2 דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים 7

1 וּכְכַלֹּ֤ות שְׁלֹמֹה֙ לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֔ל וְהָאֵ֗שׁ יָֽרְדָה֙ מֵֽהַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַתֹּ֥אכַל הָעֹלָ֖ה וְהַזְּבָחִ֑ים וּכְבֹ֥וד יְהוָ֖ה מָלֵ֥א אֶת־הַבָּֽיִת׃

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from the sky and burned all the offerings and sacrifices [that were on the altar], and the glorious radiance of Yahweh filled the temple.

2 וְלֹ֤א יָֽכְלוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים לָבֹ֖וא אֶל־בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה כִּֽי־מָלֵ֥א כְבֹוד־יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

The radiance [was extremely bright], with the result that the priests could not enter the temple of Yahweh.

3 וְכֹ֣ל ׀ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל רֹאִים֙ בְּרֶ֣דֶת הָאֵ֔שׁ וּכְבֹ֥וד יְהוָ֖ה עַל־הַבָּ֑יִת וַיִּכְרְעוּ֩ אַפַּ֨יִם אַ֤רְצָה עַל־הָרִֽצְפָה֙ וַיִּֽשְׁתּֽ͏ַחֲו֔וּ וְהֹודֹ֤ות לַיהוָה֙ כִּ֣י טֹ֔וב כִּ֥י לְעֹולָ֖ם חַסְדֹּֽו׃

When all the Israeli people [who were there] saw the fire coming down and the glory of Yahweh above the temple, they prostrated themselves with their faces touching the ground. They worshiped and thanked Yahweh, singing, “Yahweh is always good to us; he faithfully loves us forever.”

4 וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְכָל־הָעָ֑ם זֹבְחִ֥ים זֶ֖בַח לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ ס

Then the king and all the people who were there dedicated the temple to Yahweh by offering more sacrifices to him. King Solomon gave 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats to be sacrificed.

5 וַיִּזְבַּ֞ח הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה֮ אֶת־זֶ֣בַח הַבָּקָ֗ר עֶשְׂרִ֤ים וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ אֶ֔לֶף וְצֹ֕אן מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וַֽיַּחְנְכוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית הֽ͏ָאֱלֹהִ֔ים הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְכָל־הָעָֽם׃

6 וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים עַל־מִשְׁמְרֹותָ֣ם עֹמְדִ֗ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם בִּכְלֵי־שִׁ֤יר יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֜ה דָּוִ֣יד הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לְהֹדֹ֤ות לַיהוָה֙ כִּֽי־לְעֹולָ֣ם חַסְדֹּ֔ו בְּהַלֵּ֥ל דָּוִ֖יד בְּיָדָ֑ם וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ מַחֲצֹצְרִים (מַחְצְרִ֣ים) נֶגְדָּ֔ם וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֹמְדִֽים׃ ס

The priests stood in their positions, and the other descendants of Levi stood in their positions holding the musical instruments [to praise] Yahweh, instruments that King David had caused to be made for praising Yahweh and thanking him. [They sang], “He faithfully loves us forever.” Facing the other descendants of Levi the priests stood, blowing their trumpets, while all the Israeli people were standing [and listening].

7 וַיְקַדֵּ֣שׁ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה אֶת־תֹּ֤וךְ הֶֽחָצֵר֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י בֵית־יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי־עָ֤שָׂה שָׁם֙ הָֽעֹלֹ֔ות וְאֵ֖ת חֶלְבֵ֣י הַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים כִּֽי־מִזְבַּ֤ח הַנְּחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֣ה שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה לֹ֣א יָכֹ֗ול לְהָכִ֛יל אֶת־הָעֹלָ֥ה וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֖ה וְאֶת־הַחֲלָבִֽים׃

Solomon dedicated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple. Then he gave offerings to be completely burned there along with the fat of the animals to be sacrificed to maintain fellowship with Yahweh. The priests burned them there in the courtyard because in addition to those things there were offerings of grain, with the result that there was not enough space on the bronze altar to burn all those sacrifices.

8 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה אֶת־הֶ֠חָג בָּעֵ֨ת הַהִ֜יא שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָמִים֙ וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל עִמֹּ֔ו קָהָ֖ל גָּדֹ֣ול מְאֹ֑ד מִלְּבֹ֥וא חֲמָ֖ת עַד־נַ֥חַל מִצְרָֽיִם׃

Solomon [and the other people] celebrated the Festival of Living in Temporary Shelters for seven days. There was a huge group of people who celebrated with him. Some of them came from [as far away as] Lebo-Hamath [in the far north] and the border of Egypt [in the far south].

9 וֽ͏ַיַּעֲשׂ֛וּ בַּיֹּ֥ום הַשְּׁמִינִ֖י עֲצָ֑רֶת כִּ֣י ׀ חֲנֻכַּ֣ת הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ עָשׂוּ֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים וְהֶחָ֖ג שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃

On the eighth/next day they gathered again [to worship Yahweh]. They had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the Festival of Living in Temporary Shelters for seven days.

10 וּבְיֹ֨ום עֶשְׂרִ֤ים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י שִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הָעָ֖ם לְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם שְׂמֵחִים֙ וְטֹ֣ובֵי לֵ֔ב עַל־הַטֹּובָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לְדָוִ֣יד וְלִשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַמֹּֽו׃

Then on the next day Solomon sent them to their homes. They were very joyful because of all the good things that Yahweh had done for David and Solomon and for all his Israeli people.

11 וַיְכַ֧ל שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה וְאֶת־בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־הַבָּ֜א עַל־לֵ֣ב שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה לַעֲשֹׂ֧ות בְּבֵית־יְהוָ֛ה וּבְבֵיתֹ֖ו הִצְלִֽיחַ׃ פ

Solomon’s [workers] finished building the temple and Solomon’s palace. And Solomon finished doing everything else that he had planned to do.

12 וַיֵּרָ֧א יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בַּלָּ֑יְלָה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לֹ֗ו שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ וּבָחַ֜רְתִּי בַּמָּקֹ֥ום הַזֶּ֛ה לִ֖י לְבֵ֥ית זָֽבַח׃

Then Yahweh appeared to him one night [in a dream] and said to him, “I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this temple to be the place where my people will offer sacrifices to me.

13 הֵ֣ן אֶֽעֱצֹ֤ר הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֣ה מָטָ֔ר וְהֵן־אֲצַוֶּ֥ה עַל־חָגָ֖ב לֶאֱכֹ֣ול הָאָ֑רֶץ וְאִם־אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח דֶּ֖בֶר בְּעַמִּֽי׃

“When I prevent any rain from falling, or when I command locusts to eat all the crops, or when I send a plague among my people,

14 וְיִכָּנְע֨וּ עַמִּ֜י אֲשֶׁ֧ר נִֽקְרָא־שְׁמִ֣י עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם וְיִֽתְפַּֽלְלוּ֙ וִֽיבַקְשׁ֣וּ פָנַ֔י וְיָשֻׁ֖בוּ מִדַּרְכֵיהֶ֣ם הָרָעִ֑ים וַאֲנִי֙ אֶשְׁמַ֣ע מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְאֶסְלַח֙ לְחַטָּאתָ֔ם וְאֶרְפָּ֖א אֶת־אַרְצָֽם׃

if the people who belong to me humble themselves and pray, and request me to help them, and if they turn away from their sinful behavior, then I will hear from heaven. I will forgive them for having sinned and I will cause them to prosper again.

15 עַתָּ֗ה עֵינַי֙ יִהְי֣וּ פְתֻחֹ֔ות וְאָזְנַ֖י קַשֻּׁבֹ֑ות לִתְפִלַּ֖ת הַמָּקֹ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃

I [SYN] will see them and I [SYN] will hear them when they pray to me in this place.

16 וְעַתָּ֗ה בָּחַ֤רְתִּי וְהִקְדַּ֙שְׁתִּי֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֔ה לִהְיֹות־שְׁמִ֥י שָׁ֖ם עַד־עֹולָ֑ם וְהָי֨וּ עֵינַ֧י וְלִבִּ֛י שָׁ֖ם כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃

I have chosen and have (set apart/dedicated) this temple in order that people may worship [MTY] me there forever. I will always watch over [MTY] it and protect [IDM] it.

17 וְאַתָּ֞ה אִם־תֵּלֵ֣ךְ לְפָנַ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר הָלַךְ֙ דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֔יךָ וְלַעֲשֹׂ֕ות כְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֑יךָ וְחֻקַּ֥י וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י תִּשְׁמֹֽור׃

“And as for you, if you obey me as David your father did, and if you do all that I command you to do, and obey all my laws and decrees,

18 וַהֲקִ֣ימֹותִ֔י אֵ֖ת כִּסֵּ֣א מַלְכוּתֶ֑ךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּרַ֗תִּי לְדָוִ֤יד אָבִ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֤ת לְךָ֙ אִ֔ישׁ מֹושֵׁ֖ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

I will make sure that your descendants will always be kings, which is what I promised to David your father, saying, ‘Some of your descendants will always be the kings of Israel.’

19 וְאִם־תְּשׁוּב֣וּן אַתֶּ֔ם וַעֲזַבְתֶּם֙ חֻקֹּותַ֣י וּמִצְוֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֗ם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם לָהֶֽם׃

“But if you Israelis turn away from me and disobey the decrees and commands that I have given to you, and you start to worship other gods,

20 וּנְתַשְׁתִּ֗ים מֵעַ֤ל אַדְמָתִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תִּי לָהֶ֔ם וְאֶת־הַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִקְדַּ֣שְׁתִּי לִשְׁמִ֔י אַשְׁלִ֖יךְ מֵעַ֣ל פָּנָ֑י וְאֶתְּנֶ֛נּוּ לְמָשָׁ֥ל וְלִשְׁנִינָ֖ה בְּכָל־הָעַמִּֽים׃

I will cause you to be expelled from this land that I have given to you, and I will abandon this temple that I have set apart to be the place where people should worship me. I will cause it to be despised and ridiculed by people of all nations.

21 וְהַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה עֶלְיֹ֔ון לְכָל־עֹבֵ֥ר עָלָ֖יו יִשֹּׁ֑ם וְאָמַ֗ר בַּמֶּ֨ה עָשָׂ֤ה יְהוָה֙ כָּ֔כָה לָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּ֖את וְלַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּֽה׃

Although this temple is now greatly respected, when that happens, all the people who pass by will be appalled, and they will say, ‘Why has Yahweh done terrible things like this to this country and to this temple?’

22 וְאָמְר֗וּ עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָֽזְב֜וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֹוצִיאָם֮ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַיִם֒ וַֽיַּחֲזִ֙יקוּ֙ בֵּאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם וַיַּֽעַבְד֑וּם עַל־כֵּן֙ הֵבִ֣יא עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֥ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ פ

And others will reply, ‘It happened because they rejected Yahweh, the God to whom their ancestors belonged, the one who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and they have been worshiping other gods and trying to please them. And that is why Yahweh has caused them to experience all these disasters.’”