1 Kings 8:65

THE PEOPLE JOYFUL. (Kg1 8:65)

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 (Ch2 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 tenth of the seventh month (Kg1 8:2), and the last day of the feast of tabernacles was on the twenty-third (Ch2 7:10), when the people returned to their homes with feelings of the greatest joy and gratitude "for all the goodness that the Lord had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people."

Next: 1 Kings Chapter 9

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

1Ki 8:65 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, [even] fourteen days.

Ver. 65. From the entering in of Hamath,] i.e., From north to south. Understand also from east to west.

Seven days and seven days.] The first seven were for the dedication, εγκαινια, the priests, Levites, and one hundred and twenty singers making all manner of music; {2Ch 5:11} the second seven for the feast of tabernacles. Within the first seven days, viz., on the tenth day, fell out their yearly public fast, {Lev 23:27} which was dispensed with, as some think. Others hold that they killed their sacrifices on that day also, but ate not of them till the evening, or till the next day, haply.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki 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, Num 34:8; Jos 13:5; Jdg 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 these fourteen days of rejoicing were not all together, but that there was some interval between them, which indeed was necessary, because the day of atonement was on the tenth day of this month, Lev 23:27. And because these fourteen days ended on the twenty-second day, (2Ch 7:10,) it may seem most probable, that the feast of the dedication was kept before the tenth day; and the feast of tabernacles some days after it. On the eighth day he sent the people away — Having joined with them in the solemn assembly, which was kept on the eighth day; in the close of that day he took his solemn farewell, and dismissed them with his blessing; and the next morning, when the heads and elders, with divers of the people, came to take their leave of the king, he sent them away. And they blessed the king — They applauded, admired, and returned him the thanks of the congregation for the great care and pains he had taken in building the temple and setting up God’s worship among them. Or, they prayed to God to bless him, according to their duty and custom. And went to their tents joyful and glad of heart — Easy in mind and pleased; rejoicing in all the goodness that the Lord had done for David — In giving him a sure house, and a wise and religious son, by whom he had now fulfilled the promise made to him about building the temple. And for Israel his people — They rejoiced in God’s blessings both on the royal family and on the kingdom. In this spirit should we go home from holy ordinances, and should rejoice for God’s goodness to our Lord Jesus, of whom David his servant was a type, in the advancement and establishment of his throne, pursuant to the covenant of redemption; and to all believers, his spiritual Israel, in their sanctification and consolation, pursuant to the covenant of grace. If we rejoice not herein always, it is our own fault; it is owing to the weakness of our faith and hope, and the coldness of our love.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

8:65 Lebo-hamath to the north in Aram and the Brook of Egypt (Wadi al Arish) to the south are the geographic boundaries that defined the Promised Land (Josh 13:5; 15:4). • seven days for the dedication of the altar and seven days for the Festival of Shelters: When the seven days for the dedication were completed, the Festival of Shelters was observed for another seven days.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

That is, from North to South: meaning all the country.

Seven days for the dedication, and seven for the feast.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 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.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(65) The entering in of Hamath, is the significant name given to the great valley between Lebanon and Anti - Lebanon, which the Greeks called Cœle- Syria; for it was the main entrance to Palestine from the north, down which the hosts of Assyria and Babylon so constantly poured. Evidently it extended at this time beyond Damascus.

The river of Egypt is not, as might naturally be thought, the Nile, or any of its branches; for the word used signifies rather a “brook” or “torrent,” and the torrent, described in Num_34:5 and Jos_15:4 as the border of Israel, is identified by all authorities with the torrent falling into the sea at El-Arish.

(65, 66) Seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. On the eighth day. . . .—The origin of this curious phrase is singularly illustrated by the account in 2Ch_7:9-10, for it tells us that the people were dismissed on “the three and twentieth day” of the month, which was the day after the close of the Feast of Tabernacles. Hence it is clear that the festival week of the Dedication preceded the regular feast; and the day of dismissal was the “eighth day,” regularly so-called, of the close of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Unto their tents.—The old memory of the wandering life of Israel still lingers in this expression, as in the well-known phrase “To your tents, O Israel!” (2Sa_20:1; 1Ki_12:16.) It may have been suggested to the writer in this place by the ideas symbolised in the Feast of Tabernacles, of which he had just recorded the observance.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

65. Solomon held a feast] Better ‘the feast.’ The special feast of Tabernacles (cf. 1Ki_8:2), a very fitting occasion for the great multitude to make themselves an encampment in the open country around.

The part played by Solomon in all this dedication ceremony shews us that the ordinances of the Pentateuch had not yet come into observance. Israel had not advanced beyond the traditional religion contained in the ‘book of the covenant’. But the failure of the nation herein cannot of itself be held to establish the non-existence of the Levitical law.

from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt] Within these limits the whole land of Palestine was embraced. Hamath on the north was situated in the valley of the Orontes, and for a long time was the chief city of the northern part of Syria. On the south the river of Egypt (nahal Mizraim) is identified for us in the LXX. (Isa_27:12) by being translated ὁ ποταμὸς ἕως Ῥινοκορούρων. Rhinocoroura (i.e. Rhinocolura) is the modern El Arish, and so the nahal Mizraim was probably Wady el Arïsh, a desert stream on the border of Egypt.

before the Lord our God] The last two words have the appearance of an editorial addition. They would hardly appear in the original narrative.

seven days and seven days] As explained in 2Ch_7:9 the dedication of the altar lasted seven days, and the feast (of Tabernacles proper) other seven days. This double observance accounts for the form of words here used.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A feast necessarily accompanied such a sacrifice as Solomon was holding. Compare Lev 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 1Ki 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 people to their homes.

The entering in of Hamath - Compare Num 13:21, note andmargin reference. The phrase marks the extreme northern boundary of the holy land.

The river of Egypt - The Wady-el-Arish, the only large water-course on this coast (margin reference).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Egypt. Rhinocolura, (Menochius) or rather the branch of the Nile nearest Arabia, Josue xiii. 3., and Numbers xiii. 22. (Calmet) --- Seven, for each festival, ver. 1.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Held a feast, i.e. kept the solemnity. From the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt; the usual and known bounds of the land, in the utmost length of it; of which see Num 34:8; Jos 13:5; Jdg 3:3.

Before the Lord, i.e. before the temple, and 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, as, nay be gathered from 2Ch 7:9. And it seems to be expressed in this manner, to intimate that these fourteen days of rejoicing were not all together, but that there was some interval between them, which indeed was necessary, because the day of atonement was on the tenth day of this month, Lev 23:27. And because these fourteen days ended on the twenty-second day, 2Ch 7:9, it may seem most probable that the feast of the dedication was kept before the tenth day, and the feast of tabernacles some days after it.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

65. Held a feast — The feast of dedication, followed by the feast of tabernacles.

Hamath — An ancient city of Syria, situated on the Orontes. See on Num_13:21; Num_34:8; Jos_13:5.

River of Egypt — Often mentioned as the southern limit of the Land of Promise. See on Gen_15:18; Num_34:5; Jos_15:4. Some think, but without sufficient reason, that the Nile is meant; but the reference is, doubtless, to the Wady-el-Arish, which runs northerly through the middle of the Sinaitic Peninsula and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. This formed a southwestern border towards Egypt.

Seven days and seven days — That is, the feast of dedication and the feast of tabernacles lasted each seven days, making the entire festival to continue fourteen days.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And at that time Solomon held a feast the necessary sequel to such number of peace offerings. cf. 1Ki_3:15 All the flesh that could be, must be eaten, (Lev_19:5, Lev_19:6) and all Israel with him, a great congregation see note on ver. 64. "All Israel" would hardly be an exaggeration, from the entering in of Hamath the northern boundary of Palestine (Num_34:8; cf. 13:31; Jos_13:5 Jud_1:3:3 Eze_47:16; Stanley, S. and P. p. 407; Dict. Bib. 1. p. 644; Porter, pp. 620, 621 unto the river Heb. ljn i.e., torrent bed, watercourse, wady (river is rhn). See Stanley, S. and P. pp. 14, 505, 506 of Egypt i.e., the southern limit of the Holy Land. See Num_34:5 Jos_15:4, 47 2Ki_24:7 Gen_15:18, where the word is rh; n; refers to the Nile. The Wady el Arish must be intended (Dict. Bib. vol. 3. p. 1046, 1047, and Gesen., Thesaurus, vol. 2. p. 872, Porter, p. 267), before the Lord our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days The two periods are thus distinguished, because they were properly distinct, the first being the feast of dedication, the second the feast of tabernacles. This is more clearly explained in 2Ch_7:9, 10

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Seven - 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 these fourteen days of rejoicing, were not altogether, but that there was some interval between them, which indeed was necessary, because the day of atonement was on the tenth day of this month, Lev. xxiii, 27. And because these fourteen days ended on the twenty-second day, 2 Chron. vii, 10, it may seem most probable, that the feast of the dedication was kept before the tenth day: and the feast of tabernacles some days after it.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Thus Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the neighbourhood of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, i.e., from the whole land in its fullest extent from north to south. "The district of Hamath," i.e., Epiphania on the Orontes, is mentioned as the northern boundary (cf. Num 34:8; Num 13:21; Jos 13:5, etc.); and "the brook of Egypt" (מצרים נחל), Rhinocorura, as the southern boundary (cf. Num 34:8; Jos 15:4). "The feast" (החג), which Solomon held with the people "seven days and seven days, fourteen days," is not the feast of the dedication, but, as in Kg1 8:2, the feast of tabernacles, which fell in the seventh month; and the meaning of the verse is, that on that occasion the feast of the seventh month was kept for fourteen days, namely, seven days as the feast of the dedication, and seven days as the feast of tabernacles. We are obliged to take the words in this way, partly on account of the evident reference to בּחג (at the feast) in Kg1 8:2 in the expression את־החג (the feast) in this verse, and partly on account of the statement which follows in Kg1 8:66, "and on the eighth day he sent the people away." The "eight day" is not the first day of the feast of tabernacles (Thenius); but the eighth day, as the conclusion of the feast of tabernacles, עצרת (Lev 23:36). The correctness of this view is placed beyond all doubt by the context in the Chronicles, which states more clearly that, "Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him ... and they kept עצרת (the closing feast) on the eight day; for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days; and on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away." The feast of tabernacles lasted seven days, from the 15th to the 21st, with a closing festival on the eighth day, i.e., the 22nd of the month (Lev 23:33-39). This festival was preceded by the dedication of the temple from the 8th to the 14th of the month. The statement in Kg1 8:66, "on the eighth day he sent the people away," if we take the words in their strict sense, is at variance with the statement in the Chronicles, "on the 23rd day," since the eighth day of the feast of tabernacles was the 22nd day of the month; but it may easily be accounted for from want of precision in a well-known matter. Solomon sent the people away on the eighth day, i.e., on the afternoon or evening of the atzereth of the feast of tabernacles, so that on the morning of the next day, i.e., on the 23rd of the month, the people took their journey home, "joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had shown to His servant David and to the people." David is mentioned, because the completion of the building of the temple was the fulfilment of the divine promise given to him. "Tents," for houses, as in Sa2 10:1; Jdg 7:8, and other passages.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

all Israel with him

This generalization may refer either 1) to the people whom Solomon called to Jerusalem and who are listed in 1 Kings 8:1, or 2) to those who traveled to Jerusalem for the feast, not necessarily to every person who lived in Israel. See how you translated similar words in 1 Kings 8:62. (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)

seven days ... seven days ... fourteen days

"7 days ... 7 days ... 14 days" (See: Numbers)

eighth day

The word "eighth" is the ordinal form of "8." (See: Ordinal Numbers)

joyful and glad

The two words mean basically the same thing and are combined for emphasis. (See: Doublet)

translationWords

Solomon

feast

assembly

Hamath

Egypt

bless

joy

heart

good

David

servant

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

[Stretching] from the entrance of Chamos. Located in the north of Eretz Yisroel.

To the Brook of Egypt. Which is opposite it, in the south, [as is delineated] in [the section entitled], “These are the travels.”

Seven days. Of inauguration.

And seven [more] days. Of Succos. It is found that they ate and drank on Yom Kippur.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.