1 Kings 8 63

1 Kings 8:63 kjv

And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.

1 Kings 8:63 nkjv

And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.

1 Kings 8:63 niv

Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the LORD: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the LORD.

1 Kings 8:63 esv

Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.

1 Kings 8:63 nlt

Solomon offered to the LORD a peace offering of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the Temple of the LORD.

1 Kings 8 verses

1 Kings 8 63 Meaning

This verse describes the colossal scale of the dedication sacrifice offered by King Solomon and the nation of Israel for the newly completed Temple. It emphasizes the immensity of the burnt offerings—specifically 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep—as an act of thanksgiving and fellowship, signifying the official consecration of the House of the LORD. This public display represented a corporate act of covenant renewal and the joyous establishment of God's dwelling place among His people, ensuring fellowship and peace between the LORD, the king, and all Israel.

1 Kings 8 63 Context

1 Kings chapter 8 describes the culmination of King Solomon's greatest achievement: the dedication of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. Leading up to this verse, the Ark of the Covenant had been brought into the Most Holy Place (vv. 6-9), and the glory of the LORD had filled the Temple, preventing the priests from ministering (vv. 10-11). Solomon had blessed the assembly and then offered a long, eloquent prayer (vv. 14-53), acknowledging God's faithfulness and asking for His continued presence and blessing upon Israel. Following his prayer, Solomon blessed the people again and performed immense sacrifices as a demonstration of their covenant relationship with Yahweh and the dedication of the entire structure and nation to God. Verse 63 is the climactic moment of these offerings, showing the overwhelming scale of the fellowship sacrifices. The entire dedication period lasted seven days, and then an additional seven days for the feast of tabernacles immediately following, totaling a fortnight of celebration (v. 65). This entire event solidifies Jerusalem as the central place of worship and the House of the LORD as the symbol of God's dwelling among His people.

1 Kings 8 63 Word Analysis

• And Solomon offered: The verb "offered" (זָבַח - zābaḥ) denotes the act of sacrificing, an integral part of Israelite worship. Solomon, as king, leads this national act, fulfilling his role as both ruler and priestly leader for the people in this sacred context.
• for the sacrifice of peace offerings: The Hebrew term is shelamim (שְׁלָמִים), often translated as "peace offerings" or "fellowship offerings." The root shalem means "whole," "complete," or "peace." These offerings were unique in that a portion was burnt to the LORD, a portion went to the priests, and the rest was returned to the worshipper for a communal meal. Unlike burnt offerings (total dedication) or sin offerings (atonement), peace offerings focused on maintaining and celebrating a state of right relationship, fellowship, and thanksgiving with God. This massive number indicates an overwhelming desire for and celebration of peace and communion with Yahweh.
• which he offered unto the LORD: Emphasizes that these costly offerings were directed solely to Yahweh. This stood in direct polemic contrast to contemporary Canaanite practices where sacrifices were made to many gods or to secure various favors. Here, the sole recipient is the God of Israel, affirming His exclusive sovereignty and the monotheistic commitment of Israel.
• two and twenty thousand oxen: A staggering number, showcasing incredible wealth, resources, and logistical capability. The term "oxen" (bāqār - בָּקָר) refers to cattle, highly valued for their strength and economic worth.
• and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: "Sheep" (ṣō'n - צֹאן), another immensely large number of smaller livestock, indicative of both abundance and the broad participation required to consume such a quantity. The sheer volume communicates total devotion and trust in God's provision. It reflects the deep reverence and the festive nature of this national event. Scholars often highlight the incredible logistical challenge of managing and preparing so many animals.
• So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated: The verb "dedicated" (ḥānak - חָנַךְ) signifies consecration, setting something apart for sacred use, often with an inauguration. This highlights the dual dedication: not only of the Temple structure itself but also the re-dedication of the entire nation, symbolized by "the king and all the children of Israel," to the covenant with Yahweh. This was a communal and unified act of devotion, emphasizing corporate responsibility and shared identity.
• the house of the LORD: This phrase, beit Yahweh (בֵּית יְהוָה), denotes the physical Temple, serving as the central dwelling place of God's presence among His people, the focal point for their worship, pilgrimage, and national identity. It signifies the fulfillment of God's promise to dwell among His people, begun in the Tabernacle.

1 Kings 8 63 Bonus section

The scale of the sacrifices in 1 Kings 8:63 is so immense that practical considerations for its execution and consumption would have been enormous. Scholars and religious thinkers often contemplate the sheer logistics of slaughtering, draining, skinning, cooking, and distributing meat from 142,000 animals within a week or two. This points to the highly organized nature of Solomon's administration and likely involved vast numbers of Levites and skilled workers, operating within specifically designed drainage and fire pit systems around the altar. The implication is not just a singular event but a continuous process over the dedicated days. This feast would have fed the entire assembly, underscoring God's abundant provision and His desire for a celebratory, communal relationship with His people, even in the context of ritual worship. This also subtly stands in polemic contrast to practices of child sacrifice or mere ascetic worship found in surrounding cultures; instead, Israel's worship was life-affirming, joyful, and centered on shared blessings.

1 Kings 8 63 Commentary

1 Kings 8:63 stands as a monumental verse marking the apex of the Temple dedication, illustrating both the physical grandeur of Solomon's achievement and the spiritual devotion of the Israelite nation. The emphasis on "peace offerings" (shelamim) is crucial; it underscores that this was not primarily about atonement for sin (though sin offerings were part of the broader dedication), but about fellowship, well-being, and expressing overflowing thanksgiving to God. The massive quantity of animals—142,000 in total—goes far beyond mere symbolic gesture; it speaks to the extraordinary wealth and organizational power of Solomon's kingdom, as well as the deep, communal joy and commitment of a people dedicating themselves and their sanctuary to Yahweh.

This unparalleled act of sacrifice was a concrete expression of Israel's covenant relationship, where both God's gracious presence and Israel's faithful response were celebrated. It provided sustenance for hundreds of thousands, facilitating the communal feasting that was an integral part of shelamim, signifying that God desired not only reverence but also joyful communion with His people. Through Solomon's leadership, the dedication involved the entire "children of Israel," symbolizing a renewed national commitment to the Mosaic covenant. This event powerfully established the Temple as the singular, central place of worship for Israel, solidifying Jerusalem's religious significance. Furthermore, in the broader sweep of redemptive history, these lavish animal sacrifices pointed forward to the ultimate and perfect "peace offering" that would come in Jesus Christ, whose single sacrifice offers true reconciliation and lasting peace with God for all who believe (Col 1:20; Eph 2:14-16), a reality that renders the vastness of animal sacrifices obsolete.