With this verse the writer picks up from verse 5, which says God had appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. All of verses 5-14 are the content of this dream.
The Hebrew particle translated behold focuses the reader’s attention on the following words: it was a dream. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh attempts to express the force of this particle by using an exclamation mark: “it was a dream!” On the other hand, Revised English Bible attempts to reflect this sudden recognition of the fact that he had been dreaming by using the verb “realized” with Solomon as the subject. This version also makes a paragraph break at the end of this sentence in an attempt to show that Solomon’s going to Jerusalem marked a new episode in the story. Instead of translating literally it was a dream, some common language translations say that he realized “that God had spoken to him in the dream” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).
He came to Jerusalem may be rendered “He returned [or, went back] to Jerusalem” (Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant), since verse 4 implies that he went to Gibeon from Jerusalem.
The ark of the covenant of the LORD: See the comments on 1 Kgs 2.26. A covenant is an agreement that two persons or groups of persons make in which both promise either to do or not to do certain things.
Burnt offerings and peace offerings: These two types of offering are explained in detail in Lev 1.2-17 and 3.1-17. Regarding burnt offerings, see the comments on verse 4. The purpose of peace offerings (see also Lev 7.11-38) was to establish or maintain good relations with God. In peace offerings the fat and certain parts of the sacrifice were completely burned on the altar, but most of the meat was eaten by those who made the offering. The translation of these two kinds of sacrifices varies in English translations. Peace offerings are also called “fellowship offerings” (Good News Translation, New International Version), “offerings of well-being” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “shared-offerings” (Revised English Bible), and “communion sacrifices” (New Jerusalem Bible). Translators should ensure that their use of such terms is consistent throughout the Bible.
And made a feast for all his servants: The wording of Revised Standard Version and many other versions makes it sound as if the banquet took place in front of the ark. But if the common Hebrew conjunction rendered and by Revised Standard Version is translated “Then” (Contemporary English Version) or “After that” (New Century Version), the reader will be more likely to understand that Solomon moved on from that spot before the banquet was offered for those in his service. This is much more likely to have been the case. For servants see the comments on 1 Kgs 1.2.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .