2 Chronicles 7:8

Moreover, Solomon hallowed the middle of the court,.... From hence, to the end of 2 Chronicles 7:10 is the same with 1 Kings 8:64 . See Gill on 1 Kings 8:64 , 1 Kings 8:65 , 1 Kings 8:66 , only mention is made in 2 Chronicles 7:9 of the dedication of the altar, as if distinct from the dedication of the house, and hallowing the middle of the court, see Numbers 7:10 in imitation of which the Heathens dedicated their altars, in which they used ashes and water, as Pausanias (y) relates, and had also feasts, as here, at the dedication of their temples (z), in which they have been imitated by Christians; and many of our country feasts, as they are called, were first kept at the dedication of churches to such and such a saint. (y) Eliac, 1. sive, l. 5. p. 312. (z) Plin. Ep. l. 4. Ephesians 1.

7:1-22 God's answer to Solomon's prayer. - God gave a gracious answer to Solomon's prayer. The mercies of God to sinners are made known in a manner well suited to impress all who receive them, with his majesty and holiness. The people worshipped and praised God. When he manifests himself as a consuming Fire to sinners, his people can rejoice in him as their Light. Nay, they had reason to say, that God was good in this. It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, but the sacrifice in our stead, for which we should be very thankful. And whoever beholds with true faith, the Saviour agonizing and dying for man's sin, will, by that view, find his godly sorrow enlarged, his hatred of sin increased, his soul made more watchful, and his life more holy. Solomon prosperously effected all he designed, for adorning both God's house and his own. Those who begin with the service of God, are likely to go on successfully in their own affairs. It was Solomon's praise, that what he undertook, he went through with; it was by the grace of God that he prospered in it. Let us then stand in awe, and sin not. Let us fear the Lord's displeasure, hope in his mercy, and walk in his commandments.

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 1 Chronicles 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 1 Chronicles 13:5 (see note).

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 2 Chronicles 7:10 .

Verse 8. - 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 ( Leviticus 23:33 ). Thus fourteen days ( 1 Kings 8:65 )were 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 ( Joshua 13:3, 5 ; also Numbers 13:21 ; Numbers 34:8 ; Judges 3:3 ; 2 Kings 14:25 ; 1 Chronicles 13:5 ; Amos 6:2, 14 ). The river of Egypt ; or, the river before Egypt ( Joshua 13:3 ), was the Shihor, or Sihor, separating Egypt and Judaea. 2 Chronicles 7:8

(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 Leviticus 23:34-36 .) Seven days.—The legal time. (See Lev. 50100) The days were counted from the 15th of the seventh month. (Comp. 1Kings 8:65.) The river.—Torrent or wady. LXX., χειμάρρους. Kings adds, “before the Lord our God.” So Syriac.

8. 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 [423]1Ki 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.