1 Kings 8:5

There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The narrator records Solomon and the assembled assembly of Israel at the temple courtyard immediately after the ark is brought up and before it is placed in the inner sanctuary. The moment captures the official dedication gathering before the ritual concludes.

The words — עֲדַ֤ת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (adat Yisra'el) translates literally to "congregation of Israel," and הַ/נּוֹעָדִ֣ים (ha-no'adim) means "those who were gathered." These terms specify a formally convened assembly rather than a casual crowd.

The thread — The uncountable sacrifices resurface in 1 Kings 8:62 when the king and all Israel offer sacrifices before the LORD. The ark’s accompanying offerings also appear in 2 Samuel 6:13 and 1 Chronicles 16:1, tracing a consistent pattern of massive sacrifices during the ark’s relocation.

Why it lands — The text states that the number of sheep and oxen could not be counted or numbered to document the event’s scale. A reader must recognize that the narrative emphasizes historical magnitude and ritual order, not sacrificial volume as a measure of favor.

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

וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְve./ha./Me.lekhand/ the/ king שְׁלֹמֹ֗הshe.lo.MohSolomon וְכָל־ve./kholand/ all עֲדַ֤ת'a.Dat[the] congregation of יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElIsrael הַנּוֹעָדִ֣יםha./no.'a.Dimwho/ were gathered עָלָ֔יו'a.La/vto/ him אִתּ֖וֹ'i.T/owith/ him לִפְנֵ֣יli/f.Nei<to>/ before הָֽאָר֑וֹןha./'a.Ronthe/ ark מְזַבְּחִים֙me.za.be.Chim[were] sacrificing צֹ֣אןtzonsheep וּבָקָ֔רu./va.Karand/ cattle אֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.Sherwhich לֹֽא־lo'-not יִסָּפְר֛וּyi.sa.fe.Ruthey were counted וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not יִמָּנ֖וּyi.ma.Nuthey were numbered מֵרֹֽב׃me./Rofrom/ multitude

King James Version

And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

Cross-references

2 Samuel 6:13 When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
1 Kings 8:62 Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD.
1 Chronicles 16:1 So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

People named

Solomon