1 Kings 8:65

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 8:62-66

We read before that Judah and Israel were eating and drinking, and very cheerful under their own vines and fig-trees; here we have them so in God's courts. Now they found Solomon's words true concerning Wisdom's ways, that they are ways of pleasantness. I. They had abundant joy and satisfaction while they attended at God's house, for there, 1. Solomon offered a great sacrifice, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep, enough to have drained the country of cattle if it had not been a very fruitful land.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:65

And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him ,.... Partaking of the parts of the peace offerings which belonged to him, and were offered by way of thanksgiving on the occasion, together with whatsoever he might as a liberal prince provide for this entertainment: for it was for a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt ; consisting of a number of people, gathered together from Hamath, which was on the northern border of the land of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 8:65

From - Hamath - Supposed to be Antioch of Syria; unto the river of Egypt - to the Rhinocorura; the former being on the north, the latter on the south: i.e., from one extremity of the land to the other. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 8:62-66

The Feast on the Sacrifices. In this prodigious number of sacrifices—in round numbers 150,000 victims—3,000 oxen and 18,000 sheep forevery day of the festival (Keil); five oxen and twenty-five sheep forevery minute of each day (Thenius)—in this wholesale slaughter, which converted the court of the priests into one great shambles, and almost choked the sewers of the temple with blood, one feature is liable to be overlooked (note on 1 Kings 8:64 ), namely, that all these sacrifices were " ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 8:65

And at that time Solomon held a feast [the necessary sequel to such number of peace offerings (cf. 1 Kings 3:15 ). All the flesh that could be, must be eaten (Le 1 Kings 19:5 , 1 Kings 19:6 ) ], and all Israel with him, a great congregation [see note on 1 Kings 8:64 . "All Israel" would hardly be an exaggeration], from the entering in of Hamath [the northern boundary of Palestine. See Stanley, S. and P. pp. 14, 505, 506] of Egypt [ i.e; the southern limit of the Holy Land.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:65

A feast necessarily accompanied such a sacrifice as Solomon was holding. Compare Leviticus 19:5. On the present occasion there was a double festival - first, the Feast of the Dedication, from the 8th to the 15th of the month Ethanim (or Tisri), and then the Feast of tabernacles, from the 15th to the 22nd 1 Kings 8:2. On the day after this, “the eighth day,” counting from the commencement of the second seven, and the twenty-third day of the month (margin reference “m”), Solomon dismissed the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 8:65-66

1 Kings 8:65-66. At that time Solomon held a feast That is, kept a solemn festival. And all Israel from Hamath unto the river of Egypt The usual and known bounds of the land, in the utmost length of it, Numbers 34:8; Joshua 13:5; Judges 3:3. Before the Lord Before the temple, as in God’s presence. Seven days and seven days Seven for the dedication of the temple, or altar; and the other seven for the feast of tabernacles. And it seems to be expressed in this manner, to intimate, that... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 8:22-66

The dedication ceremony (8:22-9:9)Solomon then went up on to a specially made bronze platform, knelt down and prayed to God in the presence of the assembled people (2 Chronicles 6:12-13). He admitted that only God’s grace had allowed his father and himself to fulfil their wish of building God a symbolic dwelling place. He prayed that God’s grace would rest likewise upon his royal descendants after him (22-26). Solomon knew there was no necessity for the temple, because God dwells everywhere.... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 8:65

a feast = the feast: viz. the Feast of Tabernacles. See note on 1 Kings 8:2 . seven days and seven days. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 . The first seven the Feast of Dedication; the second the Feast of Tabernacles. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 8:65

65. from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt—that is, from one extremity of the kingdom to the other. The people flocked from all quarters. seven days and seven days, even fourteen days—The first seven were occupied with the dedication, and the other seven devoted to the feast of tabernacles (2 Chronicles 7:9). The particular form of expression indicates that the fourteen days were not continuous. Some interval occurred in consequence of the great day of atonement falling on the... read more

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