And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days. (1 Kings 8:65)
The feast was held for 14 days, and on the 23d day of the 7th month the people were dismissed (2 Chron. 7:10). Thus it began on the 10th day of the 7th month, which was the solemn Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29, 30; 23:27; Num. 29:7). It was in this month that the Feast of Tabernacles was held, beginning on the 15th day of the month and continuing for 7 days (Lev. 23:34, 39). During this time the people were to dwell in booths made of branches of trees (Lev. 23:34, 40-42).
The entering in of Hamath.
Hamath marks the extreme northern limit of the Holy Land (see Num. 13:21; Num. 34:8; Joshua 13:5; Judges 3:3; 2 Kings 14:25; 1 Chron. 13:5; Amos 6:14). For the identity of “the entering in of Hamath,” see on Num. 34:8 and Joshua 13:5. The great valley between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mts., known to the Greeks as Coele-Syria, marks the main entrance to Palestine from the north. Down this valley invading armies entered Palestine from the north.
River of Egypt.
The word used here for “river” is not the usual Hebrew word nahar, but nachal. That is, a stream or torrent, which may be dried up in the dry season, as in Job 6:15, where the word is translated “brooks.” The stream was probably the Wadi el-‘Arîsh, at the extreme southern limit of Palestine (Num. 34:5; Joshua 15:4, Joshua 15:47; 2 Kings 24:7; Isa. 27:12), 50 mi. southwest of Gaza (see The Empire of David and Solomon).