Pekudei (Ashkenazim)
The Haftarah of Parashat Terumah described how King Solomon began to build the Temple, deploying vast human and material resources for an awe-inspiring structure. This week’s Haftarah takes place seven years later, at the conclusion of that process. Solomon undertakes a suitably spectacular Temple inauguration, and delivers a sweeping historical and spiritual speech emphasizing that his royal accomplishment accords with God’s covenants with Israel at Sinai, and with David as God’s chosen royal house. The Tabernacle, Ark, Tablets, God’s Cloud, and inaugural celebration are present both in the Haftarah and the Parashah.
Gathering Israel’s elders, tribal and familial heads, and priests, Solomon hosts a 14-day inauguration for the entire people during Tishrei, overlapping with Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Amidst innumerable celebratory sacrifices, the priests transfer the Ark of the Covenant and the rest of the Tabernacle from the City of David, placing the Ark under the cherubs in the Holy of Holies. God’s presence then fills the Temple, demonstrating the project’s spiritual success. Solomon addresses the people, recounting how God chose David as Israel’s king and approved of his desire to build Him a House in Jerusalem, but designated his son to build it. Now sitting on his father’s throne, Solomon has done so. After 487 years, God has a permanent location to dwell among His people.
Haftarah Breakdown
Verse 7:51: Solomon finishes building the Temple. He stores items dedicated by King David in the Temple treasury.
I Kings 7:51
All the work King Solomon did for the Lord’s House was completed. Solomon brought the holy items of his father, David- the silver, gold, and vessels- and placed them in the treasuries of the Lord’s House.
וַתִּשְׁלַם֙ כׇּל־הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֛ה הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בֵּ֣ית ה' וַיָּבֵ֨א שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה אֶת־קׇדְשֵׁ֣י ׀ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֗יו אֶת־הַכֶּ֤סֶף וְאֶת־הַזָּהָב֙ וְאֶת־הַכֵּלִ֔ים נָתַ֕ן בְּאֹצְר֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית ה'׃ {פ}
Verses 8:1-5: Solomon gathers the entire people in Tishrei to inaugurate the Temple. Priests transfer the Tabernacle and Ark from the City of David to the Temple, while Solomon and the people celebrate with countless sacrifices.
I Kings 8:5
King Solomon, and the entire congregation of Israel assembled unto him, [were] with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could neither be counted nor numbered [due to their] multitude.
וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה וְכָל־עֲדַ֤ת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ הַנּוֹעָדִ֣ים עָלָ֔יו אִתּ֖וֹ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאָר֑וֹן מְזַבְּחִים֙ צֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יִסָּפְר֛וּ וְלֹ֥א יִמָּנ֖וּ מֵרֹֽב׃
Verses 8:6-9: The priests place the Ark of the Covenant and the Tablets it contains under the cherubs’ wings in the Holy of Holies. The Ark’s poles’ tips extend visibly against the Curtain.
I Kings 8:6
The priests brought the Ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place, to the House’s Sanctuary, to the Holy of Holies, under the cherubs’ wings.
וַיָּבִ֣אוּ הַ֠כֹּהֲנִים אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן בְּרִית־ה' אֶל־מְקוֹמ֛וֹ אֶל־דְּבִ֥יר הַבַּ֖יִת אֶל־קֹ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים אֶל־תַּ֖חַת כַּנְפֵ֥י הַכְּרוּבִֽים׃
Verses 8:10-11: The cloud of God’s presence fills the Temple as the priests exit it, preventing their service there.
I Kings 8:11
The priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the Lord’s Glory filled the Lord’s House.
וְלֹֽא־יָכְל֧וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים לַעֲמֹ֥ד לְשָׁרֵ֖ת מִפְּנֵ֥י הֶֽעָנָ֑ן כִּי־מָלֵ֥א כְבוֹד־ה' אֶת־בֵּ֥ית ה' (פ)
Verses 8:12-13: Seeing this, Solomon understands that God accepts His House and will dwell there forever.
I Kings 8:12-13
Solomon then said, "The Lord said He would dwell in the thick darkness. I have surely built You an exalted house, a place for Your eternal dwelling."
אָ֖ז אָמַ֣ר שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה ה' אָמַ֔ר לִשְׁכֹּ֖ן בָּעֲרָפֶֽל׃
בָּנֹ֥ה בָנִ֛יתִי בֵּ֥ית זְבֻ֖ל לָ֑ךְ מָכ֥וֹן לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֖ עוֹלָמִֽים׃
Verses 8:14-18: Solomon turns around to bless the people and pray. God appointed David to be king of Israel, and approved of his desire to build Him a House in Jerusalem.
I Kings 8:16
Since the day that I [God] brought forth My people, Israel, out of Egypt, I chose no city among all of Israel’s tribes to build a house for My name to be there. I chose David to be over My people, Israel.
מִן־הַיּ֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֜אתִי אֶת־עַמִּ֣י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ מִמִּצְרַיִם֒ לֹֽא־בָחַ֣רְתִּי בְעִ֗יר מִכֹּל֙ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִבְנ֣וֹת בַּ֔יִת לִהְי֥וֹת שְׁמִ֖י שָׁ֑ם וָאֶבְחַ֣ר בְּדָוִ֔ד לִֽהְי֖וֹת עַל־עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Verses 8:19-21: Nonetheless, God instructed David not to build His House, promising him that his son would do so. Fulfilling God’s promise to his father, David, King Solomon built the Temple, placing the Ark of the Covenant there.
I Kings 8:20
The Lord fulfilled His word that He spoke. I [Solomon] have arisen in the place of David, my father. I have sat up on Israel’s throne, as the Lord spoke. I have built a house for the name of the Lord, God of Israel.
וַיָּ֣קֶם ה' אֶת־דְּבָר֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר וָאָקֻ֡ם תַּחַת֩ דָּוִ֨ד אָבִ֜י וָאֵשֵׁ֣ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר ה' וָאֶבְנֶ֣ה הַבַּ֔יִת לְשֵׁ֥ם ה' אֱלֹקי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Connection
The Talmud presents two views about the fate of the Holy Ark of the Parashah and Haftarah.
Jerusalem Talmud Shekalim 6:1
It is stated in the name of R. Eliezer: “The Ark was exiled with [Judah] to Babylon.” What [Scriptural source for this]? “There will not remain a word [lit: thing].” (2 Kings 20:17) “Word” refers to the object containing the Words [on the Tablets located in the Ark.] Scripture (2 Chronicles.36:10) states similarly, “At the turn of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent, bringing [King Jehoiakim] to Babylon with the desirable vessels of God’s House.” What are the “desirables of God’s House”? This is the Ark.
R. Shimon ben Lakish said, “[The Ark] was hidden [i.e., buried] in its place [the Holy of Holies.]” This accords with (I Kings 8:8), “The poles were long. The poles’ tips were seen towards the Holy at the front of the [Holy of Holies]... but were not seen outside …and are there until this very day.”
תַּנֵּי בְשֵׁם רִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הָאָרוֹן גָּלָה עִמָּהֶן לְבָבֶל. מָה טַעַם? לֹֽא־יִווָתֵר דָּבָר֭ אָמַ֥ר יְ-י. אֵין דָּבָר אֶלָּא שֶׁהַדִּיבְּרוֹת לְתוֹכוֹ. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר וְלִתְשׁוּבַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָ֗ה שָׁלַח֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר וַיְבִיאֵהוּ בָבֶ֔לָה עִם־כְּלֵי֖ חֶמְדַּ֣ת בֵּֽית־יְ-י. אֵי זֶהוּ חֶמְדַּ֣ת בֵּֽית־יְ-י? זֶה הָאָרוֹן.
רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָמַר בִּמְקוֹמוֹ הָיָה הָאָרוֹן גָּנוּז. הָדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַֽיַּֽאֲרִיכוּ הַבַּדִּים֒ וַיֵּֽרָאוּ֩ רָאשֵׁ֨י הַבַּדִּ֤ים אֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֶל פְּנֵי הַדְּבִ֔יר וְלֹ֥א יֵֽרָא֖וּ הַח֑וּצָה וַיִּ֣הְיוּ שָׁ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה.