אָז יַקְהֵל שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת כָּל רָאשֵׁי הַמַּטּוֹת נְשִׂיאֵי הָאָבוֹת לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה יְרוּשָׁלִָם לְהַעֲלוֹת אֶת אֲרוֹן בְּרִית ה' מֵעִיר דָּוִד הִיא צִיּוֹן

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers, the large families, of the children of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, in order to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord up from the City of David, which is Zion, where it had been kept up to that point, to Mount Moriah.

וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה כָּל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיֶרַח הָאֵתָנִים בֶּחָג הוּא הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי

All the men of Israel were assembled to King Solomon on the festival of Sukkot, in the month of Etanim, which is the seventh month, known nowadays by its Babylonian name of Tishrei. The Sages explain that it is called Etanim, mighty ones, because the forefathers of the nation, who were spiritually mighty, were born in this month. In addition, this month has many festivals, along with their many commandments. It is also a time when agricultural produce, which is essential for physical health and vigor, is gathered from the field.

וַיָּבֹאוּ כֹּל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִשְׂאוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים אֶת הָאָרוֹן

All the elders of Israel came, and the priests carried the ark. This time, unlike on an earlier, tragic occasion, they did not place the ark on a cart, but the priests carried it properly on their shoulders.

וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת אֲרוֹן ה' וְאֶת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְאֶת כָּל כְּלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּאֹהֶל וַיַּעֲלוּ אֹתָם הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַלְוִיִּם

They brought up the Ark of the Lord, the structural parts of the Tent of Meeting that was built by Moses, and all the sacred vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up.

וְהַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה וְכָל עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַנּוֹעָדִים עָלָיו אִתּוֹ לִפְנֵי הָאָרוֹן מְזַבְּחִים צֹאן וּבָקָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִסָּפְרוּ וְלֹא יִמָּנוּ מֵרֹב

King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel, who had congregated with him, were walking with him before the ark and were offering sheep and cattle that could not be numbered and could not be counted due to the quantity. Sacrifices were offered along this procession in honor of the ascent of the ark to the House of God.

וַיָּבִאוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים אֶת אֲרוֹן בְּרִית ה' אֶל מְקוֹמוֹ אֶל דְּבִיר הַבַּיִת אֶל קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים אֶל תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הַכְּרוּבִים

The priests brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to its place, to the Sanctum of the House, to the Holy of Holies, to beneath the wings of the cherubim that Solomon had fashioned (6:23–28). Since these cherubim were much larger than the ones that Moses had made for the Tabernacle, they were placed on the floor of the Sanctuary rather than atop the Ark of the Covenant.

כִּי הַכְּרוּבִים פֹּרְשִׂים כְּנָפַיִם אֶל מְקוֹם הָאָרוֹן וַיָּסֹכּוּ הַכְּרֻבִים עַל הָאָרוֹן וְעַל בַּדָּיו מִלְמָעְלָה

For the cherubim spread their wings over the area of the ark, and because they were very tall, the cherubim covered the ark and its staves from above.

וַיַּאֲרִכוּ הַבַּדִּים וַיֵּרָאוּ רָאשֵׁי הַבַּדִּים מִן הַקֹּדֶשׁ עַל פְּנֵי הַדְּבִיר וְלֹא יֵרָאוּ הַחוּצָה וַיִּהְיוּ שָׁם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

The staves extended outward, that is, they were miraculously elongated, or the staves were long relative to the size of the place where the ark was placed, and the ends of the staves were visible from the Sanctuary, in front of the Sanctum, but they were not seen from the outside. A curtain was spread over the entrance to the Sanctuary, behind which the ends of the staves protruded slightly, so that their presence would be noticeable from the outside, although they could not actually be seen. And they, the staves, are there to this day, continuously, as the Torah prohibits the removal of the staves from the ark.

אֵין בָּאָרוֹן רַק שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הָאֲבָנִים אֲשֶׁר הִנִּחַ שָׁם מֹשֶׁה בְּחֹרֵב אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת ה' עִם בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּצֵאתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

There was nothing in the ark but the two tablets of stone that Moses placed there at Horev, with which the Lord established a covenant with the children of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt, and upon which He inscribed the words of the covenant.

וַיְהִי בְּצֵאת הַכֹּהֲנִים מִן הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְהֶעָנָן מָלֵא אֶת בֵּית ה'

It was when the priests emerged from the Sanctuary, after they had set the ark in its proper location, that the cloud, which symbolized the Divine Presence, filled the House of the Lord. The rest of the Temple had significance only after the ark was placed in the Holy of Holies.

וְלֹא יָכְלוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים לַעֲמֹד לְשָׁרֵת מִפְּנֵי הֶעָנָן כִּי מָלֵא כְבוֹד ה' אֶת בֵּית ה'

The priests were unable to stand and serve due to the cloud, as the glory of the Lord filled the House of the Lord.

אָז אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה ה' אָמַר לִשְׁכֹּן בָּעֲרָפֶל

Then Solomon said: The Lord said that He would, wished to, dwell in the fog. It is evident from the presence of the fog that the Divine Presence is here with us.

בָּנֹה בָנִיתִי בֵּית זְבֻל לָךְ מָכוֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ עוֹלָמִים

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

וַיַּסֵּב הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת פָּנָיו וַיְבָרֶךְ אֵת כָּל קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכָל קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֹמֵד

When Solomon spoke to God, he faced the Sanctuary, like all the people. Now he turns to face the people and addresses them with words of praise to God: The king turned his face to the people and blessed the entire assembly of Israel, and the entire assembly of Israel was standing in the Temple courtyards.

וַיֹּאמֶר בָּרוּךְ ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּפִיו אֵת דָּוִד אָבִי וּבְיָדוֹ מִלֵּא לֵאמֹר

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

מִן הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֶת עַמִּי אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם לֹא בָחַרְתִּי בְעִיר מִכֹּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לִהְיוֹת שְׁמִי שָׁם וָאֶבְחַר בְּדָוִד לִהְיוֹת עַל עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל

Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a House for My name to be there. Even when Israel entered the land, no complete, permanent stone structure was built for God. Instead, sacrifices were offered in temporary tabernacles. These places were roofed with the curtains that covered the original Tabernacle in the wilderness. But I chose David to be king in charge of My people Israel.

וַיְהִי עִם לְבַב דָּוִד 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. Once he gained control over the kingdom, he thought that the time had come to construct a Temple for God.

וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל דָּוִד אָבִי יַעַן אֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם לְבָבְךָ לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לִשְׁמִי הֱטִיבֹתָ כִּי הָיָה עִם לְבָבֶךָ

The Lord said to David my father, through His prophets: Because it was in your heart to build a House for My name, you did well, that it was in your heart.

רַק אַתָּה לֹא תִבְנֶה הַבָּיִת כִּי אִם בִּנְךָ הַיֹּצֵא מֵחֲלָצֶיךָ הוּא יִבְנֶה הַבַּיִת לִשְׁמִי

This desire is commendable. However, you will not build the House; rather, your son, who will emerge from your loins, he will build the House for My name. The reason for this decision is not stated here, but elsewhere it is explained that since David was a man of war who had shed much blood, it was inappropriate for the House of God to be built by him. Instead, it was to be constructed by his son Solomon, who reigned in more tranquil times.

וַיָּקֶם ה' אֶת דְּבָרוֹ אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר וָאָקֻם תַּחַת דָּוִד 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 throne of Israel, as the Lord spoke, and I have built the House for the name of the Lord, God of Israel.

וָאָשִׂם שָׁם מָקוֹם לָאָרוֹן אֲשֶׁר שָׁם בְּרִית ה' אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת עִם אֲבֹתֵינוּ בְּהוֹצִיאוֹ אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

I set there a place for the ark, in which there is the covenant of the Lord written on the tablets, the covenant which He established with our fathers when He took them out of the land of Egypt. Inscribed on the tablets, known as the Tablets of the Covenant, are the Ten Precepts, which can be considered a summary of the entire Torah. The Ten Precepts also represent the marriage contract, so to speak, that God gave His people at Sinai, as they also detail the covenant that God enacted with the children of Israel.

וַיַּעֲמֹד שְׁלֹמֹה לִפְנֵי מִזְבַּח ה' נֶגֶד כָּל קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּפְרֹשׂ כַּפָּיו הַשָּׁמָיִם

Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord before the entire assembly of Israel, and he spread his hands toward the heavens. It can be assumed that this prayer to God was heard by his audience as well. This is one of the longest, most complex, and comprehensive prayers in the entire Bible. In addition to its many requests, it includes a broad vision of the nature of the Temple.

וַיֹּאמַר ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵין כָּמוֹךָ אֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וְעַל הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת שֹׁמֵר הַבְּרִית וְהַחֶסֶד לַעֲבָדֶיךָ הַהֹלְכִים לְפָנֶיךָ בְּכָל לִבָּם

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

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

and it is You who has kept for Your servant David, my father, that which You spoke of to him. You spoke with Your mouth, and You fulfilled it, Your promise to David, with Your hand, this day.

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

Now, Lord, God of Israel, also keep for Your servant David, my father, that additional guarantee which You spoke of to him, saying: A man of yours shall not cease from before Me to sit on the throne of Israel, provided that your children will keep their way, to walk before Me as you walked before Me. God’s assurance of the continuity of David’s dynasty was conditional on the behavior of his heirs.

וְעַתָּה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵאָמֶן נָא דְּבָרְךָ אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ לְעַבְדְּךָ דָּוִד אָבִי

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

כִּי הַאֻמְנָם יֵשֵׁב אֱלֹהִים עַל הָאָרֶץ הִנֵּה הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם לֹא יְכַלְכְּלוּךָ אַף כִּי הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בָּנִיתִי

Solomon now explains the significance of the Temple to those present: For will God indeed dwell on the earth? Can one really build an earthly home for God? Behold, even the heavens and the heaven of heavens are far too small and they cannot contain You, certainly not this House that I have built. I know that God does not actually reside within the House that I have built, and that no finite space could possibly contain Him. Nevertheless, through this place of contact, which is the gate of heaven, God will reveal Himself to man.

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

I therefore request: May You turn to the prayer of Your servant, myself, and to his entreaty, Lord my God, to hear the song of praise and the prayer that Your servant prays before You today,

לִהְיוֹת עֵינֶךָ פְתֻחוֹת אֶל הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה לַיְלָה וָיוֹם אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתָּ יִהְיֶה שְׁמִי שָׁם לִשְׁמֹעַ אֶל הַתְּפִלָּה אֲשֶׁר יִתְפַּלֵּל עַבְדְּךָ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה

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

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ אֶל תְּחִנַּת עַבְדְּךָ וְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע אֶל מְקוֹם שִׁבְתְּךָ אֶל הַשָּׁמַיִם וְשָׁמַעְתָּ וְסָלָחְתָּ

May You hear the entreaty of Your servant and of Your people Israel that they will pray toward this place, and when they turn to You from this place, may You hear in Your dwelling place in the heavens; may You hear their requests and please forgive their sins.

אֵת אֲשֶׁר יֶחֱטָא אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ ונָשָׁא בוֹ אָלָה לְהַאֲלֹתוֹ וּבָא אָלָה לִפְנֵי מִזְבַּחֲךָ בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה

When, for example, a man sins against his neighbor, if he, the injured party, utters a curse to curse him, the person who did him wrong, may the curse come before Your altar in this House;

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם וְעָשִׂיתָ וְשָׁפַטְתָּ אֶת עֲבָדֶיךָ לְהַרְשִׁיעַ רָשָׁע לָתֵת דַּרְכּוֹ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וּלְהַצְדִּיק צַדִּיק לָתֶת לוֹ כְּצִדְקָתוֹ

may You hear from the heavens, and act, and judge Your servants, to condemn the wicked, to bring a punishment for his way upon his head, and to vindicate the righteous, to grant him according to his righteousness. This is an example of how the Temple will be the address for all those who have been harmed and who wish to ask God to perform justice in His world.

בְּהִנָּגֵף עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי אוֹיֵב אֲשֶׁר יֶחֶטְאוּ לָךְ וְשָׁבוּ אֵלֶיךָ וְהוֹדוּ אֶת שְׁמֶךָ וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ וְהִתְחַנְּנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה

Similarly, when Your people Israel are routed before an enemy in defeat, which will certainly occur when they sin against You, and they return to You, and confess with Your name, and acknowledge that their misfortune is due to their transgressions, and they pray and entreat You in this House,

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם וְסָלַחְתָּ לְחַטַּאת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָם אֶל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּ לַאֲבוֹתָם

may You hear their supplication in the heavens, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and even if they have been taken captive, restore them to the land that You gave to their fathers.

בְּהֵעָצֵר שָׁמַיִם וְלֹא יִהְיֶה מָטָר כִּי יֶחֶטְאוּ לָךְ וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְהוֹדוּ אֶת שְׁמֶךָ וּמֵחַטָּאתָם יְשׁוּבוּן כִּי תַעֲנֵם

When heavens are restrained and there is no rain, this too will happen because they sin against You, and they deserve this affliction. If at that point they do not come with complaints to God, but rather plead to Him to save them from their troubles, 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 אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ בָהּ וְנָתַתָּה מָטָר עַל אַרְצְךָ אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לְעַמְּךָ לְנַחֲלָה

You will hear in 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 when they return to the proper path, 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 יֵרָקוֹן אַרְבֶּה חָסִיל כִּי יִהְיֶה כִּי יָצַר לוֹ אֹיְבוֹ בְּאֶרֶץ שְׁעָרָיו

If there is famine in the land, for reasons other than a lack of rainfall; if there is pestilence; if there is blight, a loss of volume or weight in produce or living creatures; rust, which results from the blight; or locusts; or Moroccan locusts, a species of locust; or if their enemy besieges and oppresses them in the land at their gates; and in general, any plague that might occur, any illness;

כָּל נֶגַע כָּל מַחֲלָה כָּל תְּפִלָּה כָל תְּחִנָּה אֲשֶׁר תִהְיֶה לְכָל הָאָדָם לְכֹל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יֵדְעוּן אִישׁ נֶגַע לְבָבוֹ וּפָרַשׂ כַּפָּיו אֶל הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה

any prayer, any entreaty that any person of Your entire people Israel will have, each knowing the affliction of his heart, as I cannot know the particular nature of each person’s suffering, but each individual knows what pains him, he shall spread his hands in prayer toward this House.

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם מְכוֹן שִׁבְתֶּךָ וְסָלַחְתָּ וְעָשִׂיתָ וְנָתַתָּ לָאִישׁ כְּכָל דְּרָכָיו אֲשֶׁר תֵּדַע אֶת לְבָבוֹ כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ לְבַדְּךָ אֶת לְבַב כָּל בְּנֵי הָאָדָם

You will hear in the heavens, which is Your dwelling place; You will forgive and act, and render to each man according to all his ways, as You know his heart, as You alone know the hearts of all people. Therefore, You alone can punish or reward each person in accordance with his merits,

לְמַעַן יִרָאוּךָ כָּל הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר הֵם חַיִּים עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ

so that they will fear You 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 one cannot speak falsehoods there, and they will come to fear You.

וְגַם אֶל הַנָּכְרִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא מֵעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא וּבָא מֵאֶרֶץ רְחוֹקָה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ

Solomon further elaborates on the function of the Temple: Also to the foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, and who undertakes a pilgrimage and comes from a distant land for Your name’s sake,

כִּי יִשְׁמְעוּן אֶת שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל וְאֶת יָדְךָ הַחֲזָקָה וּזְרֹעֲךָ הַנְּטוּיָה וּבָא וְהִתְפַּלֵּל אֶל הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה

for they will all have heard of Your great name, and of Your mighty hand, and Your outstretched arm, and will come and pray toward this House.

אַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם מְכוֹן שִׁבְתֶּךָ וְעָשִׂיתָ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָא אֵלֶיךָ הַנָּכְרִי לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּן כָּל עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ אֶת שְׁמֶךָ לְיִרְאָה אֹתְךָ כְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלָדַעַת כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא עַל הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בָּנִיתִי

You will hear from the heavens, Your dwelling place, and act in accordance with all that the foreigner calls to You, so that all the peoples of the earth will know Your name, to fear You like Your people Israel do, and to know that Your name is called upon this House that I have built. Please answer the prayers of gentiles as well.

כִּי יֵצֵא עַמְּךָ לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל אֹיְבוֹ בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁלָחֵם וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל ה' דֶּרֶךְ הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ בָּהּ וְהַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר בָּנִתִי לִשְׁמֶךָ

When Your people goes out to war against their enemy, on the way that You will send them, and they are far from the Temple, and they pray to the Lord via the city that You have chosen, and the House that I built for Your name, as they turn to Jerusalem and the Temple,

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶת תְּפִלָּתָם וְאֶת תְּחִנָּתָם וְעָשִׂיתָ מִשְׁפָּטָם

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

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

When they sin against You, as there is no person who does not sin, and due to their sin You become angry with them and deliver them before an enemy, and their captors take them captive to the land of the enemy, whether it is far off or near,

וְהֵשִׁיבוּ אֶל לִבָּם בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבּוּ שָׁם וְשָׁבוּ וְהִתְחַנְּנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְּאֶרֶץ שֹׁבֵיהֶם לֵאמֹר חָטָאנוּ וְהֶעֱוִינוּ רָשָׁעְנוּ

they will restore their heart 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, and we have been iniquitous, we have turned from the straight path; we have been wicked.

וְשָׁבוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבָם וּבְכָל נַפְשָׁם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר שָׁבוּ אֹתָם וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֵלֶיךָ דֶּרֶךְ אַרְצָם אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לַאֲבוֹתָם הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ והַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר בָּנִיתִי לִשְׁמֶךָ

They will return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who took them captive, and pray to You by way of their land that You gave to their fathers, and via the city that You chose within that land, and finally, by way of the House that I have built for Your name;

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ הַשָּׁמַיִם מְכוֹן שִׁבְתְּךָ אֶת תְּפִלָּתָם וְאֶת תְּחִנָּתָם וְעָשִׂיתָ מִשְׁפָּטָם

You will hear their prayer and their entreaty in the heavens, Your dwelling place, and enact justice for them;

וְסָלַחְתָּ לְעַמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר חָטְאוּ לָךְ וּלְכָל פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר פָּשְׁעוּ בָךְ וּנְתַתָּם לְרַחֲמִים לִפְנֵי שֹׁבֵיהֶם וְרִחֲמוּם

You will forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions that they have transgressed against You, and You will set them for mercy before their captors, and they will have mercy on them.

כִּי עַמְּךָ וְנַחֲלָתְךָ הֵם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָ מִמִּצְרַיִם מִתּוֹךְ כּוּר הַבַּרְזֶל

For they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You took out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron crucible, as their suffering in Egypt refined them like metals in a fiery furnace;

לִהְיוֹת עֵינֶיךָ פְתֻחוֹת אֶל תְּחִנַּת עַבְדְּךָ וְאֶל תְּחִנַּת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִשְׁמֹעַ אֲלֵיהֶם בְּכֹל קָרְאָם אֵלֶיךָ

so please rescue them from all their troubles, and may Your eyes be open to the entreaty of Your servant, and to the entreaty of Your people Israel, to hear them whenever they call to You.

כִּי אַתָּה הִבְדַּלְתָּם לְךָ לְנַחֲלָה מִכֹּל עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ בְּהוֹצִיאֲךָ אֶת אֲבֹתֵינוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם ה' אֱלוֹהִים

For You separated them for You as an inheritance, Your special portion, from all the peoples of the earth, as You spoke at the hand of Moses Your servant, when You took our fathers out of Egypt, Lord God.

וַיְהִי כְּכַלּוֹת שְׁלֹמֹה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל אֶל ה' אֵת כָּל הַתְּפִלָּה וְהַתְּחִנָּה הַזֹּאת קָם מִלִּפְנֵי מִזְבַּח ה' מִכְּרֹעַ עַל בִּרְכָּיו וְכַפָּיו פְּרֻשׂוֹת הַשָּׁמָיִם

While Solomon was praying, he kneeled down and spread his hands heavenward. It was when Solomon had concluded praying this entire prayer and entreaty to the Lord that he rose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees, and his hands were spread heavenward.

וַיַּעְמֹד וַיְבָרֶךְ אֵת כָּל קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹל גָּדוֹל לֵאמֹר

He stood and blessed the entire assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:

בָּרוּךְ ה' אֲשֶׁר נָתַן מְנוּחָה לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר לֹא נָפַל דָּבָר אֶחָד מִכֹּל דְּבָרוֹ הַטּוֹב אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה עַבְדּוֹ

Blessed is the Lord, who has granted rest [menuh·] to His people Israel, in accordance with everything of which He spoke. The establishment of a permanent Temple, where the ark was to reside, in the place chosen by God in the midst of Israel, serves to give rest and tranquility to Israel. In fact, the location of the Temple is described elsewhere as “the haven [menuḥa] and the inheritance.” Not one word has gone unfulfilled from the entire promise that He communicated by means of Moses His servant.

יְהִי ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ עִמָּנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם אֲבֹתֵינוּ אַל יַעַזְבֵנוּ וְאַל יִטְּשֵׁנוּ

May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not forsake us, and may He not abandon us,

לְהַטּוֹת לְבָבֵנוּ אֵלָיו לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו וְלִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתָיו וְחֻקָּיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת אֲבֹתֵינוּ

to incline our hearts to Him, to follow all His ways, and to keep His commandments, those which serve as remembrances and testimonies, His statutes, the divine commands whose rationale is not discernible to humans, and His ordinances, the laws that are subject to human reason, that He commanded our fathers.

וְיִהְיוּ דְבָרַי אֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר הִתְחַנַּנְתִּי לִפְנֵי ה' קְרֹבִים אֶל ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה לַעֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפַּט עַבְדּוֹ וּמִשְׁפַּט עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּבַר יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ

May these words of mine that I entreated before the Lord be near to the Lord our God day and night, to enact justice for me, His servant, and justice for His people Israel, the matter of each day on its day,

לְמַעַן דַּעַת כָּל עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֵין עוֹד

so that all the peoples of the earth will know, when all these requests are fulfilled, that the Lord, He is God; there is no other.

וְהָיָה לְבַבְכֶם שָׁלֵם עִם ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ לָלֶכֶת בְּחֻקָּיו וְלִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתָיו כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה

May your heart be whole with the Lord our God, to follow His statutes and to keep His commandments, as on this day.

וְהַמֶּלֶךְ וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל עִמּוֹ זֹבְחִים זֶבַח לִפְנֵי ה'

The king and all Israel with him were slaughtering sacrifices before the Lord after his prayer.

וַיִּזְבַּח שְׁלֹמֹה אֵת זֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים אֲשֶׁר זָבַח לַה' בָּקָר עֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁנַיִם אֶלֶף וְצֹאן מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים אָלֶף וַיַּחְנְכוּ אֶת בֵּית ה' הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכָל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

Solomon slaughtered the peace offering that he slaughtered to the Lord, twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. It is likely that the people present also brought private offerings, but the king provided a large number of offerings so that he could distribute portions to the entire people, as most of the meat of peace offerings may be eaten by anyone who is ritually pure. The king and all the children of Israel dedicated the House of the Lord.

בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא קִדַּשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת תּוֹךְ הֶחָצֵר אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי בֵית ה'כִּי עָשָׂה שָׁם אֶת הָעֹלָה וְאֶת הַמִּנְחָה וְאֵת חֶלְבֵי הַשְּׁלָמִים כִּי מִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי ה' קָטֹן מֵהָכִיל אֶת הָעֹלָה וְאֶת הַמִּנְחָה וְאֵת חֶלְבֵי הַשְּׁלָמִים

On that day, the king also sanctified the interior, the floor, of the courtyard that was before the House of the Lord, for there he performed the burnt offerings, the meal offerings, and the fats of the peace offerings. In order that the offerings could be burnt on the floor as well, it was necessary to consecrate it with the sanctity of the altar. It was necessary to do this, for the bronze altar that was before the Lord was too small to contain the burnt offerings, which were burnt in their entirety on the altar, as well as the meal offerings, and the fats, the sacrificial portions of the peace offerings. There was insufficient space on the altar for all these to be sacrificed in such a short period.

וַיַּעַשׂ שְׁלֹמֹה בָעֵת הַהִיא אֶת הֶחָג וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל עִמּוֹ קָהָל גָּדוֹל מִלְּבוֹא חֲמָת עַד נַחַל מִצְרַיִם לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים וְשִׁבְעַת יָמִים אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם

At that time, Solomon and all Israel with him, a great assembly, marked the festival, from Levo Hamat, in northern Syria, to the Ravine of Egypt, the southern tip of the territory under his control (see 5:1). All came to celebrate before the Lord our God, seven days and seven days, a total of fourteen days. The first seven days were the week before the festival of Sukkot, followed by the seven days of Sukkot itself. In that year, the children of Israel did not fast on Yom Kippur, as it was one of the days on which they offered and consumed sacrifices.

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי שִׁלַּח אֶת הָעָם וַיְבָרֲכוּ אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֵּלְכוּ לְאָהֳלֵיהֶם שְׂמֵחִים וְטוֹבֵי לֵב עַל כָּל הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה ה' לְדָוִד עַבְדּוֹ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ

On the eighth day, after the second set of seven days, he sent the people away. Solomon gave the people permission to return home and resume their regular lives. And they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and good-hearted for all the good that the Lord had performed for David His servant and for Israel His people.