“When Solomon finished offering to the Lord all this prayer” [8:54]. When Solomon had finished praying to God and he was kneeling on his knees and his hands were spread toward heaven. From here we learn that when the king bowed down once in this prayer, he did not straighten up until he had finished the prayer.
“He stood and blessed the whole congregation of Israel” [8:55]. The king stood up and blessed all of Israel. He said: believe that the One who has given rest to Israel his people, and He kept His word which He had promised through Moses our Teacher that Israel will have rest. So too should God also be with us as he was with our ancestors. He should not leave us.1Radak, I Kings, 8:55.
“May He incline our hearts to Him, etc.” [8:58]. The Holy One should incline our hearts to serve Him and to go in His paths and to keep His commandments.
“And may these words of mine, which I have offered in supplication before the Lord, etc.” [8:59]. The words and the prayer that I have prayed to Him should be near to Him. He should feed us and provide all of our needs.
“To the end that all the people of the earth may know, etc.” [8:60]. In the expectation that the entire world will know that You are God alone. You provide each person their needs and protect them from all evil. The hearts of Israel should be toward God, to keep his commandments.
“The king and all Israel with him, offered sacrifices” [8:62]. King Solomon offered sacrifices to God and Israel also offered sacrifices. Solomon slaughtered twenty-two thousand oxen, one hundred-twenty thousand sheep and they made a dedication of the altar.
“On that day, the king consecrated” [8:64]. On that day, the king consecrated the courtyard where the sacrifices were brought. The bronze altar was too small to offer the sacrifices on it.
“Solomon made the festival, etc.” [8:65]. Solomon consecrated the Temple, together with all of Israel, with a great multitude, for seven days and seven days, fourteen consecutive days. That is to say, seven days before Sukkot and the seven days of Sukkot.
Some sages say that they ate the sacrifices on Yom Kippur. Some other sages say: how is it possible to eat on Yom Kippur? However, they offered sacrifices on Yom Kippur, but they did not eat on Yom Kippur.2Radak, I Kings, 8:65.
“On the eighth day he let the people go” [8:66]. Solomon sent the people home on Shemini Azeret.3Radak, I Kings, 8:66.
Our sages do not say that they left on the festival of Shemini Azeret, but they received permission from the king on Shemini Azeret. They left after Shemini Azeret and they left joyfully and with grateful hearts for all the good that the Holy One had done for His servant David and His people Israel. It was for the building of God’s house, as Solomon had desired from God.4Radak, I Kings, 8:66.