אָז אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה ה' אָמַר לִשְׁכּוֹן בַּעֲרָפֶל

Then Solomon said: The Lord said that He would rest in the fog. It is evident that the glory of God resides in our midst.

וַאֲנִי בָּנִיתִי בֵית־זְבֻל לָךְ וּמָכוֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ עוֹלָמִים

I built You an abode and a permanent, established seat for Your dwelling forever.

וַיַּסֵּב הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־פָּנָיו וַיְבָרֶךְ אֵת כָּל־קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכָל־קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹמֵד

After that opening statement that was directed toward God, and delivered while facing the Sanctuary, the king turned his face to the people, and blessed the entire assembly of Israel, and the entire assembly of Israel was standing and listening to his oration.

וַיֹּאמֶר בָּרוּךְ ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּפִיו אֵת דָּוִיד אָבִי וּבְיָדָיו מִלֵּא לֵאמֹר׃

He said: Blessed is the Lord, God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth of David my father, and with His hands, His rule, fulfilled it, His promise, saying:

מִן־הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֶת־עַמִּי מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לֹא־בָחַרְתִּי בְעִיר מִכֹּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לִהְיוֹת שְׁמִי שָׁם וְלֹא־בָחַרְתִּי בְאִישׁ לִהְיוֹת נָגִיד עַל־עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל

Since the day that I took My people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a House, a complete, permanent stone structure, for My name to be there, but rather I dwelled in provisional Tabernacles, roofed with the same curtains that covered the original Tabernacle in the wilderness; and I have not chosen a man to be ruler, king, over My people Israel. Although Saul had reigned over Israel, Solomon does not mention him, as he had not been promised a royal dynasty, and his monarchy was indeed transitory;

וָאֶבְחַר בּירוּשָׁלִַם לִהְיוֹת שְׁמִי שָׁם וָאֶבְחַר בְּדָוִיד לִהְיוֹת עַל־עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל

but I have chosen the city of Jerusalem for My name to be there, and I have chosen David to be king over My people Israel.

וַיְהִי עִם־לְבַב דָּוִיד אָבִי לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לְשֵׁם ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

It was in the heart of David my father to build a House for the name of the Lord, God of Israel.

וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל־דָּוִיד אָבִי יַעַן אֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם־לְבָבְךָ לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לִשְׁמִי הֱטִיבוֹתָ כִּי הָיָה עִם־לְבָבֶךָ

The Lord said to David my father, through a prophet: Because it was in your heart to build a House for My name, you did well, that it was in your heart; your thoughts and intentions are in themselves praiseworthy.

רַק אַתָּה לֹא תִבְנֶה הַבָּיִת כִּי בִנְךָ הַיּוֹצֵא מֵחֲלָצֶיךָ הוּא־יִבְנֶה הַבַּיִת לִשְׁמִי

However, you will not build the House; rather, your son who will emerge from your loins, he will build the House for My name. Solomon does not state the reason for this decision, i.e., that David was a man of war. In any case, the fact is that Solomon, a man of tranquility and peace, completed the task that his father had sought to perform.

וַיָּקֶם ה' אֶת־דְּבָרוֹ אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר וָאָקוּם תַּחַת דָּוִיד אָבִי וָאֵשֵׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' וָאֶבְנֶה הַבַּיִת לְשֵׁם ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

The Lord fulfilled His word that He had spoken, and I have risen in place of David my father, and I have taken my seat on the royal throne of Israel, as the Lord spoke, and I have built the House for the name of the Lord, God of Israel.

וָאָשִׂים שָׁם אֶת־הָאָרוֹן אֲשֶׁר שָׁם בְּרִית ה' אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת עִם־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

I placed there the ark, in which there is the Covenant of the Lord, which He established with the children of Israel, written on the tablets. Inscribed on the tablets are the Ten Precepts, which can be considered the essence of the Torah, a marriage contract of sorts that God gave His people at Sinai, which details the covenant that God enacted with the children of Israel.

וַיַּעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי מִזְבַּח ה' נֶגֶד כָּל־קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּפְרֹשׂ כַּפָּיו

He, Solomon, stood before the altar of the Lord, facing the entire assembly of Israel, and spread his hands upward.

כִּי־עָשָׂה שְׁלֹמֹה כִּיּוֹר נְחֹשֶׁת וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ בְּתוֹךְ הָעֲזָרָה חָמֵשׁ אַמּוֹת אָרְכּוֹ וְחָמֵשׁ אַמּוֹת רָחְבּוֹ וְאַמּוֹת שָׁלוֹשׁ קוֹמָתוֹ וַיַּעֲמֹד עָלָיו וַיִּבְרַךְ עַל־בִּרְכָּיו נֶגֶד כָּל־קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּפְרֹשׂ כַּפָּיו הַשָּׁמָיְמָה

For Solomon had made a bronze laver five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court, some understand this as a reference to the laver used for washing the hands and feet of the priests; and since this laver was raised, he stood upon it, and kneeled down upon his knees, facing all the assembly of Israel, and spread his hands to the heavens. This prayer was presumably heard by the people who were present. This is one of the longest, most complex, and comprehensive prayers in the Bible. In addition to its many requests, Solomon’s speech also includes a broad vision of the essence and meaning of the Temple.

וַיֹּאמַר ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵין־כָּמוֹךָ אֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ שֹׁמֵר הַבְּרִית וְהַחֶסֶד לַעֲבָדֶיךָ הַהֹלְכִים לְפָנֶיךָ בְּכָל־לִבָּם

He said: Lord, God of Israel, there is none like you, God, in the heavens, or on the earth, keeping the covenant and kindness to Your servants, who walk before You with all their heart;

אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַרְתָּ לְעַבְדְּךָ דָּוִיד אָבִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּרְתָּ לוֹ וַתְּדַבֵּר בְּפִיךָ וּבְיָדְךָ מִלֵּאתָ כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה

who has kept for Your servant David, my father, that of which You spoke to him; You spoke with Your mouth, and You have fulfilled it with Your hand; You fulfilled the promise as it is this day, as we see before us at this time.

וְעַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁמֹר לְעַבְדְּךָ דָוִיד אָבִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ לּוֹ לֵאמֹר לֹא־יִכָּרֵת לְךָ אִישׁ מִלְּפָנַי יוֹשֵׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא יִשְׂרָאֵל רַק אִם־יִשְׁמְרוּ בָנֶיךָ אֶת־דַּרְכָּם לָלֶכֶת בְּתוֹרָתִי כַּאֲשֶׁר הָלַכְתָּ לְפָנָי

Now Lord, God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You spoke to him, saying: A man of yours will not cease to be before Me, sitting on the throne of Israel, provided that your children keep their way, to walk in the path of My Torah as you walked before Me. That promise to David was conditional on his sons’ adherence to the path of God.

וְעַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵאָמֵן דְּבָרְךָ אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ לְעַבְדְּךָ לְדָוִיד

Now Lord, God of Israel, may Your word that You spoke to Your servant David be confirmed.

כִּי הַאֻמְנָם יֵשֵׁב אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם עַל־הָאָרֶץ ! הִנֵּה שָׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם לֹא יְכַלְכְּלוּךָ אַף כִּי הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בָּנִיתִי

Solomon explains the inner meaning of the Temple to all those present: For will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Can one really build an earthly home for God? Behold, even the heavens and the heavens of the heavens cannot contain You, certainly not this House that I have built. I know that no place can actually contain You. Nevertheless, at this place of contact, this gate to the heavens, You will reveal Yourself to man and answer him.

וּפָנִיתָ אֶל־תְּפִלַּת עַבְדְּךָ וְאֶל־תְּחִנָּתוֹ ה' אֱלֹהָי לִשְׁמֹעַ אֶל־הָרִנָּה וְאֶל־הַתְּפִלָּה אֲשֶׁר עַבְדְּךָ מִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ

May You turn to the prayer of Your servant, and to his entreaty, that is, to my prayer and entreaty, Lord my God, to hear the song and praise and the prayer that Your servant prays before You. The essence of this prayer is that the Temple should indeed serve as a house of prayer and a gate to heaven;

לִהְיוֹת עֵינֶיךָ פְתֻחוֹת אֶל־הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתָּ לָשׂוּם שִׁמְךָ שָׁם לִשְׁמוֹעַ אֶל־הַתְּפִלָּה אֲשֶׁר יִתְפַּלֵּל עַבְדְּךָ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה

for Your eyes to be open toward this House day and night, toward the place of which You said that You would place Your name there, to hear the prayer that Your servant will pray toward this place.

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ אֶל־תַּחֲנוּנֵי עַבְדְּךָ וְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע מִמְּקוֹם שִׁבְתְּךָ מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְשָׁמַעְתָּ וְסָלָחְתָּ

May You hear the entreaties of Your servant and of Your people Israel that they will pray toward this place (see verse 34), or pray in this place; may You hear from Your dwelling place, from the heavens; may You hear our petition, and forgive our sins.

אִם־יֶחֱטָא אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ וְנָשָׁא־בוֹ אָלָה לְהַאֲלֹתוֹ וּבָא אָלָה לִפְנֵי מִזְבַּחֲךָ בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה

If a man sins against his neighbor, and that neighbor utters a curse to curse him, and the curse comes, meaning that he comes to curse the person who wronged him or to pray about this matter before Your altar in this House;

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְעָשִׂיתָ וְשָׁפַטְתָּ אֶת־עֲבָדֶיךָ לְהָשִׁב לְרָשָׁע לָתֵת דַּרְכּוֹ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וּלְהַצְדִּיק צַדִּיק לָתֶת לוֹ כְּצִדְקָתוֹ

may You hear him from the heavens, and act, and judge Your servants, to exact retribution upon the wicked as he deserves, to bring his way upon his head, and to vindicate the righteous, to grant him according to his righteousness. You will issue a true judgment. The Temple will be the place where all those who have suffered harm can come and ask God to perform justice in His world.

וְאִם־יִנָּגֵף עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי אוֹיֵב כִּי יֶחֶטְאוּ־לָךְ וְשָׁבוּ וְהוֹדוּ אֶת־שְׁמֶךָ וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ וְהִתְחַנְּנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה

Similarly, if Your people Israel are routed before an enemy when they sin against You, and they repent and confess with Your name, they admit that they sinned and deserved their punishment, and pray and entreat You in this House;

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְסָלַחְתָּ לְחַטַּאת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַהֲשֵׁיבוֹתָם אֶל־הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַתָּה לָהֶם וְלַאֲבֹתֵיהֶם

may You hear their supplication from the heavens, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and if they are taken as captives, restore them to the land that You gave to them and to their fathers.

בְּהֵעָצֵר הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה מָטָר כִּי יֶחֶטְאוּ־לָךְ וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְהוֹדוּ אֶת־שְׁמֶךָ מֵחַטָּאתָם יְשׁוּבוּן כִּי תַעֲנֵם

When the heavens are restrained, and there is no rain, and this too occurs because they sinned against You, they will pray toward this place, and confess with Your name and repent from their sin, so that You will answer them.

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם וְסָלַחְתָּ לְחַטַּאת עֲבָדֶיךָ וְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי תוֹרֵם אֶל־הַדֶּרֶךְ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ־בָהּ וְנָתַתָּה מָטָר עַל־אַרְצְךָ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַתָּה לְעַמְּךָ לְנַחֲלָה

May You hear in or from the heavens, and forgive the sin of Your servants, and of Your people Israel, for You will teach them the good way that they should follow, and You will give rain upon Your land, which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

רָעָב כִּי־יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ דֶּבֶר כִּי־יִהְיֶה שִׁדָּפוֹן וְיֵרָקוֹן אַרְבֶּה וְחָסִיל כִּי יִהְיֶה כִּי יָצַר־לוֹ אֹיְבָיו בְּאֶרֶץ שְׁעָרָיו כָּל־נֶגַע וְכָל־מַחֲלָה

If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight, an agricultural disease resulting in loss of crops or cattle, or rust, which results from the blight, locusts, Moroccan locusts,or if their enemies besiege and oppress them in the land at their gates; and in general, if any plague or any illness befalls them,

כָּל־תְּפִלָּה כָל־תְּחִנָּה אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה לְכָל־הָאָדָם וּלְכֹל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יֵדְעוּ אִישׁ נִגְעוֹ וּמַכְאֹבוֹ וּפָרַשׂ כַּפָּיו אֶל־הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה

any prayer, any entreaty, from any man, or by Your entire people Israel, each knowing his affliction and his own pain; I do not know everything, but each supplicant is aware of what ails him; he shall spread his hands in supplication toward this House, as he will pray for his troubles here.

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם מְכוֹן שִׁבְתֶּךָ וְסָלַחְתָּ וְנָתַתָּה לָאִישׁ כְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו אֲשֶׁר תֵּדַע אֶת־לְבָבוֹ כִּי־אַתָּה לְבַדְּךָ יָדַעְתָּ אֶת־לְבַב בְּנֵי הָאָדָם

May You hear from the heavens, Your dwelling place, and forgive, and grant to each man according to all his ways, as You know his heart, as You alone know the hearts of people, and therefore You alone can punish or reward each person in an appropriate manner,

לְמַעַן יִירָאוּךָ לָלֶכֶת בִּדְרָכֶיךָ כָּל־הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר־הֵם חַיִּים עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ

so that they will fear You, to walk in Your ways all the days that they live on the land that You gave to our fathers. When they understand that all prayers are heard in the Temple, they will realize that falsehoods cannot be spoken there, and they will come to fear You and follow Your ways. The Temple is Israel’s house of prayer, and Solomon asks God to respond to the prayers issuing from it.

וְגַם אֶל־הַנָּכְרִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא־מֵעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא וּבָא מֵאֶרֶץ רְחוֹקָה לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל וְיָדְךָ הַחֲזָקָה וּזְרוֹעֲךָ הַנְּטוּיָה וּבָאוּ וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל־הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה

Also for the foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, and came from a distant land for the sake of Your great name, Your mighty hand, and Your outstretched arm, which is renowned even among the gentile nations, and this foreigner comes and prays toward this House,

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם מִמְּכוֹן שִׁבְתֶּךָ וְעָשִׂיתָ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָא אֵלֶיךָ הַנָּכְרִי לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ כָל־עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ אֶת־שְׁמֶךָ וּלְיִרְאָה אֹתְךָ כְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלָדַעַת כִּי־שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא עַל־הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בָּנִיתִי

may You hear from the heavens, from Your dwelling place, and act according to all that the foreigner calls to You, so that all the peoples of the earth will know Your name, and fear You, like Your people Israel do, and know that Your name is called upon this House that I have built. The Temple is not designated for Israel alone; it is a house of prayer for all nations.

כִּי־יֵצֵא עַמְּךָ לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל־אֹיְבָיו בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁלָחֵם וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֵלֶיךָ דֶּרֶךְ הָעִיר הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ בָּהּ וְהַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר־בָּנִיתִי לִשְׁמֶךָ

When Your people goes out to war against its enemies on the way that You will send them, and therefore they are far-removed from the Temple physically, and they pray to You via this city that You have chosen, and the House that I built for Your name,

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶת־תְּפִלָּתָם וְאֶת־תְּחִנָּתָם וְעָשִׂיתָ מִשְׁפָּטָם

may You hear their prayer and their entreaty from the heavens, and enact justice for them.

כִּי יֶחֶטְאוּ־לָךְ כִּי אֵין אָדָם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יֶחֱטָא וְאָנַפְתָּ בָם וּנְתַתָּם לִפְנֵי אוֹיֵב וְשָׁבוּם שׁוֹבֵיהֶם אֶל־אֶרֶץ רְחוֹקָה אוֹ קְרוֹבָה

Also, when they sin against You, which is natural, as there is no person who does not sin and it is the manner of people to sin; if they err, or even transgress deliberately, and due to their sin You become angry with them, and deliver them before an enemy, and their captors take them captive to a land distant or near,

וְהֵשִׁיבוּ אֶל־לְבָבָם בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבּוּ־שָׁם וְשָׁבוּ וְהִתְחַנְּנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְּאֶרֶץ שִׁבְיָם לֵאמֹר חָטָאנוּ הֶעֱוִינוּ וְרָשָׁעְנוּ

they will restore their hearts, consider what they have done, in the land where they have been taken captive, and they will repent and entreat You in the land of their captors, saying: We have sinned, we have been iniquitous, and we have been wicked.

וְשָׁבוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְּכָל־לִבָּם וּבְכָל־נַפְשָׁם בְּאֶרֶץ שִׁבְיָם אֲשֶׁר־שָׁבוּ אֹתָם וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ דֶּרֶךְ אַרְצָם אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לַאֲבוֹתָם וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ וְלַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר־בָּנִיתִי לִשְׁמֶךָ

They will return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captors who took them captive, and pray via their land that You gave to their fathers, and the city that You have chosen, and toward the House that I built for Your name. Even when they are in exile in a foreign land, far from the Temple, they will pray to You via this land, this city, and the House of God.

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם מִמְּכוֹן שִׁבְתְּךָ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתָם וְאֶת־תְּחִנֹּתֵיהֶם וְעָשִׂיתָ מִשְׁפָּטָם וְסָלַחְתָּ לְעַמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר חָטְאוּ־לָךְ

May You hear from the heavens, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and their entreaties, and enact justice for them, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.

עַתָּה אֱלֹהַי יִהְיוּ־נָא עֵינֶיךָ פְּתֻחוֹת וְאָזְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁבוֹת לִתְפִלַּת הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה

Now, my God, please may Your eyes be open, and Your ears be attentive, to the prayer of this place. This is the essence of the prayer. Solomon asks that the Temple should be a gate to the heavens through which all prayers will ascend, from near and far, the supplications of both Israelites and non-Israelites alike.

וְעַתָּה קוּמָה ה' אֱלֹהִים לְנוּחֶךָ אַתָּה וַאֲרוֹן עֻזֶּךָ כֹּהֲנֶיךָ ה' אֱלֹהִים יִלְבְּשׁוּ תְשׁוּעָה וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יִשְׂמְחוּ בַטּוֹב

Now, rise, Lord God, to Your resting place, dwell in Your permanent abode, You, and the ark of Your might, which symbolizes revelation of the Divine Presence, and may Your priests, Lord God, be garbed, surrounded by and wrapped in Your salvation, and may Your virtuous ones rejoice in good.

ה' אֱלֹהִים אַל־תָּשֵׁב פְּנֵי מְשִׁיחֶךָ זָכְרָה לְחַסְדֵי דָּוִיד עַבְדֶּךָ

Lord God, do not reject the face of Your anointed, he whom You anointed as king; remember the kindness of David Your servant.