1 Kings 8:65

Solomon held a feast Better - the feast." The special feast of Tabernacles (cf. 1 Kings 8:2), a very fitting occasion for the great multitude to make themselves an encampment in the open country around.

The part played by Solomon in all this dedication ceremony shews us that the ordinances of the Pentateuch had not yet come into observance. Israel had not advanced beyond the traditional religion contained in the -book of the covenant". But the failure of the nation herein cannot of itself be held to establish the non-existence of the Levitical law.

from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt Within these limits the whole land of Palestine was embraced. Hamath on the north was situated in the valley of the Orontes, and for a long time was the chief city of the northern part of Syria. On the south the river of Egypt (nahal Mizraim) is identified for us in the LXX. (Isaiah 27:12) by being translated ὁ ποταμὸς ἕως Ῥινοκορούρων. Rhinocoroura (i.e. Rhinocolura) is the modern El Arish,and so the nahal Mizraimwas probably Wady el Arïsh, a desert stream on the border of Egypt.

before the Lord our God The last two words have the appearance of an editorial addition. They would hardly appear in the original narrative.

seven days and seven days As explained in 2 Chronicles 7:9 the dedication of the altar lasted seven days, and the feast (of Tabernacles proper) other seven days. This double observance accounts for the form of words here used.