So Solomon held the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt.
Parallel Translations
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So Solomon held the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt.
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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.
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So Solomon held the feast at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entrance of Hamath unto the Brook of Egypt.
Cross-references (14)
Passages linked to 2 Chronicles 7:8 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Genesis 15:18 In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:
- 1 Kings 8:65 So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days.
- Leviticus 23:34-43 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of booths for seven days to Yahweh. On the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. It is a solemn assembly; you shall do no regular work. “ ‘These are the appointed feasts of Yahweh which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering, a meal offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, each on its own day— in addition to the Sabbaths of Yahweh, and in addition to your gifts, and in addition to all your vows, and in addition to all your free will offerings, which you give to Yahweh. “ ‘So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of Yahweh seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. You shall take on the first day the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to Yahweh seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations. You shall keep it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in temporary shelters for seven days. All who are native-born in Israel shall dwell in temporary shelters, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in temporary shelters when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.’ ”
- Numbers 29:12-38 “ ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days. You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect; and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each ram of the two rams, and one tenth for every lamb of the fourteen lambs; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering. “ ‘On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering and their drink offerings. “ ‘On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering. “ ‘On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering. “ ‘On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering. “ ‘On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it. “ ‘On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering. “ ‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall do no regular work; but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect; their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering, and its drink offering.
- Numbers 34:5-8 The border shall turn about from Azmon to the brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the sea. “ ‘For the western border, you shall have the great sea and its border. This shall be your west border. “ ‘This shall be your north border: from the great sea you shall mark out for yourselves Mount Hor. From Mount Hor you shall mark out to the entrance of Hamath; and the border shall pass by Zedad.
- Deuteronomy 16:13-15 You shall keep the feast of booths seven days, after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your wine press. You shall rejoice in your feast, you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates. You shall keep a feast to Yahweh your God seven days in the place which Yahweh chooses, because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be altogether joyful.
- Joshua 13:3-5 from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the border of Ekron northward, which is counted as Canaanite; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim, on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites; and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath;
- 1 Kings 4:21-25 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour, sixty measures of meal, ten head of fat cattle, twenty head of cattle out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, in addition to deer, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl. For he had dominion over all on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River: and he had peace on all sides around him. Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
- 2 Chronicles 30:13 Many people assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly.
- Nehemiah 8:13-18 On the second day, the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered together to Ezra the scribe, to study the words of the law. They found written in the law how Yahweh had commanded by Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month; and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, branches of wild olive, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make temporary shelters, as it is written.” So the people went out, and brought them, and made themselves temporary shelters, everyone on the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of God’s house, in the wide place of the water gate, and in the wide place of Ephraim’s gate. All the assembly of those who had come back out of the captivity made temporary shelters, and lived in the temporary shelters; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
- Amos 6:14 For, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, house of Israel,” says Yahweh, the God of Armies; “and they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of the Arabah.”
- Zechariah 14:16-19 It will happen that everyone who is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of Armies, and to keep the feast of booths. It will be, that whoever of all the families of the earth doesn’t go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of Armies, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt doesn’t go up, and doesn’t come, neither will it rain on them. This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike the nations that don’t go up to keep the feast of booths. This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that don’t go up to keep the feast of booths.
- John 7:2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.
- John 7:27-39 However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.” Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don’t know. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, he won’t do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?” The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me. You will seek me, and won’t find me. You can’t come where I am.” The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? What is this word that he said, ‘You will seek me, and won’t find me;’ and ‘Where I am, you can’t come’?” Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (10 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain The feast of the Tabernacles which was kept in…
The feast of the Tabernacles which was kept in the seventh month.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 2Ch 7:8 Also at the same time Solomon kept…
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.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 8. The entering in of Hamath] "From the…
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.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Solomon kept the feast - i. e., Solomon kept…
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.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Solomon kept the feast seven days--The time chosen for…
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.
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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.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 8. Also at the same time Solomon kept the…
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.
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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.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (8) Also at the same time.—Literally, And Solomon made…
(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.)
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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.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Also at the same time the feast; i.e. the…
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.
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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.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 all Israel with him
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)
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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.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 7:8-10 Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of…
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.