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The Old Covenant's high days were "types and shadows" – they were symbolic of things
to come. It is true that literally, many of them pointed to things that had happened
to Israel in the past, but it is nevertheless quite easy to see that they also pictured
things and events that were to come. Because of this, as well as for other reasons,
those days and their symbolism are an interesting and worthwhile object of study.
This essay is a part of a series on the Old Covenant's holy days or high days (its annual Sabbaths, as well as the weekly Sabbath). This present part contains a study on the Shemini Atzeret, the Assembly on the Eighth Day, and its symbolism – Leviticus 23:39 and 29:35 mention that day. You can find links to some of the other parts in this series in the "Additional reading" section towards the end of this essay; for more, look under the heading "High days" on the index-page keyw-h3.htm.
A note: "The Assembly on the Eighth Day" was the separate feast which
followed the seven days of the Feast of Booths. The essay
ex06c.htm has more on the Feast of Booths (Feast of Tabernacles, Succot); the
essay
ex07c.htm has more on John 7:37 and the "great" day which was the seventh and
last day of the Feast of Booths. Important: The reader is urged to read those
two above-mentioned essays first, because it is only after reading them, that this
present one will make sense. So, before continuing to read more here, please read
first the essays
ex06c.htm and
ex07c.htm, with care and with thought.
The Bible tells us almost nothing about the separate feast day in the Old Covenant's ritual which followed after the seven days of the Feast of Booths (or "Tabernacles"). We find it mentioned in Leviticus 23:39 and 29:35, but its symbolism and meaning are not known with certainty. Some have thought that it referred to a "judgment to come", but the Bible does not say that.
The Jews often call that day Shemini Atzeret (also spelled as Shemini Atseret). It is mentioned in the last part of verse 39 in Leviticus 23, and in Numbers 29:35. Those passages, with their context, record some of the Old Covenant's instructions given to the Israelites regarding that day.
Leviticus 23:39 Howbeit on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruits of the land, ye shall keep the feast of the LORD seven days; on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. (NKJV)
Numbers 29:35 'On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly. You shall do no customary work. (NKJV)
So, we know that that day was kept on the 22nd day of the seventh month (the month of Tishri). And, we know that that Eighth Day was a separate holy day, even though it followed directly after the seven days of the Feast of Booths. (The ritual booths were removed by the end of the seventh day, before the separate feast on the following day, the Shemini Atzeret.)
But that is about all. The Old Testament simply does not tell us much
about that day.
No. It is not called by that name anywhere in the Bible. It is simply called "the eighth day", "the assembly on the eighth day". Some have called the Eighth Day by the name "Last Great Day", but that is based on a misunderstanding regarding which day the in John 7:37 mentioned "great day of the feast" really was. Explanation:
According to Jewish tradition and the records of history, it was the seventh and last day of the Feast of Booths that was called the "great" day of the feast. The following, eighth day, the Shemini Atzeret, was a separate feast. In John 7:37, the phrase "that great day of the feast", or "the great one of the feast", referred to the previous day, the Hoshana rabbah, the seventh and last day of the Feast of Booths. Here is the passage in question, John 7:37-39:
John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus had stood and cried out, saying, If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water. 39 But he spoke this about the Spirit that those who believe in him were going to receive, for Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (ACV)
During the seven days of the Feast of Booths, there were special water ceremonies in the temple. Jesus' words about living waters (John 3:38) may have been connected to that. Those water ceremonies culminated on the seventh and last day of the Feast of Booths.
Again, the Eighth Day, the Shemini Atzeret, was not called "the
last great day" or "the great day of the feast". The phrase "the last day, the great
day of the feast" in John 7:37 refers to the preceding day, the seventh and last
of the seven days of the Feast of Booths ("the Feast of Tabernacles"). The essay
ex07c.htm has more on that "great" day, the Hoshana rabbah. The essay
ex06c.htm has more on the Feast of Booths in general.
The answer to that question is short: Very little is known about them; virtually nothing. That is how things are, and there is not much we can do about that. But, if one studies the symbolism of the Feast of Booths (and its last, seventh "great" day), one can at east do some speculating regarding the meaning and symbolism of the Eighth Day. There is more on this, later in this essay.
The Jews call that day Shemini Atzeret or Shemini Atseret ("Assembly on the Eighth Day"). There was a burned offering on that day. It was a day of rest when no unnecessary work was allowed.
Nehemiah 8:18 And he readeth in the book of the law of God day by day, from the first day till the last day, and they make a feast seven days, and on the eighth day a restraint, according to the ordinance. (YLT)
That tells us that the Jews kept the feast (of booths) for seven days. But again, the Eighth Day was not a part of the Feast of Booths; the ritual booths were removed by the end of the seventh and last day of the Feast of Booths.
Again, there were in the temple water-ceremonies through the seven
days of the Feast of Booths, and they culminated on the seventh, "great" day. The
Eighth Day was not a part of those water ceremonies; it was a separate and different
high day.
No. The Bible does not say anything of that kind. The reason why some have claimed that the Eighth Day supposedly pictured what they call "the great white throne judgment", lies in a misunderstanding built on several erroneous, preconceived ideas, including the symbolism of the seven preceding days, the Feast of Booths. (Some have claimed that the Feast of Booths supposedly "pictured the Kingdom of God", but that is a misconception. The essays ex06c.htm and ex07c.htm have more on the Feast of Booths. The essay et07e.htm has more on coming times of Judgment and their timings.)
Then, some Jewish have in their writings said that God "...is like a host, who invites us as visitors for a limited time, but when the time comes for us to leave, he has enjoyed himself so much that he asks us to stay another day." (In that phrase, the word "us" refers to the Jews.) But, that is merely something that some "rabbi" has said, without any basis in the Bible.
Then there is also a Jewish tradition which says that the Eighth Day
was specific for Israel. That might be, but so was even the Old Covenant, including
its other high days.
Again, the Bible does not tell us that, so we can only speculate. Consequently, the following is speculation, based on certain things that we do know.
We know that the high days of Leviticus 23 were symbolic of what had happened to Israel. Not to the other nations (the goyim), but to the people of Israel. And yes, even though the Bible does not clearly state this, those high days pointed to and symbolised even things that were to come, and not only past events which Israel had gone through. Let us read what the apostle Paul wrote to the saints in Corinth:
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as types, and have been written for our admonition [...] (DBY)
Regarding 1 Corinthians 10:11 – the things and events the ancient Israelites went through, were not only "warning examples for people in later times"; they were prophetic in a much wider way. Those things and events were "types and shadows" of good things that were to come. It is also clear that even Old Covenant's high days pointed to future things, connected to "a spiritual Israel" (the saints). Read on.
The Old Covenant's high days were in many ways connected with the Exodus and the Promised Land and Israel's entry there.
The Passover was connected to the Exodus, the time when the Israelites left Egypt and got on their way to the Promised Land. The Passover season included also the seven Days of Unleavened Bread. It was on the first of those seven days that the Israelites began their journey. Forty years later, they crossed the river Jordan and entered the Promised Land; in connection with that they took the city of Jericho. The walls of the stronghold Jericho fell on the seventh and last one of the Days of Unleavened Bread (forty years after the Exodus). Later, the taking of Jericho was pictured in the temple ritual during the Feast of Booths, in the fall. And then, the ritual booths during the seven days of the Feast of Booths were reminiscent of the Israelites' forty years in the desert – and the removal of those booths at the end of the seventh day of that feast obviously symbolised the end of their wilderness sojourn.
A note: Some have claimed that the Feast of Booths supposedly pictured "the kingdom of God", but that is not true. The seven days of booths, with ritual temporary dwellings, pictured the time when Israel was not yet in their Promised Land. Again, the essays ex06c.htm and ex07c.htm have more on this.
So, the last part of the seventh and "great" day of the Feast of Booths (John 7:37, see also Leviticus 23:39 and 29:35), pictured the time when the Israelites' nomad life in the dusty desert came to its end. The end of that seventh day pictured the time when the Israelites entered the Promised Land and began taking control of it, and began to live in permanent dwellings instead of living in tents.
After that seventh, last and "great" day of the Feast of Booths, there came yet one more high day, the Assembly on the Eighth Day which the Jews call Shemini Atzeret. So – if the end of the preceding day symbolised the time when the Israelites entered the Promised Land (see the essay ex07c.htm), then what could the symbolism of the following, eighth day be?
Since the Assembly on the Eighth Day followed right after the above-mentioned Feast of Booths and its last and "great" day (the end-part of which obviously pictured the end of Israel's desert sojourn and their entry into the Promised Land), it could be that the Eighth Day pictured the time beyond that – the time when they had reached the goal, and began to settle and live in the Promised Land. Or, it could eventually refer to the time when they had taken control of all of that land. Or, perhaps that Eighth Day pointed more to things on the spiritual level – read on.
The faithful people of old knew that the earthly Promised Land was not the ultimate goal. We read:
Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (NKJV)
And again:
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as types, and have been written for our admonition [...] (DBY)
Even some faithful people of old knew that the earthly Jerusalem and the earthly Promised Land were not really "the thing". It was the heavenly Promised Land with its heavenly City that was their goal. That is also where the saints were headed. (The essays eb04c.htm, eb05b.htm and ex11b.htm have more on what the Bible has to say about the saints and Heaven.)
And, if one understands that the ancient Israelites' entry into the earthly Promised Land was "a type and shadow" of the saints' entry into the heavenly Promised Land, then there is something more to consider. The saints [A] were looking forward to the heavenly Land and the City of God there – and then, the saints [A] all together formed Jesus' Bride and were because of that looking forward to the Wedding Feast which was to take place in that heavenly City. So, even though the Bible does not say this, it could be that the Assembly on the Eighth Day actually symbolised that very special Assembly – the Wedding celebration which is mentioned in Revelation 19:7-9.
[A] "Saints" – people who in the first century were called and chosen by God.
The essay ex10d.htm considers whether or not believers should observe the Old Covenant's high days.
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If this page did not contain what you were looking for, see the links below, and the key-word index and the table of contents, or use the search function.
Additional reading at the Bible Pages, on related as well as other issues:
A clarifying explanation of the short names for the bible-versions quoted or mentioned at this site, such as that NKJV stands for New King James Version, YLT for Young's Literal translation, HCSB for Holman Christian Standard Bible, NRSV for the New Revised Standard Version, and so on. → es09c.htm
On the Feast of Tabernacles and its symbolism. (The Feast of Booths or Tents, Succot – Exodus 23:14-17, Leviticus 23:33-36 and 42-43, Deuteronomy 16:13-15.) → ex06c.htm
On the Last Day of the Feast, the great one, and its symbolism, including notes on John 7:37. → ex07c.htm
For more essays on the Old Covenant's high days, look also under the heading "High days" on the index-page keyw-h3.htm.
Jesus warned his disciples about false prophets, teachers of falsehood, deceivers and deception. He said that many would be deceived. → eo09e.htm
Check your bible knowledge. A basic self-test with 15 biblical questions (with answers and commentary). → es04b.htm
Is the New Covenant a "renewal" or "modification" of the Old Covenant? → ec11c.htm
Many talk about "the letter of the law" versus "the spirit of the law" – but those expressions are not found in the Bible. A detailed, down to the core study on 2 Corinthians 3:6-8 and Romans 7:6 and what the apostle Paul really meant and referred to when he wrote about the letter as opposed to the Spirit. → ec13c.htm
For more essays on the two covenants, old and new, look also under the heading "Covenants" on the index-page keyw-c4.htm.
A clarification of the actual nature of the sabbatismos or Rest of Hebrews 4:9. → ex11b.htm
The Promises spoken to Abraham, and the saints' heavenly Rest and Inheritance. How the earthly Land of Israel symbolised and foreshadowed a Promised Land in Heaven. Also, how the words Promise, Inheritance, Rest and Land in certain bible passages point to the same thing. → eb05b.htm
What does the Bible say about Heaven? What does it look like? Were the saints to go there, and if so, for how long? What about others? → eb04c.htm
Worshipping God. What does the Bible say about worship, when it comes to New Covenant times? Serving God is something important, for many believers. There is a custom to gather for worship services. Indeed, for many people, worship is the same as going to church or attending church. But, where does the word "worship" really come from, and what does it mean? And, what about praise and giving thanks and "offerings", and so on? In what way and when and where should believers be serving and worshipping God? → ea04c.htm
The symbolism of the Sabbath. What the Old Covenant's weekly, ritual day of rest pictured and pointed to. → ex03c.htm
Covenant signs, including the sign of the New Covenant which shows who really are God's people. The Old Covenant's sign was the circumcision of males. What is the New Covenant's sign, seal or token? → ec09b.htm
The Old Covenant's high days, those of Leviticus 23, should they be kept in New Covenant times? What about the weekly, ritual rest on the seventh day, the Sabbath? → ex10d.htm
The Great White Throne Judgment, a time when both living and dead will be judged. When will it take place, where, and who will judge? Also, there is more to take into consideration, because the Bible talks about more than one still future times of judgment. → et07e.htm
Some remarks on the system which regulated the timing or dates of the Old Covenant's high days. Was there an on beforehand calculated, fixed "sacred calendar", in biblical times? → ex09c.htm
Acts 15 and the matter of the covenants. → eo04d.htm
On different kinds of prophetic trumpets that are mentioned in the Bible – trumps of God, and those of the seven angels. Also, what is the "last" trumpet which the apostle Paul wrote about? → et06d.htm
The origin and meaning of the word "church". → eg06b.htm
The meaning of the words Christ, Christian, Messiah and Messias. Also: Did the saints call themselves "Christians" – christianos or christianoi? → eg07b.htm
What is the Kingdom of God? Where is it located? Does it exist already, or is it only going to be established in the future? Or, is it only something "in the hearts of men" as some have claimed, quoting the translation "within you" in Luke 17:21? → eo01b.htm
Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you". What did Jesus mean? How were the disciples to go about "seeking the Kingdom"? Also, what did the expression "all these things" really refer to, and when and where were those things to be "added" to those disciples? → eo10d.htm
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