The Haftorah begins with “God gave Solomon wisdom…This brought peace between Hiram and Solomon and the two made a covenant together.”

This is important because it’s where the trees were obtained for the temple. Solomon sent 30,000 men to cut timber in collaboration with Hiram’s workers. They went in shifts – 10,000 a month- so they spent one month cutting timber and then two months at home.

Next we see Solomon directing his people at home. They quarried and cut stones.

Then we get a timeframe check; 408 years after the people came out of Egypt, they began to build the House for Hashem.

It is interesting because we remember the Israelites spent 430 years in Egypt.

We see the construction of the temple; starting inside with the hall and then the exterior.

What is interesting is the process for how the temple was built. The stones were prepared before being brought to the temple. So that neither hammer or axe or any tool of iron could be heard in the House while it was being built.

That is fascinating – the temple where Hashem dwelled didn’t even have the sound inside of it from it being built.

I want to stop for a moment there because I’ve been reflecting in my meditations on the issue of sound. How our brains and bodies respond to sound. We don’t often reflect on this. Lately I’ve noticed for myself the intense need for white noise in the background. I usually have a fan going somewhere; because the sound is distracting. My brain can focus on the dull white noise instead of other things it may want to focus on (like, say, for an example, I don’t know….sadness and disappointment?)

Anyway; it is interesting in the Haftorah how important sound is.

Ok; back to the Haftorah. The Haftorah closes with Hashem going to Solomon and saying to him; “Concerning this House which you are building, if you will walk in My Statutes, and execute My judgements, and keep all My commandments to walk in them – then with you I will fulfill My word, that I spoke to David your father. I will dwell among the people of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.”

God makes a promise – that if we continue to connect with Him through the mitzvahs (keeping the commandments) He will take care of us.

Interesting! What are your thoughts?