Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Kings 8:2

2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast , in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month .

Not onely the chief Men who were particularly invited, but a vast number of the common people, as being forward to see and to joyn in this great and Glorious Solemnity.

Understand either first, The Feast of Tabernacles. Or rather, Secondly, The Feast of the Dedication, to which Solomon had invited them, which was before that Feast: for that began on the 15 day of the 7th month, Lev. 23. 34. but this began at the least 7 days before that Feast; for Solomon and the People kept the Feast for 14 days, here v. 65. i. e. 7 days for the Dedication of the Temple, and 7 other days for that of Tabernacles; and after both these were finished, he sent all the People to their homes on the 23 day of the month. See 2 Chron. 7. 9, 10.

Which time he chose with common respect to his Peoples convenience, because now they gathered in all their Fruits, and now they were come up to Ierusalem, to Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Quest. The Temple was not finished till the eighth month, 1 King. 6. 38. how then could he invite them in the seventh month? Ans. This was the 7th month of the next Year. For although the house in all its parts was finished the Year before, yet the utensils of it described chap. 7. were not then fully finished, but took up a considerable time afterward: and many preparations were to be made for this great and extraordinary occasion.