Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 8

There seems to be a contrast here between the more popular proceedings of David (2 Samuel 6:1) and the statelier system of his son, who merely summons the leaders as representatives of the nation. The rest of the people assembled themselves (1 Kings 8:2) and were merely spectators of the solemnity.

The feast in the month Ethanim - that is, the Feast of Tabernacles, or the Feast of Ingathering. This feast was a commemoration of the dwelling in booths at the time of the Exodus and a festival of thanksgiving for the completion of the harvest (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:39; Deuteronomy 16:13). It was one of the three festivals at which the people were required to “appear before the Lord.”

In 2 Chronicles 5:4, the Levites took up the ark; and by the Law the ark was the special charge of the Kohathites (Numbers 3:31; Numbers 4:15). But all priests were Levites (Joshua 3:3), though not all Levites were priests. And as Joshua had done (Joshua 3:6; Joshua 6:6), so Solomon called upon the priests to bear the holy structure, allowing the other Levites only the inferior honor of helping to transport the tabernacle and the vessels of the sanctuary.

And the tabernacle of the congregation - This was not the tented structure erected for the ark on Mount Zion by David (2 Samuel 6:17), but the original tabernacle made by Moses, which had until now remained at Gibeon. The tabernacle and its holy vessels were probably placed in the treasury.

It was forbidden to withdraw the staves completely from the rings. However, they appear to have been drawn forward so that their ends could be seen from the holy place, or the great chamber of the temple, though they were not visible from the porch or vestibule.

This might be because the doorway into the holy of holies was not exactly opposite the ark, but slightly to one side. Alternatively, even if that doorway was centered opposite the ark, the doorway from the porch into the main chamber may not have been aligned with it. In Assyrian temples, the arrangement of the outer door, the inner door, and the sanctuary seems to have been intentionally designed so that a mere passerby on the outside could not get even a glimpse of the shrine.

It is suggested that the withdrawal of the staves was intended as a sign that the ark had reached “the place of its rest” and was not to be carried about anymore.

There they are until this day—This is a quotation from an author who lived while the temple was still standing. See also 1 Kings 9:21.