The last blog I explained that we are in the last of YHWH’s Appointed Times where He wants to meet with His people (Appointments) and how ALL of His Holy Days point to His Son YESHUA. Sukkot: The Feast of Tabernacles started on Monday the 14th and will end on Sunday the 20th. We are rejoicing for 7 days and living in booths/tents/sukkahs as He commanded. Immediately following Sukkot on the 21st is the 8th Day Closing Assembly and we are commanded to do no work on that day as well.
YHWH commands us in Leviticus 23:34-44 saying:
'Say to the Israelites: 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month YHWH'S Chag HaSukot (Feast of Tabernacles) begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present offerings made to YHWH by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to YHWH by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work.
YHWH continues in verse 39 by saying: 'So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to YHWH for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day (21st) also is a day of rest.
How are we to celebrate this last Holy Day? Scripture doesn't go into great detail about the day, but we are commanded not to work. We can again look to how the Israelites celebrated The 8th Day Closing Assembly in the days of Nehemiah when they came back from Babylonian exile. Nehemiah 8:18 says:
“And there was very great rejoicing (as commanded). And day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Torah of Elohim. And they performed the Festival seven days. And on the EIGTH day there was an assembly, according to the Right-Ruling.”
We can also look to 2nd Chronicles 7:8-10 during the time of King Solomon which says:
"So Solomon observed the Festival (Sukkot) at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him-a very great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the wadi of Mitsrayim (Egypt). On the EIGTH day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. On the twenty-third day (8th Day) of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things YHWH had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel."
As we can see Solomon and the people were finishing up their rejoicing and celebration of Chag HaSukot (Feast of Tabernacles) and then he held an assembly on the eight day in accordance with YHWH's command. It appears that the 8th Day Closing Assembly is a time to wind down after celebrating for seven days and a time to reflect.
The last example is during the time of YESHUA, John 7:1-2 says
“And after this YESHUA was walking in Galilee, for He did not want to walk in Judah, because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. And the Festival of the Jews was near, the Festival of Sukkoth.” Then verse 37 reads:
“And on the last Great Day of The Festival (8th Day), YESHUA stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink.”
It is a day of rest; a closing assembly after rejoicing for 7 days for all that YHWH has done for us. Let us come to YESHUA and drink for we believe in Him and let the living waters which is the Ruach ha’Kodesh (The Holy Spirit) live within us as He said on the 8th Day Closing Assembly the day after Sukkot. HalleluYAH!