1 Kings 8:65 kjv
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.
1 Kings 8:65 nkjv
At that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven more days?fourteen days.
1 Kings 8:65 niv
So Solomon observed the festival at that time, and all Israel with him?a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the LORD our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all.
1 Kings 8:65 esv
So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days.
1 Kings 8:65 nlt
Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters in the presence of the LORD our God. A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south. The celebration went on for fourteen days in all ? seven days for the dedication of the altar and seven days for the Festival of Shelters.
1 Kings 8 65 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 7:8-10 | At that time Solomon kept the feast... seven days... for the dedication of the altar. | Parallel account; clarifies the Feast and Dedication. |
| Lev 23:33-36 | The Feast of Booths... shall be for seven days. | Establishes typical 7-day duration of Succoth. |
| Num 29:12-38 | Sacrifices for the feast of booths on the first day... eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. | Rituals for 7-day Succoth with an 8th day conclusion. |
| Deut 16:13-15 | You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days... and you shall rejoice. | Command to rejoice during this specific 7-day feast. |
| Gen 15:18 | To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates. | Fulfillment of Abrahamic land promise. |
| Exod 23:31 | I will fix your boundary from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River. | Earlier divine promise of territorial boundaries. |
| Num 34:1-12 | Give orders to the people of Israel and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you... | Detailed description of promised land borders. |
| Josh 1:4 | From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun shall be your territory. | God's promise to Joshua reinforcing land possession. |
| 1 Kgs 4:21 | Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. | Demonstrates Solomon's actual dominion extent. |
| Ps 72:8 | May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! | Messianic and kingdom prosperity; applies to Solomon's reign. |
| Neh 8:17-18 | All the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths... And there was very great rejoicing. | Celebration of Booths after return from exile, also with great joy. |
| 1 Kgs 8:2 | And all the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the feast... | Immediate context: general assembly for the dedication. |
| 1 Kgs 8:10-11 | The cloud filled the house of the Lord... for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. | God's presence validating the Temple and assembly. |
| 2 Chr 7:1 | As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices... | God's immediate acceptance of the Temple and sacrifices. |
| Isa 2:2-3 | In the latter days... all the nations shall flow to it... for from Zion shall go forth the law... | Prophetic vision of universal worship centered on God's dwelling place. |
| Zech 14:16 | Then everyone who survives... shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. | Future universal celebration of the Feast of Booths. |
| John 7:2 | Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. | Jesus participates in the Feast, highlighting its enduring significance. |
| Rev 21:3 | Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them... and be their God. | Ultimate fulfillment of God dwelling with His people. |
| Deut 12:5-7 | You shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose... There you shall bring your burnt offerings... | Command to centralize worship at a chosen place. |
| Ezra 6:16-17 | The people of Israel... dedicated this house of God with joy. | Dedication of the second Temple, reflecting similar joy and purpose. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come... he entered once for all into the holy places... | Typological fulfillment of Temple service in Christ. |
| Jer 30:19 | I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small. | Promises of numerical growth, resonating with "all Israel, a great assembly". |
| 1 Chr 29:21-22 | They offered sacrifices to the Lord and presented burnt offerings... and ate and drank before the Lord with great gladness that day. | Joyous worship and feasting, similar to Solomon's dedication. |
| Ps 87:2 | The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. | Emphasizes Jerusalem and the Temple as the center of God's affection. |
1 Kings 8 verses
1 Kings 8 65 Meaning
1 Kings 8:65 describes the grand conclusion of the Temple dedication ceremony led by King Solomon. It details the scale and duration of a subsequent national feast, emphasizing its unprecedented nature. The entire assembly of Israel, unified geographically from the northern reaches of Hamath to the southern Brook of Egypt, gathered to celebrate "before the Lord our God" for an extraordinary period of fourteen days, doubling the length of typical biblical festivals. This event marked a profound moment of spiritual unity and national prosperity in Israel's history.
1 Kings 8 65 Context
1 Kings 8 details the culmination of Solomon's grand project: the building and dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. This verse immediately follows a description of the peace offerings (1 Kgs 8:62-64), which were immense, further underscoring the scale of the dedication festivities. The entire chapter focuses on the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant into the Holy of Holies, the descent of the cloud of God's glory filling the Temple, and Solomon's profound dedication prayer. The prayer acknowledged God's faithfulness to David's covenant and petitioned for Israel's future well-being, confessing sins and seeking forgiveness. This magnificent feast was not merely a secular celebration but a sacred covenantal renewal, emphasizing God's promised dwelling among His people and the territorial extent of His blessing upon Israel under Solomon's reign. Historically, this event represented the peak of the United Monarchy, a golden age of prosperity and God-centered worship, marking a key milestone in the relationship between God, His king, and His chosen nation.
1 Kings 8 65 Word analysis
- So at that time: Hebrew bā‘ēt hahī’ (בָּעֵת הַהִיא). This phrase emphasizes the precise historical moment, highlighting its significance as a specific culmination point after the Temple's completion and dedication ceremonies. It signifies the formal commencement of the extended festivities.
- Solomon: Hebrew Shlomo. The central figure orchestrating this momentous national and spiritual event. His leadership solidified his image as the wise builder and peace-bringer, overseeing the peak of Israel's national unity and influence.
- held the feast: Hebrew ‘āśâ hāḥāg (עָשָׂה הֶחָג). To "make" or "do" the feast, signifying Solomon's active organization and initiation of the grand celebration. The definite article "the" indicates it was the most important, likely the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth), augmented by the Temple dedication.
- and all Israel with him: Hebrew wəkol-Yiśrā’ēl ‘immô (וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל עִמּוֹ). Emphasizes the complete national unity and participation in this celebration. It signifies a profound level of collective identity and worship.
- a great assembly: Hebrew qāhāl gādôl (קָהָל גָּדוֹל). "Qahal" denotes a formal, often religious, congregation. "Gadol" highlights the immense size and extraordinary nature of the gathering, reflecting the national excitement and reverence.
- from the entrance of Hamath: Hebrew mi-levô’ Ḥamāt (מִלְּבֹוא חֲמָת). Hamath, a prominent Syrian city, marked the northernmost boundary of Israelite influence or the idealized extent of their land. Its inclusion signifies the entire territorial promise being encompassed.
- to the Brook of Egypt: Hebrew ‘ad-naḥal Miṣrayim (עַד נַחַל מִצְרָיim). This refers to the Wadi el-Arish, a seasonal stream, not the Nile, forming the southwestern border of Canaan. Its mention completes the description of Israel's territorial dominion at its peak, fulfilling Abrahamic land promises.
- before the Lord our God: Hebrew lipnê YHWH ‘Elohênû (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ). Crucially states the religious nature and focus of the entire event. It underscores that the celebration was an act of worship and thanksgiving, performed in the consecrated presence of God Himself, signified by the glory filling the Temple.
- seven days and seven days, even fourteen days: Hebrew shiv‘at yāmîm wā-shiv‘at yāmîm, ‘arbā‘ah ‘āśār yôm (שִׁבְעַת יָמִים וְשִׁבְעַת יָמִים, אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׁר יוֹם). This repetitive phrasing emphasizes the unique, unprecedented length of the celebration. It likely signifies one week for the Temple dedication itself and another week for the Feast of Tabernacles, making it the longest recorded national festival of worship in the Old Testament.
1 Kings 8 65 Bonus section
- Polemics against Contemporary Beliefs: The unified, nationwide gathering for a sacred feast, observed in the structured worship "before the Lord our God," stood in stark contrast to the diverse and often localized pagan cults of surrounding nations. These often lacked a central, unified religious authority or a singular focus on a transcendent, ethical deity. The orderly, joyous dedication reinforced Israel's unique identity as the chosen people under a sovereign God.
- Ideal vs. Reality: This verse captures an ideal moment of national unity and prosperity. Historically, such unity was rare and fleeting. It served as a reminder of what God intended for Israel, even as future kings and the nation often deviated from this high standard of devotion and obedience.
- Typological Significance: The temporary but profound dwelling of God in the Temple during this feast points forward to Jesus Christ, the ultimate Temple and dwelling of God among humanity (John 1:14). It also foreshadows the New Jerusalem where God's dwelling is fully and permanently with His redeemed people (Rev 21:3).
1 Kings 8 65 Commentary
1 Kings 8:65 stands as a vivid description of Israel at its spiritual and political zenith. This extended, two-week celebration, uniting all of Israel under King Solomon, transcended a mere festival; it was a profound act of national worship and covenant affirmation. The "fourteen days" underscore the immense joy and solemnity surrounding God's manifest presence in His newly consecrated Temple. The specific geographic scope, "from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt," highlights the historical reality of God's promises of the land being fully realized under Solomon's reign, showcasing the prosperity and peace that accompanies obedience. The phrase "before the Lord our God" constantly reminds the reader that the entire spectacle, while grand in human terms, was fundamentally God-centered, signifying divine acceptance of the Temple and Israel's devotion. This period marked an extraordinary time when God visibly tabernacled among His people, offering a glimpse of the ultimate restoration and fellowship promised throughout Scripture.