Numbers 29:35

On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly--The feast of tabernacles was brought to a close on the eighth day, which was the great day (Joh 7:37). Besides the common routine sacrifices, there were special offerings appointed for that day though these were fewer than on any of the preceding days; and there were also, as was natural on that occasion when vast multitudes were convened for a solemn religious purpose, many spontaneous gifts and services, so that there was full scope for the exercise of a devout spirit in the people, both for their obedience to the statutory offerings, and by the presentation of those which were made by free will or in consequence of vows.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 35. On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly] This among the Jews was esteemed the chief or high day of the feast, though fewer sacrifices were offered on it than on the others; the people seem to have finished the solemnity with a greater measure of spiritual devotion, and it was on this day of the feast that our blessed Lord called the Jews from the letter to the spirit of the law, proposing himself as the sole fountain whence they could derive the streams of salvation, Joh 7:37. On the subject of this chapter see the notes on Lev. xii., xvi. and xxiii.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(35) On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly.—Or, closing feast day. The word azereth, which is here and in the parallel passage in Lev_23:36 (comp. Neh_8:18; 2Ch_7:9) rendered “solemn assembly,” is used in Deu_16:8 of the seventh or closing day of the Feast of the Passover. It is used in Jer_9:2 and Amo_5:2 in a more general manner. In the former of these passages it is used of an assembly or confederacy of false dealers, and in the latter it appears to include solemn festivals generally, without limitation to the last day of their duration. The primary notion appears to be that of restraint—i.e., from the performance of servile work. The sacrifices of the eighth day were the same as those which were appointed for the first day of the seventh month, i.e., the Feast of Trumpets, and also for the tenth day, or Day of Atonement. (See Lev_23:36, and Note.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

35. a solemn assembly] an assembly. The Heb. word ‘aẓereth contains nothing which implies that the assembly was of a specially solemn character. Before the exile an ‘aẓereth was held on the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Cakes (Deu_16:8); and see Isa_1:13 (R.V. ‘solemn meeting’), Amo_5:21. After the exile it was used, as here, of an assembly on the additional eighth day of the Feast of Booths (Lev_23:36, Neh_8:18), and on a special fast day (Joe_1:14; Joe_2:15); and the Chronicler relates that such an assembly was held as the climax of rejoicing on the eighth day (contrast 1Ki_8:66) at the dedication of Solomon’s temple (2Ch_7:9).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Moses told the children of Israel,.... All these things; repeated the several laws unto them concerning the above sacrifices, with the additions unto them, and explanations of them:

according to all that the Lord commanded Moses; being a faithful servant to the Lord in all his house, and in all things appertaining to it.

Next: Numbers Chapter 30

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The offerings prescribed for the closing day of the Feast of tabernacles were the same with those appointed for the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. The solemnities of the month thus terminated, as

A whole, with the same sacrifices with which, three weeks before, they had been introduced; and the Day of Atonement, even though succeeded by the rejoicings of the Feast of tabernacles, thus left its impress on the whole month.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Eighth day, which was more solemn than the preceding ones, but less so than the first. The victims are every day diminished. (Calmet) --- This day, in the Hebrew calendar, is called the feast of retention, (atsroth) as they staid near the tabernacle. (Du Hamel)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

35. The eighth day — This in later times was called the great day of the feast, (Joh_7:37,) but it belonged to it only as the sabbath rest and holy meeting of the seventh day were transferred to it. In point of sacrifice it was like the first and the tenth day of the seventh month. Lev_23:36, note. In Lev_23:36, a Hebrew word of doubtful meaning is added, which in the margin of the Revision is rendered “a closing festival,” inasmuch as it closed not only that particular feast, but the whole series for the year. The joy attending the celebration of this feast is indicated in Psa_42:4, and Isa_30:29. It was the occasion of prophetic addresses also; Hag_2:1, and Isaiah 29 and Isa_32:9, to the end. The most significant of all allusions to this feast is that in Isa_12:3, which points to the typical meaning of the daily ceremony of pouring on the altar water drawn from the pool of Siloam. This custom is enforced by our Lord in Joh_7:37-39. For the great future feast of tabernacles see Rev_7:9.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

On the eighth day. On the twenty-second day of Ethanim. (see on Lev_23:36) The offering here specified returns to the smaller number ordered for the first/rod tenth days of this month. The feast of tabernacles ended with sundown on this day.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The eighth day was to be azereth, a closing feast, and only belonged to the feast of Tabernacles so far as the Sabbath rest and a holy meeting of the seventh feast-day were transferred to it; whilst, so far as its sacrifices were concerned, it resembled the seventh new moon's day and the day of atonement, and was thus shown to be the octave or close of the second festal circle (see at Lev 23:36).

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

General Information:

Yahweh tells Moses what the people must do after the seven-day festival in the seventh month.

eighth day

This "eighth" is the ordinal number for eight. (See: Ordinal Numbers)

have another solemn assembly

"gather together again to worship Yahweh." This is another assembly similar to the one on the first day of the festival.

an offering made by fire

This can be stated in active form. AT: "you must burn it on the altar" (See: Active or Passive)

translationWords

day

burnt offering

Yahweh

year

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

עצרת תהיה לכם ON THE EIGHTH DAY THERE SHALL BE A עצרת (RESTRICTION) FOR YOU — you are restricted in the doing of work. Another explanation of עצרת: Restrict yourselves from leaving Jerusalem: this teaches that this (the eighth day) requires that they should remain in Jerusalem overnight (that the pilgrims should not immediately at the termination of the seventh day begin their homeward journey) (Sifrei Bamidbar 151:1). And an explanation of it in the Agada is: because on all the seven days of the Festival they offered sacrifices corresponding in number to the seventy nations of the world, and they propose then to set forth on their way home, the Omnipresent says to them: ‘I beg of you make a small banquet for Me, so that I may have some pleasure from you exclusively” (Sukkah 55b).

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.