And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
At the feast in the month Ethanim (October). [The Septuagint (Vatican), Athanin; Alexandrine, Abaneim.] This name is mentioned only in connection with the erection and dedication of the temple. Josephus ('Antiquities,' b. 8:, ch. 4:, sec. 1) gives the common designation, Tisri. The public and formal inauguration of this national place of worship did not take place until eleven months after the completion of the edifice. The delay most probably originated in Solomon's wish to choose the most fitting opportunity when there should be a general rendezvous of the people in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:2); and that was not until the next year. That was a jubilee year, and he resolved on commencing the solemn ceremonial a few days before the feast of Tabernacles, which was the most appropriate of all seasons, as that annual festival had been instituted in commemoration of the Israelites dwelling in booths during their stay in the wilderness, as well as of the tabernacle, which was then erected, in which God promised to meet and dwell with His people, sanctifying it with His glory, (cf. Nehemiah 8:1-18.)
As the tabernacle was to be superseded by the temple, there was admirable propriety in choosing the feast of Tabernacles as the period for dedicating the new place of worship, and praying that the same distinguished privileges might be continued to it in the manifestation of the divine presence and glory. At the time appointed for the inauguration, the king issued orders for all the heads and representatives of the nation to repair to Jerusalem, and take part in the august procession. The lead was taken by the king, doubtless preceded by his royal guard (1 Kings 14:27-28), and elders of the people, whose march must have been slow, as priests were stationed to offer an immense number of sacrifices (1 Kings 8:5: cf. Josephus, 'Antiquities,' b.
viii., ch. 4:, sec. 1, who says 'the ground was moist with drink offerings and sacrifices') at various points in the line of road through which the procession was to go; then came the Levites bearing the ark from its temporary resting-place (2 Samuel 6:15-17) on Mount Zion up to Mount Moriah, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile, and by another procession the tabernacle-the old Mosaic tabernacle-was brought from Gibeon. Lastly, the Levites followed, carrying the vessels-namely, the brasen altar, the golden candlesticks, the table of showbread etc., and ornaments belonging to the old, for lodgment in the new, house of the Lord.
There was a slight deviation in this procedure from the order of march established in the wilderness (Numbers 3:31; Numbers 4:15), but the spirit of the arrangement was duly observed. The ark was deposited in the oracle - i:e., the most holy place, the second or inner division of the sanctuary-into which none was permitted to enter, except the high priest once a year-on the great day of atonement, and it was set without the adytum, called its "rest" (Psalms 132:8; Psalms 132:11), in order to screen from profane gaze the solemn symbol of the Jewish religion. In the Holy of Holies, it was placed under the wings of the cherubim (cf. Psalms 18:10; Psalms 80:1; Isaiah 6:1; Isaiah 6:3) - not the Mosaic cherubim, which were firmly attached to the ark (Exodus 37:7-8), but those made by Solomon, which were far larger and more expanded.