After days of celebration and spiritual connection, the dedication of the newly built Temple reaches its end. The nation prepares to return home, carrying a deep sense of gratitude. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, right after the conclusion of the festival of Sukkot, the king officially sends the people back to their homes [ביאור שטיינזלץ].
A parallel account of this event mentions that the people were dismissed on the eighth day of the festival, the twenty-second of the month. The primary approach among commentators resolves this by explaining that while the people received permission to leave on the eighth day, it was a festival day when travel was forbidden and staying overnight in Jerusalem was required. Therefore, they waited and actually set out on the twenty-third. This overnight delay meant they had to bid farewell to the king a second time. From this sequence, a principle is derived that a student who takes leave of his teacher but remains in the same city overnight must take leave again the following day [רד״ק, מנחת שי]. Other perspectives offer different explanations for the timing. One view suggests that on the eighth day, Solomon only released those who lived close enough to walk home within the permitted Sabbath boundary, while the rest of the nation was sent away the next day [רש״י]. Another approach clarifies that on the eighth day, the people were simply relieved of their official duties regarding the Temple dedication, but they were not physically sent to their homes until the twenty-third [מלבי״ם].
As the people journeyed back, they were filled with immense joy and gladness. This happiness stemmed directly from witnessing the Divine Presence resting within the completed Temple [מצודת דוד, חומת אנך]. A tradition adds a layer of personal blessing to this joy, suggesting that as a reward for their participation in this great Commandment, their wives conceived and gave birth to male children [חומת אנך].
Their gladness was also a response to the profound good that God had done for David and Solomon. This good was the realization of the divine promise made to David, ensuring that his son would inherit the throne and construct the Temple [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. The fact that Solomon, the son of Bathsheba, was the one to build the Temple served as public proof that God had completely forgiven David for his past sin against Him [חומת אנך]. Furthermore, Solomon's selection from among all his brothers for this monumental task was a testament to his exceptional wisdom [רש״י].
The nation of Israel also experienced this divine goodness firsthand. They saw that God had kept every promise He made, allowing them to live in peace, security, and under a stable government [רש״י]. In addition, they received special divine forgiveness for eating and drinking on Yom Kippur that year. Because the Temple dedication celebrations spanned seven continuous days and overlapped with Yom Kippur, the nation faced a unique situation. Since the law dictates that one form of joy must not be mixed with another, the nation was instructed to continue their celebrations rather than fast. God granted them complete forgiveness for following this command [חומת אנך].