Revised Literal Translation

1 Kings 3

1And Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֔הshe.lo.MohH8010made affinityוַיִּתְחַתֵּ֣ןvai.yit.cha.TenH2859with Pharaohפַּרְעֹ֖הpar.'OhH6547kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Egyptמִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714,and tookוַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.KachH3947Pharaoh’sפַּרְעֹ֗הpar.'OhH6547daughterבַּת־bat-H1323,and broughtוַיְבִיאֶ֙הָ֙vay.vi.'E.haH935her into the cityעִ֣יר'irH5892of Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732,until he had made an endכַּלֹּת֗וֹka.lo.ToH3615of buildingלִבְנ֤וֹתliv.NotH1129his own houseבֵּיתוֹ֙bei.ToH1004,and the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,and the wallחוֹמַ֥תcho.MatH2346of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םye.ru.sha.LimH3389round aboutסָבִֽיב׃sa.VivH5439.

2Only the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971sacrificedמְזַבְּחִ֖יםme.za.be.ChimH2076in high placesבַּבָּמ֑וֹתba.ba.MotH1116,because there was no houseבַ֙יִת֙va.yitH1004builtנִבְנָ֥הniv.NahH1129unto the nameלְשֵׁ֣םle.ShemH8034of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,until those daysהַיָּמִ֥יםhai.ya.MimH3117.

3And Solomonשְׁלֹמֹה֙she.lo.MohH8010lovedוַיֶּאֱהַ֤בvai.ye.'e.HavH157Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,walkingH3212in the statutesבְּחֻקּ֖וֹתbe.chu.KotH2708of Davidדָּוִ֣דda.VidH1732his fatherאָבִ֑יו'a.VivH1:only he sacrificedמְזַבֵּ֖חַme.za.Be.achH2076and burnt incenseוּמַקְטִֽיר׃u.mak.TirH6999in high placesבַּבָּמ֔וֹתba.ba.MotH1116.

4And the kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428wentH3212to Gibeonגִּבְעֹ֙נָה֙giv.'O.nahH1391to sacrificeלִזְבֹּ֣חַliz.Bo.achH2076there; for thatH1931wasthe greatהַגְּדוֹלָ֑הha.ge.do.LahH1419high placeהַבָּמָ֣הha.ba.MahH1116:a thousandאֶ֤לֶף'E.lefH505burnt offeringsעֹלוֹת֙'o.lOtH5930did Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֔הshe.lo.MohH8010offerיַעֲלֶ֣הya.'a.LehH5927upon that altarהַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַha.miz.Be.achH4196.

5In Gibeonבְּגִבְע֗וֹןbe.giv.'onH1391Yhwhיְהֹוָ֛הYah.wehH3068appearedנִרְאָ֧הnir.'AhH7200to Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֖הshe.lo.MohH8010in a dreamבַּחֲל֣וֹםba.cha.LomH2472by nightהַלָּ֑יְלָהha.La.ye.lahH3915:and Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Askשְׁאַ֖לshe.'AlH7592what I shall giveאֶתֶּן־'e.ten-H5414thee.

6And Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֗הshe.lo.MohH8010saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Thou hast shewedעָשִׂ֜יתָ'a.Si.taH6213unto thy servantעַבְדְּךָ֙'av.de.KhaH5650Davidדָוִ֣דda.VidH1732my fatherאָבִי֮'a.ViH1greatגָּדוֹל֒ga.dOlH1419mercyחֶ֣סֶדChe.sedH2617,according as he walkedהָלַ֨ךְha.LakhH1980beforeלְפָנֶ֜יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee in truthבֶּאֱמֶ֧תbe.'e.MetH571,and in righteousnessוּבִצְדָקָ֛הu.vitz.da.KahH6666,and in uprightnessוּבְיִשְׁרַ֥תu.ve.yish.RatH3483of heartלֵבָ֖בle.VavH3824with thee; and thou hast keptוַתִּשְׁמָר־va.tish.mor-H8104for him this greatהַגָּדוֹל֙ha.ga.dOlH1419kindnessהַחֶ֤סֶדha.Che.sedH2617,that thou hast givenוַתִּתֶּן־va.ti.ten-H5414him a sonבֵ֛ןvenH1121to sitיֹשֵׁ֥בyo.ShevH3427on his throneכִּסְא֖וֹkis.'OH3678, as it isthis dayכַּיּ֥וֹםkai.YomH3117.

7And now, O Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068my Godאֱלֹהָ֔י'e.lo.HaiH430,thou hast made thy servantעַבְדְּךָ֔'av.de.KhaH5650kingהִמְלַ֣כְתָּhim.Lakh.taH4427instead of Davidדָּוִ֣דda.VidH1732my fatherאָבִ֑י'a.ViH1: and I am buta littleקָטֹ֔ןka.TonH6996childנַ֣עַרNa.'arH5288:I knowאֵדַ֖ע'e.Da'H3045not howto go outצֵ֥אתtzetH3318or come inוָבֹֽא׃va.Vo'H935.

8And thy servantוְעַ֨בְדְּךָ֔ve.'Av.de.khaH5650isin the midstבְּת֥וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of thy peopleעַמְּךָ֖'a.me.KhaH5971which thou hast chosenבָּחָ֑רְתָּba.Cha.re.taH977,a greatרָ֕בravH7227peopleעַם־'am-H5971,that cannot be numberedיִמָּנֶ֛הyi.ma.NehH4487nor countedיִסָּפֵ֖רyi.sa.FerH5608for multitudeמֵרֹֽב׃me.RoH7230.

9Giveוְנָתַתָּ֨ve.na.ta.TaH5414therefore thy servantלְעַבְדְּךָ֜le.'av.de.KhaH5650an understandingשֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙sho.Me.a'H8085heartלֵ֤בlevH3820to judgeלִשְׁפֹּ֣טlish.PotH8199thy peopleעַמְּךָ֔'a.me.KhaH5971,that I may discernלְהָבִ֖יןle.ha.VinH995between goodט֣וֹבTovH2896and badלְרָ֑עle.Ra'H7451:for who is ableיוּכַל֙yu.KhalH3201to judgeלִשְׁפֹּ֔טlish.PotH8199this thy so greatהַכָּבֵ֖דha.ka.VedH3515a peopleעַמְּךָ֥'a.me.KhaH5971?

10And the speechהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697pleasedוַיִּיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינֵ֣יvai.yi.Tav be.'ei.NeiH5869 H3190the Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136,that Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֔הshe.lo.MohH8010had askedשָׁאַ֣לsha.'AlH7592this thingהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697.

11And Godאֱלֹהִ֜ים'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Because thou hast askedשָׁאַ֜לְתָּsha.'Al.taH7592this thingהַדָּבָ֣רha.da.VarH1697,and hast not askedשָׁאַ֨לְתָּsha.'Al.taH7592for thyself longרַבִּ֗יםra.BimH7227lifeיָמִ֣יםya.MimH3117;neither hast askedשָׁאַ֤לְתָּsha.'Al.taH7592richesעֹ֔שֶׁר'O.sherH6239for thyself, nor hast askedשָׁאַ֖לְתָּsha.'Al.taH7592the lifeנֶ֣פֶשׁNe.feshH5315of thine enemiesאֹיְבֶ֑יךָ'o.ye.Vei.khaH341;but hast askedוְשָׁאַ֧לְתָּve.sha.'Al.taH7592for thyself understandingהָבִ֖יןha.VinH995to discernלִשְׁמֹ֥עַlish.Mo.a'H8085judgmentמִשְׁפָּֽט׃mish.PatH4941;

12Behold, I have doneעָשִׂ֖יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213according to thy wordsכִּדְבָרֶ֑יךָkid.va.Rei.khaH1697:lo, I have givenנָתַ֣תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414thee a wiseחָכָ֣םcha.KhamH2450and an understandingוְנָב֔וֹןve.na.VonH995heartלֵ֚בlevH3820;so that there was none like thee beforeלְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee, neither afterוְאַחֲרֶ֖יךָve.'a.cha.Rei.khaH310thee shall any ariseיָק֥וּםya.KumH6965like unto thee.

13And I have also givenנָתַ֣תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414thee that which thou hast not askedשָׁאַ֙לְתָּ֙sha.'Al.taH7592,both richesעֹ֖שֶׁר'O.sherH6239,and honourכָּב֑וֹדka.VodH3519:so that there shall not be anyאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376among the kingsבַּמְּלָכִ֖יםba.me.la.KhimH4428like unto thee all thy daysיָמֶֽיךָ׃ya.Mei.khaH3117.

14And if thou wilt walkH3212in my waysבִּדְרָכַ֗יbid.ra.KhaiH1870,to keepלִשְׁמֹ֤רlish.MorH8104my statutesחֻקַּי֙chu.KaiH2706and my commandmentsוּמִצְוֹתַ֔יu.mitz.vo.TaiH4687,as thy fatherאָבִ֑יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1Davidדָּוִ֣ידda.VidH1732did walkH1980,then I will lengthenוְהַאַרַכְתִּ֖יve.ha.'a.rakh.TiH748thy daysיָמֶֽיךָ׃ סya.Mei.khaH3117.

15And Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֖הshe.lo.MohH8010awokeוַיִּקַ֥ץvai.yi.KatzH3364; and, behold, it wasa dreamחֲל֑וֹםcha.LomH2472.And he cameוַיָּב֨וֹאvai.ya.Vo'H935to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֜םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,and stoodוַֽיַּעֲמֹ֣ד׀vai.ya.'a.ModH5975beforeלִפְנֵ֣י׀lif.NeiH6440the arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727of the covenantבְּרִית־be.rit-H1285of YhwhH3068,and offered upוַיַּ֤עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927burnt offeringsעֹלוֹת֙'o.lOtH5930,and offeredוַיַּ֣עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213peace offeringsשְׁלָמִ֔יםshe.la.MimH8002,and madeוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213a feastמִשְׁתֶּ֖הmish.TehH4960to all his servantsעֲבָדָֽיו׃ פ'a.va.DavH5650.

16Then cameתָּבֹ֗אנָהta.Vo.nahH935there twoשְׁתַּ֛יִםshe.Ta.yimH8147womenנָשִׁ֥יםna.ShimH802, that wereharlotsזֹנ֖וֹתzo.NotH2181,unto the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,and stoodוַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖דְנָהva.ta.'a.Mo.de.nahH5975beforeלְפָנָֽיו׃le.fa.NavH6440him.

17And the oneהָֽאַחַת֙ha.'a.ChatH259womanהָאִשָּׁ֤הha.'i.ShahH802saidוַתֹּ֜אמֶרva.To.merH559,Oבִּ֣יbiH994my lordאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113,I and this womanוְהָאִשָּׁ֣הve.ha.'i.ShahH802dwellיֹשְׁבֹ֖תyo.she.VotH3427in oneאֶחָ֑ד'e.ChadH259houseבְּבַ֣יִתbe.Va.yitH1004;and I was delivered of a childוָאֵלֵ֥דva.'e.LedH3205with her in the houseבַּבָּֽיִת׃ba.Ba.yitH1004.

18And it came to pass the thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ha.she.li.ShiH7992dayבַּיּ֤וֹםbai.YomH3117after that I was deliveredלְלִדְתִּ֔יle.lid.TiH3205,that this womanהָאִשָּׁ֣הha.'i.ShahH802was deliveredוַתֵּ֖לֶדva.Te.ledH3205also: and we weretogetherיַחְדָּ֗וyach.DavH3162; there wasno strangerזָ֤רzarH2114with us in the houseבַּבַּ֔יִתba.Ba.yitH1004,saveזוּלָתִ֥יzu.la.TiH2108we twoשְׁתַּֽיִם־she.ta.yim-H8147in the houseבַּבָּֽיִת׃ba.Ba.yitH1004.

19And this woman’sהָאִשָּׁ֥הha.'i.ShahH802childבֶּן־ben-H1121diedוַיָּ֛מָתvai.Ya.motH4191in the nightלָ֑יְלָהLa.ye.lahH3915;because she overlaidשָׁכְבָ֖הsha.khe.VahH7901it.

20And she aroseוַתָּקָם֩va.ta.KamH6965at midnightבְּת֨וֹךְ הַלַּ֜יְלָהbe.Tokh ha.Lay.lahH3915 H8432,and tookוַתִּקַּ֧חva.ti.KachH3947my sonבְּנִ֣יbe.NiH1121from besideמֵֽאֶצְלִ֗יme.'etz.LiH681me, while thine handmaidוַאֲמָֽתְךָ֙va.'a.ma.te.KhaH519sleptיְשֵׁנָ֔הye.she.NahH3463,and laidוַתַּשְׁכִּיבֵ֖הוּva.tash.ki.Ve.huH7901it in her bosomבְּחֵיקָ֑הּbe.chei.KahH2436,and laidהִשְׁכִּ֥יבָהhish.Ki.vahH7901her deadהַמֵּ֖תha.MetH4191childבְּנָ֥הּbe.NahH1121in my bosomבְחֵיקִֽי׃ve.chei.KiH2436.

21And when I roseוָאָקֻ֥םva.'a.KumH6965in the morningבַּבֹּ֛קֶרba.Bo.kerH1242to give my childבְּנִ֖יbe.NiH1121suckלְהֵינִ֥יקle.hei.NikH3243,behold, it was deadמֵ֑תMetH4191:but when I had consideredוָאֶתְבּוֹנֵ֤ןva.'et.bo.NenH995it in the morningבַּבֹּ֔קֶרba.Bo.kerH1242,behold, it was not my sonבְנִ֖יve.NiH1121,which I did bearיָלָֽדְתִּי׃ya.La.de.tiH3205.

22And the otherהָאַחֶ֜רֶתha.'a.Che.retH312womanהָאִשָּׁ֨הha.'i.ShahH802saidוַתֹּאמֶר֩va.to.MerH559,Nay; but the livingהַחַי֙ha.ChaiH2416ismy sonבְּנִ֤יbe.NiH1121,and the deadהַמֵּ֔תha.MetH4191isthy sonוּבְנֵ֣ךְu.ve.NekhH1121.And this saidאֹמֶ֙רֶת֙'o.Me.retH559,No; but the deadהַמֵּ֖תha.MetH4191isthy sonבְּנֵ֥ךְbe.NekhH1121,and the livingהֶחָ֑יhe.ChaiH2416ismy sonוּבְנִ֣יu.ve.NiH1121.Thus they spakeוַתְּדַבֵּ֖רְנָהva.te.da.Be.re.nahH1696beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

23Then saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,The oneזֹ֣אתzotH2063saithאֹמֶ֔רֶת'o.Me.retH559, This ismy sonבְּנִ֥יbe.NiH1121that livethהַחַ֖יha.ChaiH2416,and thy sonוּבְנֵ֣ךְu.ve.NekhH1121isthe deadהַמֵּ֑תha.MetH4191:and the otherוְזֹ֤אתve.ZotH2063saithאֹמֶ֙רֶת֙'o.Me.retH559,Nay; but thy sonבְּנֵ֥ךְbe.NekhH1121isthe deadהַמֵּ֖תha.MetH4191,and my sonוּבְנִ֥יu.ve.NiH1121isthe livingהֶחָֽי׃ פhe.ChaiH2416.

24And the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Bringקְח֣וּke.ChuH3947me a swordחָ֑רֶבCha.revH2719.And they broughtוַיָּבִ֥אוּvai.ya.Vi.'uH935a swordהַחֶ֖רֶבha.Che.revH2719beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

25And the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Divideגִּזְר֛וּgiz.RuH1504the livingהַחַ֖יha.ChaiH2416childהַיֶּ֥לֶדhai.Ye.ledH3206in twoלִשְׁנָ֑יִםlish.Na.yimH8147,and giveוּתְנ֤וּu.te.NuH5414halfהַחֲצִי֙ha.cha.TziH2677to the oneלְאַחַ֔תle.'a.ChatH259,and halfהַחֲצִ֖יha.cha.TziH2677to the otherלְאֶחָֽת׃le.'e.ChatH259.

26Then spakeוַתֹּ֣אמֶרva.To.merH559the womanהָאִשָּׁה֩ha.'i.ShahH802whose the livingהַחַ֜יha.ChaiH2416childבְּנָ֨הּbe.NahH1121wasunto the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,for her bowelsרַחֲמֶיהָ֮ra.cha.mei.HaH7356yearnedנִכְמְר֣וּnikh.me.RuH3648upon her sonבְּנָהּ֒be.NahH1121,and she saidוַתֹּ֣אמֶר׀va.To.merH559,Oבִּ֣יbiH994my lordאֲדֹנִ֗י'a.do.NiH113,giveתְּנוּ־te.nu-H5414her the livingהַחַ֔יha.ChaiH2416childהַיָּל֣וּדhai.ya.LudH3205,and in no wiseוְהָמֵ֖תve.ha.MetH4191slayתְּמִיתֻ֑הוּte.mi.Tu.huH4191it. But the other saidאֹמֶ֗רֶת'o.Me.retH559, Let it be neither mine nor thine, butdivideגְּזֹֽרוּ׃ge.Zo.ruH1504it.

27Then the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428answeredוַיַּ֨עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Giveתְּנוּ־te.nu-H5414her the livingהַחַ֔יha.ChaiH2416childהַיָּל֣וּדhai.ya.LudH3205,and in no wiseוְהָמֵ֖תve.ha.MetH4191slayתְמִיתֻ֑הוּte.mi.Tu.huH4191it: she isthe motherאִמּֽוֹ׃'i.MoH517thereof.

28And all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478heardוַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085of the judgmentהַמִּשְׁפָּט֙ha.mish.PatH4941which the kingH4428had judgedשָׁפַ֣טsha.FatH8199;and they fearedוַיִּֽרְא֖וּvai.yir.'UH3372the kingמִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.NeiH6440:for they sawרָא֔וּra.'UH7200that the wisdomחָכְמַ֧תcha.khe.MatH2451of Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimH430wasin himבְּקִרְבּ֖וֹbe.kir.BoH7130,to doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213judgmentמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ סmish.PatH4941.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 3