֨אמֶר חוּרָ֤ם מֶֽלֶךְ־צֹר֙ בִּכְתָ֔ב וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה בְּאַהֲבַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־עַמּ֔וֹ נְתָנְךָ֥ עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מֶֽלֶךְ׃

11Huram continued, “Blessed is Hashem, God of Yisrael, who made the heavens and the earth, who gave King David a wise son, endowed with intelligence and understanding, to build a House for Hashem and a royal palace for himself.

vai-YO-mer KHO-ram, BA-rukh a-do-NAI, e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL, a-SHER a-SA et ha-sha-MA-yim v'-et ha-A-retz, a-SHER na-TAN l'-da-VEED ha-ME-lekh ben KHA-kham yo-DAY-a, SAY-khel u-vee-NAH, a-SHER yi-v'-NEH-BA-yit la-a-do-NAI u-BA-yit l'-mal-khu-TO.

יאוַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ חוּרָם֒ בָּר֤וּךְ יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַן֩ לְדָוִ֨יד הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ בֵּ֣ן חָכָ֗ם יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ שֵׂ֣כֶל וּבִינָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִבְנֶה־בַּ֙יִת֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה וּבַ֖יִת לְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃

12Now I am sending you a skillful and intelligent man, my master Huram,

v'-a-TAH sha-LAKH-tee eesh-KHA-kham yo-DAY-a bi-NAH l'-KHU-ram a-VEE

יבוְעַתָּ֗ה שָׁלַ֧חְתִּי אִישׁ־חָכָ֛ם יוֹדֵ֥עַ בִּינָ֖ה לְחוּרָ֥ם אָבִֽי׃

13the son of a Danite woman, his father a Tyrian. He is skilled at working in gold, silver, bronze, iron, precious stones, and wood; in purple, blue, and crimson yarn and in fine linen; and at engraving and designing whatever will be required of him, alongside your craftsmen and the craftsmen of my lord, your father David.

ben-i-SHAH min-be-NOT DAN v'-a-VEEV ish-TZO-ri yo-DAY-a la-a-SOT ba-za-HAV u-va-KE-sef ba-ne-KHO-shet ba-bar-ZEL ba-a-va-NEEM u-va-e-TZEEM ba-ar-GA-man ba-te-KHE-LET u-va-BUTZ u-va-KAR-meel u-le-fa-TE-akh kol-pi-TU-akh v'-lakh-SHOV kol-ma-KHA-sha-VET a-SHER yi-NA-teyn-LO im-kha-KHA-yekha v'-khakh-MAY a-do-NEE da-VEED a-VEE-kha

יגבֶּן־אִשָּׁ֞ה מִן־בְּנ֣וֹת דָּ֗ן וְאָבִ֣יו אִישׁ־צֹרִ֡י יוֹדֵ֡עַ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת בַּזָּֽהָב־וּ֠בַכֶּ֠סֶף בַּנְּחֹ֨שֶׁת בַּבַּרְזֶ֜ל בָּאֲבָנִ֣ים וּבָעֵצִ֗ים בָּאַרְגָּמָ֤ן בַּתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ וּבַבּ֣וּץ וּבַכַּרְמִ֔יל וּלְפַתֵּ֙חַ֙ כׇּל־פִּתּ֔וּחַ וְלַחְשֹׁ֖ב כׇּל־מַֽחֲשָׁ֑בֶת אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִנָּֽתֶן־לוֹ֙ עִם־חֲכָמֶ֔יךָ וְֽחַכְמֵ֔י אֲדֹנִ֖י דָּוִ֥יד אָבִֽיךָ׃

14As to the wheat, barley, oil, and wine which my lord mentioned, let him send them to his servants.

v'-a-TAH ha-khee-TEEM v'-ha-s'-o-REEM ha-SHE-men v'-ha-ya-YIN a-SHER a-MAR a-do-NEE yish-LAKH la-a-va-DAV

ידוְ֠עַתָּ֠ה הַחִטִּ֨ים וְהַשְּׂעֹרִ֜ים הַשֶּׁ֤מֶן וְהַיַּ֙יִן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנִ֔י יִשְׁלַ֖ח לַעֲבָדָֽיו׃

15We undertake to cut down as many trees of Lebanon as you need, and deliver them to you as rafts by sea to Jaffa; you will transport them to Yerushalayim.”

va-a-NAKH-nu nik-ROT ay-TZEEM min ha-le-va-NON k'-KOL tzo-r'-KHE-kha u-ne-vee-EM le-KHA raf-so-DOT al-YAM ya-FO va-a-TAH ta-a-LEH o-TAM ye-ru-sha-LA-im.

טווַ֠אֲנַ֠חְנוּ נִכְרֹ֨ת עֵצִ֤ים מִן־הַלְּבָנוֹן֙ כְּכׇל־צׇרְכֶּ֔ךָ וּנְבִיאֵ֥ם לְךָ֛ רַפְסֹד֖וֹת עַל־יָ֣ם יָפ֑וֹ וְאַתָּ֛ה תַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖ם יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

16Shlomo took a census of all the aliens who were in the land of Yisrael, besides the census taken by his father David, and they were found to be 153,600.

vai-YIS-por SHE-lo-MO kol ha-a-na-SHEEM ha-GEI-reem a-SHER b'-E-rets yis-ra-AYL a-kha-RAY ha-SE-far a-SHER SE-fa-RAM da-VEED a-VEE-v, vai-yi-ma-TZU may-AH va-kha-MEE-shim e-LEF u-SHE-lo-SHET a-la-FEEM v'-SHE-sh ME-oT

טזוַיִּסְפֹּ֣ר שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה כׇּל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הַגֵּירִים֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַחֲרֵ֣י הַסְּפָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר סְפָרָ֖ם דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֑יו וַיִּמָּֽצְא֗וּ מֵאָ֤ה וַחֲמִשִּׁים֙ אֶ֔לֶף וּשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃

17He made 70,000 of them basket carriers, and 80,000 of them quarriers, with 3,600 supervisors to see that the people worked.

vai-YA-as me-HEM shiv-EEM e-LEF sa-BAL u-sh'-mo-NEEM e-LEF kho-TZEV ba-HAR u-sh'-LO-shet a-la-FEEM v'-shaysh me-OT m'-na-tz'-KHEEM l'-ha-a-VEED et-ha-AHM

יזוַיַּ֨עַשׂ מֵהֶ֜ם שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֙לֶף֙ סַבָּ֔ל וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף חֹצֵ֣ב בָּהָ֑ר וּשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת אֲלָפִים֙ וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת מְנַצְּחִ֖ים לְהַעֲבִ֥יד אֶת־הָעָֽם׃