1 Kings 12:32

Either,

1. A feast of dedication, like that which was in Judah, at the dedication of the temple. Or rather,

2. The feast of tabernacles, as may be thought,

1. Because that began on the fifteenth day of the month, Leviticus 23:34.

2. Because he is not blamed for devising the feast, (which thereby seems to have been of God's appointment,) but only for devising the month, 1 Kings 12:33; for keeping God's feast, not in God's time, which was the fifteenth day of the seventh month, and so onward, Leviticus 23:34; but on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. And this alteration he made, either,

1. To keep up the difference between his subjects and those of Judah, as by the differing manners, so by the distinct times of their worship. Or,

2. Lest he should seem directly to oppose the God of Israel, (who had in a special manner obliged all the people to go up to Jerusalem at that time, Deuteronomy 16:16) by requiring their attendance to celebrate the feast elsewhere at the same time. Or,

3. To engage as many persons as possibly he could to come to his feast; which they would more willingly do, when the feast at Jerusalem was past, and all the fruits of the earth were most perfectly gathered in. On the fifteenth day of the month; and so onward till the seven days ended. He took his pattern thence, to show that he worshipped the same God, and professed the same religion for substance, which they did; howsoever he differed in circumstances, as here he did in the time. He offered; either,

1. By his priests. Or rather,

2. By his own hands; as appears from 1 Kings 13:1,4; which he did, to give the more countenance to his new-devised solemnity. Nor is this strange; for he might plausibly think, that he who by his own authority had made others priests, might much more exercise a part of that office; at least, upon an extraordinary occasion; in which case he knew David himself had done some things, which otherwise he might not do. So did he in Beth-el, i.e. he himself did offer there in like manner, as he now had done at Dan. Unto the calves; for they were two, 1 Kings 12:29. He placed in Beth-el the priests; as he had done at Dan, 1 Kings 12:31.