Closeness to HaShem
“On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall do no regular work.”
Today is Shemini Atzeret, which means “The Eighth Day Assembly.” It is a separate festival that immediately follows the seven days of Sukkot.
There's something mysterious about this holiday. The Torah tells Israel to gather for a solemn assembly, refrain from ordinary work, and bring certain offerings before HaShem. Otherwise, it provides very little explanation for the significance of the day itself.
There is, however, an interesting connection between Shemini Atzeret and the birth of our Master Yeshua that I'd like to explore.
The Dedication of the Temple
It begins with the dedication of Solomon's Temple.
In 1 Kings 8:10–11, we read:
“The cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.”
After years of preparation and construction, the Temple was finally complete. And there, in the midst of Israel, HaShem's Shekhinah, His Divine Presence, came down to dwell among His people.
Do you know when this dedication took place? It was during the seventh month, Tishrei, in connection with Sukkot. According to 2 Chronicles 7:8–10, King Solomon observed seven days of dedication and the seven days of the Festival of Booths, concluding with an assembly on the eighth day.
So Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret became associated with the dedication of the Temple and the glory of HaShem dwelling among His people.
Centuries later, another Temple dedication took place. Following the Maccabean revolt, the Jewish people cleansed and rededicated the Temple on the twenty-fifth of Kislev. We, of course, remember that event during Hanukkah.
Interestingly, the book of 2 Maccabees 10:6 tells us that they “celebrated eight days with joy in a manner like the Festival of Booths.”
So here again, we find an ancient connection between Hanukkah and the eight-day festival season of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret, both associated with the dedication of God's sanctuary—the place where HaShem caused His Divine Presence to dwell among His people.
The Word Tabernacled Among Us
This brings us to the birth of Yeshua.
Some within Messianic Judaism, myself included, have suggested that Yeshua was conceived during Hanukkah and born on the first day of Sukkot. If that were the case, then Yeshua's circumcision, which Luke tells us occurred on the eighth day as the Torah commands, would have coincided with Shemini Atzeret (Luke 2:21). Of course, the Gospels do not establish the precise date of his birth, so this remains a possibility.
There's something particularly meaningful about the circumcision itself. HaShem established an everlasting covenant with Avraham and his descendants, commanding that its sign be placed upon every Jewish male on the eighth day (Genesis 17:7–12). When Yeshua was circumcised, he received in his own flesh the sign of that everlasting covenant as a son of Israel. And if this occurred on Shemini Atzeret, the connection becomes especially beautiful: the eighth day of the festival season coinciding with the eighth-day sign of HaShem's enduring promises to the Jewish people.
I find this possibility beautiful because Yeshua's birth follows the theme we've been exploring through the Temple dedications: HaShem's Divine Presence drawing near to dwell among His people.
Even the gifts the wise men brought to Yeshua, recorded in Matthew 2:11—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—bring to mind materials used in the Temple and its service. Many of the Temple furnishings, including the menorah, the table, and the altar of incense, were adorned with gold. Frankincense was used in the sacred incense, and myrrh was an ingredient in the holy anointing oil (Exodus 25:11–40; 30:23–34).
This imagery of the Temple and HaShem dwelling among His people brings us to the opening chapter of Yochanon's Gospel, where I find one of the most compelling Scriptural hints of Yeshua's possible birth at Sukkot.
In John 1:14, he writes:
“And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us.” (Young's Literal Translation)
Here we have a textual connection to the idea of the Tabernacle and HaShem's Divine Presence dwelling among His people. Yochanon draws on the familiar imagery of the Tabernacle to describe the coming of Yeshua. The Word of God became flesh. Yeshua entered our world, lived among Israel, and revealed the glory of the Father.
Whatever conclusion we reach about the date of Yeshua's birth, this connection gives us a deeper context for considering his coming.
From the beginning, HaShem has desired to dwell among His creation. He commanded Israel to build a sanctuary so that He might dwell in their midst. He filled Solomon's Temple with His glory. And through the coming of our Master Yeshua, the Word became flesh and dwelt among His people, revealing the glory of the Father.
From the Tabernacle to the Temple to the coming of Yeshua, we see the same beautiful truth: HaShem desires to dwell among His people.
When the Sukkah Comes Down
And this brings us back to the mystery of Shemini Atzeret.
For seven days during Sukkot, we spend time in the sukkah, rejoicing, eating (and singing karaoke). We feel connected to God and one another. When the festival ends, however, we eventually have to take everything down and return to ordinary life, with all its troubles and difficulties, and without the physical reminder of HaShem's presence above us in the s'chach, the branches covering the sukkah.
Before the festival season concludes, HaShem gives Israel one additional sacred day: Shemini Atzeret. One more day with nothing on the agenda, but to just sit with HaShem.
There's a beautiful Jewish explanation of this holiday from Rashi. In his commentary on Leviticus 23:36, he compares Shemini Atzeret to a king who asks his children to remain with him one more day because he finds their departure difficult.
I think of it like the quiet afterparty when all the guests leave, the house is kind of messy, and you just sit with your family and laugh about all the funny moments and special conversations. It's a little like what we've experienced this week at Nashville Sabbath Fellowship. We've had lots of visitors under the sukkah, new faces, and wonderful opportunities for fellowship. And now, at the end of the celebration, there's something special about just being together as a family.
That's a beautiful way to understand Shemini Atzeret.
And I think it invites us to consider something important: When the celebration ends and we leave the sukkah behind, what happens to that feeling of closeness we've experienced with HaShem and one another?
The Jewish people faced a far more painful version of that question when the First Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and they were carried into exile. Yet listen to what HaShem told them through the prophet Ezekiel:
“I have been a sanctuary to them in the countries where they have gone.” — Ezekiel 11:16
Even in exile, far from the Temple, HaShem remained with His people. His covenant and His promises endured.
Now think again about Yeshua, whom Yochanon describes as the Word who tabernacled among us. Yeshua told the people in Jerusalem:
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” — John 2:19
Yochanon explains that he was speaking about the Temple of his body. Our Master suffered death, and on the third day HaShem raised him from the dead.
And through the prophet Amos, HaShem promised:
“In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen.” — Amos 9:11
The fallen sukkah of David refers to the fallen Davidic kingdom, which HaShem promises to restore. As disciples of Yeshua, we see in the resurrection of the Son of David the assurance that HaShem will fulfill His promises to restore Israel and establish His kingdom.
A Promise for the Coming Year
There's something deeply comforting about what Yeshua told his disciples as he prepared them for his approaching death and departure:
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” — John 14:18
And a few verses later:
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” — John 14:23
What a wonderful promise to remember on Shemini Atzeret.
We've spent these past weeks praying, repenting, celebrating, and drawing near to HaShem and one another. Soon we'll return to our ordinary routines, with all their responsibilities and challenges.
The sukkah will eventually come down, and the festival season will end. Yet Shemini Atzeret gives us a beautiful assurance to carry into the coming year: HaShem remains faithful to His people, and His love endures. Our Master promises that he and the Father will make their home with those who love him and keep his word.
As we enter the rest of 5787, may we cherish that promise and continue cultivating our relationship with HaShem. May we make time for prayer, study the teachings of Yeshua, and allow his words to shape the way we live and care for one another.
May the joy and holiness of these sacred days continue in our hearts throughout the coming year. May we grow in our love for HaShem and one another, and may we eagerly await the day when His presence fills the earth and His Messiah returns to redeem Israel and establish His kingdom.
Father in heaven, thank You for dwelling among Your people and for revealing Your glory through Yeshua our Messiah. Thank You for these beautiful sacred days together. Teach us to love Your words and live faithfully by them. May Your presence guide us throughout this new year, and may Your blessings and favor always be with us.
Amen.
