Fire from Heaven
וּכְכַלּ֤וֹת שְׁלֹמֹה֙ לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֔ל וְהָאֵ֗שׁ יָֽרְדָה֙ מֵֽהַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַתֹּ֥אכַל הָעֹלָ֖ה וְהַזְּבָחִ֑ים וּכְב֥וֹד יְהוָ֖ה מָלֵ֥א אֶת־הַבָּֽיִת׃
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
וְלֹ֤א יָֽכְלוּ֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים לָב֖וֹא אֶל־בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה כִּֽי־מָלֵ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it.
וְכֹ֣ל׀ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל רֹאִים֙ בְּרֶ֣דֶת הָאֵ֔שׁ וּכְב֥וֹד יְהוָ֖ה עַל־הַבָּ֑יִת וַיִּכְרְעוּ֩ אַפַּ֨יִם אַ֤רְצָה עַל־הָרִֽצְפָה֙ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּֽחֲו֔וּ וְהוֹד֤וֹת לַיהוָה֙ כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב כִּ֥י לְעוֹלָ֖ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.”
Sacrifices of Dedication
וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְכָל־הָעָ֑ם זֹבְחִ֥ים זֶ֖בַח לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ ס
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
וַיִּזְבַּ֞ח הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה֮ אֶת־זֶ֣בַח הַבָּקָ֗ר עֶשְׂרִ֤ים וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ אֶ֔לֶף וְצֹ֕אן מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וַֽיַּחְנְכוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְכָל־הָעָֽם׃
And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֞ים עַל־מִשְׁמְרוֹתָ֣ם עֹמְדִ֗ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם בִּכְלֵי־שִׁ֤יר יְהוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֜ה דָּוִ֣יד הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לְהֹד֤וֹת לַיהוָה֙ כִּֽי־לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּ֔וֹ בְּהַלֵּ֥ל דָּוִ֖יד בְּיָדָ֑ם וְהַכֹּהֲנִים֙ מַחְצְרִ֣ים נֶגְדָּ֔ם וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֹמְדִֽים׃ ס
The priests stood at their posts, as did the Levites with the musical instruments of the LORD, which King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD and with which David had offered praise, saying, “For His loving devotion endures forever.” Across from the Levites, the priests sounded trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.
וַיְקַדֵּ֣שׁ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה אֶת־תּ֤וֹךְ הֶֽחָצֵר֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י בֵית־יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי־עָ֤שָׂה שָׁם֙ הָֽעֹל֔וֹת וְאֵ֖ת חֶלְבֵ֣י הַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים כִּֽי־מִזְבַּ֤ח הַנְּחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֣ה שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה לֹ֣א יָכ֗וֹל לְהָכִ֛יל אֶת־הָעֹלָ֥ה וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֖ה וְאֶת־הַחֲלָבִֽים׃
Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar he had made could not hold all these offerings.
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה אֶת־הֶ֠חָג בָּעֵ֨ת הַהִ֜יא שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָמִים֙ וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל עִמּ֔וֹ קָהָ֖ל גָּד֣וֹל מְאֹ֑ד מִלְּב֥וֹא חֲמָ֖ת עַד־נַ֥חַל מִצְרָֽיִם׃
So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a very great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feast for seven days.
וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֛וּ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֖י עֲצָ֑רֶת כִּ֣י׀ חֲנֻכַּ֣ת הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ עָשׂוּ֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים וְהֶחָ֖ג שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃
On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar had lasted seven days, and the feast seven days more.
וּבְי֨וֹם עֶשְׂרִ֤ים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י שִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הָעָ֖ם לְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם שְׂמֵחִים֙ וְט֣וֹבֵי לֵ֔ב עַל־הַטּוֹבָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לְדָוִ֣יד וְלִשְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַמּֽוֹ׃
On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the good things that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.
The LORD’s Response to Solomon
וַיְכַ֧ל שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה וְאֶת־בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־הַבָּ֜א עַל־לֵ֣ב שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֧וֹת בְּבֵית־יְהוָ֛ה וּבְבֵית֖וֹ הִצְלִֽיחַ׃ פ
When Solomon had finished the house of the LORD and the royal palace, successfully carrying out all that was in his heart to do for the house of the LORD and for his own palace,
וַיֵּרָ֧א יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בַּלָּ֑יְלָה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ וּבָחַ֜רְתִּי בַּמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּ֛ה לִ֖י לְבֵ֥ית זָֽבַח׃
the LORD appeared to him at night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
הֵ֣ן אֶֽעֱצֹ֤ר הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֣ה מָטָ֔ר וְהֵן־אֲצַוֶּ֥ה עַל־חָגָ֖ב לֶאֱכ֣וֹל הָאָ֑רֶץ וְאִם־אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח דֶּ֖בֶר בְּעַמִּֽי׃
If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people,
וְיִכָּנְע֨וּ עַמִּ֜י אֲשֶׁ֧ר נִֽקְרָא־שְׁמִ֣י עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם וְיִֽתְפַּֽלְלוּ֙ וִֽיבַקְשׁ֣וּ פָנַ֔י וְיָשֻׁ֖בוּ מִדַּרְכֵיהֶ֣ם הָרָעִ֑ים וַאֲנִי֙ אֶשְׁמַ֣ע מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְאֶסְלַח֙ לְחַטָּאתָ֔ם וְאֶרְפָּ֖א אֶת־אַרְצָֽם׃
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
עַתָּ֗ה עֵינַי֙ יִהְי֣וּ פְתֻח֔וֹת וְאָזְנַ֖י קַשֻּׁב֑וֹת לִתְפִלַּ֖ת הַמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
וְעַתָּ֗ה בָּחַ֤רְתִּי וְהִקְדַּ֙שְׁתִּי֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּ֔ה לִהְיוֹת־שְׁמִ֥י שָׁ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם וְהָי֨וּ עֵינַ֧י וְלִבִּ֛י שָׁ֖ם כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃
For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.
וְאַתָּ֞ה אִם־תֵּלֵ֣ךְ לְפָנַ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר הָלַךְ֙ דָּוִ֣יד אָבִ֔יךָ וְלַעֲשׂ֕וֹת כְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֑יךָ וְחֻקַּ֥י וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י תִּשְׁמֽוֹר׃
And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, doing all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances,
וַהֲקִ֣ימוֹתִ֔י אֵ֖ת כִּסֵּ֣א מַלְכוּתֶ֑ךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּרַ֗תִּי לְדָוִ֤יד אָבִ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֤ת לְךָ֙ אִ֔ישׁ מוֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with your father David when I said, ‘You will never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.’
וְאִם־תְּשׁוּב֣וּן אַתֶּ֔ם וַעֲזַבְתֶּם֙ חֻקּוֹתַ֣י וּמִצְוֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֗ם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֖ם לָהֶֽם׃
But if you turn away and forsake the statutes and commandments I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods,
וּנְתַשְׁתִּ֗ים מֵעַ֤ל אַדְמָתִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תִּי לָהֶ֔ם וְאֶת־הַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִקְדַּ֣שְׁתִּי לִשְׁמִ֔י אַשְׁלִ֖יךְ מֵעַ֣ל פָּנָ֑י וְאֶתְּנֶ֛נּוּ לְמָשָׁ֥ל וְלִשְׁנִינָ֖ה בְּכָל־הָעַמִּֽים׃
then I will uproot Israel from the soil I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. I will make it an object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples.
וְהַבַּ֤יִת הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֣ה עֶלְי֔וֹן לְכָל־עֹבֵ֥ר עָלָ֖יו יִשֹּׁ֑ם וְאָמַ֗ר בַּמֶּ֨ה עָשָׂ֤ה יְהוָה֙ כָּ֔כָה לָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּ֖את וְלַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּֽה׃
And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’
וְאָמְר֗וּ עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָֽזְב֜וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר הוֹצִיאָם֮ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַיִם֒ וַֽיַּחֲזִ֙יקוּ֙ בֵּאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם וַיַּֽעַבְד֑וּם עַל־כֵּן֙ הֵבִ֣יא עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֥ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ פ
And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, He has brought all this disaster upon them.’”