³ So all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn.^[a]

² So all the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the annual Festival of Shelters, which is held in early autumn in the month of Ethanim.^[a]

⁸ For the next seven days Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters.^[a] A large congregation had gathered from as far away as Lebo-hamath in the north and the Brook of Egypt in the south. ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ Then at the end of the celebration,^[b] Solomon sent the people home. They were all joyful and glad because the Lord had been so good to David and to Solomon and to his people Israel.

³⁴ “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. Begin celebrating the Festival of Shelters^[a] on the fifteenth day of the appointed month—five days after the Day of Atonement.^[b] This festival to the Lord will last for seven days. ³⁵ On the first day of the festival you must proclaim an official day for holy assembly, when you do no ordinary work. ³⁶ For seven days you must present special gifts to the Lord. The eighth day is another holy day on which you present your special gifts to the Lord. This will be a solemn occasion, and no ordinary work may be done that day.