| 1When the Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, because of the name of the Lord, and she came to test him with riddles. |
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אוּמַלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א שֹׁמַ֛עַת אֶת־שֵׁ֥מַע שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֥א לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ בְּחִידֽוֹת: |
| 2And she came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon she spoke with him all that was in her heart. |
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בוַתָּבֹ֣א יְרוּשָׁלְַ֗מָה בְּחַיִל֘ כָּבֵ֣ד מְאֹד֒ גְּ֠מַלִּים נֹשְׂאִ֨ים בְּשָׂמִ֧ים וְזָהָ֛ב רַב־מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֑ה וַתָּבֹא֙ אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־לְבָבָֽהּ: |
| 3And Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from the king that he did not tell her. |
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גוַיַּגֶּד־לָ֥הּ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה אֶת־כָּל־דְּבָרֶ֑יהָ לֹֽא־הָיָ֚ה דָּבָר֙ נֶעְלָ֣ם מִן־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֥֥א הִגִּ֖יד לָֽהּ: |
| 4And when the Queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom and the house that he had built. |
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דוַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ מַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֔א אֵ֖ת כָּל־חָכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וְהַבַּ֖יִת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנָֽה: |
| 5And the food of his table, and the seating of his servants and the station of his attendants and their attire and his cupbearers and his ascent by which he would go up to the Temple of the Lord, she was breathless. |
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הוּמַאֲכַ֣ל שֻׁלְחָנ֡וֹ וּמוֹשַׁ֣ב עֲבָדָיו֩ וּמַעֲמַ֨ד מְשָׁרְתָ֜יו (כתיב מְשָׁרְתָ֜ו) וּמַלְבֻּֽשֵׁיהֶם֙ וּמַשְׁקָ֔יו וְעֹ֣לָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה בָ֛הּ ע֖וֹד רֽוּחַ: |
| and his ascent by which he would go up to the Temple of the Lord. A passageway that he had prepared from his house to the Temple, by which he would go up to the house of the Lord. |
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וְעֹלָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲלֶה בֵּית ה'.
דֶּרֶךְ מָבוֹא שֶׁהֵכִין מִבֵּיתוֹ לְבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁהָיָה עוֹלֶה בוֹ לְבֵית ה'.
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| 6And she said to the king; "It was a true report that I heard in my country of your deeds and of your wisdom. |
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ווַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֱמֶת֙ הָיָ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי בְּאַרְצִ֑י עַל־דְּבָרֶ֖יךָ וְעַל־חָכְמָתֶֽךָ: |
| 7However, I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes, and I have beheld that not even a half had been told to me. You have wisdom and goodness in excess of that which I have heard. |
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זוְלֹֽא־הֶאֱמַ֣נְתִּי לַדְּבָרִ֗ים עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֙אתִי֙ וַתִּרְאֶ֣ינָה עֵינַ֔י וְהִנֵּ֥ה לֹֽא־הֻגַּד־לִ֖י הַחֵ֑צִי הוֹסַ֚פְתָּ חָכְמָה֙ וָט֔וֹב אֶל־הַשְּׁמוּעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי: |
| 8Fortunate are your men; fortunate are these your servants who always stand before you and listen to your profound wisdom. |
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חאַשְׁרֵ֣י אֲנָשֶׁ֔יךָ אַשְׁרֵ֖י עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑לֶּה הָֽעֹמְדִ֚ים לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ תָּמִ֔יד הַשֹּׁמְעִ֖ים אֶת־חָכְמָתֶֽךָ: |
| 9Blessed be the Lord your God, who preferred to place you on the throne of Israel; because of the Lord's love for Israel forever, He appointed you as king to do justice and righteousness. |
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טיְהִ֨י יְהֹוָ֚ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ בָּר֔וּךְ אֲשֶׁר֙ חָפֵ֣ץ בְּךָ֔ לְתִתְּךָ֖ עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּאַהֲבַ֨ת יְהֹוָ֚ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְעֹלָ֔ם וַיְשִֹֽימְךָ֣ לְמֶ֔לֶךְ לַעֲשֹ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּצְדָקָֽה: |
| 10And she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold and very many spices and precious stones; there had never arrived such an abundance of spices as those which the Queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. |
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יוַתִּתֵּ֨ן לַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים | כִּכַּ֣ר זָהָ֗ב וּבְשָׂמִ֛ים הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֑ה לֹא־בָא֩ כַבֹּ֨שֶׂם הַה֥וּא עוֹד֙ לָרֹ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־נָתְנָ֥ה מַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֖א לַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹֽה: |
| 11Also Hiram's ships that delivered gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a huge quantity of almog-wood and precious stones. |
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יאוְגַם֙ אֳנִ֣י חִירָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־נָשָֹ֥א זָהָ֖ב מֵאוֹפִ֑יר הֵבִ֨יא מֵאֹפִ֜יר עֲצֵ֧י אַלְמֻגִּ֛ים הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֥בֶן יְקָרָֽה: |
| almog wood. corail in French. |
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עֲצֵי אַלְמֻגִּים.
קוריי"ל בְּלַעַ"ז (אַלְמוֹגִים).
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| 12And the king made of the almog-wood a path to the House of the Lord and to the king's palace, harps and psalteries to [accompany] the vocalists, there had come no such almog-wood nor has there been seen to this day. |
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יבוַיַּ֣עַשׂ הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ אֶת־עֲצֵ֨י הָאַלְמֻגִּ֜ים מִסְעָ֚ד לְבֵית־יְהֹוָה֙ וּלְבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכִנֹּר֥וֹת וּנְבָלִ֖ים לַשָּׁרִ֑ים לֹ֣א בָֽא־כֵ֞ן עֲצֵ֚י אַלְמֻגִּים֙ וְלֹ֣א נִרְאָ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה: |
| a path to the House of the Lord. [lit. a support.] In II Chron. 9:11 it is written, מְסִלּוֹת, paths to the House of the Lord. I, therefore, say that this מִסְעָד, support, is an expression of a pavement. |
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מִסְעָד לְבֵית ה'.
וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים כְּתִיב: מְסִלּוֹת לְבֵית ה', לְכָךְ אֲנִי אוֹמֵר, הַמִּסְעָד הַזֶּה לְשׁוֹן רִצְפָּה.
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| to accompany the vocalists. for the Levites. |
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לַשָּׁרִים.
לִבְנֵי לֵוִי.
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| 13And King Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba all her wish that she requested, aside from what he gave her, according to king Solomon's ability; and she turned and went to her land, she and her servants. |
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יגוְהַמֶּ֨לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה נָתַ֣ן לְמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א אֶת־כָּל־חֶפְצָהּ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁאָ֔לָה מִלְּבַד֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָֽתַן־לָ֔הּ כְּיַ֖ד הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַתֵּ֛פֶן וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ לְאַרְצָ֖הּ הִ֥יא וַעֲבָדֶֽיהָ: |
| And King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba. This giving refers only to the teaching of wisdom. |
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נָתַן לְמַלְכַּת שְׁבָא.
נְתִינָה זוֹ אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא לִמּוּד חָכְמָה.
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| all her wish. He cohabited with her and Nebuchadnezzar was born to her. He later destroyed the Temple that had stood 410 years in the territory of the twelve tribes. From the Arizal. |
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כָּל חֶפְצָהּ.
(בָּא אֵלֶיהָ וְנוֹלַד מִמֶּנָּה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר, וְהֶחֱרִיב הַבַּיִת שֶׁעָמַד אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וְעֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים בְּחֵלֶק כָּל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים, מֵהָאֲרִ"י זַ"ל). |
| aside from what he gave her. Gifts and delicacies that are found here and are not in her place. |
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מִלְּבַד אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָהּ. מַתָּנוֹת וּמִגְדָּנוֹת הַמְּצוּיִין כָּאן וְאֵינָם מְצוּיִין בִּמְקוֹמָהּ.
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| 14The weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold. |
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ידוַֽיְהִי֙ מִשְׁקַ֣ל הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥א לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בְּשָׁנָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֛וֹת שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וָשֵׁ֖שׁ כִּכַּ֥ר זָהָֽב: |
| Six hundred sixty-six. Hiram gave him 120 talents (v. 14). The Queen of Sheba, 120 (v. 10), the ships of Tarshish brought from Ophir 420, totaling 660. I do not know from where the other six came. In Chronicles (II 8:18) it stated that the ships brought from Ophir 450 talents, however it does not include the 120 talents of Hiram. We can resolve the contradictions [by saying] that the extra 30 were from the 120 of Hiram. because Hiram’s servants were in Ophir with his [Solomon’s] servants. |
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שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שִׁשִּׁים וָשֵׁשׁ.
חִירָם נָתַן לוֹ מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים, וּמַלְכַּת שְׁבָא מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים, וָאֳנִי תַּרְשִׁישׁ הֵבִיאָה מֵאוֹפִיר אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וְעֶשְׂרִים, הֲרֵי שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת וְשִׁשִּׁים, וְהַשִּׁשָּׁה לֹא יָדַעְתִּי מֵאַיִן. וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים כְּתִיב: שֶׁהֵבִיאוּ מֵאוֹפִיר אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים, וְאֵין מוֹנֶה שָׁם מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שֶׁל חִירָם, וְיֵשׁ לְתַקֵּן הַמִּקְרָא, שֶׁהַשְּׁלשִׁים הַיְתֵרִים הָיוּ מִן הַמֵּאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שֶׁל חִירָם, שֶׁהֲרֵי עַבְדֵי חִירָם הָיוּ שָׁם עִם עֲבָדָיו.
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| 15Aside from [that which came through] merchants and the commerce of spice-peddlers and all the dependent kings and the regents of the land. |
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טולְבַד֙ מֵאַנְשֵׁ֣י הַתָּרִ֔ים וּמִסְחַ֖ר הָרֹכְלִ֑ים וְכָל־מַלְכֵ֥י הָעֶ֖רֶב וּפַח֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ: |
| Aside from [that which came through] merchants. the merchants who traversed the land on business would bring to him. |
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לְבַד מֵאַנְשֵׁי הַתָּרִים.
שֶׁהָיוּ מְבִיאִים לוֹ הַסּוֹחֲרִים הַתָּרִים בָּאָרֶץ לִסְחוֹרָה.
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| And the spice peddlers. Dealers of spice would carry them from city to city. |
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הָרֹכְלִים.
מוֹכְרֵי בְּשָׂמִים, וּמוֹלִיכִין אוֹתָם מֵעִיר לְעִיר.
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| and all the dependent kings. Heb. וכל מלכי הערב. Jonathan Translates: מלכי סומכותא, and all the dependent kings, an expression of guarantee. Kings who granted support and were dependent on him; garantie in French. |
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וְכָל מַלְכֵי הָעֶרֶב.
תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: וְכָל מַלְכֵי סוּמְכְוָתָא, לְשׁוֹן עֲרֻבָּה, הַמְּלָכִים שֶׁהָיוּ בַעֲרֻבָּתָן וְסוֹמְכִין עָלָיו, גאראנטיא"ה בְּלַעַ"ז (מִלְשׁוֹן עַרְבוּת).
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| 16And king Solomon made two hundred body shields of malleable gold; six hundred [dinar of] gold he would put into one body shield. |
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טזוַיַּ֨עַשׂ הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה מָאתַ֥יִם צִנָּ֖ה זָהָ֣ב שָׁח֑וּט שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת זָהָ֔ב יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־הַצִּנָּ֥ה הָאֶחָֽת: |
| body shields. Heb. צנה, a body shield that encircles the person from three sides. This is the meaning of the verse in Psalms (5:13), “You shall encompass him with will like a shield (כַּצִנָּה).” |
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צִנָּה.
מַקֶּפֶת אֶת הָאָדָם מִשְּׁלשָׁה רוּחוֹתָיו, וְהוּא שֶׁאָמַר בְּסֵפֶר תְּהִלִּים: כַּצִּנָּה רָצוֹן תַעְטְרֶנּוּ.
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| six hundred [dinar of]. Six manehs, for a piece of gold (זָהָב) is a dinar [and one hundred dinars total one maneh]. |
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שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת זָהָב.
וְהוּא שֵׁשׁ מָנִים, שֶׁהַזָּהָב הוּא הַדִּינָר.
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| 17And three hundred shields of beaten gold, three manehs (three hundred dinar) of gold he would put into one shield, and the king placed them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. |
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יזוּשְׁלשׁ־מֵא֚וֹת מָֽגִנִּים֙ זָהָ֣ב שָׁח֔וּט שְׁל֚שֶׁת מָנִים֙ זָהָ֔ב יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־הַמָּגֵ֣ן הָאֶחָ֑ת וַיִּתְּנֵ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בֵּ֖ית יַ֥עַר הַלְּבָנֽוֹן: |
| malleable gold. It is soft and easy to flatten out. |
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זָהָב שָׁחוּט.
הוּא רַךְ וְנוֹחַ לְהֵרָקַע.
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| 18And the king made an immense ivory throne, and overlaid it with glittering gold. |
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יחוַיַּ֧עַשׂ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ כִּסֵּא־שֵׁ֖ן גָּד֑וֹל וַיְצַפֵּ֖הוּ זָהָ֥ב מוּפָֽז: |
| glittering gold. Heb. זהב מופז, which sparkles like diamonds. |
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זָהָב מוּפָז.
מַבְהִיק כְּמַרְגָּלִית.
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| 19There were six steps to the throne and the top of the throne was circular from behind, and there were arms on both sides by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms. |
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יטשֵׁ֧שׁ מַעֲל֣וֹת לַכִּסֵּ֗ה וְרֹאשׁ־עָג֚וֹל לַכִּסֵּה֙ מֵאַֽחֲרָ֔יו וְיָדֹ֛ת מִזֶּ֥ה וּמִזֶּ֖ה אֶל־מְק֣וֹם הַשָּׁ֑בֶת וּשְׁנַ֣יִם אֲרָי֔וֹת עֹמְדִ֖ים אֵ֥צֶל הַיָּדֽוֹת: |
| six steps. steps by which to ascend onto it, and the top of the throne was circular, i.e., the place of the king’s seat. |
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שֵׁשׁ מַעֲלוֹת.
מַדְרֵגוֹת לַעֲלוֹת בּוֹ, וְרֹאשׁ הַכִּסֵּא הָיָה עָגֹל, מְקוֹם מוֹשַׁב הַמֶּלֶךְ.
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| from behind. The steps were to the front and to the width. To the back was the seat, a round place, higher than the throne. |
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מֵאַחֲרָיו.
תִּקּוּן הַכִּסֵּא הָיָה רָחָב, וְהַמַּעֲלוֹת הָיוּ לְצַד פָּנָיו, וּלְצַד רְחָבָה לְצַד אַחֲרָיו הָיָה הַמּוֹשָׁב גָּבוֹהַּ מִן הַכִּסֵּא מָקוֹם עָגֹל.
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| and arms on both sides. on which to support his arms, like two gold rails from corner to corner, extending on the right and on the left. |
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וְיָדֹת מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה.
לִסְמֹךְ זְרוֹעוֹתָיו עֲלֵיהֶם, כְּמִין מַקְלוֹת זָהָב מִפֵּאָה לְפֵאָה, פְּשׁוּטִין לְיָמִין וְלִשְׂמֹאל.
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| and two lions. of gold. The entire plan of the throne is described in the Aggadah of the Book of Esther. |
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וּשְׁנַיִם אֲרָיוֹת.
שֶׁל זָהָב, וְכָל צוּרַת הַכִּסֵּא מְפֹרֶשֶׁת בְּאַגָּדַת מְגִלַּת אֶסְתֵּר.
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| 20And twelve lions stood there on the six steps on one side and on the other; no such throne was made for any kingdom. |
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כוּשְׁנֵ֧ים עָשָֹ֣ר אֲרָיִ֗ים עֹמְדִ֥ים שָׁ֛ם עַל־שֵׁ֥שׁ הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת מִזֶּ֣ה וּמִזֶּ֑ה לֹֽא־נַעֲשָֹ֥ה כֵ֖ן לְכָל־מַמְלָכֽוֹת: |
| 21And all of the king's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the utensils of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none was of silver, [since] it was reckoned with as nothing in the days of Solomon. |
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כאוְ֠כֹל כְּלֵ֞י מַשְׁקֵ֨ה הַמֶּ֚לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ זָהָ֔ב וְכֹ֗ל כְּלֵ֛י בֵּֽית־יַ֥עַר הַלְּבָנ֖וֹן זָהָ֣ב סָג֑וּר אֵ֣ין כֶּ֗סֶף לֹ֥א נֶחְשָׁ֛ב בִּימֵ֥י שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לִמְאֽוּמָה: |
| none was of silver, [since] it was reckoned with as nothing. Lit. there was no silver; it was not reckoned… i.e., there was no silver in any of them because it was not reckoned. |
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אֵין כֶּסֶף לֹא נֶחְשָׁב.
אֵין כֶּסֶף בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶם, כִּי לֹא נֶחְשָׁב.
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| 22For the king had at sea ships of Tarshish with Hiram's ships; once in three years, the ships of Tarshish would come bearing gold and silver, ivory and monkeys and peacocks. |
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כבכִּי֩ אֳנִ֨י תַרְשִׁ֚ישׁ לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בַּיָּ֔ם עִ֖ם אֳנִ֣י חִירָ֑ם אַחַת֩ לְשָׁל֨שׁ שָׁנִ֜ים תָּב֣וֹא | אֳנִ֣י תַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ נֹֽשְׂאֵת֙ זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֔סֶף שֶׁנְהַבִּ֥ים וְקֹפִ֖ים וְתֻכִּיִּֽים: |
| Ships of Tarshish. Ships of Africa. |
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אֳנִי תַרְשִׁישׁ.
(תַּרְגּוּם:) סְפִינַת אַפְרִיקָא.
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| ivory and monkeys and peacocks. Elephant tusks, monkeys and peacocks. |
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שֶׁנְהַבִּים וְקֹפִים וְתֻכִּיִּים.
(תַּרְגּוּם:) שֵׁן דְּפִיל וְקוֹפִין וְטַוָּסִין.
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| 23Now King Solomon transcended all the kings of the earth in affluence and wisdom. |
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כגוַיִּגְדַּל֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מִכֹּ֖ל מַלְכֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ לְע֖שֶׁר וּלְחָכְמָֽה: |
| 24And all the [inhabitants of] the earth sought Solomon's presence to hear the wisdom with which God had endowed him. |
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כדוְכָ֨ל־הָאָ֔רֶץ מְבַקְשִׁ֖ים אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה לִשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ אֶת־חָכְמָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּלִבּֽוֹ: |
| 25And each one would bring his gift, vessels of silver and vessels of gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, the tribute due each year in its year. |
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כהוְהֵ֣מָּה מְבִיאִ֣ים אִ֣ישׁ מִנְחָת֡וֹ כְּלֵ֣י כֶסֶף֩ וּכְלֵ֨י זָהָ֚ב וּשְׂלָמוֹת֙ וְנֵ֣שֶׁק וּבְשָׂמִ֔ים סוּסִ֖ים וּפְרָדִ֑ים דְּבַר־שָׁנָ֖ה בְּשָׁנָֽה: |
| weapons. |
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וְנֵשֶׁק.
כְּלֵי זַיִן.
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| 26Solomon assembled chariots and horsemen, and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen; he led them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. |
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כווַיֶּאֱסֹ֣ף שְׁלֹמֹה֘ רֶ֣כֶב וּפָרָשִׁים֒ וַיְהִי־ל֗וֹ אֶ֚לֶף וְאַרְבַּע־מֵאוֹת֙ רֶ֔כֶב וּשְׁנֵים־עָשָֹ֥ר אֶ֖לֶף פָּֽרָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּנְחֵם֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הָרֶ֔כֶב וְעִם־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָֽםִ: |
| a thousand and four hundred chariots. It is stated [that Solomon had] one thousand four hundred [chariots]. I say that one thousand four hundred were in the chariot cities and [the remaining] three hundred were with the king in Jerusalem. And this is the explanation [of the verse] in Chron.: “And he stationed them (i.e., the 1,400) in the chariot cities and with the king”; [i.e., with the king] there were other chariots in Jerusalem. While here this is the explanation: And he led them (i.e., the 1,400) in the chariot cities, and with the king; i.e., with the king were some of them in Jerusalem. |
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אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב.
וּבְדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים כָּתוּב: אֶלֶף (וּשְׁבַע) [וְאַרְבַּע] מֵאוֹת. וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי, אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת בְּעָרֵי הָרֶכֶב הָיוּ, וְהַשְּׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת עִם הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְכָךְ פֵּרוּשׁוֹ בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים: וַיַּנִּיחֵם בְּעָרֵי הָרֶכֶב, וְעִם הַמֶּלֶךְ הָיָה עוֹד רֶכֶב אֶחָד בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. וְכָאן כָּךְ פֵּרוּשׁוֹ: וַיַּנְחֵם בְּעָרֵי הָרֶכֶב, וְעִם הַמֶּלֶךְ הָיוּ מִקְצָתָן בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם.
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| he led them. |
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וַיַּנְחֵם.
וַיְנַהֲלֵם.
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| 27And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as common as sycamores, that are in the low lands in abundance. |
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כזוַיִּתֵּ֨ן הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ אֶת־הַכֶּ֛סֶף בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖םִ כַּאֲבָנִ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת הָאֲרָזִ֗ים נָתַ֛ן כַּשִּׁקְמִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־בַּשְּׁפֵלָ֖ה לָרֹֽב: |
| as stones. Our Rabbis explained that one refers to the time before Solomon wedded Pharaoh’s daughter, and one refers to the time after Solomon wedded Pharaoh’s daughter. |
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כַּאֲבָנִים.
וּלְמַעְלָה הוּא אוֹמֵר 'לִמְאוּמָה'. רַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵּרְשׁוּ: כָּאן קֹדֶם שֶׁנָּשָׂא שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת בַּת פַּרְעֹה, כָּאן לְאַחַר שֶׁנָּשָׂא שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת בַּת פַּרְעֹה.
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| 28And the source of Solomon's horses was from Egypt and an assemblage. The agents of the king, would buy the assemblage privileges for a price. |
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כחוּמוֹצָ֧א הַסּוּסִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִשְׁלֹמֹ֖ה מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וּמִקְוֵ֕ה סֹחֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יִקְח֥וּ מִקְוֵ֖ה בִּמְחִֽיר: |
| The source of Solomon’s horses. [was] from Egypt. |
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וּמוֹצָא הַסּוּסִים אֲשֶׁר לִשְׁלֹמֹה.
הָיָה מִמִּצְרַיִם.
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| and an assemblage. The assemblage of horse merchants was in Egypt. Solomon’s merchants bid and bought the rights from the king of Egypt, that no person could export horses from there except through them. Therefore, there is a ‘Zakef Gadol’ on the word ‘Mikvei,’ to denote that the word ‘Mikvei’ [stands by itself, and] is not connected with the following words. |
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וּמִקְוֵה.
אֲסֵפַת סוֹחֲרֵי הַסּוּסִים בְּמִצְרַיִם, סוֹחֲרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה הָיוּ קוֹנִין אוֹתָם בִּמְחִיר מִמִּצְרַיִם מִן הַמֶּלֶךְ, שֶׁלֹּא יוֹצִיא אָדָם סוּס מִשָּׁם, אֶלָּא עַל יָדָם, כָּךְ שָׁמַעְתִּי. וּלְכָךְ נָקוּד עַל 'וּמִקְוֵה' טַעַם זָקֵ"ף גָּדוֹל, לִלְמֹד שֶׁהַתֵּבָה עוֹמֶדֶת בְּעַצְמָהּ, וְאֵינָהּ דְּבוּקָה לְאַחֲרֶיהָ.
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| 29A chariot that went up and left Egypt went for a price of six hundred silver [pieces], and a horse for one hundred fifty, and so for all the kings of the Hittites and for the kings of Aram did they export them through them. |
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כטוַֽ֠תַּעֲלֶה וַתֵּצֵ֨א מֶרְכָּבָ֚ה מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת כֶּ֔סֶף וְס֖וּס בַּחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים וּמֵאָ֑ה וְ֠כֵן לְכָל־מַלְכֵ֧י הַחִתִּ֛ים וּלְמַלְכֵ֥י אֲרָ֖ם בְּיָדָ֥ם יֹצִֽאוּ: |
| and a horse for one hundred fifty. We deduce that a chariot consisted of four horses. And so for these prices to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram. |
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וְסוּס בַּחֲמִשִּׁים וּמֵאָה.
לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהַמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּאַרְבַּע סוּסִים, וְכֵן בַּדָּמִים הַלָּלוּ לְכָל מַלְכֵי הַחִתִּים וּלְמַלְכֵי אֲרָם.
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| through them. Through Solomon’s merchants did they export them from Egypt. |
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בְּיָדָם.
שֶׁל סוֹחֲרֵי שְׁלֹמֹה, יוֹצְאִים מִמִּצְרַיִם.
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