וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִיד הַמֶּלֶךְ לְכָל־הַקָּהָל שְׁלֹמֹה בְנִי אֶחָד בָּחַר־בּוֹ אֱלֹהִים נַעַר וָרָךְ וְהַמְּלָאכָה גְדוֹלָה כִּי לֹא לְאָדָם הַבִּירָה כִּי לַה' אֱלֹהִים

King David said to the entire assembly: Solomon my son is only one man, and God chose him alone; moreover, he is a lad and a tender youth. Solomon ascended the throne when he was in his teens, and might also have been youthful in appearance, with soft features. And the labor is great, as the citadel is not built for man, but for the Lord God. Palaces were typically constructed for show, to flaunt the king’s glory, or as fortifications. This palace is not being built for me or for any other flesh-and-blood king; rather, it is for God. How is it possible for a man to fashion a dwelling place for God Almighty? It is incumbent upon him to dedicate himself to this tremendous project and not recoil in fear of failure, as one is not expected to perform any task beyond his human capabilities.

וּכְכָל־כֹּחִי הֲכִינוֹתִי לְבֵית־אֱלֹהַי הַזָּהָב לזָּהָב וְהַכֶּסֶף לַכֶּסֶף וְהַנְּחֹשֶׁת לַנְּחֹשֶׁת הַבַּרְזֶל לַבַּרְזֶל וְהָעֵצִים לָעֵצִים אַבְנֵי־שֹׁהַם וּמִלּוּאִים אַבְנֵי־פוּךְ וְרִקְמָה וְכֹל אֶבֶן יְקָרָה וְאַבְנֵי־שַׁיִשׁ לָרֹב

With all my might, I have prepared for the house of my God the gold required for the items of gold, and the silver for the silver, and the bronze for the bronze, the iron for the iron, and the wood for the wood; onyx stones, and stones fashioned for setting, carbuncle stones, and colorful and specially cut stones for a mosaic, and all precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

וְעוֹד בִּרְצוֹתִי בְּבֵית אֱלֹהַי יֶשׁ־לִי סְגֻלָּה זָהָב וָכָסֶף נָתַתִּי לְבֵית־אֱלֹהַי לְמַעְלָה מִכָּל הֲכִינוֹתִי לְבֵית הַקֹּדֶשׁ

Moreover, out of my desire for the House of my God, I have a special treasure of gold and silver that I have given to the House of my God, beyond everything, all the materials that I prepared for specific uses in the sacred House, as part of the Temple plans:

שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים כִּכְּרֵי זָהָב מִזְּהַב אוֹפִיר וְשִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים כִּכַּר־כֶּסֶף מְזֻקָּק לָטוּחַ קִירוֹת הַבָּתִּים

This special donation is three thousand talents of gold, an exceedingly large amount, from the gold of Ofir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses, referring to the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies. Instead of regular plaster, the Temple will be coated with gold and silver.

לַזָּהָב לַזָּהָב וְלַכֶּסֶף לַכֶּסֶף וּלְכָל־מְלָאכָה בְּיַד חָרָשִׁים וּמִי מִתְנַדֵּב לְמַלֹּאות יָדוֹ הַיּוֹם לַה'

The quantity of gold is for the items of gold, and of silver for the silver, and for all labor in the hands of the craftsmen. I have given as much of the requisite materials as I can, and I have even left some money for incidental expenses and for the purchase of ornaments. David proceeds to call upon Israel to donate to the Temple treasuries: Who of you then offers to devote himself today to the Lord?

וַיִּתְנַדְּבוּ שָׂרֵי הָאָבוֹת וְשָׂרֵי שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְשָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים וְהַמֵּאוֹת וּלְשָׂרֵי מְלֶאכֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ

The princes of the patrilineal houses, the princes of the tribes of Israel, the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, and the leaders of the king’s labor donated;

וַיִּתְּנוּ לַעֲבוֹדַת בֵּית־הָאֱלֹהִים זָהָב כִּכָּרִים חֲמֵשֶׁת־אֲלָפִים וַאֲדַרְכֹּנִים רִבּוֹ וְכֶסֶף כִּכָּרִים עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים וּנְחֹשֶׁת רִבּוֹ וּשְׁמוֹנַת אֲלָפִים כִּכָּרִים וּבַרְזֶל מֵאָה־אֶלֶף כִּכָּרִים

they gave for the work of the House of God, in addition to the three thousand talents of gold that David had donated, five thousand talents and the equivalent of another ten thousand darics of gold. As these were Persian gold coins, this may be a later term that is employed here somewhat anachronistically. They also donated ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. Some of this massive donation was used for the requirements of the Temple service and vessels, while the rest was placed in the treasury.

וְהַנִּמְצָא אִתּוֹ אֲבָנִים נָתְנוּ לְאוֹצַר בֵּית־ה' עַל יַד יְחִיאֵל הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי

Those with whom precious stones were found in their possession gave to the treasury of the House of the Lord, into the hand of Yehiel the Gershonite, the official in charge of these donations to the Temple.

וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ הָעָם עַל־הִתְנַדְּבָם כִּי בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם הִתְנַדְּבוּ לַה' וְגַם דָּוִיד הַמֶּלֶךְ שָׂמַח שִׂמְחָה גְדוֹלָה

Even when people respond to a king’s call, they do not always act joyfully. But here, the people rejoiced in their donation, because they donated to the Lord wholeheartedly, and King David too rejoiced with great joy upon seeing the people adding their own donations.

וַיְבָרֶךְ דָּוִיד אֶת־ה' לְעֵינֵי כָּל־הַקָּהָל וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִיד בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָבִינוּ מֵעוֹלָם וְעַד־עוֹלָם

David blessed the Lord before the eyes of the entire assembly, and David said: Blessed are You, Lord, God of Israel, our father, forever and ever.

לְךָ ה' הַגְּדֻלָּה וְהַגְּבוּרָה וְהַתִּפְאֶרֶת וְהַנֵּצַח וְהַהוֹד כִּי־כֹל בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ לְךָ ה' הַמַּמְלָכָה וְהַמִּתְנַשֵּׂא לְכֹל לְרֹאשׁ

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, and the might, and the splendor, and the triumph, and the glory, for everything that is found in the heavens and on the earth. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and the preeminence over every head, over all rulers.

וְהָעֹשֶׁר וְהַכָּבוֹד מִלְּפָנֶיךָ וְאַתָּה מוֹשֵׁל בַּכֹּל וּבְיָדְךָ כֹּחַ וּגְבוּרָה וּבְיָדְךָ לְגַדֵּל וּלְחַזֵּק לַכֹּל

The riches and the honor are from before You, and You rule over all; in Your hand is power and might, and it is in Your hand to render everyone great and strong.

וְעַתָּה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לָךְ וּמְהַלְלִים לְשֵׁם תִּפְאַרְתֶּךָ

Now, our God, we thank You, and praise Your name of splendor.

וְכִי מִי אֲנִי וּמִי עַמִּי כִּי־נַעְצֹר כֹּחַ לְהִתְנַדֵּב כָּזֹאת כִּי־מִמְּךָ הַכֹּל וּמִיָּדְךָ נָתַנּוּ לָךְ

For who am I, and who are my people, that we have the capacity to donate in this manner? What is the source of our ability to give such substantial donations? In light of Israel’s subjugation to its enemies prior to David’s ascendancy, together with the many armed conflicts that continued throughout his reign, it is especially impressive that the leaders of the people donated those considerable sums. For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You. You are the source of everything we possess, and therefore when we consecrate anything to You, it is as though it is given from Your own hand, which bestowed it upon us.

כִּי־גֵרִים אֲנַחְנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ וְתוֹשָׁבִים כְּכָל־אֲבֹתֵינוּ כַּצֵּל יָמֵינוּ עַל־הָאָרֶץ וְאֵין מִקְוֶה

For we people are strangers before You, and temporary residents, like all our fathers. Human existence in this world is ephemeral, and we live here according to Your will. Our days on earth are like a shadow, which constantly changes and has no fixed, steady form, and which also lacks substance. Similarly, our lives are transient and our existence lacks substance. And there is no hope of escaping death.

ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ כֹּל הֶהָמוֹן הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר הֲכִינוֹנוּ לִבְנוֹת־לְךָ בַיִת לְשֵׁם קָדְשֶׁךָ מִיָּדְךָ הוּא וּלְךָ הַכֹּל

Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house to Your sacred name, it is from Your hand, and everything is Yours. We cannot say that anything belongs to us. We give to You from that which You have granted us.

וְיָדַעְתִּי אֱלֹהַי כִּי אַתָּה בֹּחֵן לֵבָב וּמֵישָׁרִים תִּרְצֶה אֲנִי בְּיֹשֶׁר לְבָבִי הִתְנַדַּבְתִּי כָל־אֵלֶּה וְעַתָּה עַמְּךָ הַנִּמְצְאוּ פֹה רָאִיתִי בְשִׂמְחָה לְהִתְנַדֶּב־לָךְ

I know, my God, that You examine the heart, and desire uprightness. I, in the uprightness of my heart, have donated all these, and now I have seen that Your people, who are present here, are also donating to You with joy. I knew what was in my own heart, and now I see that the leaders of the people who likewise donated have done so joyfully. We cannot claim ownership over the property in our possession, but we can at least dedicate our hearts and desires to God.

ה' אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבֹתֵינוּ שָׁמְרָה־זֹּאת לְעוֹלָם לְיֵצֶר מַחְשְׁבוֹת לְבַב עַמֶּךָ וְהָכֵן לְבָבָם אֵלֶיךָ

David requests: Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel our fathers, preserve this forever, the inclination, the motivating force of the thoughts of the heart of Your people; remember forever that the people donated wholeheartedly, and fortify their heart to turn toward You.

וְלִשְׁלֹמֹה בְנִי תֵּן לֵבָב שָׁלֵם לִשְׁמוֹר מִצְוֹתֶיךָ עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ וְחֻקֶּיךָ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת הַכֹּל וְלִבְנוֹת הַבִּירָה אֲשֶׁר־ הֲכִינוֹתִי

And give to Solomon my son a whole heart, to observe Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, and to perform them all, and to build the citadel for which I have prepared.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִיד לְכָל־הַקָּהָל בָּרְכוּ־נָא אֶת־ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וַיְבָרְכוּ כָל־הַקָּהָל לַה' אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיהֶם וַיִּקְּדוּ וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַה' וְלַמֶּלֶךְ

David said to the entire assembly: Bless now the Lord your God. All the assembly blessed the Lord, God of their fathers, and bowed and prostrated themselves to the Lord and before the king.

וַיִּזְבְּחוּ לַה' זְבָחִים וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלוֹת לַה' לְמָחֳרַת הַיּוֹם הַהוּא פָּרִים אֶלֶף אֵלִים אֶלֶף כְּבָשִׂים אֶלֶף וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם וּזְבָחִים לָרֹב לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל

They sacrificed peace offerings to the Lord and offered up burnt offerings to the Lord, on the morrow of that day, one thousand bulls, one thousand rams, and one thousand lambs, and their libations, the wine poured onto the altar alongside the offering, and the high-quality flour offering burned on the altar together with the animal offering. All these were given by the king or the community, and private peace offerings were brought in abundance for all Israel.

וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ לִפְנֵי ה' בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא בְּשִׂמְחָה גְדוֹלָה וַיַּמְלִיכוּ שֵׁנִית לִשְׁלֹמֹה בֶן־דָּוִיד וַיִּמְשְׁחוּ לַה' לְנָגִיד וּלְצָדוֹק לְכֹהֵן

They ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great joy. They crowned Solomon son of David king a second time, and anointed him to the Lord as ruler. Although Solomon had already been crowned, in accordance with the wishes and explicit order of David, his coronation had been discreet. Several of the prominent people of the realm had supported the move, but in a private ceremony. Here, by contrast, the crowning and anointing of Solomon is performed before all of Israel. And Tzadok they appointed as High Priest. This was also apparently David’s choice, as he preferred that Tzadok lead the priests, rather than Ahimelekh, who was descended from the house of Eli.

וַיֵּשֶׁב שְׁלֹמֹה עַל־כִּסֵּא ה' לְמֶלֶךְ תַּחַת־דָּוִיד אָבִיו וַיַּצְלַח וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֵלָיו כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל

Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king in place of David his father, and he prospered, and all Israel heeded him, accepting his authority.

וְכָל־הַשָּׂרִים וְהַגִּבֹּרִים וְגַם כָּל־בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד נָתְנוּ יָד תַּחַת שְׁלֹמֹה הַמֶּלֶךְ

All the princes, and the mighty men, who served as army officers and in other important positions, and all the sons of King David, gave a hand in support of King Solomon and vowed to obey him. Virtually everyone united in support of Solomon. Even those who could have raised claims against him remained silent and accepted his rule.

וַיְגַדֵּל ה' אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹה לְמַעְלָה לְעֵינֵי כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּתֵּן עָלָיו הוֹד מַלְכוּת אֲשֶׁר לֹא־הָיָה עַל־כָּל־מֶלֶךְ לְפָנָיו עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל

The Lord exalted Solomon before the eyes of all Israel and bestowed upon him the glory of royalty that had not been on any king over Israel before him. Not only was he an extraordinarily successful ruler of state, but no other king of Judah or Israel, past or future, could rival the splendor of Solomon’s kingdom.

וְדָוִיד בֶּן־יִשָׁי מָלַךְ עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל

David son of Yishai reigned over all Israel.

וְהַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר מָלַךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה בְּחֶבְרוֹן מָלַךְ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים וּבִירוּשָׁלִַם מָלַךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים וְשָׁלוֹשׁ

The days that he reigned over Israel were forty years, divided into two periods: A little more than seven years he reigned in Hebron, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years. The numbers indicate that David became king when he was a relatively young man, about thirty years old. During the forty years of his reign, with all its vicissitudes, he consolidated and strengthened the kingdom.

וַיָּמָת בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֹבָה שְׂבַע יָמִים עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד וַיִּמְלֹךְ שְׁלֹמֹה בְנוֹ תַּחְתָּיו

He died at a good old age, full of days, wealth, and honor; Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

וְדִבְרֵי דָּוִיד הַמֶּלֶךְ הָרִאשֹׁנִים וְהָאַחֲרֹנִים הִנָּם כְּתוּבִים עַל־דִּבְרֵי שְׁמוּאֵל הָרֹאֶה וְעַל־דִּבְרֵי נָתָן הַנָּבִיא וְעַל־דִּבְרֵי גָּד הַחֹזֶה

The acts of King David, first and last, all the events of his life, behold, they are written in the words of Samuel the seer. This may refer to a lost work, or to the biblical book of Samuel, which describes the reign of King David. And his deeds likewise appear in the words of Natan the prophet, and in the words of Gad the seer. Here too, it is possible that the verse is referring to books written by Natan and Gad which are no longer extant. Alternatively, these are the latter parts of the book of Samuel, which was certainly not written in its entirety by Samuel himself, as his death is depicted roughly halfway through the book. It is reasonable to assume that Natan the prophet and Gad the seer, who assumed Samuel’s prophetic role, also completed his book.

עִם כָּל־מַלְכוּתוֹ וּגְבוּרָתוֹ וְהָעִתִּים אֲשֶׁר עָבְרוּ עָלָיו וְעַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל כָּל־מַמְלְכוֹת הָאֲרָצוֹת

The prophets of Israel wrote the history of King David, along with all his dominion and his might, and the times that befell him and Israel, and all the kingdoms of the lands. The book of Chronicles relates these events based on those earlier sources.