The Eighth Day Assembly
29: 35-40
The eighth day was the culmination of all the appointed times.
The eighth day after the seven days of Sukkot (see the commentary on Leviticus, to see link click Eg – Hag Sukkot) is an appointed time (see the commentary on Leviticus Dw – God’s Appointed Times). YHVH commanded the Israelites, “On the eighth day you are to have a holy assembly, or Shemini Atzeret” (Leviticus 23:36). This was not part of Sukkot, but the Israelites were to treat it like a Sabbath day, not to do any kind of ordinary work. Although this eighth day is separated from Sukkot itself by the number of offerings given, its proximity in time probably explains why such passages as First Kings 8:2, 65-66 speak of Sukkot lasting eight days.680 The eighth day of Sukkot is traditionally regarded as the day the Torah cycle is concluded and begun again. At the Temple/Tabernacle ceremony the priests were to present a continual ‘Olah offering (see Leviticus Ao – The ‘Olah Offering: Providing Access to God), an offering made by fire, giving a pleasing aroma to ADONAI, consisting of one bull, one ram, seven male lambs in their first year, without defect; with the Grain (see Leviticus Ap – The Minhah Offering: Assuring People of God’s Acceptance) and Drink offerings for the bull, the ram and the lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule; also one male goat as a Purification Offering (see Leviticus Aq – The Chatta’th Offering: Communicating God’s Forgiveness); in addition to the continual ‘Olah Offering with its Grain Offering with its Drink Offerings (29:35-38). The purpose of the male goat is explained in the tractate Shavu’ot of the Mishnah (see The Life of Christ Ei – The Oral Law). It was a fail safe measure. The male goat was meant to provide atonement for those who inadvertently desecrated the Tabernacle by coming near to God in a condition of ritual impurity.681
Then the eighth day of assembly is summarized for the priesthood: You are to offer these to ADONAI at your appointed times in addition to your vows and voluntary offerings — whether these are your ‘Olah Offerings, Grain Offerings, Drink Offerings or Peace Offerings. Moses told the Israelites all that ADONAI commanded him (29:39-40). The recap of each of these festivals was a necessary part of the transfer of power from Moses to Joshua. The wilderness generation would soon be in the Promised Land, where these festivals would take on the full meaning in the life of the people. It would be a good Land that they would be able to bring all these sacrifices to ADONAI because of His bountiful provision. The restatement of these various offerings is a mark of faith and trust in the LORD that at last He would fulfill His promise to bring His people into the Land that was, and is, His gift to them.682
The additional (mussaf) sacrifices of the Eighth Day are remembered today with an additional prayer service, essentially consisting of a repetition of the Amidah. This day is known as Simchat Torah (the Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings), and these two days, the Eighth Day and Simchat Torah, are combined into one blockbuster holiday. The real joy of the day is expressed by dancing with the Torah scrolls. In joyous processionals around the congregation, the men take the Torah scrolls in arm and dance with them in seven full trips. The women and children follow after the Torah, dancing, leaping, and singing. Between each circuit, a series of “Hosanna’s” are pronounced. The following is the seventh hosanna, pronounced before the final Torah circuit.
Please ADONAI, save now!
Please ADONAI, bring success now!
Please ADONAI, answer on the day we call!
Holy and Wondrous One, save now!
Compassionate Gracious One, bring success now!
Keeper of the Covenant, answer on the day we call!
Supporter of the Unblemished One, save now!
Eternally Strong One, bring success now!
He Who is Unblemished in His Deeds, answer on the day we call!683
Sacrifice was a continual process in the courts of the LORD, a theme picked up by the writer to the Hebrews, who speaks of the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year (Hebrews 10:1). This writer then points to the body Yeshua Messiah as a once for all-time sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) and in whom the priestly sacrifice was fulfilled. In Him all meaning has been realized. He now sits at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12). No one reading these feasts in Numbers 28-29 would ever imagine a godly priest sitting down; the work was never done. But in Yeshua’s sacrifice, all the work was complete. Sacrifices of animals, offerings of grain and wine – all were fulfilled in Messiah’s work on the cross, to the praise of God the Father.684
Dear Abba, Father, Praise You for being Almighty and All-powerful so that when I call to You, I can have complete confidence that You hear and have the power and wisdom to conquer any enemy. You have even conquered the enemy of death that Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (First Corinthians 15:3-4)!
Your resurrection (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20) is proof of Your power over death. You will use that power to give life to all who love You. But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep . . . so also in Messiah will all be made alive (First Corinthians 15:20, 22c).
Thank You for being the perfect sacrificial lamb. He entered into the Holies once for all – not by the blood of goats and calves but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption . . . the blood of Messiah – who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God – cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:12, 14b-c). I bow in worship of You and offer my life to You as my love gift. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen
Haftarah Phinehas: First Kings 19: 21
(see the commentary on Deuteronomy Af – Parashah)
Zeal for ADONAI elevated both Phinehas and Elijah to national ministry. Like Phinehas (see Ea – Taking a Stand for God), Elijah was horror-struck over the introduction of Ba’al worship into the life of the nation. Elijah took on 450 prophets of Ba’al and ordered them all put to the sword. Jezebel heard of it and threatened Elijah, who ran in despair on a day’s journey into the Negev to die (First Kings 19:4). Twice Elijah proclaimed his zeal for the LORD, that he was the only one left to openly confront Ba’al worship in Isra’el (First Kings 19:10 and 14). God instructs Elijah to finish the task. He must anoint Hazael as king of Aram, Jehu king of Isra’el, and Elisha as his successor (see the commentary on Elijah and Elisha Au – A New Companion Named Elisha). Elijah headed for the Jordan Valley and threw his robe on Elisha as he plowed his field. Elisha responded decisively, sacrificing his plow and oxen to break with his former life (First kings 19:21). Elisha would train under Elijah and inherit a double portion of his master’s zeal for ADONAI (Second Kings 2:10).
B’rit Chadashah Phinehas: Revelation 20: 7-11
Heaven opens to make way for a Rider on a white horse called Faithful and True (Revelation 9:11). The Bible describes the Rider as the Messiah, with many royal crowns. He is called the Word of God, and King of kings and LORD of lords (Revelation 19:13 and 16). The Second Coming (see the commentary on Isaiah Kg – The Second Coming of Jesus Christ to Bozrah) describes a time when Messiah destroys the worldwide armies of the antichrist to set up His thousand-year reign from the Most Holy Place in the Jerusalem Temple. He will destroy the armies of the nations with the sharp sword of His mouth (Revelation 19:15 and 21). In His zeal, Messiah stains His clothing with the blood of those who oppose God’s. After the initial battle (see Revelation Ex – The Eight Stage Campaign of Armageddon), Messiah will set up His thousand-years reign on earth where He will rule from the Most Holy Place in Jerusalem (see the commentary on Isaiah Db – The Nine Missing Articles in the Messiah’s Coming Temple).685 But when the thousand years are over, the Adversary will be set free from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for the battle. Their number is countless as the sand on the seashore; and they came up over the breadth of the Land and surrounded the camp of God’s people and the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them. The Adversary who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Next I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them (Revelation 20:7-11).
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