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אָז יַקְהֵל שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת־זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־כָּל־רָאשֵׁי הַמַּטּוֹת נְשִׂיאֵי הָאָבוֹת לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ   8:1 שְׁלֹמֹה יְרוּשָׁלִָם לְהַעֲלוֹת אֶת־אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה מֵעִיר דָּוִד הִיא צִיּוֹן׃

1Kings 8:1   Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chiefs of the fathers for the children of Israel, to king Solomon, Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David -- it is Zion.                          

If you arrived here from 2Chr. 5:1, you now have two options.  Either continue reading through to v. 11, then return here to [Return to 2Chr. 5:1], or else return now.

Jerusalem was smaller then so that the city of David was separated from it by some distance.  Today, of course, the city of David is at the wall surrounding old Jerusalem.  It is about a mile from the Temple mount.

וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה כָּל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיֶרַח הָאֵתָנִים בֶּחָג הוּא הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי׃   8:2

1Kings 8:2   So all the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon in the month of Ethanim for a feast -- it was the seventh month.

The bibles with which I am familiar translate the words at the end of this verse in the present tense as something like “it is the seventh month.”  I suspect it should be as I show it, because it’s unlikely that the scribe would have added this comment if the seventh month was still called Ethanim.  In addition, a question comes to mind:  What was the feast mentioned here?  Was it a special feast to celebrate the arrival of the ark in the Temple?  Or was it the feast of the first day of the seventh month, the holiday we now call Rosh Hashanah?  From this verse it’s practically impossible to determine the answer.  But later in 2Chronicles we will find a better clue.          [Return to 2Chr. 5:3]

וַיָּבֹאוּ כֹּל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּשְׂאוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים אֶת־הָאָרוֹן׃   8:3

1Kings 8:3   And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests raised up the ark.

וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת־אֲרוֹן יְהוָה וְאֶת־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְאֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּאֹהֶל וַיַּעֲלוּ אֹתָם הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַלְוִיִּם׃   8:4

1Kings 8:4   And they brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting and all the holy vessels that were in the tent.  And the priests and the Levites brought them up.

This verse seems to indicate that the tent of meeting was also in the City of David.  When did it come there?

וְהַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה וְכָל־עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַנּוֹעָדִים עָלָיו אִתּוֹ לִפְנֵי הָאָרוֹן מְזַבְּחִים צֹאן וּבָקָר אֲשֶׁר   8:5 לֹא־יִסָּפְרוּ וְלֹא יִמָּנוּ מֵרֹב׃

1Kings 8:5   Then king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled by him were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be numbered and could not be told for multitude.

וַיָּבִאוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים אֶת־אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה אֶל־מְקוֹמוֹ אֶל־דְּבִיר הַבַּיִת אֶל־קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים אֶל־תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי   8:6 הַכְּרוּבִים׃

1Kings 8:6   And the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord in to its place, to the sanctuary of the house, to the Holiest of Holy Places, to below the wings of the cherubim.

כִּי הַכְּרוּבִים פֹּרְשִׂים כְּנָפַיִם אֶל־מְקוֹם הָאָרוֹן וַיָּסֹכּוּ הַכְּרֻבִים עַל־הָאָרוֹן וְעַל־בַּדָּיו מִלְמָעְלָה׃   8:7

1Kings 8:7   For the cherubim were spreading wings over the place of the ark that the cherubim joined together over the ark and its staves from above.

וַיַּאֲרִכוּ הַבַּדִּים וַיֵּרָאוּ רָאשֵׁי הַבַּדִּים מִן־הַקֹּדֶשׁ עַל־פְּנֵי הַדְּבִיר וְלֹא יֵרָאוּ הַחוּצָה וַיִּהְיוּ שָׁם עַד הַיּוֹם   8:8 הַזֶּה׃

1Kings 8:8   And the staves were so long, the ends of the staves were seen from the holy place in front of the sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; and they have been there until this day.

I believe in this verse the phrase “and [the staves] have been there until this day,” informs us that the scribe recorded this during an uncertain later period beginning with the latter days of Solomon’s reign and ending sometime before the destruction of the first Temple.  But, because 2Chronicles was written much later and it repeats much of this history, we can also be fairly certain that the kingdom had already split.  As a result, we can narrow the time frame and speculate that this book at least (and maybe much of the bible to this point) was written during the last hundred years or so before the destruction of Solomon’s Temple.  On the other hand, many scholars agree that the books of Chronicles were actually written much later.  See my remarks introducing 1Chronicles Chapter 1.

אֵין בָּאָרוֹן רַק שְׁנֵי לֻחוֹת הָאֲבָנִים אֲשֶׁר הִנִּחַ שָׁם מֹשֶׁה בְּחֹרֵב אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת יְהוָה עִם־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל   8:9 בְּצֵאתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם׃

1Kings 8:9   There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed there on Horeb when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel on their departure from the land of Egypt.

Does this mean that the manna and Aaron’s staff were gone from the ark?  If so, what happened to them?  Did the Philistines remove them?  Had they been discarded, victims of ignorance of their significance?  Why wasn’t this recorded?  After all, someone probably died as a result of this action, and several such stories are recorded in the bible.

וַיְהִי בְּצֵאת הַכֹּהֲנִים מִן־הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְהֶעָנָן מָלֵא אֶת־בֵּית יְהוָה׃   8:10

1Kings 8:10   And it was on the going out of the priests from the holy place that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,

וְלֹא־יָכְלוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים לַעֲמֹד לְשָׁרֵת מִפְּנֵי הֶעָנָן כִּי־מָלֵא כְבוֹד־יְהוָה אֶת־בֵּית יְהוָה׃   8:11

1Kings 8:11   so the priests were not able to stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

אָז אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה יְהוָה אָמַר לִשְׁכֹּן בָּעֲרָפֶל׃   8:12

1Kings 8:12   Then Solomon said,

                          “The Lord has spoken of abiding in the dark cloud.”

בָּנֹה בָנִיתִי בֵּית זְבֻל לָךְ מָכוֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ עוֹלָמִים׃   8:13

1Kings 8:13   “Surely I have built a house of habitation for You,

                          A place for Your dwelling forever.”

וַיַּסֵּב הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־פָּנָיו וַיְבָרֶךְ אֵת כָּל־קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכָל־קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֹמֵד׃   8:14

1Kings 8:14   And the king turned his face around and blessed the whole congregation of Israel, as the entire congregation of Israel stood.

וַיֹּאמֶר בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּפִיו אֵת דָּוִד אָבִי וּבְיָדוֹ מִלֵּא לֵאמֹר׃   8:15

1Kings 8:15   And he said, “Blessed is the Lord, God of Israel, Who spoke with His ‘mouth’ to David, my father, and has fulfilled with His ‘hand’ saying,

מִן־הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֶת־עַמִּי אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם לֹא־בָחַרְתִּי בְעִיר מִכֹּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִבְנוֹת   8:16 בַּיִת לִהְיוֹת שְׁמִי שָׁם וָאֶבְחַר בְּדָוִד לִהְיוֹת עַל־עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

1Kings 8:16   ‘Since the day that I brought forth My people, Israel, from Egypt, I have not joined with a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a house for My name to be there, but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’”

וַיְהִי עִם־לְבַב דָּוִד אָבִי לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לְשֵׁם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃   8:17

1Kings 8:17   “And it was with the heart of David, my father, to build a house for the name of the Lord, God of Israel,

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־דָּוִד אָבִי יַעַן אֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם־לְבָבְךָ לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לִשְׁמִי הֱטִיבֹתָ כִּי הָיָה עִם־לְבָבֶךָ׃   8:18

1Kings 8:18   but the Lord said to David, my father, ‘Because that it was with your heart to build a house for My name, you have found favor that it was with your heart;

רַק אַתָּה לֹא תִבְנֶה הַבָּיִת כִּי אִם־בִּנְךָ הַיֹּצֵא מֵחֲלָצֶיךָ הוּא־יִבְנֶה הַבַּיִת לִשְׁמִי׃   8:19

1Kings 8:19   however you shall not build the house, but instead your son coming forth from your loins, he will build the house for My name.’”                                             [Return to 1Chr. 28:3]

וַיָּקֶם יְהוָה אֶת־דְּבָרוֹ אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר וָאָקֻם תַּחַת דָּוִד אָבִי וָאֵשֵׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה   8:20 וָאֶבְנֶה הַבַּיִת לְשֵׁם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

1Kings 8:20   “And the Lord has established His word that He spoke, and I have risen up in place of David, my father, and sit on the throne of Israel as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord, God of Israel.”

וָאָשִׂם שָׁם מָקוֹם לָאָרוֹן אֲשֶׁר־שָׁם בְּרִית יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת עִם־אֲבֹתֵינוּ בְּהוֹצִיאוֹ אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ   8:21 מִצְרָיִם׃

1Kings 8:21   “And I have set there a place for the ark where is the covenant of the Lord that He made with our fathers after His bringing them out from the land of Egypt.”

וַיַּעֲמֹד שְׁלֹמֹה לִפְנֵי מִזְבַּח יְהוָה נֶגֶד כָּל־קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּפְרֹשׂ כַּפָּיו הַשָּׁמָיִם׃  8:22

1Kings 8:22   And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and stretched forth his hands skyward,                                    [Return to 2Chr. 6:13]

וַיֹּאמַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵין־כָּמוֹךָ אֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וְעַל־הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת שֹׁמֵר הַבְּרִית   8:23 וְהַחֶסֶד לַעֲבָדֶיךָ הַהֹלְכִים לְפָנֶיךָ בְּכָל־לִבָּם׃

1Kings 8:23   and he said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is not a God like You in heaven above or on the earth below, keeping covenant and mercy for Your servants who are walking before You with all their hearts,

אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַרְתָּ לְעַבְדְּךָ דָּוִד אָבִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּרְתָּ לוֹ וַתְּדַבֵּר בְּפִיךָ וּבְיָדְךָ מִלֵּאתָ כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה׃   8:24

1Kings 8:24   that You have kept for Your servant, David, my father, what you promised to him and spoke with Your ‘mouth,’ and with Your ‘hand’ fulfilled like this day.”

וְעַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁמֹר לְעַבְדְּךָ דָוִד אָבִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ לּוֹ לֵאמֹר לֹא־יִכָּרֵת לְךָ אִישׁ    8:25 מִלְּפָנַי יֹשֵׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא יִשְׂרָאֵל רַק אִם־יִשְׁמְרוּ בָנֶיךָ אֶת־דַּרְכָּם לָלֶכֶת לְפָנַי כַּאֲשֶׁר הָלַכְתָּ לְפָנָי׃

1Kings 8:25   “So now, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, David, my father, what You promised to him saying, ‘No man of yours shall be cut off from My face to sit on the throne of Israel as long as your children mark their way, walking before Me as you have walked before Me.’”

Trouble is, David’s children (sons) did not walk as David walked.  So Solomon’s prayer was futile. 

וְעַתָּה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵאָמֶן נָא (דְּבָרֶיךָ) [דְּבָרְךָ] אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ לְעַבְדְּךָ דָּוִד אָבִי׃   8:26

1Kings 8:26   “So now, God of Israel, I pray You, let Your words be verified that You spoke to your servant, David, my father.”

The word in parentheses, translated by me as your words, is considered an error.  It is in the plural form, and the prevailing wisdom is that it should be singular, your word, as indicated by the “corrected” word in brackets.  As I see it, I believe it could be plural equally as well as singular.  Normally one might examine 2Chronicles for evidence corroborating one view or the other, but there is none there.  Therefore, I suspect this is not an error, and I translated it so.

כִּי הַאֻמְנָם יֵשֵׁב אֱלֹהִים עַל־הָאָרֶץ הִנֵּה הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם לֹא יְכַלְכְּלוּךָ אַף כִּי־הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה   8:27

  אֲשֶׁר בָּנִיתִי׃

1Kings 8:27   “But will God indeed dwell on earth?  Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You.  How much less then, this house that I have built!”

וּפָנִיתָ אֶל־תְּפִלַּת עַבְדְּךָ וְאֶל־תְּחִנָּתוֹ יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי לִשְׁמֹעַ אֶל־הָרִנָּה וְאֶל־הַתְּפִלָּה אֲשֶׁר עַבְדְּךָ   8:28 מִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם׃

1Kings 8:28   “Yet may You show respect to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O Lord, my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer that Your servant is entreating before You today,

לִהְיוֹת עֵינֶךָ פְתֻחוֹת אֶל־הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה לַיְלָה וָיוֹם אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתָּ יִהְיֶה שְׁמִי שָׁם לִשְׁמֹעַ   8:29 אֶל־הַתְּפִלָּה אֲשֶׁר יִתְפַּלֵּל עַבְדְּךָ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה׃

1Kings 8:29   Your ‘eyes’ to be open to this house night and day, to the place about which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer that Your servant will pray at this place,

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ אֶל־תְּחִנַּת עַבְדְּךָ וְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע אֶל־מְקוֹם   8:30 שִׁבְתְּךָ אֶל־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְשָׁמַעְתָּ וְסָלָחְתָּ׃

1Kings 8:30   and listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people, Israel, when they pray at this place, and You will hear at the place of Your dwelling in heaven, that You hear and forgive

אֵת אֲשֶׁר יֶחֱטָא אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ וְנָשָׁא־בוֹ אָלָה לְהַאֲלֹתוֹ וּבָא אָלָה לִפְנֵי מִזְבַּחֲךָ בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה׃   8:31

1Kings 8:31   one who shall sin regarding his neighbor and an oath will be exacted from him for his swearing and he will come swearing before Your altar in this house,

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם וְעָשִׂיתָ וְשָׁפַטְתָּ אֶת־עֲבָדֶיךָ לְהַרְשִׁיעַ רָשָׁע לָתֵת דַּרְכּוֹ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וּלְהַצְדִּיק   8:32 צַדִּיק לָתֶת לוֹ כְּצִדְקָתוֹ׃

1Kings 8:32   that You may hear in heaven and do, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked to bring his way on his own head, and justifying a righteous one to bring to him as his righteousness.”

בְּהִנָּגֵף עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי אוֹיֵב אֲשֶׁר יֶחֶטְאוּ־לָךְ וְשָׁבוּ אֵלֶיךָ וְהוֹדוּ אֶת־שְׁמֶךָ וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ וְהִתְחַנְּנוּ   8:33 אֵלֶיךָ בַּבַּיִת הַזֶּה׃

1Kings 8:33   “When Your people, Israel, smitten before an enemy because they will have sinned against You, and they will turn again to You and praise Your name and pray and make supplication to You in this house,

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם וְסָלַחְתָּ לְחַטַּאת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָם אֶל־הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּ לַאֲבוֹתָם׃   8:34

1Kings 8:34   then You may hear in heaven and forgive the sinning of Your people, Israel, and bring them back to the land that You gave to their fathers.”

בְּהֵעָצֵר שָׁמַיִם וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה מָטָר כִּי יֶחֶטְאוּ־לָךְ וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְהוֹדוּ אֶת־שְׁמֶךָ   8:35 וּמֵחַטָּאתָם יְשׁוּבוּן כִּי תַעֲנֵם׃

1Kings 8:35   “When the sky holds back and there will be no rain when they will have sinned against You, and they will pray at this place and praise Your name and turn away from their sin because You afflict them,

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם וְסָלַחְתָּ לְחַטַּאת עֲבָדֶיךָ וְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי תוֹרֵם אֶת־הַדֶּרֶךְ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר   8:36 יֵלְכוּ־בָהּ וְנָתַתָּה מָטָר עַל־אַרְצְךָ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַתָּה לְעַמְּךָ לְנַחֲלָה׃

1Kings 8:36   then may You hear in heaven and forgive the sinning of Your servants and of Your people, Israel, but teach them the good path that they should walk on it, and bring rain on Your land that You gave to Your people for an inheritance.”

רָעָב כִּי־יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ דֶּבֶר כִּי־יִהְיֶה שִׁדָּפוֹן יֵרָקוֹן אַרְבֶּה חָסִיל כִּי יִהְיֶה כִּי יָצַר־לוֹ אֹיְבוֹ בְּאֶרֶץ   8:37

  שְׁעָרָיו כָּל־נֶגַע כָּל־מַחֲלָה׃

1Kings 8:37   “When there will be famine in the land, when there will be pestilence, when there will be blight, mildew, locust, caterpillar, when his enemy will bring distress to him in the land of his cities, every plague, every sickness,

כָּל־תְּפִלָּה כָל־תְּחִנָּה אֲשֶׁר תִהְיֶה לְכָל־הָאָדָם לְכֹל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יֵדְעוּן אִישׁ נֶגַע לְבָבוֹ וּפָרַשׂ   8:38 כַּפָּיו אֶל־הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה׃

1Kings 8:38   any prayer, any supplication that will be by any of humanity, by any of Your people, Israel, that they will know plague, each in his heart, and spread forth his hands to this house,

וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם מְכוֹן שִׁבְתֶּךָ וְסָלַחְתָּ וְעָשִׂיתָ וְנָתַתָּ לָאִישׁ כְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו אֲשֶׁר תֵּדַע אֶת־לְבָבוֹ   8:39 כִּי־אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ לְבַדְּךָ אֶת־לְבַב כָּל־בְּנֵי הָאָדָם׃

1Kings 8:39   then may You hear in heaven, the place of Your dwelling, and forgive, and do, and render to each man according to his ways, because You will know his heart, for You know, alone, the hearts of all the children of man,

לְמַעַן יִרָאוּךָ כָּל־הַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר־הֵם חַיִּים עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ׃   8:40

1Kings 8:40   in order that they may revere You all the days that they will be alive on the face of the land that You gave to our fathers.”

וְגַם אֶל־הַנָּכְרִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא־מֵעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא וּבָא מֵאֶרֶץ רְחוֹקָה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ׃   8:41

1Kings 8:41   “And also concerning the foreigner  who is not from Your people, Israel, when he will come from a distant land for the sake of Your name

כִּי יִשְׁמְעוּן אֶת־שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל וְאֶת־יָדְךָ הַחֲזָקָה וּזְרֹעֲךָ הַנְּטוּיָה וּבָא וְהִתְפַּלֵּל אֶל־הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה׃   8:42

1Kings 8:42   (for they shall perceive Your great name and Your mighty ‘hand’ and Your outstretched ‘arm’), when he will come and pray to this house,

אַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם מְכוֹן שִׁבְתֶּךָ וְעָשִׂיתָ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָא אֵלֶיךָ הַנָּכְרִי לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּן כָּל־עַמֵּי   8:43

  הָאָרֶץ אֶת־שְׁמֶךָ לְיִרְאָה אֹתְךָ כְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלָדַעַת כִּי־שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא עַל־הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בָּנִיתִי׃

1Kings 8:43   may You hear in heaven, the place of Your dwelling, and do according to all that the stranger may call to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, revering You like Your people, Israel, and knowing that Your name is called upon this house that I have built.”

כִּי־יֵצֵא עַמְּךָ לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל־אֹיְבוֹ בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁלָחֵם וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֶל־יְהוָה דֶּרֶךְ הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ   8:44 בָּהּ וְהַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר־בָּנִתִי לִשְׁמֶךָ׃

1Kings 8:44   “When Your people will go out to battle against its enemy in the way that You shall send them, and they will pray to the Lord in the direction of the city with which You have joined, and the house that I have built for Your name,

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶת־תְּפִלָּתָם וְאֶת־תְּחִנָּתָם וְעָשִׂיתָ מִשְׁפָּטָם׃   8:45

1Kings 8:45   then may You hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven and maintain their cause.”

כִּי יֶחֶטְאוּ־לָךְ כִּי אֵין אָדָם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יֶחֱטָא וְאָנַפְתָּ בָם וּנְתַתָּם לִפְנֵי אוֹיֵב וְשָׁבוּם שֹׁבֵיהֶם אֶל־אֶרֶץ   8:46 הָאוֹיֵב רְחוֹקָה אוֹ קְרוֹבָה׃

1Kings 8:46   “When they sin against You (for there is no man who will not sin) and You are ‘angry’ with them that You deliver them before the enemy and they carry them away their captives to the land of the enemy, distant or close,

וְהֵשִׁיבוּ אֶל־לִבָּם בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבּוּ־שָׁם וְשָׁבוּ וְהִתְחַנְּנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְּאֶרֶץ שֹׁבֵיהֶם לֵאמֹר חָטָאנוּ   8:47

  וְהֶעֱוִינוּ רָשָׁעְנוּ׃

1Kings 8:47   and they will be restored in their hearts in the land where they were carried, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captors saying, ‘We have sinned and committed iniquity, we have been wicked,’

וְשָׁבוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבָם וּבְכָל־נַפְשָׁם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר־שָׁבוּ אֹתָם וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ אֵלֶיךָ דֶּרֶךְ אַרְצָם   8:48 אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה לַאֲבוֹתָם הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ וְהַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר־ (בָּנִיתָ) [בָּנִיתִי] לִשְׁמֶךָ׃

1Kings 8:48   and they will return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who carried them off, and they will pray to You in the direction of their land that You gave to their fathers, of the city that You chose, and of the house that I built for Your name,

The word in parentheses is misspelled.  The correction is in the brackets.

וְשָׁמַעְתָּ הַשָּׁמַיִם מְכוֹן שִׁבְתְּךָ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתָם וְאֶת־תְּחִנָּתָם וְעָשִׂיתָ מִשְׁפָּטָם׃   8:49

1Kings 8:49   then may you hear in heaven, the place of Your dwelling, their prayer and their supplication and maintain their cause,

וְסָלַחְתָּ לְעַמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר חָטְאוּ־לָךְ וּלְכָל־פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר פָּשְׁעוּ־בָךְ וּנְתַתָּם לְרַחֲמִים לִפְנֵי שֹׁבֵיהֶם   8:50 וְרִחֲמוּם׃

1Kings 8:50   and grant forgiveness to Your people who sinned against You and for all their transgressions that they committed against You, and treat them with compassion before their captors, so they may have compassion on them,

כִּי־עַמְּךָ וְנַחֲלָתְךָ הֵם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָ מִמִּצְרַיִם מִתּוֹךְ כּוּר הַבַּרְזֶל׃   8:51

1Kings 8:51   for they are Your people and Your possession whom You brought out from Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron,

לִהְיוֹת עֵינֶיךָ פְתֻחוֹת אֶל־תְּחִנַּת עַבְדְּךָ וְאֶל־תְּחִנַּת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִשְׁמֹעַ אֲלֵיהֶם בְּכֹל קָרְאָם אֵלֶיךָ׃   8:52

1Kings 8:52   Your ‘eyes,’ opening to the supplication of Your servant and to the supplication of Your people, Israel, to listen to them in all their calling to You.”

I imagine that the phrase “and they will pray to You in the direction of their land, ..., city, ..., house,” back in v. 8:48 established the practice of Diaspora Jews praying in the direction of Jerusalem.

כִּי־אַתָּה הִבְדַּלְתָּם לְךָ לְנַחֲלָה מִכֹּל עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ בְּהוֹצִיאֲךָ   8:53 אֶת־אֲבֹתֵינוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה׃

1Kings 8:53   “For You separated them for Yourself to be a possession from all the peoples of the earth, as You spoke by the hand of Moses after Your removal of our fathers from Egypt, my Lord, O Lord.”

וַיְהִי כְּכַלּוֹת שְׁלֹמֹה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל אֶל־יְהוָה אֵת כָּל־הַתְּפִלָּה וְהַתְּחִנָּה הַזֹּאת קָם מִלִּפְנֵי מִזְבַּח יְהוָה   8:54 מִכְּרֹעַ עַל־בִּרְכָּיו וְכַפָּיו פְּרֻשׂוֹת הַשָּׁמָיִם׃

1Kings 8:54   And it was when Solomon was finishing praying to the Lord all this prayer and supplication, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven.

וַיַּעְמֹד וַיְבָרֶךְ אֵת כָּל־קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹל גָּדוֹל לֵאמֹר׃   8:55

1Kings 8:55   Then he stood and blessed the entire congregation of Israel, in a loud voice saying,

בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן מְנוּחָה לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר לֹא־נָפַל דָּבָר אֶחָד מִכֹּל דְּבָרוֹ הַטּוֹב   8:56 אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה עַבְדּוֹ׃

1Kings 8:56   “Blessed is the Lord Who has given rest to His people, Israel, according to all that He promised.  Not one word has failed from all of His good promise that He spoke by the hand of Moses, His servant.”

יְהִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ עִמָּנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם־אֲבֹתֵינוּ אַל־יַעַזְבֵנוּ וְאַל־יִטְּשֵׁנוּ׃   8:57

1Kings 8:57   “May the Lord, our God, be with us as He was with our fathers.  May He not leave us and not reject us,

לְהַטּוֹת לְבָבֵנוּ אֵלָיו לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו וְלִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֺתָיו וְחֻקָּיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת־אֲבֹתֵינוּ׃   8:58

1Kings 8:58  inclining our hearts toward Him to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances that He commanded our fathers.”

I wonder:  Does the Lord incline our hearts toward Him, or is that our responsibility and test?  Certainly this is a prayer that Jews (and Gentiles) often pray.  Perhaps He does, at least for some of us.

וְיִהְיוּ דְבָרַי אֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר הִתְחַנַּנְתִּי לִפְנֵי יְהוָה קְרֹבִים אֶל־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה לַעֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפַּט   8:59 עַבְדּוֹ וּמִשְׁפַּט עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל דְּבַר־יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ׃

1Kings 8:59   “And may these words, by which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near to the Lord, our God, day and night to maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people, Israel, spoken daily at its time,

לְמַעַן דַּעַת כָּל־עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ כִּי יְהוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֵין עוֹד׃   8:60

1Kings 8:60   in order for all the peoples of the earth to know that the Lord, He is God. There is no other.”

וְהָיָה לְבַבְכֶם שָׁלֵם עִם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ לָלֶכֶת בְּחֻקָּיו וְלִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֺתָיו כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה׃   8:61

1Kings 8:61   “So let your heart be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments like this day.”

וְהַמֶּלֶךְ וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל עִמּוֹ זֹבְחִים זֶבַח לִפְנֵי יְהוָה׃   8:62

1Kings 8:62   Then the king and all Israel with him were offering sacrifices before the Lord.

וַיִּזְבַּח שְׁלֹמֹה אֵת זֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים אֲשֶׁר זָבַח לַיהוָה בָּקָר עֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁנַיִם אֶלֶף וְצֹאן מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים   8:63 אָלֶף וַיַּחְנְכוּ אֶת־בֵּית יְהוָה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכָל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

1Kings 8:63   And Solomon offered the sacrifice of peace offerings that he offered to the Lord: Twenty-two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep.  So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord.

בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא קִדַּשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־תּוֹךְ הֶחָצֵר אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי בֵית־יְהוָה כִּי־עָשָׂה שָׁם אֶת־הָעֹלָה   8:64 וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָה וְאֵת חֶלְבֵי הַשְּׁלָמִים כִּי־מִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה קָטֹן מֵהָכִיל אֶת־הָעֹלָה וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָה וְאֵת חֶלְבֵי הַשְּׁלָמִים׃

1Kings 8:64   On that day the king dedicated the center of the court that was before the house of the Lord, for he offered there the burnt offerings and the meal offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the altar of brass that was before the Lord was too small to receive the burnt offerings and the meal offerings and the fat of the peace offerings.                   [Return to 2Chr. 7:7]

וַיַּעַשׂ שְׁלֹמֹה בָעֵת־הַהִיא אֶת־הֶחָג וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל עִמּוֹ קָהָל גָּדוֹל מִלְּבוֹא חֲמָת עַד־נַחַל מִצְרַיִם לִפְנֵי   8:65 יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים וְשִׁבְעַת יָמִים אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם׃

1Kings 8:65   And Solomon made the feast at that time, and all Israel with him; a large congregation, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, was before the Lord seven days, then seven days -- fourteen days.

בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי שִׁלַּח אֶת־הָעָם וַיְבָרֲכוּ אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֵּלְכוּ לְאָהֳלֵיהֶם שְׂמֵחִים וְטוֹבֵי לֵב עַל כָּל־הַטּוֹבָה   8:66 אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְהוָה לְדָוִד עַבְדּוֹ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ׃

1Kings 8:66   On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart over all the goodness that the Lord had done for David, His servant, and for Israel, His people.                                             [Return to 2Chr. 7:10]

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1Kings 8