Bible Strands
1 Kings 8:2
And all the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the feast in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the men of Israel gathering before King Solomon in Jerusalem during the seventh-month feast, following Solomon's initial summons of the elders and tribal heads to relocate the ark.
The words — The verb וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ (va/i.yi.Ka.ha.Lu) literally means "they assembled," and the phrase בְּ/יֶרַח הַ/שְּׁבִיעִי identifies the timing as the seventh month, specifically named Ethanim.
The thread — This seventh-month gathering corresponds to the feast regulations in Leviticus 23:34 and Numbers 29:12, while the national scope of the event parallels the assembly described in 2 Chronicles 7:8.
Why it lands — The text establishes a historical moment of national convergence at a designated sacred time, requiring the reader to recognize the deliberate alignment of Israel's leadership with established festival observance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 23:34 “Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Feast of Tabernacles to the LORD begins, and it continues for seven days.
- 2 Chronicles 7:8 So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a very great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feast for seven days.
- Numbers 29:12 On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days.
- Deuteronomy 16:13 You are to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress.
- 1 Kings 8:65 So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feast before the LORD our God for seven days and seven more days—fourteen days in all.
- 2 Chronicles 5:3 So all the men of Israel came together to the king at the feast in the seventh month.
- Ezra 3:4 They also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles in accordance with what is written, and they offered burnt offerings daily based on the number prescribed for each day.
- Nehemiah 8:14 And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,
- Zechariah 14:16 Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
- John 7:2 However, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near.