1 Kings 8:2

at the feast in the month Ethanim whichis the seventh month Josephus tells us that the feast of tabernacles fell at this time, and that that festival and the dedication services were combined into one great feast. We know from Leviticus 23:34, that the feast of tabernacles commenced on the fifteenth day of the seventh month and was held for seven days. The month Ethanim, which name only occurs here, is described as the seventh month. The name, which is connected with a word used for running water, is thought to signify -the rainy month." Josephus calls it Θισρὶ, which was the month between the new moons of October and November. If heavy rains were common at the time it was an unfortunate date for the feast of tabernacles. The -early rains" spoken of in Scripture were the rains of autumn, and fell at the end of October or beginning of November, but came on very gradually. The -latter rains" were those of spring, mostly in March. If the feast took place towards the middle of October it would close before the rains began to fall.

Supposing the Temple to have been dedicated as soon as possible after its completion, this festival must have been held in the twelfth year of Solomon's reign. For in 1 Kings 6:37 we are told that the actual building was finished in the eighth month of the eleventh year. The seventh month, named for the dedication, must have been in the year following.