The peace-offerings by Solomon, conducted three times a year, are a significant aspect of the religious practices during his reign as king of Israel. These offerings are rooted in the broader context of Old Testament sacrificial systems, which were central to the worship and covenant relationship between God and His people.

Biblical Context and Description

The peace-offerings, also known as fellowship offerings, are detailed in the Mosaic Law, particularly in the book of Leviticus. These offerings were voluntary sacrifices made by the Israelites to express thanksgiving, fulfill a vow, or as a freewill offering. The peace-offering was unique in that it symbolized communion with God, as a portion of the sacrifice was consumed by the offerer, a portion was given to the priests, and the remainder was burnt on the altar as an offering to God.

Solomon's practice of offering peace-offerings is specifically mentioned in 1 Kings 9:25: "Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar he had built for the LORD, and he burned incense with them before the LORD. So he completed the temple." . This verse highlights Solomon's dedication to maintaining the religious observances prescribed by the Law and his commitment to honoring God through these sacrifices.

Significance of the Three Annual Feasts

The three times a year that Solomon offered these sacrifices correspond to the major pilgrimage festivals in the Jewish calendar: Passover (Pesach), the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Each of these feasts held deep theological and communal significance:

1. Passover (Pesach): Commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt, Passover is a time of remembrance and gratitude for God's salvation and faithfulness. Solomon's peace-offerings during this feast would have underscored the themes of redemption and divine provision.

2. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot): Also known as Pentecost, this feast marks the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and the wheat harvest. Peace-offerings during Shavuot would have been an expression of thanksgiving for God's law and His continued blessings on the land.

3. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): Celebrating the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and God's provision, Sukkot is a time of rejoicing and reflection on God's protection and sustenance. Solomon's offerings during this feast would have reinforced the themes of divine guidance and communal joy.

Theological Implications

Solomon's regular peace-offerings reflect his role as a king who sought to lead his people in faithful worship and adherence to God's commandments. These offerings were not merely ritualistic but were acts of devotion that acknowledged God's sovereignty and the covenant relationship between God and Israel.

The peace-offerings also served as a means of fostering unity and fellowship among the people. By participating in these communal sacrifices, the Israelites were reminded of their shared identity as God's chosen people and their collective responsibility to uphold His laws.

Solomon's Legacy and Worship

Solomon's dedication to offering peace-offerings three times a year is emblematic of his broader efforts to establish a centralized and organized system of worship centered around the temple in Jerusalem. The temple, which Solomon built, became the focal point of Israelite worship and the place where God's presence dwelled among His people.

While Solomon's reign is often remembered for its wisdom and prosperity, his commitment to these peace-offerings highlights the importance of maintaining a heart of worship and gratitude towards God. Through these sacrifices, Solomon not only honored the traditions of his forefathers but also set a precedent for future generations to seek peace and fellowship with the Lord.1 Kings 9:25
And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he built to the LORD, and he burnt incense on the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the house.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Interpretation of Prophecy.
... the type (the seventy-second in Solomon), and a ... the people were required to repair
three times a year ... The reference is to the peace-offerings of the people, on ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxviii interpretation of prophecy.htm

The Temple and Its Dedication
... when David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to stay ... The humility of Solomon
at the time he began ... 5. Daniel "kneeled upon his knees three times a day ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm

The Best of All, God is with Us
... began to decline; the day when Solomon opened it ... enemies overtaketh thee; or else
three days the ... and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/the best of all god.htm

Scriptural Types.
... case of monarchs, like David and Solomon, the whole ... in thanksgiving and praise"ALL
THREE ONLY THROUGH ... Thus the breast of the peace-offerings was always waved ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat ... prophecy of the rebuilding
of Solomon's temple with ... of Antiochus Epiphanes, more than three centuries and ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... is generally admitted of two or three books which ... high priest in the reign of Solomon,
was by ... thereon thy burnt offerings and thy peace offerings, thy sheep ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Appendices
... Accession of David cir.1000 Accession of Solomon cir.960 ... the city of Ramses, presenting
his peace-offerings to his ... land of Egypt], or two, or three, and they ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... and the Hebrew kingdom"Saul, David, Solomon, the defection of ... together with the two
or three generations who ... Of such unsettled and turbulent times we cannot ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Book ii.
... For Solomon had heard his father's saying: "Lord, make ... written: "Destroy this temple,
and in three days I ... burnt sacrifices and at your peace-offerings, and it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/book ii.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... O how true is that saying of Solomon, 'The heart of the ... of which I will nominate
two or three more ... as it were, think every godly opportunity seven times as long ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

What is a peace offering / fellowship offering? | GotQuestions.org

What is a free will offering / freewill offering? | GotQuestions.org

What were the various sacrifices in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

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