On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people.
The dedication of the temple ends with a crowd going home. Solomon sends them away on the eighth day, and the verse tells us what filled their hearts — and what put it there.
The reason given for their gladness
The verse names the reason for the gladness. One writer stops on that reason and asks what it teaches:
H. H. SnellWe are further told that the people were "glad and merry in heart." And why? Because of "the goodness that the Lord had shown to David, and to Solomon, and to Israel His people." So I ask, in closing: can we fail to learn from these lessons? Our present happiness, devotion, and worship all owe their source to God, as He has revealed Himself in Christ.
Snell is quoting an older translation of the parallel account in Chronicles, which also names Solomon.
A king at the centre
The people bless the king as they leave. One writer points out who stands at the centre of the scene, and what the gathering pictures:
William KellyIt is all connected with the king now. It is not the priest that hallows. The priest might be the instrument; I am not denying that for a moment, but it is all connected with the king... "And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation." This is a picture of the great gathering of the latter day. Then the Lord Jesus, as the true Son of David, will do even more than all that we see here. He held the feast seven days and seven days, so that two witnesses would establish every word — the double witness of perfection.
Why the eighth day
The feast ran fourteen days, yet Solomon sent the people home on "the eighth day." One writer explains what that day stands for:
W. W. FeredayEverything earthly comes to an end — even the Millennial Kingdom has a time limit... "Seven days and seven days, even fourteen days," yet the whole feast concluded "on the eighth day." "The eighth day" stands for eternity. The bliss and glory of the millennial age is only the entrance hall into the kingdom that will never end. This was the day when the rejected Messiah stood in Solomon's city and cried, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink" (John 7:37). The ritual of the Feast of Tabernacles, all pointing to Himself, was in full swing, but HE was unwanted.
Another writer compares this account with the parallel record in Chronicles, where the people hold a solemn assembly on that day:
Henri L. RossierIn Kings, the feast lasted fourteen days, but it matches only the Feast of Tabernacles... but on the eighth day, the great day of the feast, the king sent the people away. The passage in Chronicles goes much further. It insists that "on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly." So it brings in the picture of the final rest for all, tied to the day of resurrection, which the eighth day foreshadows. In this way the blessing is not restricted to the people of Israel alone, but belongs to all who have part in the day of resurrection.
Joy that was stretched, then lost
One writer notes how long the joy lasted, and what happened to Israel's glory after it:
Leslie M. GrantAfter the dedication Solomon held a feast for the blessing of Israel. It seems he announced seven days, then extended it to fourteen. So their joy at this time lasted in a remarkable way. When he sent the people away, they blessed the king and returned home with joyful hearts, thankful for the goodness of the Lord to Israel. This was the high point of Israel's splendour and glory. That glory soon faded, and it will not return until the Lord Jesus takes His place as King of Israel. Then the latter glory of this house will be greater than the former (Hag. 2:9).
What came after the applause
The people bless the king here; the story does not stay there. The dismissal is the last bright moment before a long decline:
W. W. FeredayBut neither in Solomon's day nor in the greater day of the Lord Jesus did the people know the time of their visitation. They soon forsook the God of the Temple and served other gods; and when the God of the Temple visited them in love they cast Him out and crucified Him.
Summary
- Goodness first. The verse names the cause of the joy: the goodness God had shown to David and to Israel. Happiness, devotion and worship all "owe their source to God."
- Goodness to a king. The people bless Solomon, but the goodness was shown through him — and the whole gathering is a picture of the day when Jesus, the true Son of David, "will more than accomplish all that is given here."
- Goodness stretched. Seven days and seven days — a joy that lasted, and a double witness of perfection.
- Goodness beyond the week. The eighth day reaches past earthly rest — to eternity, and to resurrection, where "the blessing is not restricted to the people of Israel alone."
- Goodness forgotten. This was Israel's high point, and it did not hold; they "soon forsook the God of the Temple." The glory returns only when the true King reigns.