Ezra 6:16

The children of Israel Probably some out of each of the twelve tribes; the priests and Levites, &c., kept the dedication of the house of God with joy When it was built, being designed only for sacred uses, “they now showed by an example how it should be used,” which, says Bishop Patrick, is the proper and simple sense of dedicating. They entered upon it with solemnity, and probably with a public declaration of the separating it from common uses, and the surrendering it to the honour of God, to be employed in his service.