2 Chronicles 7 · a question people ask
How long was the feast, and when did the people go home?
2 Chronicles says, "So Solomon held the feast at that time for seven days" (7:8), "On the eighth day, they held a solemn assembly; for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days" (7:9) (tap dedication), and "On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, he sent the people away to their tents" (7:10). 1 Kings tells it, "So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days" (1 Kings 8:65), and "On the eighth day he sent the people away" (1 Kings 8:66). The two books give the same numbers for the offering: 2 Chronicles has "twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred twenty thousand sheep" (7:5), and 1 Kings "twenty two thousand head of cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep" (1 Kings 8:63). The Bible doesn't explain how the two tellings of the days fit together, and these notes quote each one and leave them side by side.
The verses
“King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated God’s house.”
“So Solomon held the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt. On the eighth day, they held a solemn assembly; for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that the LORD had shown to David, to Solomon, and to Israel his people.”
“Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, twenty two thousand head of cattle and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the LORD’s house.”
“So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven more days, even fourteen days. On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad in their hearts for all the goodness that the LORD had shown to David his servant, and to Israel his people.”