1 Kings 8:65

Authorized King James Version

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And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.

Original Language Analysis

וַיַּ֣עַשׂ held H6213
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ held
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 1 of 26
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה Solomon H8010
שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה Solomon
Strong's: H8010
Word #: 2 of 26
shelomah, david's successor
בָֽעֵת And at that time H6256
בָֽעֵת And at that time
Strong's: H6256
Word #: 3 of 26
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc
הַהִ֣יא׀ H1931
הַהִ֣יא׀
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 4 of 26
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 5 of 26
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הֶחָ֡ג a feast H2282
הֶחָ֡ג a feast
Strong's: H2282
Word #: 6 of 26
a festival, or a victim therefor
וְכָל H3605
וְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 7 of 26
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל and all Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל and all Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 8 of 26
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
עִמּוֹ֩ H5973
עִמּוֹ֩
Strong's: H5973
Word #: 9 of 26
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
קָהָ֨ל congregation H6951
קָהָ֨ל congregation
Strong's: H6951
Word #: 10 of 26
assemblage (usually concretely)
גָּד֜וֹל with him a great H1419
גָּד֜וֹל with him a great
Strong's: H1419
Word #: 11 of 26
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
מִלְּב֥וֹא from the entering H935
מִלְּב֥וֹא from the entering
Strong's: H935
Word #: 12 of 26
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
חֲמָ֣ת׀ in of Hamath H2574
חֲמָ֣ת׀ in of Hamath
Strong's: H2574
Word #: 13 of 26
chamath, a place in syria
עַד H5704
עַד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 14 of 26
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
נַ֣חַל unto the river H5158
נַ֣חַל unto the river
Strong's: H5158
Word #: 15 of 26
a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
מִצְרַ֗יִם of Egypt H4714
מִצְרַ֗יִם of Egypt
Strong's: H4714
Word #: 16 of 26
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
לִפְנֵי֙ before H6440
לִפְנֵי֙ before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 17 of 26
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָ֣ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֣ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 18 of 26
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ our God H430
אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ our God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 19 of 26
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
וְשִׁבְעַ֣ת and seven H7651
וְשִׁבְעַ֣ת and seven
Strong's: H7651
Word #: 20 of 26
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
יֽוֹם׃ days H3117
יֽוֹם׃ days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 21 of 26
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
וְשִׁבְעַ֣ת and seven H7651
וְשִׁבְעַ֣ת and seven
Strong's: H7651
Word #: 22 of 26
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
יֽוֹם׃ days H3117
יֽוֹם׃ days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 23 of 26
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אַרְבָּעָ֥ה even fourteen H702
אַרְבָּעָ֥ה even fourteen
Strong's: H702
Word #: 24 of 26
four
עָשָׂ֖ר H6240
עָשָׂ֖ר
Strong's: H6240
Word #: 25 of 26
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
יֽוֹם׃ days H3117
יֽוֹם׃ days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 26 of 26
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

Cross References

Numbers 34:5And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.1 Kings 8:2And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.Numbers 34:8From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:Genesis 15:18In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:Joshua 13:5And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baal-gad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.2 Kings 14:25He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher.Judges 3:3Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath.Exodus 23:31And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.Joshua 13:3From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

Analysis & Commentary

And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.

This verse contributes to the broader narrative of dedication of the temple, within the book's focus on Solomon's wisdom, temple building, and tragic apostasy.

The Hebrew text reveals nuances important for understanding this passage's contribution to 1 Kings' theological message about kingship, covenant, and faithfulness to Yahweh. This verse demonstrates the consequences when God's people—especially their leaders—either follow or forsake the covenant established at Sinai.

Historical Context

First Kings was written during or after the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), reflecting on the monarchy period (10th-9th centuries BCE) to explain why the kingdoms fell. Solomon's reign (c. 970-930 BCE) represented Israel's golden age of peace and prosperity.

Ancient Near Eastern kingship ideology viewed kings as divine representatives responsible for maintaining cosmic order through right worship. Archaeological discoveries from sites like Megiddo, Hazor, and Samaria confirm the historical reliability of 1 Kings' descriptions of building projects and administrative structures.

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