2 Chronicles 7 9

2 Chronicles 7:9 kjv

And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

2 Chronicles 7:9 nkjv

And on the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.

2 Chronicles 7:9 niv

On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more.

2 Chronicles 7:9 esv

And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they had kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days.

2 Chronicles 7:9 nlt

On the eighth day they had a closing ceremony, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the Festival of Shelters for seven days.

2 Chronicles 7 verses

2 Chronicles 7 9 Meaning

2 Chronicles 7:9 describes the culminating phase of the massive two-week celebration following the dedication of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. It states that after observing seven days for the dedication of the altar and another seven days for the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), the people gathered for a concluding solemn assembly on the eighth day. This final gathering marked the formal end of the grand festivities, bringing a period of intense worship, sacrifice, and joyful communal fellowship to its divinely appointed close.

2 Chronicles 7 9 Context

2 Chronicles chapter 7 follows the magnificent dedication of Solomon's Temple, detailed in chapter 6, where Solomon offered a heartfelt prayer for God’s blessing and presence. Immediately after Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the Temple (2 Chron 7:1). This divine approval was followed by lavish sacrifices (2 Chron 7:4-5). The celebrations described in 2 Chronicles 7:9 are therefore the culmination of this extraordinary period of consecration and worship, involving not only the specific Temple dedication but also the mandated national festival of Sukkot, or the Feast of Booths (Lev 23:33-43). The inclusion of the "Feast" underscores the integration of the newly consecrated Temple into Israel's established annual cycle of worship, aligning Solomon's grand project with the Law of Moses. The historical and cultural context is one of great national celebration, a peak moment in Israel's history marking the establishment of God's permanent dwelling place among His people.

2 Chronicles 7 9 Word analysis

• And on the eighth day:
  • הַשְּׁמִינִי (hash-shemîynî): "the eighth." In biblical numerology, seven often signifies completeness or perfection, while the "eighth day" typically points to a new beginning, a transcendent renewal, or a superabundance beyond the completed cycle. It marks a unique moment beyond the week.
  • Significance: For many Jewish observances (like circumcision, priestly consecration, Feast of Booths), the eighth day is a conclusion or a distinct new phase, often having special spiritual significance. Here, it denotes the specific divinely appointed conclusion to a sacred festival, moving from earthly completion to heavenly re-creation or rest.
• they held:
  • וַיַּעֲשׂוּ (way-ya‘aśū): "and they did" or "they made." Implies active participation and careful observance, indicating the people diligently followed the divine instructions for the feast.
• a solemn assembly:
  • עֲצֶרֶת (atseret): This term signifies a "closing assembly" or "restraint" (from normal work). It is a sacred gathering specifically designated by divine command for the conclusion of major festivals like Passover (Deut 16:8) and the Feast of Booths (Lev 23:36; Num 29:35).
  • Significance: It wasn't just another day of feasting but a unique, set-apart occasion, emphasizing its religious importance and the people's devotion, reflecting a deep engagement with God's ordinances.
• for they had kept:
  • Repetition of the idea of "observing" or "doing," emphasizing the faithfulness of their observance.
• the dedication of the altar seven days:
  • חֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (chanukkāt ham-mizbêaḥ): "dedication of the altar." Chanukkah means "consecration" or "dedication." Mizbeach is the "altar."
  • Significance: This was the consecration of the great bronze altar in the temple court, vital for atonement and offerings. The seven-day period indicates a thorough and complete purification and setting apart of the altar for holy use (similar to Exod 29:37).
• and the feast seven days:
  • וְהֶחָג (wə-heḥāg): "and the feast." This specifically refers to Chag HaSukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths, which Leviticus 23:34 mandates for seven days.
  • Significance: The combination of the Temple dedication and the Feast of Tabernacles was providentially ordered, signifying God's permanent dwelling (Tabernacles originally commemorates Israel's wandering in temporary dwellings and God dwelling with them in the Tabernacle) being established through the Temple. This feast also emphasized God's provision and the joy of harvest, connecting spiritual renewal with abundant blessing.
• Word-Group Analysis:
  • "the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days": This phrase details the two distinct, yet consecutive, seven-day periods of celebration. The dedication of the altar (probably alongside the temple itself, as a main instrument) came first, immediately following the divine fire, focusing on the holy site. This was seamlessly followed by the national Feast of Tabernacles, which itself lasts seven days. The precise scheduling showcases a meticulously planned and ordered divine service, combining a unique event (Temple dedication) with a perpetual national ordinance (Feast of Booths). This grand overlap reflects abundant spiritual blessings and Israel's full engagement in worship.
  • "And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly": This signifies a powerful climax. The 'eighth day' atseret is not simply an extension of the previous seven but a unique, mandated, holy closing. It separates the entire fourteen-day festival into a specific period, establishing a clear beginning, middle, and end, ensuring proper conclusion and sanctification of the extended time of devotion.

2 Chronicles 7 9 Bonus section

The biblical pattern of an "eighth day" often hints at something beyond human completion or a new creation. For example, circumcision, symbolizing entrance into the Abrahamic covenant, was on the eighth day (Gen 17:12). Priestly ordination involved rites culminating on the eighth day (Lev 9:1). In the New Testament, Christ's resurrection occurred on the first day of the week, which symbolically serves as the "eighth day," marking a new creation and the inauguration of a new covenant reality, much like the Temple's dedication foreshadowed God's fuller dwelling with His people. This rich layering of meaning on the eighth day in 2 Chronicles 7:9 implies that the Temple dedication was not just an end in itself but marked a profound transition in God's relationship with Israel, providing a new access point to His presence.

2 Chronicles 7 9 Commentary

2 Chronicles 7:9 serves as the climactic conclusion to the most magnificent celebration in Israelite history up to that point: the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. The verse precisely delineates two distinct yet continuous seven-day periods of intense worship. First, the dedication of the altar and Temple itself occupied a full week, involving countless sacrifices and joyous festivities. This profound consecration then transitioned directly into the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), another biblically commanded seven-day festival of rejoicing and thanksgiving, commemorating God's dwelling with Israel in the wilderness and His provision.

The specific mention of "the eighth day" for a "solemn assembly" is crucial. This atseret was a commanded closing act, separating this particular celebration from ordinary time. It represented a culmination, a holy summation that pointed beyond earthly completeness (seven days) to a divine dimension of rest and new beginning. The enormity of the celebration and its divinely ordained conclusion reflect Israel's gratitude and commitment, demonstrating the proper posture of a nation before its God as they consecrate His dwelling among them. The people's subsequent departure "joyful and glad of heart" (2 Chron 7:10) indicates the success of this monumental undertaking in fostering spiritual contentment and fellowship with the LORD.