Shemini Atzeret 2022 Part 1

Shemini Atzeret-the eighth day assembly

We started this New Year by the blast of the shofar and crowning our King and Judge, Messiah Yeshua on Erev Rosh Hashana.

We committed ourselves to prayer and introspection during Shabbat Shuva and the 10 days of awe, seeking more and more of Messiah Yeshua in our lives.   

 We moved onto Yom Kippur where we stated all vows and confessions of sin, we fasted and prayed seeking forgiveness and cleansing from our sins.  And even though it is a day of solemnity, we carried within our hearts the joy of the L-rd because we know Yeshua our Messiah… and when we ask, He forgives our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.       

With our sins washed clean, we rejoice with this new found intimacy and freedom with our King.  We are thankful for His provision and faithfulness.

For the past seven days, we have been celebrating His dwelling and presence as we have entered into our sukkah. Which brought its conclusion with Hoshana Rabbah the last and greatest day of Sukkot.  We celebrate our identity in Messiah and partake of the living water that He freely has given to us and that we can freely receive.  And when we are at the summit of this festival, we begin to transition into the eighth day assembly, Shemini Atzeret.

Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-44 TLV

Adonai spoke to Moses saying: “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, and say, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Feast of Sukkot, for seven days to Adonai. On the first day there is to be a holy convocation—you are to do no laborious work. For seven days you are to bring an offering by fire to Adonai. The eighth day will be a holy convocation to you, and you are to bring an offering by fire to Adonai. It is a solemn assembly—you shall do no laborious work. 

Verse:39. “So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you are to keep the Feast of Adonai for seven days. The first day is to be a Shabbat rest, and the eighth day will also be a Shabbat rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit of trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and rejoice before Adonai your God for seven days. You are to celebrate it as a festival to Adonai for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations—you are to celebrate it in the seventh month. You are to live in sukkot for seven days. All the native-born in Israel are to live in sukkot, so that your generations may know that I had Bnei-Yisrael to dwell in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am Adonai your God.” So Moses declared to Bnei-Yisrael the moadim of Adonai.

Shemini Atzeret-the eighth day assembly…

What impressed me of these scriptures is the seven day and eight day relation within the verses.  It clearly states 5 times in this scripture that we celebrate Sukkot for seven days, but also mentions “the eighth day” twice.  When giving some thought to this, I was curious why Ha Shem stated it that way.  Why didn’t He state it differently something like… 

“On the first day after the seven day feast of Sukkot…”

He didn’t do that, He specifically called it “The eighth day”.  By speaking of it as the eighth day, Ha Shem was specifically tying Shemini Atzeret to Sukkot.  Sukkot is a seven day festival, which is clearly stated in the scriptures, however, there is also clearly a relationship to the following day after Sukkot by specifically calling it “the 8th day.”

This got me thinking… What is Adonai speaking?  What meaning is there behind it being called the eighth day?  In my mind this mention of the eighth day must point to more meaning than a casual reading of the written word.

So having scripture interpret scripture, here goes a brief synopsis about the eighth day:

1.  Brith Milah:  The covenant of Circumcision. Genesis 17
   • Vs 2, “My heart’s desire is to make My covenant between Me and you, and then I will multiply you exceedingly much.” ‭‭
   • Vs 7, “Yes, I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, in order to be your God and your seed’s God after you.” ‭‭
   • Vs 10-13, “This is My covenant that you must keep between Me and you and your seed after you: all your males must be circumcised. You must be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and this will become a sign of the covenant between Me and you. Your eight-day-olds must be circumcised, every male, throughout your generations. So My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.”
     • This removal of flesh with the shedding of blood brings the child into the fold, into covenant with G-d.
     • When thinking of the eighth day, this covenant would surely be remembered.
2. Aaron and his sons began their service.   After Moses consecrated Aaron and his sons, they could not leave the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until their days of ordination were fulfilled. On the eighth day they were deemed fit for service and started their ministry for Israel.  The atoning for sin, provided a way for Ha Shem to have relationship with His beloved Israel and for His Presence, and His Glory to be experienced by His people.
3. In Leviticus 14:10, 14:23, 15:14, 15:29 and Numbers 6:10 we learn that on the eighth day, an offering was made to Adonai after a period of  7 days for cleansing and purification from Tza’arat, fluid discharge, Niddah,…and for a Nazarite, if someone would die in his presence.
4. Exodus 22:29, “Do not hold back the fullness of your crops or your vintage. You are to present the firstborn of your sons to Me. “Do the same with your cattle and with your sheep. For seven days it is to be with its mother, and on the eighth day you are to give it to Me.”
   

When contemplating what these scriptures have spoken regarding the significance of the eighth day, it can be summarized as follows:

1. Eighth day has brought the children of Abraham into covenant with Adonai 
2. The Eighth day began the Kohanim’s ministry, the sacrificial service for reconciliation.  Bringing atonement to Israel.  
3. The eighth day brought about a new start/healing after a time of uncleanliness, physical and spiritual.
   • Because Tza’arat is mentioned in this list.  We know that this is not only a physical ailment, but maybe even more so a spiritual condition.  In Torah it is tied to jealousy and evil speech.  When a healing occurred it could only point to the miraculous, because the healing of Tza’arat, only came from G-d.  There was no other remedy.
4. An offering from the herd or from the flock bringing redemption

Ha Shem also states that it will be an Atzeret.  Atzeret is a noun, which we interpret a solemn assembly.  This comes from the root word “ Atzar” which is a verb and can mean: 

• • restrain,halt stop,
  • Retain, detain
  • Stayed

I like Rashi’s commentary on Leviticus 23:36, which gives us this additional thought:

“It is a day of detention, I have detained you(to remain) with me”. This is analogous to a king who invited his sons to feast with him for a certain number of days, and when the time came for them to leave, he said:  “My sons!  Please stay with me just one more day, For it is difficult for me to part with you!”  Similarly Ha Shem detains/retains Israel for one extra holy day.

Eighth day of retention.  It can be considered a day of pause,a day to detain us before going forward.  I believe that this day is purposefully given to us by Ha Shem to help us retain the spiritual revelations that we received throughout this season.  Spending one more day in prayer and supplication, to set ourselves to focus on how we move forward; applying all what we have learned throughout this holy season.  And Before we return back to our “normal activities .”

 

*All scripture verses taken from Tree of Live version of Bible.