2 Chronicles 7:8

2Ch 7:8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.

Ver. 8. Solomon kept the feast.] See 1Ki 8:65.

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.

7:8-10 Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south marked the boundaries of Israel as promised to the patriarchs (Gen 15:18; Num 34:5, 8; Josh 15:4). The Temple dedication festival preceded the annual Festival of Shelters, which ended on the twenty-second day of the month.

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

The feast of the Tabernacles which was kept in the seventh month.

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

Solomon kept the feast seven days--The time chosen for the dedication of the temple was immediately previous to the feast of tabernacles (see on Kg1 8:1-12). That season, which came after the harvest, corresponding to our September and October, lasted seven days, and during so prolonged a festival there was time afforded for the offering of the immense sacrifices enumerated. A large proportion of these were peace offerings, which afforded to the people the means of festive enjoyment.

all Israel . . . from the entering in of Hamath--that is, the defile at Lebanon.

unto the river of Egypt--that is, Rhinocorura, now El-Arish, the south boundary of Palestine.

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

Verse 8. The entering in of Hamath] "From the entrance of Antioch to the Nile of Egypt." - Targum.

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

(8) Also at the same time.—Literally, And Solomon made the feast at that time seven days. “The feast” was the Feast of Tabernacles. (See Lev_23:34-36.)

Seven days.—The legal time. (See Lev. 50100) The days were counted from the 15th of the seventh month. (Comp. 1Ki_8:65.)

The river.—Torrent or wady. LXX., χειμάρρους. Kings adds, “before the Lord our God.” So Syriac.

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

8. Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast] R.V. So Solomon held the feast at that time.

from the entering in of Hamath] See note on 1Ch_13:5.

the river of Egypt] R.V. the book of Egypt, i.e. not the Nile, but the stream called Shihor of Egypt in 1Ch_13:5 (see note).

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.

Solomon kept the feast - i. e., Solomon kept at this same time, not the Feast of the Dedication only, but also the Feast of tabernacles. The former lasted seven days, from the 8th of Tisri to the 15th, the latter also seven days, from the 15th to the 22nd. On the day following the people were dismissed 2Ch 7:10.

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

Also at the same time the feast; i.e. the Feast of Tabernacles, which occupied the seven days from the fifteenth to the twenty-second of the month Tisri. (Lev_23:33) Thus fourteen dayswere (1Ki_8:65) occupied by the two feasts, that of the temple consecration and that of Tabernacles, while on the fifteenth day of feasting, viz. the twenty-third of the month Tisri, or Ethanim (the seventh month), the people went home. The entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt; i.e. from the extreme north to the extreme south of the land. The town Hamath was on the Orontes, through the valley of the Lebanon (Jos_13:3, Jos_13:5; also Num_13:21 Num_34:8; Jud_1:3:3; 2Ki_14:25; 1Ch_13:5; Amo_6:2, Amo_6:14) The river of Egypt; or, the river before Egypt, (Jos_13:3) was the Shihor, or Sihor, separating Egypt and Judaea.

Vers. 8-11.

Sunshine.

A very happy time it was when the temple was opened at Jerusalem. It may be said that the city of God and the people of God dwelt in the sunshine of his presence and his favour. It was a protracted period of sacred joy and gladdening prosperity.

I SOLEMNITIES AND FESTIVITIES ARE FITTINGLY ASSOCIATED. "At the same time" i.e. in close conjunction with the solemn rites that were observed within the temple, "Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him." The slaying of the devoted animal on the altar and the spreading of the table for a common feast, sacrificial worship and festive delights, went hand in hand. This was quite in keeping with the provision of the Law. And it is in perfect accord with the spirit, the institutions, and the precepts of the gospel.

1. The spirit of the gospel enjoins humility before God, and then trust and joy in God.

2. The principal institution of the gospel is a common participation at a table a table at which the living, loving Host meets his friends, welcomes them with joy, and invites them to rejoice in him.

3. The precept of the gospel is, "Humble yourselves before God," and "Rejoice in the Lord alway." At our most solemn engagements and in our most sacred hours the note of holy joy should never be absent long; indeed, it should be the prevailing note in Christian service.

II SACRED JOY SHOULD BE UNSELFISH IN ITS CHARACTER. These men were glad at heart "for the goodness that the Lord had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people." They were filled with joy because their departed sovereign"s deepest desire was fulfilled, and because (they thought) if he were present his heart would be enlarged; they were gladdened because their present king was elated with an honourable pride and a profound satisfaction, and they made his joy their own. Moreover, their patriotism was stirred within them, and they rejoiced because they felt that their nation was now in the sunshine of the Divine favour. It is well to be able to say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me ;" it is better to be able to sing, "Surely God is good to Israel. " Our piety rises to a higher altitude when concern for ourselves passes into solicitude for the welfare of our fellow-men, when gratitude for personal favours is lest in thankfulness to God for his mercy to our race.

III PIETY IS SURE TO FIND ITS WAY HOME. The people went back to "their tents" with this abounding exultation. They carried it home; they shared it with those with whom they dwelt; they communicated it to those who could not derive it from the temple-scenes themselves. This is a simple Christian obligation. All that we have from God we should carry home with us; and particularly those inspirations and exaltations which we gain in his house and from his worship we should impart to our kindred and our friends. We are closely related to one another for the express purpose that we may communicate to one another the best and highest that is within us our purest thoughts, our worthiest feelings, our highest aspirations, our most sacred joys.

IV PIETY AND PROSPERITY ARE VERY CLOSELY ALLIED. It was very right that the building of the king"s house (ver. 11) should follow the erection of the house of the Lord; it was quite natural that the one should lead to the other. We are not surprised to read that in all Solomon"s undertakings he "prospered effectively." He was living and labouring in the fear and the love of God; he was walking in the light Of God"s countenance. While the reward of piety is inward and spiritual rather than outward and material is in peace, hope, rectitude, Christ-likeness of spirit and character rather than in "riches and honour," yet is it true that "godliness has the promise of the life that now is;" it tends constantly to virtue, to prudence, to thrift, to comfort, to prosperity. C.

Vers. 8-11.

A great festival.

I THE OCCASION.

1. The dedication of the altar. Probably a part is here put for the whole. The writer means by the dedication of the altar the dedication of the whole temple. That this should have been followed by a feast was appropriate, since

(1) all labour carried to a successful termination, as the temple had been, is fitted to occasion joy; and

(2) the fact that sinful man is permitted to consecrate anything to Jehovah ought ever to excite within the heart glad emotions.

2. The Feast of Tabernacles. It would seem that the solemnities connected with the dedication were commenced seven days at least before the fifteenth of Tisri, the date of the Feast of Tabernacles, and that on the fifteenth this latter feast began, and was celebrated with unusual magnificence.

II THE GUESTS.

1. Solomon the king. So is Christ himself ever present at the banquets he provides for his people, whether on earth within the Church militant, or in heaven in the Church triumphant. With reference to the former Christ says, "I will sup with him"; (Rev_3:16) as regards the latter it is written, "The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall be their Shepherd"; (Rev_7:17) "I will drink it," the fruit of the vine, "new with you in my Father"s kingdom". (Mat_26:29)

2. All Israel with him, from the entering in of Hamath, the northen boundary of Palestine, to the river of Egypt, its southern limit. So will all the followers of God, the spiritual children and subjects of the heavenly King, be admitted to the banquet of salvation, both here and there with me". (Rev_3:16)

III THE DURATION. Seven days.

1. Preceded by a seven daysdedication service, during which the multitudes of victims were slain by the king and the people not by the priests, who were merely employed in sprinkling the blood upon the altar.

2. Followed by a solemn assembly on the eighth day, the last and the great day of the feast. (Joh_7:37) On the twenty-third day of the seventh month the assembly broke up, and the people returned to their homes.

IV THE GLADNESS.

1. Its character. The people"s joy was sincere, deep, and exhilarating. Not only at the termination of the festal season, but throughout its continuance, the celebrants were merry in their hearts.

2. Its cause. Different from the mirth which stirred the heart of Nabal, (1Sa_25:36) theirs proceeded from a contemplation of Jehovah"s goodness to David, who had been the originator of the temple-building scheme, to Solomon, who had carried it out, and to them who were to profit by it.

Learn:

1. That national feastings are as proper to religion as national lastings.

2. That sovereigns and their subjects should at times unite in publicexpressions of religious feeling.

3. That good rulers are often long remembered by their people.

4. That God"s goodness can be displayed to his saints long after they aredead.

5. That the greatest good a king or his people can receive from Heaven isreligion, and the means of sustaining and advancing it. W.

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

all Israel with him

This generalization refers to those who were at the feast in Jerusalem, not necessarily to every person who lived in Israel. (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)

from Lebo Hamath to the brook of Egypt

Lebo Hamath was north of Israel, and the brook of Egypt was south of Israel. These are used together to emphasize that people from every part of Israel were at the festival. AT: "from Lebo Hamath in the north to the brook of Egypt in the south" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Merism and How to Translate Names)

the eighth day

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

a solemn assembly

This was a special religious gathering.

they kept the dedication of the altar

Here "kept the dedication" is an idiom meaning "celebrated the dedication." (See: Idiom)

the twenty-third day of the seventh month

This is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. The twenty-third day is near the middle of October on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

with glad and joyful hearts

The words "glad" and "joyful" mean basically the same thing. Together they emphasize the intensity of joy. AT: "with very glad hearts" or "and they were very joyful" (See: Doublet)

because of the goodness that Yahweh had shown

"because Yahweh had shown wonderful goodness" or "because Yahweh had been so good"

Israel, his people

"Israel, God's people." The phrase "his people" emphasizes God's faithfulness to Israel. (See: Distinguishing versus Informing or Reminding)

translationWords

festival

Israel

assembly

Hamath

Egypt

altar

feast

good

David

Solomon

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

from the entrance of Hamath which is in the north of the land of Israel.

to the brook of Egypt which is opposite it, as is delineated in אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי (ibid. verse 5).

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.