The mode in which the sacrifices were oft'ered in the middle days of the festival, the use of the palm and the citron, the procession round the altar, etc., were simply a repetition of the first day of the festival, with this ex- ception, however, that the number of animals diminish- ed daily, according to the prescription in Numb, xxix, 12-3(S, and that the Lessei- Hallel was chanted by Le- vites instead of the Gieat Hallel (q. v.). A pecidiarity connected with the sacrificial service of this festival must here be noticed. On all other festivals only those of the twenty-four orders of the priests ofliciated upon whom the lot fell fcomp. 1 Chron. xxiv, 7-19), but on the seven days of Tabernacles the whole of the twenty- four orders officiated. On the first day the thirteen bul- locks, two rams, and one goat were offered by sixteen orders, while the fourteen sheep were offered by the oth- er eight. As there was one bullock less ofl'ered each of the seven days, one order of priests left each day the sixteen orders who offered these bidlocks and joined those who offered the fourteen lambs. Hence, "on the first day six of these orders offered two lambs each, and the two other orders one lamb each. On the second dav five orders of the priests offered two lambs eacli, and the four other orders one lamb each. On the thiril day four orders offered two lambs each, and six orders one lamb each. On the fourth day three orders offered two lambs each, and eight orders one lamb each. On the fifth day two orders offered two lambs each, and ten orders one lamb each. On the sixth day one order of- fered two lambs each, and twelve orders one lamb each ; while on the seventh day, when the orders of priests who sacrificed the bullocks had diminished to eight, fourteen orders offered one lamb each" (Mishna, Siik- kah, V, G).
21s/ ofTkhri. — The seventh day, which was denom- inated the last day of the Feast of Tahemades (j^I3 D''"' Sn b"0 "(nnxn, Wx^hna, Sukkah, iv, 8), was especial- ly distinguished in the following manner from the oth- er six days. After the Musdph, or special festival sac- rifice of the day, the priests in procession made seven circuits round the altar {ibid, iv, 5), whereas on the pre- ceding days of the festival only one circuit was made. The willows (n2"i") which surrounded the altar were then so thorouglily shaken by the people that the leaves lay thickly on the ground. The people also fetched palm-branches and beat them to pieces at the side of the altar (ibid, iv, G). It is from this fact that the last day of the festival obtained the names of the Day of Willows (ri-"!" Cl"^, ibid, iv, 1), the Great Uosanna Day (Jim N3 nr'^Cin U^.'^), and the B}-anch-tkj-ashiny Bay (nT^nn LSlSn cr,?te/.iv,6). HerzfeUl suggests that the thrashing of the willows and palms may have been to symbolize that after the last verdure of the year had served for the adornment of the altar the trees might
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now go on to cast off their leaves (GescJi. des Volkes Is- rael, ii, 125). As soon as the thrashing process was over, the children who were present, and who also car- ried about the festive nosegays, threw away their palms and ate up their ethroi/s, or citrons (Mislina, Sulckah, iv, 7); while the pilgrims, ''in the afternoon of this day, began to remove the furniture from the Tabernacles in honor of the last day of the festival" (ibid, iv, 8), as the obligation to live or eat in the booths ceased in the af- ternoon of the seventh day, inasmuch as the Feast of Tabernacles itself had now terminated. The eighth day, as we shall presently see, was a holy convocation, whereon no manner of work was allowed to be done, and the Hebrews could no more dismantle their huts on this day without desecrating it than on the Sabbath. It must also be remarked that this last day of the fes- tival, this Cireat Hosanna day, was regarded as one of the four days whereon God judges the world (iMish- na, Ros/i ha-iShdiiah, i, 2; Geraara, i6J</.). There can, therefore, be but little doubt that when .John records the memorable words uttered by Christ (ei' ti) taxaTij t'lfisp^ Ti^ fieydXi^ Tijg eopriig), in the last r/reat da;/ of the festicul (John vii, 37), he meant this distinguished day.
2'2d of Tishri. — The eighth day — which, as we have seen, was a separate festival — was a day of holy convo- cation whereon no manner of work was allowed to be done. After the daily morning sacrifice and the pri- vate offerings of the people, the sacrifices prescribed in Numb, xxix, 3(5-38 were offered, during which the Great Mallei was chanted by the Levites. At the sacrifices, however, the twentj'-four orders of priests were no long- er present, but lots were cast as on other festivals, and that order upon whom the lot fell offered the sacrifices (Mishna, Sitk/cah, v, (5). The Israelites dwelt no longer in the booths on this day, the joyful procession for the drawing of water was discontinued, the grand illumi- nation in the court of the women ceased, and the palms and willows were not used any more.