Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 23:36
Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it [is] a solemn assembly; [and] ye shall do no servile work [therein].
36. a solemn assembly ] R.V. mg. closing festival. The Heb. word (‘ reth) does not in itself involve the idea of solemnity. It is used of the closing day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Deu 16:8), and (as here) in Num 29:35 (P); Neh 8:18, of the extra day following the seven days of the Feast of Booths, which became ‘the great day of the feast’ (Joh 7:37). According to 2Ch 7:9 (though not recognised in the parallel, 1Ki 8:66), it formed a joyful celebration in thankfulness for the completion of the dedication of Solomon’s Temple.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
An offering made by fire – See Lev 23:8. The succession of sacrifices prescribed in Num. 29:12-38, which forms such a marked feature in the Feast of Tabernacles, tends to show the distinctness of the solemn assembly from the festal week.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Seven days ye shall offer an offering; a several offering each day, which is particularly described Num 29:13, &c.
On the eighth day; which though it was not one of the days of this feast strictly taken, nor is it here affirmed to be so, but on the contrary is expressly said to consist of seven days, Lev 23:31,39, nor did they dwell longer in tabernacles; yet in a larger sense it belonged to this feast, and is called the great day of the feast, Joh 7:37. And so indeed it was, as for other reasons, so because, by their removal from their tabernacles into more fixed and comfortable habitations, it represented that happy time wherein their forty years tedious march in the wilderness was ended, with their introduction into, and settlement in, the land of Canaan, which it was most fit and just they should acknowledge with such a solemn day of thanksgiving as this was.
A solemn assembly, Heb. a day of conclusion, because it was the end of the feast, Joh 7:37; or, of restraint, because they were restrained from servile work, and obliged to attendance upon Gods worship; or, of detention, because they were yet detained before the Lord, and kept together for his service, and not suffered to return to their tents till this was over.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Seven days ye shall offer an offering made, by fire unto the Lord,…. A burnt offering; what this was, and how many were offered on each day, see at large in Nu 29:13;
on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; as on the first day; [See comments on Le 23:35]:
and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; which was different from that on all the other days, being one bullock only, c.
Nu 29:35
it [is] a solemn assembly; of all the people, when they were gathered together before the Lord. Some render the word used a “restraint” or “detention”, and interpret it of restraining or detaining them from servile work, as in the next clause; so Aben Ezra and Gersom; but this sense seems to make that clause unnecessary and is never used elsewhere where that is:
ye shall do no servile work [therein]; as on the first day;
[See comments on Le 23:35].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
36. Seven days ye shall offer. They only kept holiday on the first and eighth day, yet they dwelt in huts, and for seven successive days offered sacrifices, of which a fuller account was elsewhere given. What, therefore, Moses distinctly treats of in the book of Numbers, I have preferred to introduce in another place, where I have spoken of the sacrifices in general. All are not agreed about the word I have translated “solemnity.” (354) עצרת , gnatsereth, is derived from עצר , gnatsar, which means both to restrain and to gather together. Some interpreters, therefore, preserve the first etymology, translating it, “it is the retaining or prohibition of God;” but since this meaning is somewhat obscure, I have not hesitated to take it, as in other passages, for a solemnity; for, without controversy, it sometimes means feast days, sometimes assemblies or conventions. Let my readers, however, make choice of whichever sense they prefer. After Moses has prescribed concerning the rest and the offerings, he adds a caution, that there should be no diminution of the ordinary service; for else they might, have transferred fraudulently the sacrifices, which they were already obliged to offer, to the feast days, and thus, as the saying is, have endeavored to whitewash two walls out of the same pot. Wherefore, at the beginning of verse 39, the particle אך, ac, seems to be taken adversatively; (355) for there is an antithesis between the peculiar service of this solemnity and the common rites which were to be observed at other times; as if he had said, that when they had done all which the Law required every day, still they were not to fail in this observance; and hence, that they must comply severally with both the general and special command, if they would properly do their duty. Moreover, by reference to the time, he shews that they ought to be cheerful in its performance, because they would then incur but little loss, as the fruits would all be harvested; and this is what he refers to when he says, “when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land;” as if he had said, that he had regard to their convenience, since otherwise they would have been at leisure at home; and thus he takes away all excuse (for neglect.)
(354) A. V. , “a solemn assembly.” Margin, “Heb., day of restraint.” עצרת from עצר to retain, detain, or restrain. S.M. says the Latin interpreters commonly render the noun an assembly; but the Hebrews interpret it a retaining, because the people were still retained a day after the completion of seven days of the solemnity. — W
(355) “ Il y a un mot qui emporte antant corame Neantmoins, ou Quoy qu’il en soil;” there is a word which is equivalent to Nevertheless, or At any rate. — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(36) Seven days ye shall offer.The special sacrifices for this day consisted of a burnt offering of thirteen bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs, with an appropriate meat and drink offering, and a goat for a sin offering (Num. 29:12-38). Whereupon were offered the peace offerings, the vows and the free-will offerings which constituted the repasts of the people. Whilst these sacrifices were being offered up the Levites chanted the festive Hallel, as on the feasts of Passover and Pentecost. This was repeated every day during the seven days of the festival, only that the number of animals offered as sacrifices diminished daily during the middle days of the festival, according to the prescription in Num. 29:12-38. On the eve of the second day, or what is called the lesser festival, and on each of the five succeeding nights, was celebrated the Rejoicing of the water-drawing in the court of the Temple. Four huge golden candelabra were lighted in the centre of the court, and the light emanating from them was visible to the whole city. Around these lights pious men danced before the people with lighted flambeaux in their hands, singing hymns and songs of praise, whilst the Levites, who were stationed on the fifteen steps which led into the womens court, and which corresponded to the fifteen psalms of degrees, i.e., steps (Psalms 120-134), accompanied the songs with instrumental music. It is supposed that on the last evening of the festival, when the splendid light of this grand illumination was to cease, Christ called attention to himself, I am the light of the world (Joh. 8:12), which is to shine for ever, and illuminate not only the Temple and the holy city, but all the world.
On the eighth day shall be an holy convocation.That is, like the first day, since no servile work is to be done on it. As it is not only the finishing of the feast of Tabernacles, but the conclusion of the whole cycle of festivals, the dwelling in tabernacles is to cease on it.
Ye shall offer.For this reason the sacrifices offered on this day are to be distinct, and unlike the sacrifices of the preceding days. The burnt sacrifice is to consist of one bullock, one ram, and seven lambs, with the appropriate meat and drink offerings, and one goat for a sin offering. (Num. 29:36-38.) Being, however, attached to the feast of Tabernacles, the two festivals are often joined together, and spoken of as one festival of eight days.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
36. The eighth day Since this feast was to continue seven days, and since no mention is made of an eighth day in Deu 16:13-15, we conclude that it formed no part of the festival, but was a day of rest, as is declared in Lev 23:37.
Ye shall offer an offering The number of public sacrifices offered on the first day exceeded those of any other day of the year, while private peace offerings were also more abundant. There is ground for the opinion that the number of sacrifices equalled the total number of victims offered at all the other festivals.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Lev 23:36. Seven days ye shall offer See Num 29:13; Num 29:40 for an account of the sacrifices offered upon this festival. The word rendered solemn assembly, at the close of this verse, signifies properly, as in the margin of our English Bibles, a day of restraint, or detention; i.e. from labour; and thence, a solemn feast-day. It is used here, as in Num 29:35 and Neh 8:18 to denote the peculiar solemnity with which the last day of this feast was celebrated: and accordingly St. John thus speaks of it, In the last day, that great day of the feast, Joh 7:37.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
on. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “and on”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Seven: Num 29:12-38
the eighth: 2Ch 7:8-11, Neh 8:18, Joh 7:37
solemn: Heb. day of restraint, Deu 16:8, Joe 1:14, Joe 2:15, *marg.
Reciprocal: Lev 16:29 – do no Lev 23:39 – on the first Num 15:3 – in your Num 28:25 – ye shall do Num 29:35 – eighth day Deu 16:15 – Seven days 2Ch 7:9 – solemn assembly Neh 10:31 – on the holy day
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 23:36. Ye shall offer A several offering each day. The eighth day Which, though it was not one of the days of this feast, strictly taken, yet, in a larger sense, it belonged to this feast, and is called the great day of the feast, Joh 7:37. And so indeed it was, as for other reasons, so because, by their removal from the tabernacles into fixed habitations, it represented that happy time wherein their forty years tedious march in the wilderness was ended with their settlement in the land of Canaan, which it was most fit they should acknowledge with such a solemn day of thanksgiving as this was.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it [is] a {p} solemn assembly; [and] ye shall do no servile work [therein].
(p) Or, a day in which the people refrain from all work.