Fire from Heaven
(Psalm 136:1–26)

1  וּכְכַלּ֤וֹת (And had finished) שְׁלֹמֹה֙ (Solomon) לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֔ל (praying), וְהָאֵ֗שׁ (and the fire) יָֽרְדָה֙ (came down) מֵֽהַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (from the heavens) וַתֹּ֥אכַל (and consumed) הָעֹלָ֖ה (the burnt offering) וְהַזְּבָחִ֑ים (and the sacrifices), וּכְב֥וֹד (and the glory) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) מָלֵ֥א (filled) אֶת־ (-) הַבָּֽיִת׃ (the temple). 2  וְלֹ֤א (And not) יָֽכְלוּ֙ (were able) הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (the priests) לָב֖וֹא (enter) אֶל־ (into) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), כִּֽי־ (because) מָלֵ֥א (had filled) כְבוֹד־ (the glory) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֥ית (house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

3  וְכֹ֣ל׀ (And all) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) רֹאִים֙ (looked) בְּרֶ֣דֶת (upon the descending) הָאֵ֔שׁ (of the fire) וּכְב֥וֹד (and the glory) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) עַל־ (upon) הַבָּ֑יִת (the temple), וַיִּכְרְעוּ֩ (and they bowed) אַפַּ֨יִם (their faces) אַ֤רְצָה (to the ground) עַל־ (on) הָרִֽצְפָה֙ (the pavement), וַיִּֽשְׁתַּֽחֲו֔וּ (and they worshiped) וְהוֹד֤וֹת (and gave thanks) לַיהוָה֙ (to YHWH):

כִּ֣י (For) ט֔וֹב (He is good);

כִּ֥י (truly) לְעוֹלָ֖ם (forever) חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ (is His loving devotion).

Sacrifices of Dedication
(1 Kings 8:62–66)

4  וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (And the king) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֑ם (the people) זֹבְחִ֥ים (offered) זֶ֖בַח (sacrifices) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) יְהוָֽה׃ס (YHWH). 5  וַיִּזְבַּ֞ח (And offered) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) שְׁלֹמֹה֮ (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) זֶ֣בַח (a sacrifice) הַבָּקָ֗ר (of the herd), עֶשְׂרִ֤ים (twenty) וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ (and two) אֶ֔לֶף (thousand), וְצֹ֕אן (and sheep) מֵאָ֥ה (a hundred) וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים (and twenty) אָ֑לֶף (thousand). וַֽיַּחְנְכוּ֙ (And dedicated) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֣ית (the house) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָֽם׃ (the people).

6  וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים (And the priests) עַל־ (over) מִשְׁמְרוֹתָ֣ם (their charges) עֹמְדִ֗ים (were standing), וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם (and the Levites) בִּכְלֵי־ (with instruments) שִׁ֤יר (of the song) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) עָשָׂ֜ה (had made) דָּוִ֣יד (David) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king) לְהֹד֤וֹת (to give thanks) לַיהוָה֙ (YHWH): כִּֽי־ (For) לְעוֹלָ֣ם (forever) חַסְדּ֔וֹ (is His loving devotion). בְּהַלֵּ֥ל (Praising) דָּוִ֖יד (of David) בְּיָדָ֑ם (by their hand), וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ (and the priests) מַחֲצֹצְרִים (sounded trumpets) נֶגְדָּ֔ם (opposite them), וְכָל־ (and all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) עֹמְדִֽים׃ס (was standing).

7  וַיְקַדֵּ֣שׁ (And consecrated) שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) תּ֤וֹךְ (the middle) הֶֽחָצֵר֙ (of the court) אֲשֶׁר֙ (that was) לִפְנֵ֣י (in front) בֵית־ (of the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), כִּֽי־ (for) עָ֤שָׂה (he offered) שָׁם֙ (there) הָֽעֹל֔וֹת (the burnt offerings) וְאֵ֖ת (and) חֶלְבֵ֣י (the fat) הַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים (of the peace offerings), כִּֽי־ (because) מִזְבַּ֤ח (altar) הַנְּחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ (the bronze) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשָׂ֣ה (had made) שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (Solomon) לֹ֣א (not) יָכ֗וֹל (was able) לְהָכִ֛יל (to receive) אֶת־ (-) הָעֹלָ֥ה (the burnt offerings), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמִּנְחָ֖ה (the present), וְאֶת־ (and) הַחֲלָבִֽים׃ (the fat).

8  וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (And kept) שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) הֶ֠חָג (the feast) בָּעֵ֨ת (at the time) הַהִ֜יא (that) שִׁבְעַ֤ת (seven) יָמִים֙ (days), וְכָל־ (and all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (Israel) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him), קָהָ֖ל (an assembly) גָּד֣וֹל (great) מְאֹ֑ד (very) מִלְּב֥וֹא (from the entrance) חֲמָ֖ת (of Hamath) עַד־ (to) נַ֥חַל (the Brook) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt). 9  וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֛וּ (And they made) בַּיּ֥וֹם (on the day) הַשְּׁמִינִ֖י (eighth) עֲצָ֑רֶת (a solemn assembly), כִּ֣י׀ (for) חֲנֻכַּ֣ת (the dedication) הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ (of the altar) עָשׂוּ֙ (they observed) שִׁבְעַ֣ת (seven) יָמִ֔ים (days), וְהֶחָ֖ג (and the feast) שִׁבְעַ֥ת (seven) יָמִֽים׃ (days).

10  וּבְי֨וֹם (And on the day) עֶשְׂרִ֤ים (twenty) וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ (and third) לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ (of the month) הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י (seventh) שִׁלַּ֥ח (he sent away) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֖ם (the people) לְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם (to their tents), שְׂמֵחִים֙ (joyful) וְט֣וֹבֵי (and glad) לֵ֔ב (of heart) עַל־ (for) הַטּוֹבָ֗ה (the good) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) עָשָׂ֤ה (had done) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) לְדָוִ֣יד (to David), וְלִשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (and to Solomon), וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (and to Israel) עַמּֽוֹ׃ (His people).

Yahweh’s Response to Solomon
(1 Kings 9:1–9)

11  וַיְכַ֧ל (And finished) שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) וְאֶת־ (and) בֵּ֣ית (the house) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king). וְאֵ֨ת (And) כָּל־ (all) הַבָּ֜א (that came) עַל־ (into) לֵ֣ב (the heart) שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה (of Solomon) לַעֲשׂ֧וֹת (to do) בְּבֵית־ (in the house) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) וּבְבֵית֖וֹ (and in his own house), הִצְלִֽיחַ׃פ (he accomplished). 12  וַיֵּרָ֧א (And appeared) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Solomon) בַּלָּ֑יְלָה (by the night), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) ל֗וֹ (to him),

שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ (I have heard) אֶת־ (-) תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ (your prayer), וּבָחַ֜רְתִּי (and I have chosen) בַּמָּק֥וֹם (the place) הַזֶּ֛ה (this) לִ֖י (for Myself) לְבֵ֥ית (as a house) זָֽבַח׃ (of sacrifice). 13  הֵ֣ן (If) אֶֽעֱצֹ֤ר (I shut up) הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ (the heavens) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִהְיֶ֣ה (there is) מָטָ֔ר (rain), וְהֵן־ (or if) אֲצַוֶּ֥ה (I lay charge) עַל־ (upon) חָגָ֖ב (the locust) לֶאֱכ֣וֹל (to devour) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land), וְאִם־ (or if) אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח (I send) דֶּ֖בֶר (pestilence) בְּעַמִּֽי׃ (among My people), 14  וְיִכָּנְע֨וּ (and will humble themselves) עַמִּ֜י (My people) אֲשֶׁ֧ר (who) נִֽקְרָא־ (are called) שְׁמִ֣י (by My name) עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (upon them), וְיִֽתְפַּֽלְלוּ֙ (and they pray) וִֽיבַקְשׁ֣וּ (and seek) פָנַ֔י (My face) וְיָשֻׁ֖בוּ (and turn) מִדַּרְכֵיהֶ֣ם (from their ways) הָרָעִ֑ים (wicked), וַאֲנִי֙ (then I) אֶשְׁמַ֣ע (will hear) מִן־ (from) הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (the heavens) וְאֶסְלַח֙ (and will forgive) לְחַטָּאתָ֔ם (their sin) וְאֶרְפָּ֖א (and heal) אֶת־ (-) אַרְצָֽם׃ (their land).

15  עַתָּ֗ה (Now) עֵינַי֙ (My eyes) יִהְי֣וּ (will be) פְתֻח֔וֹת (open), וְאָזְנַ֖י (and My ears) קַשֻּׁב֑וֹת (attentive) לִתְפִלַּ֖ת (to the prayer) הַמָּק֥וֹם (in the place) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 16  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And for now) בָּחַ֤רְתִּי (I have chosen) וְהִקְדַּ֙שְׁתִּי֙ (and sanctified) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֣יִת (the house) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), לִהְיוֹת־ (that may be) 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).

17  וְאַתָּ֞ה (And you), אִם־ (if) תֵּלֵ֣ךְ (you walk) לְפָנַ֗י (before Me) כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (as) הָלַךְ֙ (walked) דָּוִ֣יד (David) אָבִ֔יךָ (your father), וְלַעֲשׂ֕וֹת (and do) כְּכֹ֖ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) צִוִּיתִ֑יךָ (I have commanded you), וְחֻקַּ֥י (and if My statutes) וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י (and My ordinances) תִּשְׁמֽוֹר׃ (you keep), 18  וַהֲקִ֣ימוֹתִ֔י (then I will establish) אֵ֖ת (-) כִּסֵּ֣א (the throne) מַלְכוּתֶ֑ךָ (of your kingdom), כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (as) כָּרַ֗תִּי (I cut) לְדָוִ֤יד (with David) אָבִ֙יךָ֙ (your father), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לֹֽא־ (Not) יִכָּרֵ֤ת (shall be cut off) לְךָ֙ (to you) אִ֔ישׁ (a man) מוֹשֵׁ֖ל (to rule) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (in Israel).

19  וְאִם־ (And if) תְּשׁוּב֣וּן (turn away) אַתֶּ֔ם (you⁺) וַעֲזַבְתֶּם֙ (and forsake) חֻקּוֹתַ֣י (My statutes) וּמִצְוֺתַ֔י (and My commandments) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נָתַ֖תִּי (I have set) לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם (before you⁺), וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֗ם (and walk) וַעֲבַדְתֶּם֙ (and serve) אֱלֹהִ֣ים (gods) אֲחֵרִ֔ים (other), וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם (and worship) לָהֶֽם׃ (them), 20  וּנְתַשְׁתִּ֗ים (then I will uproot them) מֵעַ֤ל (from) אַדְמָתִי֙ (My land) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) נָתַ֣תִּי (I have given) לָהֶ֔ם (them) וְאֶת־ (and) הַבַּ֤יִת (the house) הַזֶּה֙ (this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הִקְדַּ֣שְׁתִּי (I have sanctified) לִשְׁמִ֔י (for My name). אַשְׁלִ֖יךְ (I will cast out) מֵעַ֣ל (from before) פָּנָ֑י (My face), וְאֶתְּנֶ֛נּוּ (and I will make it) לְמָשָׁ֥ל (a proverb) וְלִשְׁנִינָ֖ה (and a byword) בְּכָל־ (among all) הָעַמִּֽים׃ (the peoples).

21  וְהַבַּ֤יִת (And the house) הַזֶּה֙ (this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הָיָ֣ה (is) עֶלְי֔וֹן (exalted), לְכָל־ (all) עֹבֵ֥ר (who pass) עָלָ֖יו (by it) יִשֹּׁ֑ם (will be astonished) וְאָמַ֗ר (and say), בַּמֶּ֨ה (Why) עָשָׂ֤ה (has done) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) כָּ֔כָה (thus) לָאָ֥רֶץ (to the land) הַזֹּ֖את (this) וְלַבַּ֥יִת (and to the house) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this)? 22  וְאָמְר֗וּ (And they will answer), עַל֩ (Because) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) עָֽזְב֜וּ (they have forsaken) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה׀ (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) אֲבֹתֵיהֶ֗ם (of their fathers) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) הוֹצִיאָם֮ (brought them) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (out of the land) מִצְרַיִם֒ (of Egypt), וַֽיַּחֲזִ֙יקוּ֙ (and embraced) בֵּאלֹהִ֣ים (gods) אֲחֵרִ֔ים (other), וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ (and worshiped) לָהֶ֖ם (them) וַיַּֽעַבְד֑וּם (and served them), עַל־ (upon) כֵּן֙ (thus) הֵבִ֣יא (He has brought) עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (upon them) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הָרָעָ֖ה (the evil) הַזֹּֽאת׃פ (this).