1 Kings 9:25

three times in a year did Solomon offer Most likely this means at the three great feasts, the Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. This may be understood in the sense -qui facit per alium, facit per se". But some have contended that Solomon himself performed these priestly acts and that consequently the privileges of the Levitical caste were of later origin.

and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the Lord The marginal note of A.V. -upon it" for -upon the altar" shews where the difficulty in this verse is. The R.V. prefers, instead of -upon it" to render -with it," i.e. therewith, and this is supported by the Hebrew punctuation. The translation then becomes -And he burnt incense therewith, upon the altarthat was before the Lord," the italics being added to complete the sense. But the text can hardly be correct to need such an addition.

So he finished the house It is clear from the language of this verse that the account was not brought into its present form on the completion of the work, but at some later time, when Solomon's offerings at the great feasts had grown into a custom. The 1 Kings 9:15-25 are omitted by the LXX (Vat.).