Yahweh’s Response to Solomon
(2 Chronicles 7:11–22)

1  וַיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass), כְּכַלּ֣וֹת (when had finished) שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (Solomon) לִבְנ֥וֹת (building) אֶת־ (-) בֵּית־ (the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) וְאֶת־ (and the) בֵּ֣ית (house) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king) וְאֵת֙ (and) כָּל־ (all) חֵ֣שֶׁק (the desire) שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (of Solomon) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) חָפֵ֖ץ (he delighted) לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃פ (to do), 2  וַיֵּרָ֧א (that appeared) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Solomon) שֵׁנִ֑ית (a second time), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) נִרְאָ֥ה (He had appeared) אֵלָ֖יו (to him) בְּגִבְעֽוֹן׃ (at Gibeon). 3  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֵלָ֗יו (to him),

שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי (I have heard) אֶת־ (-) תְּפִלָּתְךָ֣ (your prayer) וְאֶת־ (and) תְּחִנָּתְךָ֮ (your supplication) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הִתְחַנַּ֣נְתָּה (you have made) לְפָנַי֒ (before Me). הִקְדַּ֗שְׁתִּי (I have consecrated) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֤יִת (the house) הַזֶּה֙ (this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) בָּנִ֔תָה (you have built) לָשֽׂוּם־ (to put) שְׁמִ֥י (My Name) שָׁ֖ם (there) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָ֑ם (forever), וְהָי֨וּ (and will be) עֵינַ֧י (My eyes) וְלִבִּ֛י (and My heart) שָׁ֖ם (there) כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִֽים׃ (the days).

4  וְאַתָּ֞ה (And you) אִם־ (if) תֵּלֵ֣ךְ (walk) לְפָנַ֗י (before Me) כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר (as) הָלַ֜ךְ (walked) דָּוִ֤ד (David) אָבִ֙יךָ֙ (your father) בְּתָם־ (in integrity) לֵבָ֣ב (of heart) וּבְיֹ֔שֶׁר (and with uprightness), לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת (to do) כְּכֹ֖ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) צִוִּיתִ֑יךָ (I have commanded you)— חֻקַּ֥י (My statutes) וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י (and My ordinances) תִּשְׁמֹֽר׃ (if you keep)— 5  וַהֲקִ֨מֹתִ֜י (and I will establish) אֶת־ (-) כִּסֵּ֧א (the throne) מַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ֛ (of your kingdom) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) לְעֹלָ֑ם (forever), כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (as) דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי (I spoke) עַל־ (to) דָּוִ֤ד (David) אָבִ֙יךָ֙ (your father), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לֹֽא־ (Not) יִכָּרֵ֤ת (will fail to have) לְךָ֙ (You) אִ֔ישׁ (a man) מֵעַ֖ל (on) כִּסֵּ֥א (the throne) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

6  אִם־ (If) שׁ֨וֹב (turning) תְּשֻׁב֜וּן (you⁺ turn back), אַתֶּ֤ם (you⁺) וּבְנֵיכֶם֙ (or your⁺ sons), מֵֽאַחֲרַ֔י (from following Me) וְלֹ֤א (and not) תִשְׁמְרוּ֙ (do keep) מִצְוֺתַ֣י (My commandments) חֻקֹּתַ֔י (and My statutes) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נָתַ֖תִּי (I have set) לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם (before you⁺), וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֗ם (and you⁺ go) וַעֲבַדְתֶּם֙ (and serve) אֱלֹהִ֣ים (gods) אֲחֵרִ֔ים (other) וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם (and worship) לָהֶֽם׃ (them), 7  וְהִכְרַתִּ֣י (then I will cut off) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (Israel) מֵעַ֨ל (from) פְּנֵ֤י (the face) הָאֲדָמָה֙ (of the land) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) נָתַ֣תִּי (I have given) לָהֶ֔ם (them), וְאֶת־ (and) הַבַּ֙יִת֙ (this house) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הִקְדַּ֣שְׁתִּי (I have consecrated) לִשְׁמִ֔י (for My name) אֲשַׁלַּ֖ח (I will cast) מֵעַ֣ל (out) פָּנָ֑י (of My sight), וְהָיָ֧ה (and will be) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (Israel) לְמָשָׁ֥ל (a proverb) וְלִשְׁנִינָ֖ה (and a byword) בְּכָל־ (among all) הָעַמִּֽים׃ (the peoples).

8  וְהַבַּ֤יִת (And the house) הַזֶּה֙ (this) יִהְיֶ֣ה (has become) עֶלְי֔וֹן (exalted), כָּל־ (everyone) עֹבֵ֥ר (who passes) עָלָ֖יו (by it) יִשֹּׁ֣ם (will be appalled) וְשָׁרָ֑ק (and will hiss) וְאָמְר֗וּ (and say), עַל־ (Upon) מֶ֨ה (what) עָשָׂ֤ה (has done) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) כָּ֔כָה (thus) לָאָ֥רֶץ (to the land) הַזֹּ֖את (this) וְלַבַּ֥יִת (and to house) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this)? 9  וְאָמְר֗וּ (And they will answer), עַל֩ (Upon) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) עָזְב֜וּ (they have forsaken) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֗ם (their God) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who) הוֹצִ֣יא (brought) אֶת־ (-) אֲבֹתָם֮ (their fathers) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (out of the land) מִצְרַיִם֒ (of Egypt), וַֽיַּחֲזִ֙קוּ֙ (and they have embraced) בֵּאלֹהִ֣ים (gods) אֲחֵרִ֔ים (other) וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ (and worshiped) לָהֶ֖ם (them) וַיַּעַבְדֻ֑ם (and served them). עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֗ן (thus) הֵבִ֤יא (has brought) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (on them) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הָרָעָ֖ה (calamity) הַזֹּֽאת׃פ (this).

Solomon’s Additional Achievements
(2 Chronicles 8:1–18)

10  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) מִקְצֵה֙ (at the end) עֶשְׂרִ֣ים (of twenty) שָׁנָ֔ה (years), אֲשֶׁר־ (when) בָּנָ֥ה (had built) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) שְׁנֵ֣י (two) הַבָּתִּ֑ים (the houses)— אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) וְאֶת־ (and) בֵּ֥ית (house) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king)— 11  חִירָ֣ם (Hiram) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) צֹ֠ר (of Tyre) נִשָּׂ֨א (had supplied) אֶת־ (-) שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה (Solomon) בַּעֲצֵי֩ (with) אֲרָזִ֨ים (cedar) וּבַעֲצֵ֧י (and wood) בְרוֹשִׁ֛ים (cypress) וּבַזָּהָ֖ב (and gold), לְכָל־ (as much as) חֶפְצ֑וֹ (he desired), אָ֡ז (then) יִתֵּן֩ (gave) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (King) שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה (Solomon) לְחִירָם֙ (Hiram) עֶשְׂרִ֣ים (twenty) עִ֔יר (cities) בְּאֶ֖רֶץ (in the land) הַגָּלִֽיל׃ (of Galilee). 12  וַיֵּצֵ֤א (And went) חִירָם֙ (Hiram) מִצֹּ֔ר (from Tyre) לִרְאוֹת֙ (to see) אֶת־ (-) הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים (the cities) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נָתַן־ (had given) ל֖וֹ (him) שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה (Solomon), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָשְׁר֖וּ (they were right) בְּעֵינָֽיו׃ (in his eyes).

13  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), מָ֚ה (What) הֶעָרִ֣ים (cities) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (are these) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נָתַ֥תָּה (you have given) לִּ֖י (to me), אָחִ֑י (my brother)? וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And he called) לָהֶם֙ (them) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) כָּב֔וּל (of Cabul) עַ֖ד (as they are to) הַיּ֥וֹם (the day) הַזֶּֽה׃פ (this).

14  וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (Had sent) חִירָ֖ם (Hiram) לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (to the king) מֵאָ֥ה (a hundred) וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים (and twenty) כִּכַּ֥ר (talents) זָהָֽב׃ (of gold).

15  וְזֶ֨ה (And this is) דְבַר־ (is the matter) הַמַּ֜ס (of the forced labor) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (that) הֶעֱלָ֣ה׀ (raised) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה (Solomon) לִבְנוֹת֩ (to build) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֨ית (the house) יְהוָ֤ה (of YHWH), וְאֶת־ (and) בֵּיתוֹ֙ (his own house), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמִּלּ֔וֹא (the Millo), וְאֵ֖ת (and) חוֹמַ֣ת (the wall) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (of Jerusalem), וְאֶת־ (and) חָצֹ֥ר (Hazor), וְאֶת־ (and) מְגִדּ֖וֹ (Megiddo), וְאֶת־ (and) גָּֽזֶר׃ (Gezer).

16  פַּרְעֹ֨ה (Pharaoh) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) מִצְרַ֜יִם (of Egypt) עָלָ֗ה (had gone up) וַיִּלְכֹּ֤ד (and taken) אֶת־ (-) גֶּ֙זֶר֙ (Gezer) וַיִּשְׂרְפָ֣הּ (and burned it) בָּאֵ֔שׁ (with the fire), וְאֶת־ (and) הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֛י (the Canaanite) הַיֹּשֵׁ֥ב (who dwelt) בָּעִ֖יר (in the city) הָרָ֑ג (he had killed), וַֽיִּתְּנָהּ֙ (and had given it) שִׁלֻּחִ֔ים (as a dowry) לְבִתּ֖וֹ (to his daughter), אֵ֥שֶׁת (the wife) שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ (of Solomon). 17  וַיִּ֤בֶן (And built) שְׁלֹמֹה֙ (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) גָּ֔זֶר (Gezer), וְאֶת־ (and) בֵּ֥ית (Beth-) חֹרֹ֖ן (horon) תַּחְתּֽוֹן׃ (Lower), 18  וְאֶֽת־ (and) בַּעֲלָ֛ת (Baalath), וְאֶת־ (and) תָּמָר (Tadmor) בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר (in the wilderness) בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (in the land), 19  וְאֵ֨ת (and) כָּל־ (all) עָרֵ֤י (the cities) הַֽמִּסְכְּנוֹת֙ (storage) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הָי֣וּ (had) לִשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (Solomon), וְאֵת֙ (and) עָרֵ֣י (cities for) הָרֶ֔כֶב (his chariots), וְאֵ֖ת (and) עָרֵ֣י (cities) הַפָּרָשִׁ֑ים (of the horsemen), וְאֵ֣ת׀ (and) חֵ֣שֶׁק (and the desire) שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה (of Solomon) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) חָשַׁק֙ (he desired) לִבְנ֤וֹת (to build) בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (in Jerusalem), וּבַלְּבָנ֔וֹן (and in Lebanon), וּבְכֹ֖ל (and in all) אֶ֥רֶץ (the land) מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃ (of his dominion).

20  כָּל־ (All) הָ֠עָם (the people) הַנּוֹתָ֨ר (remaining) מִן־ (of) הָאֱמֹרִ֜י (the Amorite), הַחִתִּ֤י (the Hittite), הַפְּרִזִּי֙ (the Perizzite), הַחִוִּ֣י (the Hivite), וְהַיְבוּסִ֔י (and the Jebusite), אֲשֶׁ֛ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) מִבְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) הֵֽמָּה׃ (were))— 21  בְּנֵיהֶ֗ם (that is their sons) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who) נֹתְר֤וּ (were left) אַחֲרֵיהֶם֙ (after them) בָּאָ֔רֶץ (in the land), אֲשֶׁ֧ר (whom) לֹֽא־ (not) יָכְל֛וּ (had been able) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) לְהַֽחֲרִימָ֑ם (to devote to destruction), וַיַּעֲלֵ֤ם (and raised from these) שְׁלֹמֹה֙ (Solomon) לְמַס־ (for the forced labor) עֹבֵ֔ד (of serving) עַ֖ד (even to) הַיּ֥וֹם (the day) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

22  וּמִבְּנֵי֙ (And of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) לֹֽא־ (none) נָתַ֥ן (made) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Solomon) עָ֑בֶד (forced laborers), כִּי־ (because) הֵ֞ם (they were) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (men) הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה (of war), וַעֲבָדָיו֙ (and his servants), וְשָׂרָ֣יו (and his officers), וְשָׁלִשָׁ֔יו (and his captains), וְשָׂרֵ֥י (and commanders) רִכְבּ֖וֹ (of his chariots), וּפָרָשָֽׁיו׃ס (and his cavalry). 23  אֵ֣לֶּה׀ (These were) שָׂרֵ֣י (chiefs) הַנִּצָּבִ֗ים (of the officials) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who were) עַל־ (over) הַמְּלָאכָה֙ (the work) לִשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (of Solomon), חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים (fifty) וַחֲמֵ֣שׁ (and five) מֵא֑וֹת (hundred) הָרֹדִ֣ים (who ruled) בָּעָ֔ם (over the people) הָעֹשִׂ֖ים (who did) בַּמְּלָאכָֽה׃ (the work).

24  אַ֣ךְ (However) בַּת־ (the daughter) פַּרְעֹ֗ה (of Pharaoh) עָֽלְתָה֙ (came up) מֵעִ֣יר (from the City) דָּוִ֔ד (of David) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתָ֖הּ (her house) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) בָּֽנָה־ (he had built) לָ֑הּ (for her); אָ֖ז (then) בָּנָ֥ה (he built) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּלּֽוֹא׃ (the Millo).

25  וְהֶעֱלָ֣ה (And offered) שְׁלֹמֹ֡ה (Solomon) שָׁלֹשׁ֩ (three) פְּעָמִ֨ים (times) בַּשָּׁנָ֜ה (a year) עֹל֣וֹת (burnt offerings) וּשְׁלָמִ֗ים (and peace offerings) עַל־ (on) הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (the altar) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) בָּנָ֣ה (he had built) לַיהוָ֔ה (for YHWH), וְהַקְטֵ֣יר (and he burned incense) אִתּ֔וֹ (with them) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (on that which was) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). וְשִׁלַּ֖ם (And he finished) אֶת־ (-) הַבָּֽיִת׃ (the house).

26  וָאֳנִ֡י (And a fleet) עָשָׂה֩ (built) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (King) שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה (Solomon) בְּעֶצְיֽוֹן־ (at Ezion-) גֶּ֨בֶר (geber), אֲשֶׁ֧ר (which is) אֶת־ (near) אֵל֛וֹת (Eloth) עַל־ (on) שְׂפַ֥ת (the shore) יַם־ (of the Sea) ס֖וּף (Red) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) אֱדֽוֹם׃ (of Edom). 27  וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And sent) חִירָ֤ם (Hiram) בָּֽאֳנִי֙ (with the ships) אֶת־ (-) עֲבָדָ֔יו (his servants), אַנְשֵׁ֣י (men) אֳנִיּ֔וֹת (of ships) יֹדְעֵ֖י (who knew) הַיָּ֑ם (the sea), עִ֖ם (with) עַבְדֵ֥י (the servants) שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ (of Solomon). 28  וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (And they went) אוֹפִ֔ירָה (to Ophir) וַיִּקְח֤וּ (and acquired) מִשָּׁם֙ (from there) זָהָ֔ב (of gold), אַרְבַּע־ (four) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים (and twenty) כִּכָּ֑ר (talents), וַיָּבִ֖אוּ (and they brought it) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (King) שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃פ (Solomon).