Chapter 5

1And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt, they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.   אוּשְׁלֹמֹ֗ה הָיָ֚ה מוֹשֵׁל֙ בְּכָל־הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת מִן־הַנָּהָר֙ אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְעַ֖ד גְּב֣וּל מִצְרָ֑יִם מַגִּשִׁ֥ים מִנְחָ֛ה וְעֹבְדִ֥ים אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה כָּל־יְמֵ֥י חַיָּֽיו:
2And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal.   בוַיְהִ֥י לֶֽחֶם־שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְי֣וֹם אֶחָ֑ד שְׁלשִׁ֥ים כֹּר֙ סֹ֔לֶת וְשִׁשִּׁ֥ים כֹּ֖ר קָֽמַח:
3Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, besides harts, and deer, and fallow deer, and fatted fowl.   געֲשָׂרָ֨ה בָקָ֜ר בְּרִאִ֗ים וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים בָּקָ֛ר רְעִ֖י וּמֵ֣אָה צֹ֑אן לְ֠בַד מֵֽאַיָּ֚ל וּצְבִי֙ וְיַחְמ֔וּר וּבַרְבֻּרִ֖ים אֲבוּסִֽים:
Fat. Fattened in the stall.   בְּרִאִים.  פְּטוּמִים עַל הָאֵבוּס.
The pastures. On the grass.   רְעִי.  מִן הָאָחוּ.
And fatted fowl. There are amongst our Sages those who say these were roosters which were fattened [forcefully].   וּבַרְבֻּרִים אֲבוּסִים.  יֵשׁ מֵרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אוֹמְרִים: תַּרְנְגוֹלִים פְּטוּמִין (וּכְעֵין זֶה כָּתַב רש"י בב"מ פו ב).
4For he had dominion over all (the inhabitants) on this side of the river, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side of the river, and he had peace on all sides around.   דכִּי־ה֞וּא רֹדֶ֣ה | בְּכָל־עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֗ר מִתִּפְסַח֙ וְעַד־עַזָּ֔ה בְּכָל־מַלְכֵ֖י עֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֑ר וְשָׁל֗וֹם הָ֥יָה ל֛וֹ מִכָּל־עֲבָרָ֖יו מִסָּבִֽיב:
5And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.   הוַיֵּשֶׁב֩ יְהוּדָ֨ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לָבֶ֗טַח אִ֣ישׁ תַּ֚חַת גַּפְנוֹ֙ וְתַ֣חַת תְּאֵֽנָת֔וֹ מִדָּ֖ן וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י שְׁלֹמֹֽה:
6And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.   ווַיְהִ֣י לִשְׁלֹמֹ֗ה אַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אֻרְוֹ֥ת סוּסִ֖ים לְמֶרְכָּב֑וֹ וּשְׁנֵים־עָשָֹ֥ר אֶ֖לֶף פָּרָשִֽׁים:
forty thousand stalls of horses. In Chron. II 9:25 it says four thousand [stalls of horses whereas here forty thousand are mentioned]. Our Sages explained there were forty thousand stalls and in each there were four thousand partitions, or there were four thousand stalls and in each there were forty thousand partitions.   אַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף אֻרְו‍ֹת סוּסִים.  וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים הוּא אוֹמֵר: אַרְבַּעַת אֲלָפִים, פֵּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף אֻרְווֹת הָיוּ, וּבְכָל אַחַת אַרְבַּע אֶלֶף אִצְטַבְּלָאוֹת. אוֹ אַרְבַּעַת אֲלָפִים אֻרְווֹת, וּבְכָל אַחַת אַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף אִצְטַבְּלָאוֹת.
7And these officers provided victuals for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man (in) his month, they lacked nothing.   זוְכִלְכְּלוּ֩ הַנִּצָּבִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה אֶת־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה וְאֵ֧ת כָּל־הַקָּרֵ֛ב אֶל־שֻׁלְחַ֥ן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה אִ֣ישׁ חָדְשׁ֑וֹ לֹ֥א יְעַדְּר֖וּ דָּבָֽר:
They lacked nothing. Even summer fruits and vegetables, as cucumbers in the winter.   לֹא יְעַדְּרוּ דָּבָר.  אֲפִלּוּ שֶׁל יְמוֹת הַחַמָּה בִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים.
8And the barley and the straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to the place where he would be there, every man according to his charge.   חוְהַשְּׂעֹרִ֣ים וְהַתֶּ֔בֶן לַסּוּסִ֖ים וְלָרָ֑כֶשׁ יָבִ֗אוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִֽהְיֶה־שָּׁ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ כְּמִשְׁפָּטֽוֹ:
And the barley and the straw. These officers [were obligated] not only to provide the necessary food but also to deliver it to the place where the king would be.   וְהַשְּׂעֹרִים וְהַתֶּבֶן.  הָיוּ נוֹתְנִים אֵלּוּ הַנְּצִיבִים, אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה שָׁם הַמֶּלֶךְ.
9And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceedingly much, and largeness of heart, as the sand that (is) on the seashore.   טוַיִּתֵּן֩ אֱלֹהִ֨ים חָכְמָ֧ה לִשְׁלֹמֹ֛ה וּתְבוּנָ֖ה הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְרֹ֣חַב לֵ֔ב כַּח֕וֹל אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיָּֽם:
10And Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.   יוַתֵּ֙רֶב֙ חָכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מֵֽחָכְמַ֖ת כָּל־בְּנֵי־קֶ֑דֶם וּמִכֹּ֖ל חָכְמַ֥ת מִצְרָֽיִם:
Was greater than the wisdom of all the children of the east. What was the wisdom of the children of the east? They were learned in astronomy, as it is stated in the Pesikta of Para Adumah, and all of this chapter is expounded there according to its ordinary sense.   מֵחָכְמַת כָּל בְּנֵי קֶדֶם.  מַה הִיא חָכְמַת בְּנֵי קֶדֶם, יוֹדְעִים בְּמַזָּלוֹת וְכוּ' כִּדְאִיתָא בִּפְסִיקְתָּא דְּפָרָה אֲדֻמָּה, וְכָל הַפָּרָשָׁה הַזֹּאת נִדְרֶשֶׁת שָׁם לְפִי מַשְׁמָעָהּ.
11And he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the nations round about.   יאוַיֶּחְכַּם֘ מִכָּל־הָֽאָדָם֒ מֵאֵיתָ֣ן הָאֶזְרָחִ֗י וְהֵימָ֧ן וְכַלְכֹּ֛ל וְדַרְדַּ֖ע בְּנֵ֣י מָח֑וֹל וַיְהִֽי־שְׁמ֥וֹ בְכָֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם סָבִֽיב:
And he was wiser than all men. As its ordinary sense.   וַיֶּחְכַּם מִכָּל הָאָדָם.  כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ.
Ethan, Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda. They were all brothers, the sons of Zerach the son of Yehuda as it says (Chron. I 2:6), “And the children of Zerach were Zimri and Ethan.”   אֵיתָן וְהֵימָן וְכַלְכֹּל וְדַרְדַּע.  אַחִין הָיוּ, בְּנֵי זֶרַח בֶּן יְהוּדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וּבְנֵי זֶרַח זִמְרִי וְאֵיתָן (הָיוּ לְוִיִּם מְשׁוֹרְרִים).
The sons of Mahol. They knew how to compose hymns which are said in dancing. They were songs which the Levites said on their platform in the בֵּית הַמִקְדָשׁ, hymns which they composed in the book of Psalms. The Medrash Agada in the Pesikta has another interpretation: הָאָדָם מִכָּל this is a reference to אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן אֵיתָן הָאֶזְרָחִי this is אַבְרָהָם. הֵימָן this is משה, וְכַלְכֹּל this is יוֹסֵף. וְדַרְדַע this is the generation of the wilderness [known as the דור דעה]. מָחוֹל that they were forgiven for the act of the golden calf.   בְּנֵי מָחוֹל.  הָיוּ יוֹדְעִים לְיַסֵּד מִזְמוֹרִים הָאֲמוּרִים בִּמְחוֹלוֹת שִׁיר, שֶׁהָיוּ הַלְוִיִּם אוֹמְרִים עַל דּוּכָנָם מִזְמוֹרִים שֶׁיִּסְּדוּ בְסֵפֶר תְּהִלִּים: מַשְׂכִּיל לְאֵיתָן הָאֶזְרָחִי; וּמַשְׂכִּיל לְהֵימָן הָאֶזְרָחִי. מִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה בִּפְסִיקְתָּא: מִכָּל הָאָדָם — זֶה אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן; אֵיתָן הָאֶזְרָחִי — זֶה אַבְרָהָם; הֵימָן — זֶה משֶׁה; וְכַלְכֹּל — זֶה יוֹסֵף; וְדַרְדַּע — זֶה דּוֹר הַמִּדְבָּר; מָחוֹל — שֶׁנִּמְחַל לָהֶם עַל מַעֲשֵׂה הָעֵגֶל.
12And he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five.   יבוַיְדַבֵּ֕ר שְׁל֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים מָשָׁ֑ל וַיְהִ֥י שִׁיר֖וֹ חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה וָאָֽלֶף:
Three thousand proverbs. Three parabolical studies. It is written three times “The proverbs of Solomon” in the book of Proverbs.   שְׁלשֶׁת אֲלָפִים מָשָׁל.  שְׁלשֶׁת לִמּוּדֵי מְשָׁלוֹת, שָׁלשׁ פְּעָמִים כָּתוּב 'מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה' בְּסֵפֶר מִשְׁלֵי.
And his songs were five. These three, The Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes.   וַיְהִי שִׁירוֹ חֲמִשָּׁה.  שְׁלשָׁה אֵלֶּה, וְשִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים, וְקֹהֶלֶת.
And a thousand. in each it was worthy of studying. And in the Medrash Aggada [we find Solomon’s great wisdom enabled him] to say three thousand allegories in each sentence of the Torah, and in each of the allegories one thousand and five reasons.   וָאָלֶף.  בְּכָל אֶחָד כְּדַי הוּא לִלְמֹד. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: שֶׁהָיָה אוֹמֵר בְּכָל פָּסוּק שְׁלשֶׁת אֲלָפִים מָשָׁל, וְעַל כָּל מָשָׁל, אֶלֶף וַחֲמִשָּׁה טְעָמִים.
13And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that (is) in Lebanon and to the hyssop that springs out of the wall, and he spoke of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of the creeping things, and of the fishes.   יגוַיְדַבֵּר֘ עַל־הָֽעֵצִים֒ מִן־הָאֶ֙רֶז֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן וְעַד֙ הָאֵז֔וֹב אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹצֵ֖א בַּקִּ֑יר וַיְדַבֵּר֙ עַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה וְעַל־הָע֔וֹף וְעַל־הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ וְעַל־הַדָּגִֽים:
And he spoke of trees. which cure is derived from each tree, and that particular wood would be best for that type of building and to plant [a certain tree] in that type of earth. And also of the beasts, what is its cure and the vital elements [necessary] for its upbringing and development and its food. The Midrash Aggada [has another explanation]: Why did God see fit that a ‘metzora’ become clean with the tallest of the tall trees, as the cedar, and the shortest of the short trees? And also of the beasts and the fowl. Why did God see fit that this one, should become permissible by severing one, either the esophagus or the trachea, and this one, the beast, by severing both the esophagus and the trachea, and fish and grasshoppers with neither.   וַיְדַבֵּר עַל הָעֵצִים.  מָה רְפוּאַת כָּל אֶחָד, וְעֵץ פְּלוֹנִי יָפֶה לְבִנְיָן פְּלוֹנִי, וְלִטַּע בְּקַרְקַע פְּלוֹנִית וְכֵן עַל הַבְּהֵמָה, מָה רְפוּאָתָהּ, וְעִקַּר גִּדּוּלֶיהָ וּמַאֲכָלָהּ. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: מָה רָאָה מְצֹרָע לִטָּהֵר בְּגָבוֹהַּ שֶׁבַּגְּבוֹהִים, וּבְנָמוּךְ שֶׁבַּנְּמוּכִים. וְעַל הַבְּהֵמָה וְעַל הָעוֹף, מָה רָאָה זֶה לִהְיוֹת כָּשֵׁר בִּשְׁחִיטָה בְּסִימָן אֶחָד, וְזֶה בִּשְׁנֵי סִימָנִין, וְדָגִים וַחֲגָבִים בְּלֹא כְלוּם.
14And they came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard his wisdom.   ידוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ מִכָּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים לִשְׁמֹ֕עַ אֵ֖ת חָכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה מֵאֵת֙ כָּל־מַלְכֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמְע֖וּ אֶת־חָכְמָתֽוֹ:
15And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram was ever a lover of David.   טווַ֠יִּשְׁלַח חִירָ֨ם מֶֽלֶךְ־צ֚וֹר אֶת־עֲבָדָיו֙ אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֔ע כִּ֥י אֹת֛וֹ מָשְׁח֥וּ לְמֶ֖לֶךְ תַּ֣חַת אָבִ֑יהוּ כִּ֣י אֹהֵ֗ב הָיָ֥ה חִירָ֛ם לְדָוִ֖ד כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים:
16And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying.   טזוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה אֶל־חִירָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר:
17You knew my father, David, that he could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God, because of the wars which surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.   יזאַתָּ֨ה יָדַ֜עְתָּ אֶת־דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֗י כִּ֣י לֹ֚א יָכֹל֙ לִבְנ֣וֹת בַּ֗יִת לְשֵׁם֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔יו מִפְּנֵ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר סְבָבֻ֑הוּ עַ֚ד תֵּת־יְהֹוָה֙ אֹתָ֔ם תַּ֖חַת כַּפּ֥וֹת רַגְלָֽי (כתיב רַגְלָֽו) :
He could not build a house. He was not permitted because of the wars, as the Torah states clearly (Deut. 12:10): “And He will give you rest from all your enemies round about” and afterwards, “Then it shall come to pass that the place [which the Lord your God shall choose etc.] even unto His habitation shall you seek etc.”   לֹא יָכֹל לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת וְגוֹ'.  לֹא הָיָה רַשַּׁאי מִפְּנֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה, וְהַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: וְהֵנִיחַ לָכֶם מִכָּל אֹיְבֵיכֶם מִסָּבִיב, וְאַחַר כָּךְ: וְהָיָה הַמָּקוֹם וְגוֹ' לְשִׁכְנוֹ תִדְרְשׁוּ וְגוֹ'.
18And now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, (there is) neither adversary nor evil occurrence.   יחוְעַתָּ֕ה הֵנִ֨יחַ יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהַ֛י לִ֖י מִסָּבִ֑יב אֵ֣ין שָׂטָ֔ן וְאֵ֖ין פֶּ֥גַע רָֽע:
19And, behold, I purpose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying, 'Your son whom I will set upon your throne in your place, he shall build a house for My name.'   יטוְהִנְנִ֣י אֹמֵ֔ר לִבְנ֣וֹת בַּ֔יִת לְשֵׁ֖ם יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר | דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־דָּוִ֚ד אָבִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בִּנְךָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֶתֵּ֚ן תַּחְתֶּ֙יךָ֙ עַל־כִּסְאֶ֔ךָ הֽוּא־יִבְנֶ֥ה הַבַּ֖יִת לִשְׁמִֽי:
20And now, command that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon, and my servants shall be with your servants, and I will give you hire for your servants according to all that you shall say, for you know that (there is) not among us any who is skilled to hew timber like the Zidonians.   כוְעַתָּ֡ה צַוֵּה֩ וְיִכְרְתוּ־לִ֨י אֲרָזִ֜ים מִן־הַלְּבָנ֗וֹן וַֽעֲבָדַי֙ יִהְי֣וּ עִם־עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ וּשְׂכַ֚ר עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לְךָ֔ כְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאמֵ֑ר כִּ֣י | אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֗עְתָּ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין בָּ֛נוּ אִ֛ישׁ יֹדֵ֥עַ לִכְרָת־עֵצִ֖ים כַּצִּדֹנִֽים:
Like the Zidonians. The Zidonians were neighboring with the forest of Lebanon on one side and part of the kingdom of Hiram.   כַּצִּדֹנִים.  שְׁכֵנִים לַיַּעַר לְצַד אֶחָד הָיוּ, וּבְמֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹ שֶׁל חִירָם.
21And it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, "Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people."   כאוַיְהִ֞י כִּשְׁמֹ֧עַ חִירָ֛ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה וַיִּשְׂמַ֣ח מְאֹ֑ד וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּר֚וּךְ יְהֹוָה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֚ן לְדָוִד֙ בֵּ֣ן חָכָ֔ם עַל־הָעָ֥ם הָרָ֖ב הַזֶּֽה:
22And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, "I have heard that which you have sent me, I will do all your desires concerning cedar wood, and concerning cypress wood.   כבוַיִּשְׁלַ֚ח חִירָם֙ אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁמַ֕עְתִּי אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֖חְתָּ אֵלָ֑י אֲנִ֚י אֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙ אֶת־כָּל־חֶפְצְךָ֔ בַּעֲצֵ֥י אֲרָזִ֖ים וּבַעֲצֵ֥י בְרוֹשִֽׁים:
23My servants shall bring (them) down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts (to go) by the sea to the place that you shall send me, and will separate them there, and you will transport (them), and you shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.   כגעֲ֠בָדַי יֹרִ֨דוּ מִן־הַלְּבָנ֜וֹן יָ֗מָּה וַ֠אֲנִי אֲשִׂימֵ֨ם דֹּבְר֚וֹת בַּיָּם֙ עַֽד־הַמָּק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁר־תִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֵלַ֛י וְנִפַּצְתִּ֥ים שָׁ֖ם וְאַתָּ֣ה תִשָּׂ֑א וְאַתָּה֙ תַּעֲשֶֹ֣ה אֶת־חֶפְצִ֔י לָתֵ֖ת לֶ֥חֶם בֵּיתִֽי:
I will make them into rafts. The prophet Ezra calls them רַפְסוֹדוֹת, in Chronicles [II 2:15]. And in German they are called floss, floats, and in old French res, similar to rafts. They would tie the fallen trees together and float them on the water and conduct them as ships are conducted.   אֲשִׂימֵם דֹּבְרוֹת.  'רַפְסוֹדוֹת' קוֹרֵא לָהֶם בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים, וּבִלְשׁוֹן אַשְׁכְּנַז פליצי"ן, וּבְלַעַ"ז רי"ץ, קוֹשְׁרִין הָעֵצִים זֶה עִם זֶה, וּמְצִיפִין אוֹתָן עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם, וּמוֹלִיכִין אוֹתָן כְּמוֹ שֶׁמּוֹלִיכִין הַסְּפִינוֹת.
To the place that you shall send me. That you shall send a messenger to inform me to bring them. there   עַד הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁלַח אֵלַי.  אֲשֶׁר תּוֹדִיעֵנִי לַהֲבִיאָם שָׁם.
And will separate them there. As their binding is untied and they are taken from the water to the beach, each and every log separately, that is called נִיפּוּץ. Any whole object when it is taken apart, that is called נִיפּוּץ, depced in old French.   וְנִפַּצְתִּים שָׁם.  כְּשֶׁמַּתִּיר אוֹגְדָן וּמוֹצִיאָן אֶל הַיַּבָּשָׁה כָּל עֵץ וְעֵץ לְעַצְמוֹ, הִיא קְרוּיָה נִפּוּץ (כָּל דָּבָר שָׁלֵם שֶׁמְּחַלְּקִים אוֹתוֹ לִפְרָקִים, קָרוּי נִפּוּץ), דיפצי"ר בְּלַעַ"ז.
24And Hiram gave Solomon cedar wood and cypress wood (according to) all his desire.   כדוַיְהִ֨י חִיר֜וֹם נֹתֵ֣ן לִשְׁלֹמֹ֗ה עֲצֵ֧י אֲרָזִ֛ים וַעֲצֵ֥י בְרוֹשִׁ֖ים כָּל־חֶפְצֽוֹ:
25And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat (for) food to his household, and twenty measures of beaten oil, thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.   כהוּשְׁלֹמֹה֩ נָתַ֨ן לְחִירָ֜ם עֶשְׂרִים֩ אֶ֨לֶף כֹּ֚ר חִטִּים֙ מַכֹּ֣לֶת לְבֵית֔וֹ וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים כֹּ֖ר שֶׁ֣מֶן כָּתִ֑ית כֹּֽה־יִתֵּ֧ן שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה לְחִירָ֖ם שָׁנָ֥ה בְשָׁנָֽה:
Food for his household. Heb. מכלת, an expression from the word מַאֲכָל, food.   מַכֹּלֶת לְבֵיתוֹ.  לְשׁוֹן מַאֲכָל.
beaten oil. This oil was pure because the olives were not ground in a mill but rather crushed with a mortar, and this process does not stir up as much dregs as those which are ground.   שֶׁמֶן כָּתִית.  שֶׁמֶן נָקִי, שֶׁאֵין זֵיתִים נִטְחָנִים בָּרֵיחַיִם, אֶלָּא כּוֹתֵשׁ בְּמַכְתֶּשֶׁת, וְאֵין מַעֲלֶה שְׁמָרִים כָּל כָּךְ כְּמוֹ הַטָּחוּן.
26And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they both made a league together.   כווַיהֹוָ֗ה נָתַ֚ן חָכְמָה֙ לִשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־ל֑וֹ וַיְהִ֣י שָׁלֹ֗ם בֵּ֚ין חִירָם֙ וּבֵ֣ין שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ בְרִ֖ית שְׁנֵיהֶֽם:
27And King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel, and the levy was thirty thousand men.   כזוַיַּ֨עַל הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה מַ֖ס מִכָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י הַמַּ֔ס שְׁלשִׁ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף אִֽישׁ:
And the levy was thirty thousand men. which amounted to the wages of thirty thousand men.   וַיְהִי הַמַּס.  עוֹלֶה לְשָׂכָר שֶׁל שְׁלשִׁים אֶלֶף אִישׁ.
28And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month alternately, a month they were in Lebanon, (and) two months at home, and Adoniram (was) over the levy.   כחוַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֣ם לְבָנ֗וֹנָה עֲשֶֹ֨רֶת אֲלָפִ֚ים בַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ חֲלִיפ֔וֹת חֹדֶשׁ יִהְי֣וּ בַלְּבָנ֔וֹן שְׁנַ֥יִם חֳדָשִׁ֖ים בְּבֵית֑וֹ וַאֲדֹנִירָ֖ם עַל־הַמָּֽס:
Ten thousand a month alternately. When the thousand men were in Lebanon in Tishrei and the twenty thousand men were at home, in Marcheshvan the second ten thousand would alternate and go out to Lebanon and these would return to their homes. And in the month of Kislev the third group of ten thousand go out, and they would go out to Lebanon, and these second ones would return to their homes. And in the month of Teveth the first ones go out and return to Lebanon, and thus they return again and again. So it is found that each group of ten thousand amongst them would be one month in Lebanon and two months at home.   חֲלִיפוֹת.  כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּסַיֵּם וְאוֹמֵר: חֹדֶשׁ יִהְיוּ בַלְּבָנוֹן, כְּשֶׁהָיוּ עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ בְּתִשְׁרֵי בַּלְּבָנוֹן, וְהָעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף אִישׁ בְּבֵיתוֹ, בְּמַרְחֶשְׁוָן מִתְחַלְּפִים עֲשֶׂרֶת הָאֲלָפִים הַשְּׁנִיִּים וְיוֹצְאִים לִלְבָנוֹן, וְאֵלּוּ חוֹזְרִים לְבֵיתָם, וּבְכִסְלֵו יוֹצְאִים עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים הַשְּׁלִישִׁים וְיוֹצְאִים לִלְבָנוֹן, וְאֵלּוּ חוֹזְרִים לְבֵיתָם, וּבְטֵבֵת יוֹצְאִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים וְחוֹזְרִים לִלְבָנוֹן, וְכֵן חוֹזְרִים חָלִילָה, נִמְצְאוּ כָּל עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים שֶׁבָּהֶם, חֹדֶשׁ בַּלְּבָנוֹן, וּשְׁנֵי חֳדָשִׁים בְּבֵיתָם.
And Adoniram was over the levy. to collect the levy.   עַל הַמַּס.  לִגְבּוֹתוֹ.
29And Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand hewers in the mountains.   כטוַיְהִ֧י לִשְׁלֹמֹ֛ה שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף נֹשֵֹ֣א סַבָּ֑ל וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף חֹצֵ֥ב בָּהָֽר:
Seventy thousand that bore burdens. to bring the stones from the mountains to the city, and the eighty thousand men were the ones who hewed them in the mountains. There is altogether one hundred fifty thousand men. And they were all proselytes who were drawn and attracted to the Jewish people, that converted because of Solomon’s greatness and hospitality. And it is likewise written in Chronicles II (2: 16) “And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel… and they were found a hundred and fifty thousand. And he set seventy thousand…”   שִׁבְעִים אֶלֶף נֹשֵׂא סַבָּל.  לְהָבִיא הָאֲבָנִים מִן הָהָר לָעִיר, וּשְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף הַחוֹצְבִים אוֹתָם בָּהָר, הֲרֵי מֵאָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף, וְכֻלָּם גֵּרִים גְּרוּרִים הָיוּ, שֶׁנִּתְגַּיְּרוּ מֵחֲמַת גְּדֻלַּת שְׁלֹמֹה וְשֻׁלְחָנוֹ, וְכֵן כָּתוּב בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים: וַיִּסְפֹּר שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת כָּל הַגֵּרִים וַיִּמְצָאֵם מֵאָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וַיַּעַשׂ מֵהֶם שִׁבְעִים אֶלֶף וְגוֹ'.
30Besides Solomon's chief officers that were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bore rule over the people that wrought in the work.   ללְ֠בַד מִשָּׂרֵ֨י הַנִּצָּבִ֚ים לִשְׁלֹמֹה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה שְׁל֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וּשְׁל֣שׁ מֵא֑וֹת הָרֹדִ֣ים בָּעָ֔ם הָעֹשִֹ֖ים בַּמְּלָאכָֽה:
The chief officers. These were the oppressors and overseers over those who did the work.   מִשָּׂרֵי הַנִּצָּבִים.  נוֹגְשִׂים וּנְצִיבִים עַל עוֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה.
Three thousand and three hundred. And in Chronicles II (2:1) it says three thousand and six hundred. It is, therefore, my opinion that the three thousand three hundred men were in charge of one hundred fifty thousand men, so that each one was in charge of forty five and some odd men, and the three hundred men who were added in Chronicles were in charge of all of them, so that each of these three hundred men was in charge of five hundred and some odd men. And you shall know the evidence in support of my opinion that there are two other passages on this subject, and they contradict one another. For it says on this topic in this book of Kings I (9:23) “These were the chief officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty,” and in the book of Chronicles II (8:10) it says “two hundred and fifty.” There are, therefore, altogether, four verses contradicting one another. But we may explain it thus. Those that are mentioned in the latter verses in I Kings 9:23 and in Chronicles II (8:10), were in charge of all of them. And it is a fact that Solomon had employed these proselytes to be bearers of burdens and to hew stones in the mountains. And, in addition, he had the remaining workers for the store cities which he also built, who were native born Jews. Because these passages are stated there in Chronicles II which discusses the store-cities. And to sum it up then, in the book of Kings he counted the proselyte officers in two separate totals. First, he counted the three thousand three hundred men, the officers who were in charge of forty-five men each, separately. And in (9:23) he combined the three hundred superior officers, who were in charge of these three thousand three hundred men, with the two hundred and fifty men who were in charge of the builders of the store-cities, and totaled together five hundred and fifty officers. And, on the other hand, in Chronicles II he counted all the proselyte officers, the major and minor ones, together, three thousand six hundred men, and they were all proselytes. And the officers in charge of the workers in the store-cities, who were Jews, totaling two hundred and fifty men, he counted separately.   שְׁלשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת.  וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים הוּא אוֹמֵר: וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת, אוֹמֵר אֲנִי, שְׁלשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת הָיוּ מְמֻנִּים עַל מֵאָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף, שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד מְמֻנֶּה עַל אַרְבָּעִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה וְיוֹתֵר, וְהַשְּׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת שֶׁנּוֹסָפִים בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים, הָיוּ מְמֻנִּים עַל כֻּלָּם, שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד מְמֻנֶּה עַל חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת וְיוֹתֵר. וְתֵדַע, שֶׁהֲרֵי יֵשׁ עוֹד שְׁנֵי כְתוּבִים בְּדָבָר זֶה, וּמַכְחִישִׁין זֶה אֶת זֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ בְּסֵפֶר זֶה: אֵלֶּה שָׂרֵי הַנִּצָּבִים אֲשֶׁר לִשְׁלֹמֹה חֲמִשִּׁים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת, וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים הוּא אוֹמֵר: מָאתַיִם וַחֲמִשִּׁים, הֲרֵי אַרְבַּע מִקְרָאוֹת מַכְחִישִׁין זֶה אֶת זֶה. אֲבָל יֵשׁ לָנוּ לְפָרֵשׁ, שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָאוֹת הָאַחֲרוֹנִים מְמֻנִּים עַל כֻּלָּן, וְלִשְׁלֹמֹה הָיוּ אֵלּוּ הַגֵּרִים לִהְיוֹת לְנוֹשֵׂא סַבָּל וְלַחֲצֹב אֲבָנִים בָּהָר, וְיִהְיוּ לוֹ שְׁאָר עוֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה לְעָרֵי הַמִּסְכְּנוֹת, שֶׁהֵם אֶזְרָחִיִּים, שֶׁאֵלּוּ הַכְּתוּבִים אֲמוּרִים שָׁם. וּבְסֵפֶר מְלָכִים מָנָה אֶת הַנְּצִיבִים הַגֵּרִים שְׁנֵי מִנְיָנִים, שָׂרֵי הָאַרְבָּעִים וְהַחֲמִשָּׁה לְבַדָּם, וְהַשְּׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת הַחֲשׁוּבִים צֵרֵף עִם מָאתַיִם וַחֲמִשִּׁים שֶׁהָיוּ מְמֻנִּים עַל עוֹשֵׂי עָרֵי הַמִּסְכְּנוֹת, וּמָנָה חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים שָׂרִים, וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים מָנָה כָּל נְצִיבֵי הַגֵּרִים לְעַצְמָם, הַגְּדוֹלִים עִם הַקְּטַנִּים שְׁלשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת, וְכֻלָּן גֵּרִים, וּנְצִיבֵי עָרֵי הַמִּסְכְּנוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מָאתַיִם וַחֲמִשִּׁים, מָנָה לְעַצְמָן.
Who bore rule over the people that wrought in the work. Who bore rule over the people that did the work.   הָרֹדִים בָּעָם הָעֹשִׂים בַּמְּלָאכָה.  הַנּוֹגְשִׂים אֶת הָעָם עוֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה.
31And the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, heavy stones, to lay the foundation of the house (with) hewn stone.   לאוַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ וַיַּסִּעוּ֩ אֲבָנִ֨ים גְּדֹל֜וֹת אֲבָנִ֧ים יְקָר֛וֹת לְיַסֵּ֥ד הַבָּ֖יִת אַבְנֵ֥י גָזִֽית:
And they quarried. the stones from the mountains. This is an expression of uprooting.   וַיַּסִּעוּ.  מִן הָהָר, לְשׁוֹן עֲקִירָה.
Great stones, heavy stones. Heb. יקרות, heavy.   אֲבָנִים יְקָרוֹת.  כְּבֵדוֹת.
Hewn stone. They were carved and chiseled [precisely to the required measurement]. And if you ask it has already been stated (6:7) “There was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.” How then were the stones cut to a specific size? The explanation is, that although no tool of iron was heard in the house, while it was in building, but he would chisel the stones while still on the outside, and then bring them in and build from the inside. Thus is this explained in the Tractate Sota (48b).   אַבְנֵי גָזִית.  נִפְסָלוֹת וּמְסֻתָּתוֹת. וְאִם תֹּאמַר וַהֲרֵי כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר: וּמַקָּבוֹת וְהַגַּרְזֶן לֹא נִשְׁמַע בַּבַּיִת בְּהִבָּנוֹתוֹ, פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁכְּלִי בַּרְזֶל לֹא נִשְׁמַע בַּבַּיִת בְּהִבָּנוֹתוֹ, אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיָה מְסַתֵּת מִבַּחוּץ, וּמַכְנִיס וּבוֹנֶה מִבִּפְנִים (סוטה מח ב).
32And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites did hew (them), and they prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.   לבוַֽיִּפְסְל֞וּ בֹּנֵ֧י שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה וּבֹנֵ֥י חִיר֖וֹם וְהַגִּבְלִ֑ים וַיָּכִ֛ינוּ הָעֵצִ֥ים וְהָאֲבָנִ֖ים לִבְנ֥וֹת הַבָּֽיִת:
And they did hew them. in the mountains.   וַיִּפְסְלוּ.  בֶּהָרִים.
And the Gebalites. a nation whose name was Gebal. And they were skilled in the art of chiseling stones and building. As it is stated in reference to the wise men of Tyre (Ezek. 27:9) “The elders of Cebal and the wise men thereof, were in you your calkers.”   וְהַגִּבְלִים.  אֻמָּה שֶׁשְּׁמָהּ גְּבָל, וּבְקִיאִים לְסַתֵּת אֲבָנִים וְלִבְנוֹת, כְּמָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּצוֹר: זִקְנֵי גְבַל וַחֲכָמֶיהָ הָיוּ בָךְ מַחֲזִיקֵי בִּדְקֵךְ.
And they prepared. An expression of designation.   וַיָּכִינוּ.  לְשׁוֹן הַזְמָנָה.