Tanach
Melachim I 10 מלכים א י׳
Part of: Petuchah, I Kings 10:1Petuchah, I Kings 10:14Petuchah, I Kings 10:18Setumah, I Kings 10:26
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וּמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָא שֹׁמַעַת אֶת־שֵׁמַע שְׁלֹמֹה לְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה וַתָּבֹא לְנַסֹּתוֹ בְּחִידֽוֹת׃
The queen of Sheva heard of Shlomo’s reputation in the Name of Adonoy; and she came to test him with riddles.
The queen of Sheva heard of Shlomo’s reputation in the Name of Adonoy; and she came to test him with riddles.
וַתָּבֹא יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ְמָה בְּחַיִל כָּבֵד מְאֹד גְּמַלִּים נֹשְׂאִים בְּשָׂמִים וְזָהָב רַב־מְאֹד וְאֶבֶן יְקָרָה וַתָּבֹא אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹה וַתְּדַבֵּר אֵלָיו אֵת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם־לְבָבָֽהּ׃
She came to Yerushalayim with a huge entourage, camels carrying spices and gold in great quantities, and with precious stones. She came to Shlomo and spoke to him all that was in her heart.
She came to Yerushalayim with a huge entourage, camels carrying spices and gold in great quantities, and with precious stones. She came to Shlomo and spoke to him all that was in her heart.
וַיַּגֶּד־לָהּ שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת־כׇּל־דְּבָרֶיהָ לֹֽא־הָיָה דָבָר נֶעְלָם מִן־הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הִגִּיד לָֽהּ׃
And Shlomo told [answered] her all her words [questions]; there was nothing concealed from the king that he did not tell her.
And Shlomo told [answered] her all her words [questions]; there was nothing concealed from the king that he did not tell her.
וַתֵּרֶא מַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָא אֵת כׇּל־חׇכְמַת שְׁלֹמֹה וְהַבַּיִת אֲשֶׁר בָּנָֽה׃
The queen of Sheva saw all the wisdom of Shlomo, and the house that he had built.
The queen of Sheva saw all the wisdom of Shlomo, and the house that he had built.
וּמַאֲכַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ וּמוֹשַׁב עֲבָדָיו וּמַעֲמַד מְשָׁרְתָו וּמַלְבֻּֽשֵׁיהֶם וּמַשְׁקָיו וְעֹלָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲלֶה בֵּית יְהֹוָה וְלֹא־הָיָה בָהּ עוֹד רֽוּחַ׃
[She saw] the quality of food served at his table, the seating arrangement of his ministers, the position of his servants and their attire, the [quality and quantity of] his beverages, and his elevated ramp by which he would go up to the Beis Hamikdosh of Adonoy; and she was left breathless.
[She saw] the quality of food served at his table, the seating arrangement of his ministers, the position of his servants and their attire, the [quality and quantity of] his beverages, and his elevated ramp by which he would go up to the Beis Hamikdosh of Adonoy; and she was left breathless.
Rashi
וַתֹּאמֶר אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ אֱמֶת הָיָה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתִּי בְּאַרְצִי עַל־דְּבָרֶיךָ וְעַל־חׇכְמָתֶֽךָ׃
And she said to the king, “It was true what I heard in my land about your words and your wisdom.
And she said to the king, “It was true what I heard in my land about your words and your wisdom.
וְלֹא־הֶאֱמַנְתִּי לַדְּבָרִים עַד אֲשֶׁר־בָּאתִי וַתִּרְאֶינָה עֵינַי וְהִנֵּה לֹֽא־הֻגַּד־לִי הַחֵצִי הוֹסַפְתָּ חׇכְמָה וָטוֹב אֶל־הַשְּׁמוּעָה אֲשֶׁר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי׃
But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes, and behold, not even a half was told to me. You have exceeded in wisdom and goodness that report that I had heard.
But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes, and behold, not even a half was told to me. You have exceeded in wisdom and goodness that report that I had heard.
אַשְׁרֵי אֲנָשֶׁיךָ אַשְׁרֵי עֲבָדֶיךָ אֵלֶּה הָעֹמְדִים לְפָנֶיךָ תָּמִיד הַשֹּׁמְעִים אֶת־חׇכְמָתֶֽךָ׃
Fortunate are your men, fortunate are these, your servants, who stand before you at all times, who listen to your wisdom.
Fortunate are your men, fortunate are these, your servants, who stand before you at all times, who listen to your wisdom.
יְהִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בָּרוּךְ אֲשֶׁר חָפֵץ בְּךָ לְתִתְּךָ עַל־כִּסֵּא יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַהֲבַת יְהֹוָה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְעֹלָם וַיְשִֽׂימְךָ לְמֶלֶךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָֽה׃
Blessed be Adonoy, your God, Who desired you to place you on the throne of Yisroel; because of Adonoy’s eternal love for Yisroel He appointed you king to do justice and righteousness.
Blessed be Adonoy, your God, Who desired you to place you on the throne of Yisroel; because of Adonoy’s eternal love for Yisroel He appointed you king to do justice and righteousness.
וַתִּתֵּן לַמֶּלֶךְ מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים ׀ כִּכַּר זָהָב וּבְשָׂמִים הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד וְאֶבֶן יְקָרָה לֹא בָא כַבֹּשֶׂם הַהוּא עוֹד לָרֹב אֲשֶׁר־נָתְנָה מַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָא לַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃
She gave the king one hundred and twenty measures of gold, and huge amounts of spices and precious stones. There never again came spices in such huge amounts as the queen of Sheva gave to Shlomo ha Melech.
She gave the king one hundred and twenty measures of gold, and huge amounts of spices and precious stones. There never again came spices in such huge amounts as the queen of Sheva gave to Shlomo ha Melech.
וְגַם אֳנִי חִירָם אֲשֶׁר־נָשָׂא זָהָב מֵאוֹפִיר הֵבִיא מֵאֹפִיר עֲצֵי אַלְמֻגִּים הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד וְאֶבֶן יְקָרָֽה׃
The ships of Chirom also that brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir huge amounts of coral and precious stones.
The ships of Chirom also that brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir huge amounts of coral and precious stones.
Rashi
עצי אלמוגים. קוריי"ל בלע"ז:
Coral. Corail, in O.F.
וַיַּעַשׂ הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־עֲצֵי הָאַלְמֻגִּים מִסְעָד לְבֵית־יְהֹוָה וּלְבֵית הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכִנֹּרוֹת וּנְבָלִים לַשָּׁרִים לֹא בָא־כֵן עֲצֵי אַלְמֻגִּים וְלֹא נִרְאָה עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
The king made the coral into a pathway to the Beis Hamikdosh of Adonoy and for the house of the king; he also made harps and lyres for the singers. Never before had such coral appeared, and such has never been seen to this day.
The king made the coral into a pathway to the Beis Hamikdosh of Adonoy and for the house of the king; he also made harps and lyres for the singers. Never before had such coral appeared, and such has never been seen to this day.
Rashi
מסעד לבית ה'. ובדברי הימים (ב ט יא) כתיב: מסלות לבית ה', לכך אני אומר, המסעד הזה לשון רצפה:
A pathway to the Beis Hamikdosh of Adonoy. But in Divrei Hayomim it is written, “paths [מסילות] to the House of Adonoy.”2II Divrei Hayomim 9:11. I therefore say, that this support [מסעד] is an expression of a pavement.
לשרים. לבני לוי:
For the singers. For the Leviyim.
וְהַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה נָתַן לְמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָא אֶת־כׇּל־חֶפְצָהּ אֲשֶׁר שָׁאָלָה מִלְּבַד אֲשֶׁר נָֽתַן־לָהּ כְּיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה וַתֵּפֶן וַתֵּלֶךְ לְאַרְצָהּ הִיא וַעֲבָדֶֽיהָ׃ {פ}
And Shlomo ha Melech gave to the queen of Sheva all that she desired, all that she asked for; aside from what he gave her in keeping with the generosity of Shlomo haMelech. She turned, and went back to her land she and all her servants.
And Shlomo ha Melech gave to the queen of Sheva all that she desired, all that she asked for; aside from what he gave her in keeping with the generosity of Shlomo haMelech. She turned, and went back to her land she and all her servants.
Rashi
נתן למלכת שבא. נתינה זו אינה אלא לימוד חכמה:
Gave to the queen of Sheva. This giving refers only to the teaching of wisdom.
כל חפצה. (בא אליה ונולד ממנה נבוכדנצר, והחריב הבית שעמד ארבע מאות ועשר שנים בחלק כל שנים עשר שבטים, מהאר"י ז"ל) מלבד אשר נתן לה מתנות ומגדנות המצויין כאן ואינם מצויין במקומה:
All that she desired. (He had relations with her and Nevuchadnetzar was born, and he later destroyed the Beis [Hamikdosh] that had stood 410 years in the territory of all the twelve tribes. Rabbi Yitzchok [Luria] of blessed memory) [He gave her more,] in addition to giving her gifts and delicacies that are found here but are not found in her place.3Alternatively, Shlomo gave her gifts of intellectual wisdom by answering all the problems and questions that she had asked, in addition to solving the riddles that she had posed to him.—Ralbag
וַֽיְהִי מִשְׁקַל הַזָּהָב אֲשֶׁר־בָּא לִשְׁלֹמֹה בְּשָׁנָה אֶחָת שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שִׁשִּׁים וָשֵׁשׁ כִּכַּר זָהָֽב׃
The weight of the gold that came to Shlomo in one year was six hundred and sixty six measures of gold.
The weight of the gold that came to Shlomo in one year was six hundred and sixty six measures of gold.
Rashi
שש מאות ששים ושש. חירם נתן לו מאה ועשרים, ומלכת שבא מאה ועשרים, ואני תרשיש הביאה מאופיר ארבע מאות ועשרים, הרי שש מאות ושישים, והששה לא ידעתי מאין ובדברי הימים (ב ח יח) כתיב: שהביאו מאופיר ארבע מאות וחמשים, ואין מונה שם מאה ועשרים של חירם, ויש לתקן המקרא, שהשלשים היתירים היו מן הק"ך של חירם, שהרי עבדי חירם היו שם עם עבדיו:
Six hundred sixty-six. Chirom gave him 120 [talents], the Queen of Sheva 120, the ships of Tarshish brought from Ophir 420, totaling 660 [talents]. I do not know from where the other six came. It is written in Divrei Hayomim that [the ships brought] from Ophir 450 [talents],4See II Divrei Hayomim 8:18. however it does not include the 120 talents of Chirom. We can resolve the contradictions that the extra 30 were from the 120 of Chirom, because Chirom’s servants were in Ophir with his servants.
לְבַד מֵאַנְשֵׁי הַתָּרִים וּמִסְחַר הָרֹֽכְלִים וְכׇל־מַלְכֵי הָעֶרֶב וּפַחוֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
This was in addition to the gold that came from traveling merchants, and from the commerce of spice dealers, and all the subordinate kings and the governors of the land.
This was in addition to the gold that came from traveling merchants, and from the commerce of spice dealers, and all the subordinate kings and the governors of the land.
Rashi
לבד מאנשי התרים. שהיו מביאים לו הסוחרים התרים בארץ לסחורה:
This was in addition [to the gold that came from] traveling merchants. Merchants would bring him who visited the land on business.5Alternatively, retailers who sell small quantities, spy [=תרים] out the land to determine where to do business.—Metzudas Tzion
הרוכלים. מוכרי בשמים, ומוליכין אותם מעיר לעיר:
Spice dealers. Spice dealers who would carry spices from one city to another.
וכל מלכי הערב. תרגם יונתן: וכל מלכי סומכותא, לשון ערובה, המלכים שהיו בערובתן וסומכין עליו, גאראנטיא"ה בלע"ז:
And all the subordinate kings. [Targum] Yonoson rendered, “and all dependent upon his support,”6Alternatively, Arab kings.—Metzudas Tzion an expression of guarantee, [i.e.,] kings who were allies and were dependent upon his support, garantie, in O.F.
וַיַּעַשׂ הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה מָאתַיִם צִנָּה זָהָב שָׁחוּט שֵֽׁשׁ־מֵאוֹת זָהָב יַעֲלֶה עַל־הַצִּנָּה הָאֶחָֽת׃
And Shlomo ha Melech made two hundred [full] shields of soft gold; six hundred measures [dinar] of gold went into one [full] shield.
And Shlomo ha Melech made two hundred [full] shields of soft gold; six hundred measures [dinar] of gold went into one [full] shield.
Rashi
צנה. מקפת את האדם משלשה רוחותיו, והוא שאמר בספר תהלים (ה יג): כצנה רצון תעטרנו:
Full shields. [A body shield that] encircles the person on three sides. This is the meaning of the verse in the Book of Tehillim, “as a body shield, with good, will You shall surround him.”7Tehillim 5:13.
שש מאות זהב. והוא שש מנים, שהזהב הוא הדינר:
Six hundred. Six manim, for [a piece of] gold is a dinar.
וּשְׁלֹשׁ־מֵאוֹת מָֽגִנִּים זָהָב שָׁחוּט שְׁלֹשֶׁת מָנִים זָהָב יַעֲלֶה עַל־הַמָּגֵן הָאֶחָת וַיִּתְּנֵם הַמֶּלֶךְ בֵּית יַעַר הַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃ {פ}
[He also made] three hundred [regular] shields of soft gold, three hundred maneh of gold went into one shield; and the king placed them in the House of the forest of Lebanon.
[He also made] three hundred [regular] shields of soft gold, three hundred maneh of gold went into one shield; and the king placed them in the House of the forest of Lebanon.
Rashi
זהב שחוט. הוא רך ונוח להרקע:
Soft gold. It is soft and easy to flatten out.8This type of gold can be spun like thread [חוט]. See Maseches Yoma 44b-45a.
וַיַּעַשׂ הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּסֵּא־שֵׁן גָּדוֹל וַיְצַפֵּהוּ זָהָב מוּפָֽז׃
And the king made a huge throne of ivory, and overlaided it with pure glittering gold.
And the king made a huge throne of ivory, and overlaided it with pure glittering gold.
Rashi
זהב מופז. מבהיק כמרגלית:
Glittering gold. Sparkling like pearls.
שֵׁשׁ מַעֲלוֹת לַכִּסֵּה וְרֹאשׁ־עָגֹל לַכִּסֵּה מֵֽאַחֲרָיו וְיָדֹת מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה אֶל־מְקוֹם הַשָּׁבֶת וּשְׁנַיִם אֲרָיוֹת עֹמְדִים אֵצֶל הַיָּדֽוֹת׃
There were six steps [leading up] to the throne. The top of the throne was round from behind, and there were arm-rests on each side at the place of the seat; there were two lions standing beside the arm-rests.
There were six steps [leading up] to the throne. The top of the throne was round from behind, and there were arm-rests on each side at the place of the seat; there were two lions standing beside the arm-rests.
Rashi
שש מעלות. מדרגות לעלות בו, וראש הכסא היה עגול, מקום מושב המלך:
Six steps. Steps by which to go up [to it], and the top of the throne, was circular, where the king sits.
מאחריו. תיקון הכסא היה רחב, והמעלות היו לצד פניו, ולצד רחבה לצד אחריו היה המושב גבוה מן הכסא מקום עגול:
From behind. The throne was wide, and the steps were to the front and to the width, to the back was the seat, higher than the throne, was a round place.9A circular dome protruded from above the throne above the king’s head.—Metzudas Dovid
וידות מזה ומזה. לסמוך זרועותיו עליהם, כמין מקלות זהב מפאה לפאה, פשוטין לימין ולשמאל:
And there were arm-rests on each side. On which to support his arms, like two gold rails from end to end, extending on the right and on the left.
ושנים אריות. של זהב, וכל צורת הכסא מפורשת באגדת מגילת אסתר (אסתר רבה טו יב ילקוט שמעוני רמז תתרמו):
There were two lions. Of gold. The entire plan of the throne is described in the Aggadah of Megillas Esther.10Esther Rabboh 1:12.
וּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֲרָיִים עֹמְדִים שָׁם עַל־שֵׁשׁ הַֽמַּעֲלוֹת מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה לֹא־נַעֲשָׂה כֵן לְכׇל־מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃
There were twelve lions standing there on the six steps, [two] on each side. Nothing like this was ever made for any kingdom.
There were twelve lions standing there on the six steps, [two] on each side. Nothing like this was ever made for any kingdom.
וְכֹל כְּלֵי מַשְׁקֵה הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה זָהָב וְכֹל כְּלֵי בֵּֽית־יַעַר הַלְּבָנוֹן זָהָב סָגוּר אֵין כֶּסֶף לֹא נֶחְשָׁב בִּימֵי שְׁלֹמֹה לִמְאֽוּמָה׃
All the drinking cups of Shlomo ha Melech were made of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were made of pure gold; none of them were made of silver, as [silver] was not considered of value in the days of Shlomo.
All the drinking cups of Shlomo ha Melech were made of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were made of pure gold; none of them were made of silver, as [silver] was not considered of value in the days of Shlomo.
Rashi
אין כסף לא נחשב. אין כסף באחד מהם, כי לא נחשב:
None of them were made of silver, as [silver] was not considered of value. There was no silver in any of them because it was not valuable.
כִּי אֳנִי תַרְשִׁישׁ לַמֶּלֶךְ בַּיָּם עִם אֳנִי חִירָם אַחַת לְשָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים תָּבוֹא ׀ אֳנִי תַרְשִׁישׁ נֹֽשְׂאֵת זָהָב וָכֶסֶף שֶׁנְהַבִּים וְקֹפִים וְתֻכִּיִּֽים׃
For the king had ships of Tarshish at sea, with the ships of Chirom [as well]; [and] once in three years the ships of Tarshish would come carrying gold, silver, ivory, monkeys and peacocks.
For the king had ships of Tarshish at sea, with the ships of Chirom [as well]; [and] once in three years the ships of Tarshish would come carrying gold, silver, ivory, monkeys and peacocks.
Rashi
אני תרשיש. (תרגום:) ספינת אפריקא:
Ships of Tarshish. [Targum Yonoson rendered,] “ships of Africa.”
שנהבים וקפים ותוכיים. (תרגום:) שן דפיל וקופין וטוסין:
Ivory, monkeys, and peacocks. [Targum Yonoson rendered,] ivory, monkeys and peacocks.
וַיִּגְדַּל הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה מִכֹּל מַלְכֵי הָאָרֶץ לְעֹשֶׁר וּלְחׇכְמָֽה׃
Shlomo ha Melech became greater than all the kings of the earth in wealth and in wisdom.
Shlomo ha Melech became greater than all the kings of the earth in wealth and in wisdom.
וְכׇל־הָאָרֶץ מְבַקְשִׁים אֶת־פְּנֵי שְׁלֹמֹה לִשְׁמֹעַ אֶת־חׇכְמָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַן אֱלֹהִים בְּלִבּֽוֹ׃
And the whole world sought the presence of Shlomo, to listen to the wisdom that Adonoy instilled in his heart.
And the whole world sought the presence of Shlomo, to listen to the wisdom that Adonoy instilled in his heart.
וְהֵמָּה מְבִאִים אִישׁ מִנְחָתוֹ כְּלֵי כֶסֶף וּכְלֵי זָהָב וּשְׂלָמוֹת וְנֵשֶׁק וּבְשָׂמִים סוּסִים וּפְרָדִים דְּבַר־שָׁנָה בְּשָׁנָֽה׃ {ס}
They brought, each one of them, his gift, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses and mules; year after year.
They brought, each one of them, his gift, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses and mules; year after year.
Rashi
ונשק. כלי זיין:
Weapons. Weapons.
וַיֶּאֱסֹף שְׁלֹמֹה רֶכֶב וּפָרָשִׁים וַֽיְהִי־לוֹ אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע־מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב וּשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר אֶלֶף פָּרָשִׁים וַיַּנְחֵם בְּעָרֵי הָרֶכֶב וְעִם־הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
Shlomo amassed chariots and cavalry. He possessed fourteen hundred chariots, and twelve thousand cavalry men. He placed them in the cities of chariots and with the king in Yerushalayim.
Shlomo amassed chariots and cavalry. He possessed fourteen hundred chariots, and twelve thousand cavalry men. He placed them in the cities of chariots and with the king in Yerushalayim.
Rashi
אלף וארבע מאות רכב. ובדברי הימים (ב א יד) כתוב: אלף ושבע מאות. ואומר אני, אלף וארבע מאות בערי הרכב היו, והשלש מאות עם המלך בירושלים, וכך פירושו בדברי הימים: וינחם בערי הרכב, ועם המלך היה עוד רכב אחד בירושלים. וכאן כך פירושו: וינחם בערי הרכב, ועם המלך היו מקצתן בירושלים:
Fourteen hundred chariots. But in Divrei Hayomim it states, “seventeen hundred.”11II Divrei Hayomim 1:14. Rashi apparently had a different version of the text than ours. Our text in Divrei Hayomim reads, “fourteen hundred chariots.” Thus there is no discrepancy between the texts. Therefore I say that fourteen hundred were in the chariot cities, and three hundred were with the king in Yerusholayim. And this is the explanation in Divrei Hayomim, “and he stationed them in the chariot cities, and with the king there were other chariots in Yerusholayim.” And while here, this is the explanation, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king; and in Yerusholayim [were additional ones].
וינחם. וינהלם:
He placed them. And he led them.12Alternatively, he stationed them.—Metzudas Dovid.
וַיִּתֵּן הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־הַכֶּסֶף בִּירוּשָׁלַ͏ִם כָּאֲבָנִים וְאֵת הָאֲרָזִים נָתַן כַּשִּׁקְמִים אֲשֶׁר־בַּשְּׁפֵלָה לָרֹֽב׃
The king made the silver [as worthless] as stones in Yerushalayim; and the cedars [as common] as sycamores that are found in abundance in the lowland.
The king made the silver [as worthless] as stones in Yerushalayim; and the cedars [as common] as sycamores that are found in abundance in the lowland.
Rashi
כאבנים. ולמעלה (פסוק כא) הוא אומר 'למאומה' רבותינו פירשו (סנהדרין כא ב): כאן קודם שנשא שלמה את בת פרעה, כאן לאחר שנשא שלמה את בת פרעה:
As stones. But above it states, “of no value.”13Above v. 21. Our Rabbis explained that one refers to the time before Shlomo married Pharaoh’s daughter, and one refers to the time after Shlomo wedded Pharaoh’s daughter.14See Maseches Sanhedrin 21b. After Shlomo married Pharaoh’s daughter and began to go astray, the nation became less prosperous and silver regained some value.
וּמוֹצָא הַסּוּסִים אֲשֶׁר לִשְׁלֹמֹה מִמִּצְרָיִם וּמִקְוֵה סֹחֲרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ יִקְחוּ מִקְוֵה בִּמְחִֽיר׃
The source of the horses that Shlomo possessed was from Egypt and from a privileged cartel. The royal traders bought [horses] from the cartel at the marked price.
The source of the horses that Shlomo possessed was from Egypt and from a privileged cartel. The royal traders bought [horses] from the cartel at the marked price.
Rashi
ומוצא הסוסים אשר לשלמה. היה ממצרים:
The source of the horses that Shlomo possessed. Was from Egypt.
ומקוה. אסיפת סוחרי הסוסים במצרים, סוחרי המלך שלמה היו קונין אותם במחיר ממצרים מן המלך, שלא יוציא אדם סוס משם, אלא על ידם, כך שמעתי ולכך נקוד על 'ומקוה' טעם זק"ף גדו"ל, ללמוד שהתיבה עומדת בעצמה, ואינה דבוקה לאחריה:
A privileged cartel. The gathering of horse dealers was in Egypt. Shlomo’s merchants bought [the rights] from the king of Egypt, because no person could export horses from there except through them. This is what I heard. Therefore, there is a “zakef gadol”15I.e., a cantillation signifying a pause. on “ומקוה,” to denote that the word מקוה stands by itself and is not connected with what follows it.16Alternatively, מקוה is linen thread [thread=תקוה, See Yehoshua 2:18], i.e. Egypt exported two items for Shlomo, horses and linen thread—Radak. Or מקוה [=מן קוה], i.e., they brought horses from a region called קוה.—Metzudas Dovid
וַֽתַּעֲלֶה וַתֵּצֵא מֶרְכָּבָה מִמִּצְרַיִם בְּשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת כֶּסֶף וְסוּס בַּחֲמִשִּׁים וּמֵאָה וְכֵן לְכׇל־מַלְכֵי הַחִתִּים וּלְמַלְכֵי אֲרָם בְּיָדָם יֹצִֽאוּ׃ {פ}
A chariot would be exported from Egypt for six hundred silver pieces and a single horse for one hundred fifty. In this manner [the horses of] all the kings of Hittite and Aram were exported through them.
A chariot would be exported from Egypt for six hundred silver pieces and a single horse for one hundred fifty. In this manner [the horses of] all the kings of Hittite and Aram were exported through them.
Rashi
וסוס בחמשים ומאה. למדנו שהמרכבה בארבע סוסים, וכן בדמים הללו לכל מלכי החתים ולמלכי ארם:
And a single horse for one hundred fifty. We deduce that a chariot consisted of four horses.17If a single horse was exported for 150 silver pieces, and a chariot was exported for 600 silver pieces, obviously a chariot consisted of four horses. And for these prices [they sold] to all the kings of the Chitim and Aram.
בידם. של סוחרי שלמה, יוצאים ממצרים:
Through them. Through Shlomo’s merchants, they exported them from Egypt.
ועולתו אשר יעלה בית ה'. דרך מבוא שהכין מביתו לבית המקדש, שהיה עולה בו לבית ה':
And his elevated ramp by which he would go up to the Beis Hamikdosh of Adonoy. By means of a passageway that he had prepared from his house to the Beis Hamikdosh, by which he would go up to the House of God.1Alternatively, ועולתו אשר יעלה עליו refers to the sacrifices that Shlomo offered in the Beis Hamikdosh, described above in 9:25.—Targum