"The meaning is this," says Jarchi: "he gave them liberty to return on the eighth day, and many of them did then return: and he dismissed the remainder on the ninth, what is called here the twenty-third, reckoning the fourteen days for the duration of the two feasts; in all, twenty-three." The Targum paraphrases this verse thus: "The people departed with a glad heart, for all the good which God had done to David his servant, on whose account the doors of the sanctuary were open and for Solomon his son, because God had heard his prayer, and the majesty of the Lord had rested on the house of the sanctuary and for Israel, his people, because God had favourably accepted their oblations, and the heavenly fire had descended, and, burning on the altar, had devoured their sacrifices."

Matthew Henry Commentary

--God gave a gracious answer to Solomon's prayer. The mercies of God to sinners are made known in a manner well suited to impress all wh receive them, with his majesty and holiness. The people worshipped an praised God. When he manifests himself as a consuming Fire to sinners his people can rejoice in him as their Light. Nay, they had reason to say, that God was good in this. It is of the Lord's mercies we are no consumed, but the sacrifice in our stead, for which we should be very thankful. And whoever beholds with true faith, the Saviour agonizin and dying for man's sin, will, by that view, find his godly sorro enlarged, his hatred of sin increased, his soul made more watchful, an his life more holy. Solomon prosperously effected all he designed, for adorning both God's house and his own. Those who begin with the servic of God, are likely to go on successfully in their own affairs. It wa Solomon's praise, that what he undertook, he went through with; it wa by the grace of God that he prospered in it. Let us then stand in awe and sin not. Let us fear the Lord's displeasure, hope in his mercy, an walk in his commandments __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew