(א) וַיְהִ֕י כִּֽי־יָשַׁ֥ב הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּבֵית֑וֹ וַיהֹוָ֛ה הֵנִיחַֽ־ל֥וֹ מִסָּבִ֖יב מִכׇּל־אֹיְבָֽיו׃ (ב) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־נָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֔יא רְאֵ֣ה נָ֔א אָנֹכִ֥י יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּבֵ֣ית אֲרָזִ֑ים וַֽאֲרוֹן֙ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים יֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיְרִיעָֽה׃ (ג) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר נָתָן֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ לֵ֣ךְ עֲשֵׂ֑ה כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ׃ (ד) וַיְהִ֖י בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֑וּא {ס} וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־נָתָ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ה) לֵ֤ךְ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ אֶל־עַבְדִּ֣י אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד {ס} כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה הַאַתָּ֛ה תִּבְנֶה־לִּ֥י בַ֖יִת לְשִׁבְתִּֽי׃ (ו) כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙ בְּבַ֔יִת לְ֠מִיּ֠וֹם הַעֲלֹתִ֞י אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם וְעַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וָאֶֽהְיֶה֙ מִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְ בְּאֹ֖הֶל וּבְמִשְׁכָּֽן׃ (ז) בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־הִתְהַלַּ֘כְתִּי֮ בְּכׇל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ הֲדָבָ֣ר דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי אֶת־אַחַד֙ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּ֗יתִי לִרְע֛וֹת אֶת־עַמִּ֥י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֛מָּה לֹֽא־בְנִיתֶ֥ם לִ֖י בֵּ֥ית אֲרָזִֽים׃ (ח) וְ֠עַתָּ֠ה כֹּֽה־תֹאמַ֞ר לְעַבְדִּ֣י לְדָוִ֗ד כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת אֲנִ֤י לְקַחְתִּ֙יךָ֙ מִן־הַנָּוֶ֔ה מֵאַחַ֖ר הַצֹּ֑אן לִֽהְי֣וֹת נָגִ֔יד עַל־עַמִּ֖י עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ט) וָאֶהְיֶ֣ה עִמְּךָ֗ בְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלַ֔כְתָּ וָאַכְרִ֥תָה אֶת־כׇּל־אֹיְבֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ וְעָשִׂ֤תִֽי לְךָ֙ שֵׁ֣ם גָּד֔וֹל כְּשֵׁ֥ם הַגְּדֹלִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (י) וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י מָ֠ק֠וֹם לְעַמִּ֨י לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל וּנְטַעְתִּיו֙ וְשָׁכַ֣ן תַּחְתָּ֔יו וְלֹ֥א יִרְגַּ֖ז ע֑וֹד וְלֹֽא־יֹסִ֤יפוּ בְנֵֽי־עַוְלָה֙ לְעַנּוֹת֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר בָּרִאשׁוֹנָֽה׃ (יא) וּלְמִן־הַיּ֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוִּ֤יתִי שֹֽׁפְטִים֙ עַל־עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַהֲנִיחֹ֥תִי לְךָ֖ מִכׇּל־אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ וְהִגִּ֤יד לְךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּי־בַ֖יִת יַעֲשֶׂה־לְּךָ֥ יְהֹוָֽה׃ (יב) כִּ֣י ׀ יִמְלְא֣וּ יָמֶ֗יךָ וְשָֽׁכַבְתָּ֙ אֶת־אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ וַהֲקִימֹתִ֤י אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֵצֵ֖א מִמֵּעֶ֑יךָ וַהֲכִינֹתִ֖י אֶת־מַמְלַכְתּֽוֹ׃ (יג) ה֥וּא יִבְנֶה־בַּ֖יִת לִשְׁמִ֑י וְכֹנַנְתִּ֛י אֶת־כִּסֵּ֥א מַמְלַכְתּ֖וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ (יד) אֲנִי֙ אֶֽהְיֶה־לּ֣וֹ לְאָ֔ב וְה֖וּא יִֽהְיֶה־לִּ֣י לְבֵ֑ן אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּהַ֣עֲוֺת֔וֹ וְהֹֽכַחְתִּיו֙ בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וּבְנִגְעֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃ (טו) וְחַסְדִּ֖י לֹא־יָס֣וּר מִמֶּ֑נּוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר הֲסִרֹ֙תִי֙ מֵעִ֣ם שָׁא֔וּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲסִרֹ֖תִי מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ׃ (טז) וְנֶאְמַ֨ן בֵּיתְךָ֧ וּמַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ֛ עַד־עוֹלָ֖ם לְפָנֶ֑יךָ כִּֽסְאֲךָ֔ יִהְיֶ֥ה נָכ֖וֹן עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ (יז) כְּכֹל֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וּכְכֹ֖ל הַחִזָּי֣וֹן הַזֶּ֑ה כֵּ֛ן דִּבֶּ֥ר נָתָ֖ן אֶל־דָּוִֽד׃ {פ}
(יח) וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מִ֣י אָנֹכִ֞י אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ וּמִ֣י בֵיתִ֔י כִּ֥י הֲבִאֹתַ֖נִי עַד־הֲלֹֽם׃ (יט) וַתִּקְטַן֩ ע֨וֹד זֹ֤את בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וַתְּדַבֵּ֛ר גַּ֥ם אֶל־בֵּֽית־עַבְדְּךָ֖ לְמֵרָח֑וֹק וְזֹ֛את תּוֹרַ֥ת הָאָדָ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ (כ) וּמַה־יּוֹסִ֥יף דָּוִ֛ד ע֖וֹד לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֶ֑יךָ וְאַתָּ֛ה יָדַ֥עְתָּ אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֖ אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ (כא) בַּעֲב֤וּר דְּבָֽרְךָ֙ וּֽכְלִבְּךָ֔ עָשִׂ֕יתָ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַגְּדוּלָּ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את לְהוֹדִ֖יעַ אֶת־עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃ (כב) עַל־כֵּ֥ן גָּדַ֖לְתָּ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּֽי־אֵ֣ין כָּמ֗וֹךָ וְאֵ֤ין אֱלֹהִים֙ זוּלָתֶ֔ךָ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ בְּאׇזְנֵֽינוּ׃ (כג) וּמִ֤י כְעַמְּךָ֙ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל גּ֥וֹי אֶחָ֖ד בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלְכֽוּ־אֱ֠לֹהִ֠ים לִפְדּֽוֹת־ל֨וֹ לְעָ֜ם וְלָשׂ֧וּם ל֣וֹ שֵׁ֗ם וְלַעֲשׂ֨וֹת לָכֶ֜ם הַגְּדוּלָּ֤ה וְנֹֽרָאוֹת֙ לְאַרְצֶ֔ךָ מִפְּנֵ֣י עַמְּךָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר פָּדִ֤יתָ לְּךָ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם גּוֹיִ֖ם וֵֽאלֹהָֽיו׃ (כד) וַתְּכ֣וֹנֵֽן לְ֠ךָ֠ אֶת־עַמְּךָ֨ יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ לְךָ֛ לְעָ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם וְאַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה הָיִ֥יתָ לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ {ס} (כה) וְעַתָּה֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבַּ֤רְתָּ עַֽל־עַבְדְּךָ֙ וְעַל־בֵּית֔וֹ הָקֵ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם וַעֲשֵׂ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃ (כו) וְיִגְדַּ֨ל שִׁמְךָ֤ עַד־עוֹלָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת אֱלֹהִ֖ים עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבֵית֙ עַבְדְּךָ֣ דָוִ֔ד יִהְיֶ֥ה נָכ֖וֹן לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ (כז) כִּֽי־אַתָּה֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל גָּלִ֜יתָה אֶת־אֹ֤זֶן עַבְדְּךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בַּ֖יִת אֶבְנֶה־לָּ֑ךְ עַל־כֵּ֗ן מָצָ֤א עַבְדְּךָ֙ אֶת־לִבּ֔וֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל אֵלֶ֔יךָ אֶת־הַתְּפִלָּ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ (כח) וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה אַתָּה־הוּא֙ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וּדְבָרֶ֖יךָ יִהְי֣וּ אֱמֶ֑ת וַתְּדַבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־הַטּוֹבָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ (כט) וְעַתָּ֗ה הוֹאֵל֙ וּבָרֵךְ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית עַבְדְּךָ֔ לִֽהְי֥וֹת לְעוֹלָ֖ם לְפָנֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֞ה אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ דִּבַּ֔רְתָּ וּמִבִּרְכָ֣תְךָ֔ יְבֹרַ֥ךְ בֵּֽית־עַבְדְּךָ֖ לְעוֹלָֽם׃ {פ}
(יח) וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מִ֣י אָנֹכִ֞י אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ וּמִ֣י בֵיתִ֔י כִּ֥י הֲבִאֹתַ֖נִי עַד־הֲלֹֽם׃ (יט) וַתִּקְטַן֩ ע֨וֹד זֹ֤את בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וַתְּדַבֵּ֛ר גַּ֥ם אֶל־בֵּֽית־עַבְדְּךָ֖ לְמֵרָח֑וֹק וְזֹ֛את תּוֹרַ֥ת הָאָדָ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ (כ) וּמַה־יּוֹסִ֥יף דָּוִ֛ד ע֖וֹד לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֶ֑יךָ וְאַתָּ֛ה יָדַ֥עְתָּ אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֖ אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ (כא) בַּעֲב֤וּר דְּבָֽרְךָ֙ וּֽכְלִבְּךָ֔ עָשִׂ֕יתָ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַגְּדוּלָּ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את לְהוֹדִ֖יעַ אֶת־עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃ (כב) עַל־כֵּ֥ן גָּדַ֖לְתָּ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּֽי־אֵ֣ין כָּמ֗וֹךָ וְאֵ֤ין אֱלֹהִים֙ זוּלָתֶ֔ךָ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ בְּאׇזְנֵֽינוּ׃ (כג) וּמִ֤י כְעַמְּךָ֙ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל גּ֥וֹי אֶחָ֖ד בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלְכֽוּ־אֱ֠לֹהִ֠ים לִפְדּֽוֹת־ל֨וֹ לְעָ֜ם וְלָשׂ֧וּם ל֣וֹ שֵׁ֗ם וְלַעֲשׂ֨וֹת לָכֶ֜ם הַגְּדוּלָּ֤ה וְנֹֽרָאוֹת֙ לְאַרְצֶ֔ךָ מִפְּנֵ֣י עַמְּךָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר פָּדִ֤יתָ לְּךָ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם גּוֹיִ֖ם וֵֽאלֹהָֽיו׃ (כד) וַתְּכ֣וֹנֵֽן לְ֠ךָ֠ אֶת־עַמְּךָ֨ יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ לְךָ֛ לְעָ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם וְאַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה הָיִ֥יתָ לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ {ס} (כה) וְעַתָּה֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבַּ֤רְתָּ עַֽל־עַבְדְּךָ֙ וְעַל־בֵּית֔וֹ הָקֵ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם וַעֲשֵׂ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃ (כו) וְיִגְדַּ֨ל שִׁמְךָ֤ עַד־עוֹלָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת אֱלֹהִ֖ים עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבֵית֙ עַבְדְּךָ֣ דָוִ֔ד יִהְיֶ֥ה נָכ֖וֹן לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ (כז) כִּֽי־אַתָּה֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל גָּלִ֜יתָה אֶת־אֹ֤זֶן עַבְדְּךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בַּ֖יִת אֶבְנֶה־לָּ֑ךְ עַל־כֵּ֗ן מָצָ֤א עַבְדְּךָ֙ אֶת־לִבּ֔וֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל אֵלֶ֔יךָ אֶת־הַתְּפִלָּ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ (כח) וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֗ה אַתָּה־הוּא֙ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וּדְבָרֶ֖יךָ יִהְי֣וּ אֱמֶ֑ת וַתְּדַבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־הַטּוֹבָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ (כט) וְעַתָּ֗ה הוֹאֵל֙ וּבָרֵךְ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית עַבְדְּךָ֔ לִֽהְי֥וֹת לְעוֹלָ֖ם לְפָנֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֞ה אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ דִּבַּ֔רְתָּ וּמִבִּרְכָ֣תְךָ֔ יְבֹרַ֥ךְ בֵּֽית־עַבְדְּךָ֖ לְעוֹלָֽם׃ {פ}
(1) When the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had granted him safety from all the enemies around him, (2) the king said to the prophet Nathan: “Here I am dwelling in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the LORD abides in a tent!” (3) Nathan said to the king, “Go and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.” (4) But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: (5) “Go and say to My servant David: Thus said the LORD: Are you the one to build a house for Me to dwell in? (6) From the day that I brought the people of Israel out of Egypt to this day I have not dwelt in a house, but have moved about in Tent and Tabernacle. (7) As I moved about wherever the Israelites went, did I ever reproach any of the tribal leaders whom I appointed to care for My people Israel: Why have you not built Me a house of cedar? (8) “Further, say thus to My servant David: Thus said the LORD of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler of My people Israel, (9) and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut down all your enemies before you. Moreover, I will give you great renown like that of the greatest men on earth. (10) I will establish a home for My people Israel and will plant them firm, so that they shall dwell secure and shall tremble no more. Evil men shall not oppress them any more as in the past, (11) ever since I appointed chieftains over My people Israel. I will give you safety from all your enemies.
“The LORD declares to you that He, the LORD, will establish a house for you. (12) When your days are done and you lie with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own issue, and I will establish his kingship. (13) He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. (14) I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to Me. When he does wrong, I will chastise him with the rod of men and the affliction of mortals;-d (15) but I will never withdraw My favor from him as I withdrew it from Saul, whom I removed to make room for you.-e (16) Your house and your kingship shall ever be secure before you; your throne shall be established forever.” (17) Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words and all this prophecy. (18) Then King David came and sat before the LORD, and he said, “What am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my family, that You have brought me thus far? (19) Yet even this, O Lord GOD, has seemed too little to You; for You have spoken of Your servant’s house also for the future. May that be the law for the people,-g O Lord GOD. (20) What more can David say to You? You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. (21) For Your word’s sake and of Your own accord-g You have wrought this great thing, and made it known to Your servant. (22) You are great indeed, O Lord GOD! There is none like You and there is no other God but You, as we have always heard. (23) And who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth, whom God went and redeemed as His people, winning renown for Himself and doing great and marvelous deeds for them [and] for Your land—[driving out] nations and their gods before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt. (24) You have established Your people Israel as Your very own people forever; and You, O LORD, have become their God. (25) “And now, O LORD God, fulfill Your promise to Your servant and his house forever; and do as You have promised. (26) And may Your name be glorified forever, in that men will say, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. (27) Because You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed to Your servant that You will build a house for him, Your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to You. (28) And now, O Lord GOD, You are God and Your words will surely come true, and You have made this gracious promise to Your servant. (29) Be pleased, therefore, to bless Your servant’s house, that it abide before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken. May Your servant’s house be blessed forever by Your blessing.”
“The LORD declares to you that He, the LORD, will establish a house for you. (12) When your days are done and you lie with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own issue, and I will establish his kingship. (13) He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. (14) I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to Me. When he does wrong, I will chastise him with the rod of men and the affliction of mortals;-d (15) but I will never withdraw My favor from him as I withdrew it from Saul, whom I removed to make room for you.-e (16) Your house and your kingship shall ever be secure before you; your throne shall be established forever.” (17) Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words and all this prophecy. (18) Then King David came and sat before the LORD, and he said, “What am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my family, that You have brought me thus far? (19) Yet even this, O Lord GOD, has seemed too little to You; for You have spoken of Your servant’s house also for the future. May that be the law for the people,-g O Lord GOD. (20) What more can David say to You? You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. (21) For Your word’s sake and of Your own accord-g You have wrought this great thing, and made it known to Your servant. (22) You are great indeed, O Lord GOD! There is none like You and there is no other God but You, as we have always heard. (23) And who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth, whom God went and redeemed as His people, winning renown for Himself and doing great and marvelous deeds for them [and] for Your land—[driving out] nations and their gods before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt. (24) You have established Your people Israel as Your very own people forever; and You, O LORD, have become their God. (25) “And now, O LORD God, fulfill Your promise to Your servant and his house forever; and do as You have promised. (26) And may Your name be glorified forever, in that men will say, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. (27) Because You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed to Your servant that You will build a house for him, Your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to You. (28) And now, O Lord GOD, You are God and Your words will surely come true, and You have made this gracious promise to Your servant. (29) Be pleased, therefore, to bless Your servant’s house, that it abide before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken. May Your servant’s house be blessed forever by Your blessing.”
What are the promises made in this chapter? To whom? By whom?
What is striking, surprising, or strange?
How does Gd define the relationship Gd will have with David's descendants?
What does David ask for? Why?
אָ֣ז יַקְהֵ֣ל שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה אֶת־זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל אֶת־כׇּל־רָאשֵׁ֣י הַמַּטּוֹת֩ נְשִׂיאֵ֨י הָאָב֜וֹת לִבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם לְֽהַעֲל֞וֹת אֶת־אֲר֧וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָ֛ה מֵעִ֥יר דָּוִ֖ד הִ֥יא צִיּֽוֹן׃ וַיִּקָּ֨הֲל֜וּ אֶל־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ כׇּל־אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּיֶ֥רַח הָאֵתָנִ֖ים בֶּחָ֑ג ה֖וּא הַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃ וַיָּבֹ֕אוּ כֹּ֖ל זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים אֶת־הָאָרֽוֹן׃ וַֽיַּעֲל֞וּ אֶת־אֲר֤וֹן יְהֹוָה֙ וְאֶת־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וְאֶת־כׇּל־כְּלֵ֥י הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּאֹ֑הֶל וַיַּעֲל֣וּ אֹתָ֔ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְהַלְוִיִּֽם׃ וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה וְכׇל־עֲדַ֤ת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ הַנּוֹעָדִ֣ים עָלָ֔יו אִתּ֖וֹ לִפְנֵ֣י הָאָר֑וֹן מְזַבְּחִים֙ צֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יִסָּפְר֛וּ וְלֹ֥א יִמָּנ֖וּ מֵרֹֽב׃ וַיָּבִ֣אוּ הַ֠כֹּהֲנִ֠ים אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָ֧ה אֶל־מְקוֹמ֛וֹ אֶל־דְּבִ֥יר הַבַּ֖יִת אֶל־קֹ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים אֶל־תַּ֖חַת כַּנְפֵ֥י הַכְּרוּבִֽים׃ כִּ֤י הַכְּרוּבִים֙ פֹּרְשִׂ֣ים כְּנָפַ֔יִם אֶל־מְק֖וֹם הָאָר֑וֹן וַיָּסֹ֧כּוּ הַכְּרֻבִ֛ים עַל־הָאָר֥וֹן וְעַל־בַּדָּ֖יו מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ וַֽיַּאֲרִ֘כוּ֮ הַבַּדִּים֒ וַיֵּֽרָאוּ֩ רָאשֵׁ֨י הַבַּדִּ֤ים מִן־הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַדְּבִ֔יר וְלֹ֥א יֵרָא֖וּ הַח֑וּצָה וַיִּ֣הְיוּ שָׁ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ אֵ֚ין בָּֽאָר֔וֹן רַ֗ק שְׁנֵי֙ לֻח֣וֹת הָאֲבָנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִנִּ֥חַ שָׁ֛ם מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּחֹרֵ֑ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר כָּרַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ עִם־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּצֵאתָ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ וַיְהִ֕י בְּצֵ֥את הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים מִן־הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וְהֶעָנָ֥ן מָלֵ֖א אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ וְלֹא־יָכְל֧וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים לַֽעֲמֹ֥ד לְשָׁרֵ֖ת מִפְּנֵ֣י הֶעָנָ֑ן כִּֽי־מָלֵ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
אָ֖ז אָמַ֣ר שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה יְהֹוָ֣ה אָמַ֔ר לִשְׁכֹּ֖ן בָּעֲרָפֶֽל׃ בָּנֹ֥ה בָנִ֛יתִי בֵּ֥ית זְבֻ֖ל לָ֑ךְ מָכ֥וֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֖ עוֹלָמִֽים׃ וַיַּסֵּ֤ב הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶת־פָּנָ֔יו וַיְבָ֕רֶךְ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־קְהַ֣ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכׇל־קְהַ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֹמֵֽד׃ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּר֤וּךְ יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר בְּפִ֔יו אֵ֖ת דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֑י וּבְיָד֥וֹ מִלֵּ֖א לֵאמֹֽר׃ מִן־הַיּ֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֜אתִי אֶת־עַמִּ֣י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ מִמִּצְרַ֒יִם֒ לֹֽא־בָחַ֣רְתִּֽי בְעִ֗יר מִכֹּל֙ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִבְנ֣וֹת בַּ֔יִת לִהְי֥וֹת שְׁמִ֖י שָׁ֑ם וָאֶבְחַ֣ר בְּדָוִ֔ד לִהְי֖וֹת עַל־עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וַיְהִ֕י עִם־לְבַ֖ב דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֑י לִבְנ֣וֹת בַּ֔יִת לְשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔י יַ֗עַן אֲשֶׁ֤ר הָיָה֙ עִם־לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ לִבְנ֥וֹת בַּ֖יִת לִשְׁמִ֑י הֱֽטִיבֹ֔תָ כִּ֥י הָיָ֖ה עִם־לְבָבֶֽךָ׃ רַ֣ק אַתָּ֔ה לֹ֥א תִבְנֶ֖ה הַבָּ֑יִת כִּ֤י אִם־בִּנְךָ֙ הַיֹּצֵ֣א מֵחֲלָצֶ֔יךָ הֽוּא־יִבְנֶ֥ה הַבַּ֖יִת לִשְׁמִֽי׃ וַיָּ֣קֶם יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶת־דְּבָר֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר וָאָקֻ֡ם תַּ֩חַת֩ דָּוִ֨ד אָבִ֜י וָאֵשֵׁ֣ב ׀ עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה וָאֶבְנֶ֣ה הַבַּ֔יִת לְשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
אָ֖ז אָמַ֣ר שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה יְהֹוָ֣ה אָמַ֔ר לִשְׁכֹּ֖ן בָּעֲרָפֶֽל׃ בָּנֹ֥ה בָנִ֛יתִי בֵּ֥ית זְבֻ֖ל לָ֑ךְ מָכ֥וֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֖ עוֹלָמִֽים׃ וַיַּסֵּ֤ב הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶת־פָּנָ֔יו וַיְבָ֕רֶךְ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־קְהַ֣ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכׇל־קְהַ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֹמֵֽד׃ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּר֤וּךְ יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר בְּפִ֔יו אֵ֖ת דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֑י וּבְיָד֥וֹ מִלֵּ֖א לֵאמֹֽר׃ מִן־הַיּ֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֜אתִי אֶת־עַמִּ֣י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ מִמִּצְרַ֒יִם֒ לֹֽא־בָחַ֣רְתִּֽי בְעִ֗יר מִכֹּל֙ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִבְנ֣וֹת בַּ֔יִת לִהְי֥וֹת שְׁמִ֖י שָׁ֑ם וָאֶבְחַ֣ר בְּדָוִ֔ד לִהְי֖וֹת עַל־עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וַיְהִ֕י עִם־לְבַ֖ב דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֑י לִבְנ֣וֹת בַּ֔יִת לְשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔י יַ֗עַן אֲשֶׁ֤ר הָיָה֙ עִם־לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ לִבְנ֥וֹת בַּ֖יִת לִשְׁמִ֑י הֱֽטִיבֹ֔תָ כִּ֥י הָיָ֖ה עִם־לְבָבֶֽךָ׃ רַ֣ק אַתָּ֔ה לֹ֥א תִבְנֶ֖ה הַבָּ֑יִת כִּ֤י אִם־בִּנְךָ֙ הַיֹּצֵ֣א מֵחֲלָצֶ֔יךָ הֽוּא־יִבְנֶ֥ה הַבַּ֖יִת לִשְׁמִֽי׃ וַיָּ֣קֶם יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶת־דְּבָר֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר וָאָקֻ֡ם תַּ֩חַת֩ דָּוִ֨ד אָבִ֜י וָאֵשֵׁ֣ב ׀ עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה וָאֶבְנֶ֣ה הַבַּ֔יִת לְשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Then Solomon convoked the elders of Israel—all the heads of the tribes and the ancestral chieftains of the Israelites—before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from the City of David, that is, Zion. All the men of Israel gathered before King Solomon at the Feast, in the month of Ethanim—that is, the seventh month. When all the elders of Israel had come, the priests lifted the Ark and carried up the Ark of the LORD. Then the priests and the Levites brought the Tent of Meeting and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent. Meanwhile, King Solomon and the whole community of Israel, who were assembled with him before the Ark, were sacrificing sheep and oxen in such abundance that they could not be numbered or counted. The priests brought the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant to its place underneath the wings of the cherubim, in the Shrine of the House, in the Holy of Holies; for the cherubim had their wings spread out over the place of the Ark, so that the cherubim shielded the Ark and its poles from above. The poles projected so that the ends of the poles were visible in the sanctuary in front of the Shrine, but they could not be seen outside; and there they remain to this day. There was nothing inside the Ark but the two tablets of stone which Moses placed there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the Israelites after their departure from the land of Egypt. When the priests came out of the sanctuary—for the cloud had filled the House of the LORD and the priests were not able to remain and perform the service because of the cloud, for the Presence of the LORD filled the House of the LORD— then Solomon declared:
“The LORD has chosen
To abide in a thick cloud: I have now built for You
A stately House,
A place where You
May dwell forever.” Then, with the whole congregation of Israel standing, the king faced about and blessed the whole congregation of Israel. He said:
“Praised be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with deeds the promise He made-b to my father David. For He said, ‘Ever since I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city among all the tribes of Israel for building a House where My name might abide; but I have chosen David to rule My people Israel.’ “Now my father David had intended to build a House for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to my father David, ‘As regards your intention to build a House for My name, you did right to have that intention. However, you shall not build the House yourself; instead, your son, the issue of your loins, shall build the House for My name.’ “And the LORD has fulfilled the promise that He made: I have succeeded my father David and have ascended the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the House for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel;
“The LORD has chosen
To abide in a thick cloud: I have now built for You
A stately House,
A place where You
May dwell forever.” Then, with the whole congregation of Israel standing, the king faced about and blessed the whole congregation of Israel. He said:
“Praised be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with deeds the promise He made-b to my father David. For He said, ‘Ever since I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city among all the tribes of Israel for building a House where My name might abide; but I have chosen David to rule My people Israel.’ “Now my father David had intended to build a House for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. But the LORD said to my father David, ‘As regards your intention to build a House for My name, you did right to have that intention. However, you shall not build the House yourself; instead, your son, the issue of your loins, shall build the House for My name.’ “And the LORD has fulfilled the promise that He made: I have succeeded my father David and have ascended the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the House for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel;
Two differing ideologies can be seen here - what might they be? What is dwelling in the Temple?
Why might we see these differing ideologies?
What makes you curious or strikes you as strange?
Note, more physical details of the Temple can be found in 1 Kings 6-8.
וּשְׁתֵּי֮ דַּלְת֣וֹת עֲצֵי־שֶׁ֒מֶן֒ וְקָלַ֣ע עֲ֠לֵיהֶ֠ם מִקְלְע֞וֹת כְּרוּבִ֧ים וְתִמֹרֹ֛ת וּפְטוּרֵ֥י צִצִּ֖ים וְצִפָּ֣ה זָהָ֑ב וַיָּ֛רֶד עַל־הַכְּרוּבִ֥ים וְעַל־הַתִּמֹר֖וֹת אֶת־הַזָּהָֽב׃ וְכֵ֥ן עָשָׂ֛ה לְפֶ֥תַח הַהֵיכָ֖ל מְזוּז֣וֹת עֲצֵי־שָׁ֑מֶן מֵאֵ֖ת רְבִעִֽית׃
The double doors were of olive wood, and on them he carved reliefs of cherubim, palms, and calyxes. He overlaid them with gold, hammering the gold onto the cherubim and the palms. For the entrance of the Great Hall, too, he made doorposts of oleaster wood, having four sides,-d
אָמַר מָר הָכָא תַּרְגִּימוּ שֵׁידָא וְשֵׁידְתִין שֵׁידָה וְשֵׁידְתִין לְמַאי אִיבְּעִי לֵיהּ דִּכְתִיב וְהַבַּיִת בְּהִבָּנוֹתוֹ אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה מַסָּע נִבְנָה וְגוֹ׳ אָמַר לְהוּ לְרַבָּנַן הֵיכִי אֶעֱבֵיד אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ אִיכָּא שָׁמִירָא דְּאַיְיתִי מֹשֶׁה לְאַבְנֵי אֵפוֹד אֲמַר לְהוּ הֵיכָא אִישְׁתְּכַח אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ אַיְיתִי שֵׁידָה וְשֵׁידְתִין כַּבְשִׁינְהוּ אַהֲדָדֵי אֶפְשָׁר דְּיָדְעִי וּמְגַלּוּ לָךְ אַיְיתִי שֵׁידָה וְשֵׁידְתִין כַּבְשִׁינְהוּ אַהֲדָדֵי אָמְרִי אֲנַן לָא יָדְעִינַן דִּילְמָא אַשְׁמְדַאי מַלְכָּא דְשֵׁידֵי יָדַע אֲמַר לְהוּ הֵיכָא אִיתֵיהּ אָמְרִי לֵיהּ אִיתֵיהּ בְּטוּרָא פְּלָן כַּרְיָא לֵיהּ בֵּירָא וּמַלְיָא לֵיהּ מַיָּא וּמִיכַּסְּיָא בְּטִינָּרָא וַחֲתִימָה בְּגוּשְׁפַּנְקֵיהּ וְכֹל יוֹמָא סָלֵיק לִרְקִיעָא וְגָמַר מְתִיבְתָּא דִרְקִיעָא וְנָחֵית לְאַרְעָא וְגָמַר מְתִיבְתָּא דְאַרְעָא וְאָתֵי סָיֵיר לֵיהּ לְגוּשְׁפַּנְקֵיהּ וּמְגַלֵּי לֵיהּ וְשָׁתֵי וּמְכַסֵּי לֵיהּ וְחָתֵים לֵיהּ וְאָזֵיל שַׁדְּרֵיהּ לִבְנָיָהוּ בֶּן יְהוֹיָדָע יְהַב לֵיהּ שׁוּשִׁילְתָּא דַּחֲקִיק עֲלַהּ שֵׁם וְעִזְקְתָא דַּחֲקִיק עֲלַהּ שֵׁם וּגְבָבֵי דְעַמְרָא וְזִיקֵי דְחַמְרָא אֲזַל כְּרָא בֵּירָא מִתַּתַּאי וּשְׁפִינְהוּ לְמַיָּא וְסַתְמִינְהוּ בִּגְבָבֵי דְעַמְרָא וּכְרָא בֵּירָא מֵעִילַּאי (וְשַׁפְכִינְהוּ) [וְשַׁפְכֵיהּ] לְחַמְרָא וְטַמִּינְהוּ סְלֵיק יְתֵיב בְּאִילָנָא כִּי אֲתָא סַיְירֵיהּ לְגוּשְׁפַּנְקָא גַּלְּיֵיהּ אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ חַמְרָא אֲמַר כְּתִיב לֵץ הַיַּיִן הוֹמֶה שֵׁכָר וְכׇל שׁוֹגֶה בּוֹ לֹא יֶחְכָּם וּכְתִיב זְנוּת וְיַיִן וְתִירוֹשׁ יִקַּח לֵב לָא אִישְׁתִּי כִּי צָחֵי לָא סַגִּיא לֵיהּ אִישְׁתִּי רְוָא וּגְנָא נְחֵית אֲתָא שְׁדָא בֵּיהּ שׁוּשִׁילְתָּא סְתָמֵיהּ כִּי אִתְּעַר הֲוָה קָא מִיפַּרְזַל אֲמַר לֵיהּ שְׁמָא דְמָרָךְ עֲלָךְ שְׁמָא דְּמָרָךְ עֲלָךְ כִּי נָקֵיט לֵיהּ וְאָתֵי מְטָא דִּיקְלָא חַף בֵּיהּ שַׁדְיֵיהּ מְטָא לְבֵיתָא שַׁדְיֵיהּ מְטָא גַּבֵּי כּוּבָּא דְּהָהִיא אַרְמַלְתָּא נְפַקָא אִיחַנַּנָא לֵיהּ כְּפָא לְקוֹמְתֵיהּ מִינֵּיהּ אִיתְּבַר בֵּיהּ גַּרְמָא אֲמַר הַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב וְלָשׁוֹן רַכָּה תִּשְׁבׇּר גָּרֶם חֲזָא סַמְיָא דַּהֲוָה קָא טָעֵי בְּאוֹרְחָא אַסְּקֵיהּ לְאוֹרְחֵיהּ חֲזָא רַוְיָא דַּהֲוָה קָא טָעֵי בְּאוֹרְחָא אַסְּקֵיהּ לְאוֹרְחֵיהּ חֲזָא חֶדְוְותָא דַּהֲווֹ קָמְחַדִּי לַהּ בְּכָה שַׁמְעֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה קָאָמַר לְאוּשְׁכָּפָא עָבֵיד לִי מְסָאנֵי לְשַׁב שְׁנֵי אַחֵיךְ חֲזָא הָהוּא קַסָּמָא דַּהֲוָה קָסֵים אַחֵיךְ כִּי מְטָא לְהָתָם לָא עַיְּילוּהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ דִּשְׁלֹמֹה עַד תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי יוֹמָא קַמָּא אֲמַר לְהוּ אַמַּאי לָא קָא בָעֵי לִי מַלְכָּא לְגַבֵּיהּ אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ אַנְסֵיהּ מִישְׁתְּיָא שְׁקַל לְבֵינְתָּא אוֹתֵיב אַחֲבִרְתַּהּ אֲתוֹ אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ לִשְׁלֹמֹה אָמַר לְהוּ הָכִי אָמַר לְכוּ הֲדוּר אַשְׁקְיוּהּ לִמְחַר אֲמַר לְהוּ וְאַמַּאי לָא קָא בָּעֵי לִי מַלְכָּא לְגַבֵּיהּ אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ אַנְסֵיהּ מֵיכְלָא שְׁקַל לְבֵינְתָּא מֵחֲבִרְתַּהּ אוֹתְבַהּ אַאַרְעָא אֲתוֹ אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ לִשְׁלֹמֹה אֲמַר לְהוּ הָכִי אָמַר לְכוּ נְגִידוּ מִינֵּיהּ מֵיכְלֵיהּ לְסוֹף תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי עֲיַיל לְקַמֵּיהּ שְׁקַל קַנְיָא וּמְשַׁח אַרְבְּעָה גַּרְמִידֵי וּשְׁדָא קַמֵּיהּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ מִכְּדִי כִּי מָיֵית הָהוּא גַּבְרָא לֵית לֵיהּ בְּהָדֵין עָלְמָא אֶלָּא אַרְבָּעָה גַּרְמִידֵי הַשְׁתָּא כְּבַשְׁתֵּיהּ לְכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא וְלָא שְׂבַעְתְּ עַד דִּכְבַשְׁתְּ נָמֵי לְדִידִי אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָא קָא בָעֵינָא מִינָּךְ מִידֵּי בָּעֵינָא דְּאֶיבְנְיֵיהּ לְבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְקָא מִיבְּעֵי לִי שָׁמִירָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ לְדִידִי לָא מְסִיר לִי לְשָׂרָא דְיַמָּא מָסֵיר לֵיהּ וְלָא יָהֵיב לֵיהּ אֶלָּא לְתַרְנְגוֹלָא בָּרָא דִּמְהֵימַן לֵיהּ אַשְּׁבוּעֲתֵיהּ וּמַאי עָבֵד בֵּיהּ מַמְטֵי לֵיהּ לְטוּרֵי דְּלֵית בְּהוּ יִשּׁוּב וּמַנַּח לֵהּ אַשִּׁינָּא דְטוּרָא וּפָקַע טוּרָא וּמְנַקֵּיט מַיְיתִי בִּיזְרָנֵי מֵאִילָנֵי וְשָׁדֵי הָתָם וְהָוֵי יִשּׁוּב וְהַיְינוּ דִּמְתַרְגְּמִינַן נַגָּר טוּרָא בְּדַקוּ קִינָּא דְּתַרְנְגוֹלָא בָּרָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ בְּנֵי וְחַפְּיוּהּ לְקִינֵּיהּ זוּגִּיתָא חִיוָּרְתִּי כִּי אֲתָא בָּעֵי לְמֵיעַל וְלָא מָצֵי אֲזַל אַיְיתִי שָׁמִירָא וְאוֹתְבֵיהּ עִלָּוֵיהּ רְמָא בֵּיהּ קָלָא שַׁדְיֵיהּ שַׁקְלֵיהּ אֲזַל חֲנַק נַפְשֵׁיהּ אַשְּׁבוּעֲתֵיהּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ בְּנָיָהוּ מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי חֲזִיתֵיהּ לְהָהוּא סַמְיָא דַּהֲוָה קָא טָעֵי בְּאוֹרְחָא אַסֵּיקְתֵּיהּ לְאוֹרְחֵיהּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ מַכְרְזִי עֲלֵיהּ בִּרְקִיעָא דְּצַדִּיק גָּמוּר הוּא וּמַאן דַּעֲבַד לֵיהּ נִיחָא נַפְשֵׁיהּ זָכֵי לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי וּמַאי טַעְמָא כִּי חֲזֵיתֵיהּ לְהָהוּא רַוְיָא דְּקָטָעֵי בְּאוֹרְחָא אַסֵּיקְתֵּיהּ לְאוֹרְחֵיהּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ מַכְרְזִי עֲלֵיהּ בִּרְקִיעָא דְּרָשָׁע גָּמוּר הוּא וְעָבְדִי לֵיהּ נִיחָא נַפְשֵׁיהּ כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלֵיכְלֵיהּ לְעָלְמָא מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי חֲזֵיתֵיהּ לְהָהוּא חֶדְוְותָא בְּכֵית אֲמַר לֵיהּ בָּעֵי מֵימָת גַּבְרָא בְּגוֹ תְּלָתִין יוֹמִין וּבָעֲיָא מִינְטָר לְיָבָם קָטָן תְּלֵיסְרֵי שְׁנִין מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי שְׁמַעְתֵּיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּאֲמַר לֵיהּ לְאוּשְׁכָּפָא עֲבֵיד לִי מְסָאנֵי לְשַׁב שְׁנִין אַחֵיכְתְּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ הָהוּא שִׁבְעָה יוֹמֵי לֵית לֵיהּ מְסָאנֵי לְשַׁב שְׁנִין בָּעֵי מַאי טַעְמָא כִּי חֲזֵיתֵיהּ לְהָהוּא קַסָּמָא דַּהֲוָה קָסֵים אַחֵיכְתְּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ דַּהֲוָה יְתֵיב אַבֵּי גַזָּא דְּמַלְכָּא לִקְסוֹם מַאי דְּאִיכָּא תּוּתֵיהּ תַּרְחֵיהּ גַּבֵּיהּ עַד דְּבַנְיֵיהּ לְבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה קָאֵי לְחוֹדֵיהּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ כְּתִיב כְּתוֹעֲפוֹת רְאֵם לוֹ וְאָמְרִינַן כְּתוֹעֲפוֹת אֵלּוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת רְאֵם אֵלּוּ הַשֵּׁדִים מַאי רְבוּתַיְיכוּ מִינַּן אֲמַר לֵיהּ שְׁקוֹל שׁוּשִׁילְתָּא מִינַּאי וְהַב לִי עִיזְקְתָךְ וְאַחְוִי לָךְ רְבוּתַאי שַׁקְלֵיהּ לְשׁוּשִׁילְתָּא מִינֵּיהּ וְיָהֵיב לֵיהּ עִיזְקְתֵיהּ בַּלְעֵיהּ אוֹתְבֵיהּ לְחַד גַּפֵּיהּ בִּרְקִיעָא וּלְחַד גַּפֵּיהּ בְּאַרְעָא פַּתְקֵיהּ אַרְבַּע מְאָה פַּרְסֵי עַל הַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא אֲמַר שְׁלֹמֹה מַה יִּתְרוֹן לָאָדָם בְּכׇל עֲמָלוֹ שֶׁיַּעֲמֹל תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ וְזֶה הָיָה חֶלְקִי מִכׇּל עֲמָלִי מַאי וְזֶה רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל חַד אָמַר מַקְלוֹ וְחַד אָמַר גּוּנְדּוֹ הָיָה מְחַזֵּר עַל הַפְּתָחִים כֹּל הֵיכָא דִּמְטָא אָמַר אֲנִי קֹהֶלֶת הָיִיתִי מֶלֶךְ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּירוּשָׁלִָים כִּי מְטָא גַּבֵּי סַנְהֶדְרִין אֲמַרוּ רַבָּנַן מִכְּדִי שׁוֹטֶה בַּחֲדָא מִילְּתָא לָא סְרִיךְ מַאי הַאי אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ לִבְנָיָהוּ קָא בָעֵי לָךְ מַלְכָּא לְגַבֵּיהּ אֲמַר לְהוּ לָא שְׁלַחוּ לְהוּ לְמַלְכְּווֹתָא קָאָתֵי מַלְכָּא לְגַבַּיְיכוּ שְׁלַחוּ לְהוּ אִין קָאָתֵי שְׁלַחוּ לְהוּ בִּידְקוּ בְּכַרְעֵיהּ שְׁלַחוּ לְהוּ בְּמוּקֵי קָאָתֵי וְקָא תָבַע לְהוּ בְּנִידּוּתַיְיהוּ וְקָא תָבַע לַהּ נָמֵי לְבַת שֶׁבַע אִימֵּיהּ אַתְיוּהּ לִשְׁלֹמֹה וְהַבוּ לֵיהּ עִזְקְתָא וְשׁוּשִׁילְתָּא דַּחֲקִוק עָלֶיהָ שֵׁם כִּי עָיֵיל חַזְיֵיהּ פְּרַח וַאֲפִילּוּ הָכִי הֲוָה לֵיהּ בִּיעֲתוּתָא מִינֵּיהּ וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב הִנֵּה מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה שִׁשִּׁים גִּבּוֹרִים סָבִיב לָהּ מִגִּבּוֹרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כּוּלָּם אֲחוּזֵי חֶרֶב מְלוּמְּדֵי מִלְחָמָה אִישׁ חַרְבּוֹ עַל יְרֵיכוֹ מִפַּחַד בַּלֵּילוֹת
The Master said: Here they interpreted it: Male demons and female demons. The Gemara asks: Why was it necessary for Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, to have male demons and female demons? The Gemara answers: As it is written with regard to the building of the Temple: “For the house, when it was being built, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was being built” (I Kings 6:7). Solomon said to the sages: How shall I make it so that the stone will be precisely cut without using iron? They said to him: There is a creature called a shamir that can cut the stones, which Moses brought and used to cut the stones of the ephod. Solomon said to them: Where is it found? They said to him: Bring a male demon and a female demon and torment them together. It is possible that they know where, and due to the suffering they will reveal the place to you. Solomon brought a male demon and a female demon and tormented them together, and they said: We do not know where to find the shamir. Perhaps Ashmedai, king of the demons, knows. Solomon said to them: Where is Ashmedai? They said to him: He is on such-and-such a mountain. He has dug a pit for himself there, and filled it with water, and covered it with a rock, and sealed it with his seal. And every day he ascends to Heaven and studies in the heavenly study hall and he descends to the earth and studies in the earthly study hall. And he comes and checks his seal to ensure that nobody has entered his pit, and then he uncovers it and drinks from the water in the pit. And then he covers it and seals it again and goes. Solomon sent for Benayahu, son of Jehoiada, a member of the royal entourage, and gave him a chain onto which a sacred name of God was carved, and a ring onto which a sacred name of God was carved, and fleeces of wool and wineskins of wine. What did Benayahu do? He went and dug a pit lower down the mountain, below the pit dug by Ashmedai, drained the water, and plugged it with the fleeces of wool so that Ashmedai’s pit was emptied. And he dug a pit higher up the mountain, above Ashmedai’s pit. And he poured the wine into it so that the wine filled Ashmedai’s pit, and he plugged the lower and upper pits that he dug. He climbed up and sat in a tree. When Ashmedai came he checked his seal, opened the pit, and found it to be filled with wine. He said that it is written: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever wallows in it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1), and it is written: “Harlotry, wine, and new wine take away the heart” (Hosea 4:11). He concluded: I will not drink this wine. Eventually, when he became thirsty, he was unable to resist the wine and he drank, became intoxicated, and fell asleep. Benayahu descended from the tree, came, and threw the chain around Ashmedai, and enclosed him within it. When Ashmedai awoke he struggled to remove the chain. Benayahu said to him: The name of your Master is upon you, the name of your Master is upon you, do not tear the chain. God’s name is written on this chain, and it is forbidden to destroy it. When Benayahu took Ashmedai and came to Jerusalem he reached a palm tree and Ashmedai rubbed against it and knocked it down. He reached a house and knocked it down. He reached a small shack [kuva] belonging to a certain widow. This widow emerged, and she begged him not to knock down the house. He bent his body away from her, to the other side, and broke one of his bones. He said: This is as it is written: “Soft speech can break a bone” (Proverbs 25:15). Ashmedai saw a blind man who was lost on the road and he brought him to the correct road. He saw a drunk who was lost on the road and he brought him to the correct road. He saw the joy of a wedding celebration in which they were celebrating, and he cried. He heard a certain man say to a shoemaker [ushkafa]: Make me shoes that will last for seven years, and he laughed. He saw a certain sorcerer performing magic, and he laughed. When Ashmedai arrived there, in Jerusalem, they did not bring him before Solomon until three days had passed. On the first day he said to them: Why doesn’t the king want me to come to him? They said to him: He drank too much and was overcome by drink. Ashmedai took a brick and placed it on top of another brick. The servants came and told Solomon what he had done. Solomon interpreted the action and said to them: This is what he said to you through this allusion: Return and give the king more to drink. The following day Ashmedai said to them: And why doesn’t the king want me to come to him? They said to him: He ate too much and was overcome by food. Ashmedai took the brick off the other brick and placed it on the ground. The servants came and told Solomon what Ashmedai had done. He interpreted Ashmedai’s actions and said to them: This is what he said to you through this allusion: Take his food away from him. At the end of three days Ashmedai came before Solomon. Ashmedai took a reed and measured four cubits [garmidei], and threw it before him. He said to Solomon: See, when that man, Solomon, dies, he will have nothing in this world except the four cubits of his grave. Now you have conquered the entire world and yet you are not satisfied until you also conquer me? Solomon said to him: I need nothing from you. I want to build the Temple and I need the shamir for this. Ashmedai said to him: The shamir was not given to me, but it was given to the angelic minister of the sea. And he gives it only to the wild rooster, also known as the dukhifat or the hoopoe, whom he trusts by the force of his oath to return it. And what does the wild rooster do with it? He brings it to mountains that are not fit for habitation, and he places the shamir on the craggy rock and the mountain splits. And he takes and brings seeds of trees, throws them there, and it becomes fit for habitation. And this is why we interpret the word dukhifat as a cutter of mountains [naggar tura], i.e., the Aramaic translation of the word dukhifat in the Bible is naggar tura, cutter of mountains. They investigated and found the nest of a wild rooster in which there were chicks, and he covered its nest with translucent glass. When the rooster came it wanted to enter the nest but was unable to do so. It went and brought the shamir and placed it on top to crack the glass. Solomon’s servant threw a clump of dirt at the rooster and the rooster knocked over the shamir. The man took it and the wild rooster went and strangled itself over the fact that it had not kept its oath, by not returning the shamir. Later, Benayahu said to Ashmedai: What is the reason that when you saw that blind man who was lost on the road you brought him to the correct road? Ashmedai said to him: They proclaim about him in heaven that he is a completely righteous man, and anyone who does good for his soul shall merit to enter the World-to-Come. Then Benayahu asked: And what is the reason that when you saw the drunk man who was lost on the road you brought him to the correct road? Ashmedai said to him: They proclaim about him in heaven that he is a completely wicked man. And I did good for his soul so that he will consume his reward in this world and not have any reward in the World-to-Come. Benayahu continued and asked him: What is the reason that when you saw that joy of the wedding you cried? Ashmedai said to him: I knew that this man will die within thirty days. And his wife is required to wait for the yavam, the husband’s brother, who is a minor, to reach the age of thirteen years, the age of majority, so that he can release her through ḥalitza, the ritual through which the yavam frees the yevama of her levirate bonds. In addition, he asked: What is the reason that when you heard that man say to a shoemaker: Make me shoes that will last for seven years, you laughed? Ashmedai said to him: That man does not have seven days to live; does he need shoes that will last for seven years? Benayahu then asked: What is the reason that when you saw that sorcerer performing magic you laughed? Ashmedai said to him: Because he was sitting on the king’s treasury [bei gaza]. Let him use his magic to know what there is buried underneath him. Solomon kept Ashmedai with him until he completed building the Temple. One day he stood with Ashmedai alone. He said to Ashmedai: It is written: “For him like the lofty horns of the wild ox” (Numbers 24:8), and the Sages say in explanation of the verse: “Like the lofty horns”; these are the ministering angels. “The wild ox”; these are the demons. In what way are you greater than us? Why does the verse praise your abilities and powers over those of human beings? Ashmedai said to him: Take the chain engraved with God’s name off me and give me your ring with God’s name engraved on it, and I will show you my strength. Solomon took the chain off him and he gave him his ring. Ashmedai swallowed the ring and grew until he placed one wing in the heaven and one wing on the earth. He threw Solomon a distance of four hundred parasangs. With regard to that moment Solomon said: “What profit is there for a person through all of his toil under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3). With Solomon deposed from the throne, Ashmedai took his place. With regard to the verse: “And this was my portion from all of my toil” (Ecclesiastes 2:10), the Gemara asks: What is the meaning of the expression: “And this”? This expression is always an allusion to an item that is actually in his hand or can be shown. Rav and Shmuel disagree with regard to the meaning of this phrase. One said: This is referring to Solomon’s staff that remained in his hand. And one said: This is referring to his cloak. Solomon circulated from door to door collecting charity, and wherever he arrived he would say: “I, Ecclesiastes, was king over Israel in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:12). When he finally arrived at the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem the sages said: Now, an imbecile does not fixate on one matter all of the time, so what is this matter? Is this man perhaps telling the truth that he is Solomon? The sages said to Benayahu: Does the king require you to be with him? Benayahu said to them: No. They sent to the queens and asked: Does the king come to be with you? The queens sent a response to them: Yes, he comes. They sent a request to the queens: Check his feet to see if they are human feet. The queens sent a response to the sages: He always comes in socks [bemokei], and it is not possible to see his feet. The queens continued discussing the king’s behavior: And he demands of them, i.e., the queens, to engage in sexual inter-course when they are menstruating. And he also demands that Bathsheba his mother engage in sexual intercourse with him. Once the Sanhedrin heard this they understood that this was an imposter and not actually Solomon. They brought Solomon, gave him a ring and the chain on which the name of God was carved. When Solomon entered, Ashmedai saw him and fled. The Gemara adds: And even so, although Ashmedai fled, Solomon was fearful of him, and this is as it is written: “Behold the bed of Solomon surrounded by sixty strong men from the warriors of Israel. All of them holding swords and trained in war, each man with his sword on his thigh from fear in the nights” (Song of Songs 3:7–8).