Lev 23:33-44, Num 29:12-40, 1Ki 8:2, 5, Eze 43:8, Mat 15:8-9 | TSK

Leviticus 23:33-44

The fifteenth.

Ex 23:16; 34:22; Nu 29:12; De 16:13-15; Ezr 3:4; Ne 8:14

Zec 14:16-19; Joh 1:14; 7:2; Heb 11:9,13

the feast of tabernacles.This feast was celebrated in commemoration of the Israelites' dwelling in tents in the wilderness for forty years; and was kept with greater hilarity than any of the other festivals. Hence, in the Talmud, it is often called {chag,} the feast, by way of excellence; and by Philo, [heorton megisten,] the greatest of the feasts; it was therefore more noticed by the heathen than any other. It is probable that Cecrops borrowed from it the law which he made in Athens, "that the master of every family should after harvest make a feast for his servants, and eat together with them who had taken pains with him in tilling his grounds."

7,8,24,25

Seven.

Nu 29:12-38

the eighth.

2Ch 7:8-11; Ne 8:18; Joh 7:37

solemn. Heb. day of restraint.

De 16:8; Joe 1:14; 2:15; *marg:

the feasts.

2,4; De 16:16,17

every thing.

Ec 3:1

the sabbaths.

3; 19:3; Ge 2:2,3; Ex 20:8-11

and beside.

Nu 29:39; De 12:6; 1Ch 29:3-8; 2Ch 35:7,8; Ezr 2:68,69

when.

34; Ex 23:16; De 16:13

on the first.

24,36

the boughs. Heb. fruit.

Ne 8:15; Mt 21:8

of palm trees.

Ps 92:12; Joh 12:13; Re 7:9

rejoice.

De 16:14,15; Isa 35:10; 66:10; Joh 16:22; Ro 5:11; Php 3:3; 4:4

1Pe 1:8

Nu 29:12; Ne 8:18

Ge 33:17; Nu 24:2,5; Ne 8:14-17; Jer 35:10; 2Co 5:1; Heb 11:13-16

Ex 13:14; De 31:10-13; Ps 78:5,6

1,2; 21:24; Mt 18:20

Numbers 29:12-40

the fifteenth day.This was the feast of Tabernacles, kept in commemoration of their dwelling in tents in the wilderness for forty years. The first and last days were to be kept as sabbaths, on which there were solemn assemblies; and for seven days sacrifices were offered. On the other festivals, two bullocks sufficed, (ch. 28:11, 19, 27), and on the festival at the beginning of this month, only one was appointed; but, on the first day of this festival, thirteen young bullocks were appointed; and so on each successive day, with the decrease of only one bullock, till on the seventh day, there were only seven, making in all seventy bullocks. The lambs, and the rams also, were in a double proportion to the number sacrificed at any other festival. This was an expensive service; but more easy at this time of the year than any other, as Bishop Patrick observes, because now their barns were full, and their wine-presses overflowed; and their hearts might well be supposed to be more enlarged than at other times, in thankfulness to God for the multitude of his mercies. The Jewish doctors give this reason for the daily diminution of the number of the bullocks: the whole number, say they, was according to the languages of the seventy nations of the world; and the diminution of one every day signified, that there should be a gradual diminution of those nations till all things were brought under the government of the Messiah; in whose days "no sacrifices shall remain, but those of thanksgiving, prayer, and praise."

Ex 23:16; 34:22; Le 23:33-43; De 16:13,14; Ne 8:14,18; Eze 45:25

Zec 14:16-19; Joh 1:14; Heb 11:9-13

thirteen young bullocks.

2,8; 28:11,19,27; Ezr 3:4; Heb 10:12-14At this feast thirteen bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs, were to be offered. It is worthy of remark, that in each of the seven days of this feast one bullock is to be abated, so that on the seventh day (ver. 32) they were to offer seven bullocks, but the rams and lambs were every day alike; which appointment might signify a diminishing and wearing away of the legal offerings, to lead them to the spiritual and reasonable service, by presenting their own bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God.

Ro 12:1

13,20-40; Ps 40:6; 50:8,9; 51:16,17; 69:31; Isa 1:11; Jer 7:22,23

Ho 6:6; Ro 12:1; Heb 8:13; 9:3-14

after the manner.That is, after the manner already prescribed.

3,4,6,9,10; 15:4-12; 28:7,14

11,22,25; Am 8:14

after the manner.

drink offering.

Ps 16:4; Joe 1:9,13; 2:14

11; Joh 8:31; Ac 13:43; Ro 2:7; Ga 2:5; 6:9; 2Th 3:13; Heb 3:14

Heb 10:39; 13:15

eighth day.Though this day was properly a distinct festival, and esteemed the chief or high day of the feast, yet fewer sacrifices are appointed for it than for any of the foregoing seven. On every one of them two rams and fourteen lambs were offered; but on this day there were but half as many; and whereas seven bullocks were the fewest that were offered on any of those days, on this there was only one. At this feast, there was an extraordinary ceremony of which the rabbins inform us, namely, the drawing water out of the pool of Siloam, and pouring it, mixed with wine, on the sacrifice as it lay on the altar. This they are said to have done with such expressions of joy, that it became a common proverb, "He that never saw the rejoicing of drawing of water, never saw rejoicing in all his life." The Jews pretend to ground this custom on the following passage of Isaiah, (ch. 12:3,) "With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation;" and to this ceremony Jesus is supposed to refer, when "in the last day, the great day of the feast, he stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink: he that believeth on me, as the Scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water," (Joh 7:37, 38:) thereby calling off the people from their carnal mirth and festive and pompous ceremonies, to seek spiritual refreshment for their minds.

Le 23:36; Joh 7:37-39; Re 7:9-17

do, or, offer. in your set feasts.It appears from the account in these two chapters, that there were annually offered to God, at the public charge, independently of a prodigious number of voluntary, vow, and trespass offerings, 15 goats, 21 kids, 72 rams, 132 bullocks, and 1,101 lambs. But how little is all this compared with the lambs slain every year at the passover. Cestius, the Roman general, asked the priests how many persons had come to Jerusalem at their annual festivals: the priests, numbering the people by the lambs that had been slain, said, "twenty-five myriads, 5,000, and 600."

Le 23:2; 1Ch 23:31; 2Ch 31:3; Ezr 3:5; Ne 10:33; Isa 1:14

beside your vows.

6:21; Le 7:11,16-38; 22:21-23; 23:28; De 12:6; 1Co 10:31

Ex 40:16; De 4:5; Mt 28:20; Ac 20:27; 1Co 15:3; Heb 3:2,5