The Handoff of a Lifetime.

וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל דָּוִ֣יד אֶת־כָּל־שָׂרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל שָׂרֵ֣י הַשְּׁבָטִ֣ים וְשָׂרֵ֣י הַמַּחְלְק֣וֹת הַמְשָׁרְתִ֪ים אֶת־הַמֶּ֟לֶךְ וְשָׂרֵ֣י הָאֲלָפִ֣ים וְשָׂרֵ֣י הַמֵּא֡וֹת וְשָׂרֵ֣י כָל־רְכוּשׁ־וּמִקְנֶה֩׀ לַמֶּ֨לֶךְ וּלְבָנָ֜יו עִם־הַסָּרִיסִ֧ים וְהַגִּבּוֹרִ֛ים וּֽלְכָל־גִּבּ֥וֹר חָ֖יִל אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the stewards of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty men and all the seasoned warriors.

וַיָּ֨קָם דָּוִ֤יד הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ עַל־רַגְלָ֔יו וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שְׁמָע֖וּנִי אַחַ֣י וְעַמִּ֑י אֲנִ֣י עִם־לְבָבִ֡י לִבְנוֹת֩ בֵּ֨ית מְנוּחָ֜ה לַאֲר֣וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֗ה וְלַהֲדֹם֙ רַגְלֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ וַהֲכִינ֖וֹתִי לִבְנֽוֹת׃

[2] Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building.

וְהָאֱלֹהִים֙ אָ֣מַר לִ֔י לֹא־תִבְנֶ֥ה בַ֖יִת לִשְׁמִ֑י כִּ֣י אִ֧ישׁ מִלְחָמ֛וֹת אַ֖תָּה וְדָמִ֥ים שָׁפָֽכְתָּ׃

[3] But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’

וַיִּבְחַ֡ר יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵי֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל בִּ֜י מִכֹּ֣ל בֵּית־אָבִ֗י לִהְי֨וֹת לְמֶ֤לֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְעוֹלָ֔ם כִּ֤י בִֽיהוּדָה֙ בָּחַ֣ר לְנָגִ֔יד וּבְבֵ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑י וּבִבְנֵ֣י אָבִ֔י בִּ֣י רָצָ֔ה לְהַמְלִ֖יךְ עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

[4] Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.

וּמִכָּ֨ל־בָּנַ֔י כִּ֚י רַבִּ֣ים בָּנִ֔ים נָ֥תַן לִ֖י יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּבְחַר֙ בִּשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בְנִ֔י לָשֶׁ֗בֶת עַל־כִּסֵּ֛א מַלְכ֥וּת יְהוָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

[5] And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לִ֔י שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בִנְךָ֔ הֽוּא־יִבְנֶ֥ה בֵיתִ֖י וַחֲצֵרוֹתָ֑י כִּי־בָחַ֨רְתִּי ב֥וֹ לִי֙ לְבֵ֔ן וַאֲנִ֖י אֶֽהְיֶה־לּ֥וֹ לְאָֽב׃

[6] He said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

וַהֲכִינוֹתִ֥י אֶת־מַלְכוּת֖וֹ עַד־לְעוֹלָ֑ם אִם־יֶחֱזַ֗ק לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת מִצְוֺתַ֥י וּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

[7] I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.’

וְ֠עַתָּה לְעֵינֵ֨י כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל קְהַל־יְהוָה֙ וּבְאָזְנֵ֣י אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ שִׁמְר֣וּ וְדִרְשׁ֔וּ כָּל־מִצְוֺ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽירְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה וְהִנְחַלְתֶּ֛ם לִבְנֵיכֶ֥ם אַחֲרֵיכֶ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ פ

[8] Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord , and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

וְאַתָּ֣ה שְׁלֹמֹֽה־בְנִ֡י דַּע֩ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵ֨י אָבִ֜יךָ וְעָבְדֵ֗הוּ בְּלֵ֤ב שָׁלֵם֙ וּבְנֶ֣פֶשׁ חֲפֵצָ֔ה כִּ֤י כָל־לְבָבוֹת֙ דּוֹרֵ֣שׁ יְהוָ֔ה וְכָל־יֵ֥צֶר מַחֲשָׁב֖וֹת מֵבִ֑ין אִֽם־תִּדְרְשֶׁ֙נּוּ֙ יִמָּ֣צֵא לָ֔ךְ וְאִם־תַּֽעַזְבֶ֖נּוּ יַזְנִיחֲךָ֥ לָעַֽד׃

[9] “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

רְאֵ֣ה׀ עַתָּ֗ה כִּֽי־יְהוָ֛ה בָּ֧חַר בְּךָ֛ לִבְנֽוֹת־בַּ֥יִת לַמִּקְדָּ֖שׁ חֲזַ֥ק וַעֲשֵֽׂה׃ פ

[10] Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”

וַיִּתֵּ֣ן דָּוִ֣יד לִשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בְנ֡וֹ אֶת־תַּבְנִ֣ית הָאוּלָם֩ וְֽאֶת־בָּ֨תָּ֜יו וְגַנְזַכָּ֧יו וַעֲלִיֹּתָ֛יו וַחֲדָרָ֥יו הַפְּנִימִ֖ים וּבֵ֥ית הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃

[11] Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat;

וְתַבְנִ֗ית כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֤ה בָר֙וּחַ֙ עִמּ֔וֹ לְחַצְר֧וֹת בֵּית־יְהוָ֛ה וּלְכָל־הַלְּשָׁכ֖וֹת סָבִ֑יב לְאֹֽצְרוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וּלְאֹצְר֖וֹת הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃

[12] and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord , all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts;

וּֽלְמַחְלְקוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם וּֽלְכָל־מְלֶ֖אכֶת עֲבוֹדַ֣ת בֵּית־יְהוָ֑ה וּֽלְכָל־כְּלֵ֖י עֲבוֹדַ֥ת בֵּית־יְהוָֽה׃

[13] for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the Lord ; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the Lord ,

לַזָּהָ֤ב בַּמִּשְׁקָל֙ לַזָּהָ֔ב לְכָל־כְּלֵ֖י עֲבוֹדָ֣ה וַעֲבוֹדָ֑ה לְכֹ֨ל כְּלֵ֤י הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ בְּמִשְׁקָ֔ל לְכָל־כְּלֵ֖י עֲבוֹדָ֥ה וַעֲבוֹדָֽה׃

[14] the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service,

וּמִשְׁקָ֞ל לִמְנֹר֣וֹת הַזָּהָ֗ב וְנֵרֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ זָהָ֔ב בְּמִשְׁקַל־מְנוֹרָ֥ה וּמְנוֹרָ֖ה וְנֵרֹתֶ֑יהָ וְלִמְנֹר֨וֹת הַכֶּ֤סֶף בְּמִשְׁקָל֙ לִמְנוֹרָ֣ה וְנֵרֹתֶ֔יהָ כַּעֲבוֹדַ֖ת מְנוֹרָ֥ה וּמְנוֹרָֽה׃

[15] the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand in the service,

וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֥ב מִשְׁקָ֛ל לְשֻׁלְחֲנ֥וֹת הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֖כֶת לְשֻׁלְחַ֣ן וְשֻׁלְחָ֑ן וְכֶ֖סֶף לְשֻׁלְחֲנ֥וֹת הַכָּֽסֶף׃

[16] the weight of gold for each table for the showbread, the silver for the silver tables,

וְהַמִּזְלָג֧וֹת וְהַמִּזְרָק֛וֹת וְהַקְּשָׂוֺ֖ת זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר וְלִכְפוֹרֵ֨י הַזָּהָ֤ב בְּמִשְׁקָל֙ לִכְפ֣וֹר וּכְפ֔וֹר וְלִכְפוֹרֵ֥י הַכֶּ֛סֶף בְּמִשְׁקָ֖ל לִכְפ֥וֹר וּכְפֽוֹר׃

[17] and pure gold for the forks, the basins and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each;

וּלְמִזְבַּ֧ח הַקְּטֹ֛רֶת זָהָ֥ב מְזֻקָּ֖ק בַּמִּשְׁקָ֑ל וּלְתַבְנִ֣ית הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֗ה הַכְּרֻבִ֤ים זָהָב֙ לְפֹ֣רְשִׂ֔ים וְסֹכְכִ֖ים עַל־אֲר֥וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָֽה׃

[18] for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord .

הַכֹּ֥ל בִּכְתָ֛ב מִיַּ֥ד יְהוָ֖ה עָלַ֣י הִשְׂכִּ֑יל כֹּ֖ל מַלְאֲכ֥וֹת הַתַּבְנִֽית׃ פ

[19] “All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord , all the work to be done according to the plan.”

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜יד לִשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בְנ֗וֹ חֲזַ֤ק וֶאֱמַץ֙ וַעֲשֵׂ֔ה אַל־תִּירָ֖א וְאַל־תֵּחָ֑ת כִּי֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֤ים אֱלֹהַי֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֤א יַרְפְּךָ֙ וְלֹ֣א יַֽעַזְבֶ֔ךָּ עַד־לִכְל֕וֹת כָּל־מְלֶ֖אכֶת עֲבוֹדַ֥ת בֵּית־יְהוָֽה׃

[20] Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.

וְהִנֵּ֗ה מַחְלְקוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְכָל־עֲבוֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעִמְּךָ֙ בְכָל־מְלָאכָ֜ה לְכָל־נָדִ֤יב בַּֽחָכְמָה֙ לְכָל־עֲבוֹדָ֔ה וְהַשָּׂרִ֥ים וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם לְכָל־דְּבָרֶֽיךָ׃ פ

[21] And behold the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.”