62 The king and all Israel with him were offering sacrifices in the Lord’s presence. 63 Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep and goats.(A) In this manner the king and all the Israelites dedicated(B) the Lord’s temple.(C)

64 On the same day, the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the Lord’s temple because that was where he offered the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the fellowship offerings,(D) since the bronze altar before the Lord was too small to accommodate the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the fellowship offerings.(E)

65 Solomon and all Israel with him—a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath[a](F) to the Brook of Egypt(G)—observed the festival at that time(H) in the presence of the Lord our God, seven days, and seven more days—fourteen days.[b](I) 66 On the fifteenth day[c] he sent the people away. So they blessed the king and went to their homes[d] rejoicing and with happy hearts for all the goodness that the Lord had done for his servant David and for his people Israel.(J)

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Footnotes

  1. 8:65 Or from Lebo-hamath
  2. 8:65 Temple dedication lasted seven days, and the Festival of Shelters lasted seven days.
  3. 8:66 Lit the eighth day
  4. 8:66 Lit tents

62 Then the king and all Israel with him sacrificed to the Lord. 63 Solomon offered well-being sacrifices to the Lord: twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep when the king and all Israel dedicated the Lord’s temple. 64 On that day the king made holy the middle of the courtyard in front of the Lord’s temple. He had to offer the entirely burned offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of well-being sacrifices there, because the bronze altar that was in the Lord’s presence was too small to contain the entirely burned offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the well-being sacrifices. 65 At that time Solomon, together with all Israel, held a celebration. It was a large assembly from Lebo-hamath to the border of Egypt. They celebrated for seven days and then for another seven days in the presence of the Lord our God: fourteen days in all. 66 On the eighth day,[a] Solomon dismissed the people. They blessed the king and went back to their tents happy and pleased about all the good that the Lord had done for his servant David and for his people Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 8:66 The second seven-day celebration (see 2 Chron 7:8-9); but contrast LXX.