1. The Eighth Day of Assembly
2. The Fulfillment of Sukkot
3. Circumcised on the Eighth Day
4. Core Teachings and Significance
5. The Royal Law is our Reign from Heaven
6. The fulfillment of Sukkot
7. Messiah Teaches at Shemini Atzeret

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah began sunset of Friday, October 2, 2026 and ended nightfall of Sunday, October 4, 2026.

The Eighth Day of Assembly:

Eighth Day of Assembly: Immediately following the last day of the Feast of Sukkot (Hoshana Rabbah), is the “Eighth-day of Assembly,” Shemini Atzeret. This festival along with Simchat Torah are celebrated together in Israel on one day, Tishri 22; and outside Israel on two days Tishri 22 and 23. As it is written (Numbers 29:35):

בַּיֹּום הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת תִּהְיֶה לָכֶם כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃

On the eighth day you shall hold a solemn gathering; you shall not work at your occupations.

Extended Assembly for One more Day: The rabbis interpret the Numbers 29:35 Scripture verse to mean that Adonai asks all who made a pilgrimage for Sukkot to atzeret (עֲצֶרֶת-“assemble” from-עָצַר to hold back, refrain, stay, detain), to “hold back” and extend their assembly with Him one more day. Therefore, the rabbis consider that Shemini Atzeret is an additional festival, independent from Sukkot.

The Fulfillment of Sukkot:

New Beginning of the Eighth Day: Shemini is the Hebrew word for the number “Eight.” The eighth day speaks of our physical and spiritual liberation from time. Seven days is a ‘complete’ unit of time. Every Jewish week is completed with a seventh day called Shabbat (the Sabbath). Therefore the eighth day identifies a new beginning.

Day that Post-exists Time: The eighth day marks a time that follows after the completion of time. The eternal state beyond time. Adonai said, “Remain with Me (atzeret) an extra day.”

A Day that will Never End: This day that Adonai speaks of is not an ordinary twenty-four hour day. It is a day that will never end. Therefore, Shemini Atzeret is a celebration of our eternal fellowship with Adonai Avinu in a place, state of being that is beyond time, where we will dwell forever in the new heavens and the new earth.

Circumcised on the Eighth Day:

Conception, Birth, Circumcision: The Messiah Yeshua ben Yosef was conceived on Chanukkah (Chislev 25), born on Sukkot (Tishri 15) and was circumcised on Shemini Atzeret (Tishri 22).

“Covenant of Circumcision”: Brit Milah (בְּרִית מִילָה), translates literally to the “covenant of circumcision”. The verb root for cutting or circumcising is muwl (מוּל) or mulal, meaning to cut off or separate. Orlah (ערלה): The Hebrew word for the foreskin, which also symbolically represents a barrier or blockage (as in the “foreskin of the heart”)

The Festivals bear Witness: The HaDavar became flesh (Chanukkah), and “tented” (dwelt) among us (Sukkot), entered into the Covenant (Shemini Atzeret), and was given a name.

The Messiah ben Yosef was circumcised on the eighth day of his life, in accordance with the Abrahamic covenant and the Torah of Moses. Counting eight days from the start of Sukkot lands precisely on the 22nd of Tishri (Tishrei), which is the independent high holiday of Shemini Atzeret.

Core Teachings and Significance:

Sign of the Covenant: Commanded first to Abraham in Genesis 17, Brit Milah is performed on the eighth day of a newborn male’s life as an enduring physical token of the eternal covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham.

Partnership in Creation: Performing the rite on the eighth day symbolizes human partnership with God in completing and perfecting the unfinished potential of creation.

Curbing Impurity and Lust: The physical removal of the foreskin (orlah) serves as a constant bodily reminder to master physical impulses, safeguard against moral transgression, and dedicate one’s life to the mitzvot (commandments).

Circumcision of the Heart: The Scriptures frequently transitions the physical act into an internal, spiritual requirement. Passages like Deuteronomy 10:16 and Deuteronomy 30:6 command AmIsrael to “circumcise the foreskin of the heart,” teaching that an outward sign is meaningless without an inner, receptive love and obedience toward God.

The Royal Law of heaven is the Torah of the Spirit:

Gift of a New Heart: The gift of the Royal Law is the gift of the New Heart (Living Torah) that is our guarantee we will one day be perfect as our heavenly Father is Perfect. The Gift of the Torah of the Spirit is the power to fulfill the Law by God’s Strength. Not our own. The Torah of the Spirit is the Sukkot rain/reign from heaven that floods the earth with the knowledge (experience) of Abba Avinu.

The Torah of the Spirit is our Reign from Heaven:

One Rabbi: The traditions of men are all replaceable and even now are being rejected and replaced. No one in the messianic kingdom will be called Rabbi. For only the Messiah ben Yosef ben David will be our Rabbi. We will need no other. We will accept no other. And we will hear no other.

One Spirit: For the Voice of the Messiah is the Ruach HaKodesh Himself. He alone is the One we will listen to, hear, and obey! Without the omnipresent, omnipotent Holy One and His saving-indwelling Presence we could never be raised from death to the new life of perfect righteousness that we have for so long hoped for and longed for.

The fulfillment of Sukkot:

New Beginning of the Eighth Day: Shemini is the Hebrew word for the number “Eight.” The eighth day speaks of our physical and spiritual liberation from time. Seven days is a ‘complete’ unit of time. Every Jewish week is completed with a seventh day called Shabbat (the Sabbath). Therefore the eighth day identifies a new beginning.

Day that Post-exists Time: The eighth day marks a time that follows after the completion of time. The eternal state beyond time. Adonai said, “Remain with Me (atzeret) an extra day.”

A Day that will Never End: This day that Adonai speaks of is not an ordinary twenty-four hour day. It is a day that will never end. Therefore, Shemini Atzeret is a celebration of our eternal fellowship with Adonai Avinu in a place, state of being that is beyond time, where we will dwell forever in the new heavens and the new earth.

Messiah Teaches at Shemini Atzeret:

אַחֲרֵי כֵן הָלְכוּ אִישׁ אִישׁ לְבֵיתוֹ יוחנן ח וְיֵשׁוּעַ הָלַךְ אֶל הַר הַזֵּיתִים. בַּבֺּקֶר הַשְׁכֵּם חָזַר לְבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְכָל הָעָם בָּאוּ אֵלָיו. הוּא יָשַׁב וְלִמֵּד אוֹתָם. אָז הֵבִיאוּ הַסּוֹפְרִים וְהַפְּרוּשִׁים אִשָּׁה שֶׁנִּתְפְּסָה בְּנִאוּף, הֶעֱמִידוּ אוֹתָהּ בָּאֶמְצַע וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ: “רַבִּי, הָאִשָּׁה הַזֺּאת נִתְפְּסָה בְּנִאוּף, בִּשְׁעַת מַעֲשֶׂה. מֺשֶׁה צִוָּנוּ בַּתּוֹרָה לִסְקֺל נָשִׁים כָּאֵלֶּה, וּמָה אַתָּה אוֹמֵר”? זֺאת אָמְרוּ כְּדֵי לְנַסּוֹת אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהֶם בְּמָה לְהַאֲשִׁימוֹ. אוּלָם יֵשׁוּעַ הִתְכּוֹפֵף וּבְאֶצְבָּעוֹ כָּתַב עַל הָאָרֶץ. כְּשֶׁהוֹסִיפוּ לִשְׁאֺל אוֹתוֹ, זָקַף קוֹמָתוֹ וְאָמַר: “מִי מִכֶּם נָקִי מֵחֵטְא, שֶׁיְּהֵא הוּא רִאשׁוֹן לְהַשְׁלִיךְ עָלֶיהָ אֶבֶן”! וְשׁוּב הִתְכּוֹפֵף וְכָתַב עַל הָאָרֶץ. כְּשָׁמְעָם זֺאת יָצְאוּ אֶחָד אֶחָד, הָחֵל מֵהַזְּקֵנִים. הוּא נוֹתַר לְבַדּוֹ וְהָאִשָּׁה עוֹדֶנָּה בִּמְקוֹמָהּ. הִזְדַּקֵּף יֵשׁוּעַ וְאָמַר לָהּ: “אִשָּׁה, אֵיפֺה הֵם? הַאִם לֹא הִרְשִׁיעַ אוֹתָךְ אִישׁ”? הֵשִׁיבָה וְאָמְרָה: “אַף לֹא אֶחָד, אֲדוֹנִי”. אָמַר לָהּ: “גַּם אֲנִי אֵינֶנִּי מַרְשִׁיעַ אוֹתָךְ; לְכִי וְאַל תּוֹסִיפִי לַחֲטֺא עוֹד]”. יֵשׁוּעַ הוֹסִיף לְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם וְאָמַר: “אֲנִי אוֹר הָעוֹלָם. אִישׁ הַהוֹלֵךְ אַחֲרַי לֹא יִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּחֺשֶׁךְ, אֶלָּא אוֹר הַחַיִּים יִהְיֶה לוֹ”.  פ

“I am the Light of the World”: “Afterward, everyone went to his own home, and Yeshua went to Har HaZeitim [Mount of Olives where he remained until the morning]. He sat down and taught them. Then the scholars and the Prushim brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; they made her stand in the center and said to him: “Rabbi, this woman was caught in adultery—in the very act. Mosheh commanded us in the Torah to stone such women; what do You say?” Upon hearing this, they left one by one, beginning with the elders. He was left alone, and the woman remained where she was. Yeshua straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She replied, “Not a single one, sir.” He said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more.” Yeshua continued speaking to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The Prushim said to him, “You testify about yourself; your testimony is not valid.” Yeshua answered and said to them, “

אָמְרוּ לוֹ הַפְּרוּשִׁים: “אַתָּה מֵעִיד עַל עַצְמְךָ; עֵדוּתְךָ אֵינֶנָּה נֶאֱמָנָה”. הֵשִׁיב יֵשׁוּעַ וְאָמַר לָהֶם: “גַּם אִם אֲנִי מֵעִיד עַל עַצְמִי עֵדוּתִי נֶאֱמָנָה, כִּי יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי מֵאַיִן בָּאתִי וּלְאָן אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ. אֲבָל אַתֶּם אֵינְכֶם יוֹדְעִים מֵאַיִן אֲנִי בָּא אוֹ לְאָן אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ. אַתֶּם שׁוֹפְטִים כְּדֶרֶךְ הַבָּשָׂר; אֲנִי אֵינֶנִּי שׁוֹפֵט אִישׁ. וְגַם אִם אֲנִי שׁוֹפֵט, מִשְׁפָּטִי אֱמֶת, שֶׁכֵּן אֵינֶנִּי לְבַדִּי, אֶלָּא אֲנִי וְהָאָב אֲשֶׁר שְׁלָחַנִי. אַף בְּתוֹרַתְכֶם כָּתוּב שֶׁעֵדוּת שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים מְהֵימָנָה הִיא. אֲנִי הוּא הַמֵּעִיד עַל עַצְמִי, וְגַם הָאָב אֲשֶׁר שְׁלָחַנִי מֵעִיד עָלַי”. שָׁאֲלוּ אוֹתוֹ: “אֵיפֺה אָבִיךָ”? הֵשִׁיב יֵשׁוּעַ: “גַּם אוֹתִי גַּם אֶת אָבִי אֵינְכֶם מַכִּירִים. אִלּוּ הִכַּרְתֶּם אוֹתִי, גַּם אֶת אָבִי הֱיִיתֶם מַכִּירִים”. אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה דִּבֵּר בְּלִשְׁכַּת הָאוֹצָר, כַּאֲשֶׁר לִמֵּד בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְלֹא תָּפַס אוֹתוֹ אִישׁ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁטֶּרֶם הִגִּיעָה שְׁעָתוֹ. פ

The Father [Adonai] “testifies about me”: The Prushim said, “You testify about yourself; your testimony is not valid.” Yeshua answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I came from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.” And it is written in your Torah that the testimony of two men is valid: I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me also testifies about me. Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Yeshua answered, “You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words in the treasury while teaching in the Temple, yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

הוֹסִיף יֵשׁוּעַ וְאָמַר לָהֶם: “אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ וְאַתֶּם תְּחַפְּשׂוּ אוֹתִי, וּבְחַטַּאתְכֶם תָּמוּתוּ. אֶל אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ אֵינְכֶם יְכוֹלִים לָבוֹא”. הֵם אָמְרוּ: “הַאִם יַהֲרֺג אֶת עַצְמוֹ, שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר ‘אֶל אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ אֵינְכֶם יְכוֹלִים לָבוֹא”?’ אָמַר לָהֶם: “אַתֶּם מִלְּמַטָּה; אֲנִי מִלְמַעְלָה. אַתֶּם מִן הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה; אֲנִי אֵינֶנִּי מִן הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. לָכֵן אָמַרְתִּי לָכֶם שֶׁתָּמוּתוּ בַּחֲטָאֵיכֶם; שֶׁכֵּן אִם אֵינְכֶם מַאֲמִינִים כִּי אֲנִי הוּא, מוֹת תָּמוּתוּ בַּחֲטָאֵיכֶם”. שָׁאֲלוּ אוֹתוֹ: “מִי אַתָּה”? הֵשִׁיב לָהֶם יֵשׁוּעַ: “מָה שֶּׁאֲנִי מְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם גַּם מֵרֵאשִׁית. רַבּוֹת יֵשׁ לִי לְדַבֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם וְלִשְׁפֺּט, אֲבָל שׁוֹלְחִי אֱמֶת וַאֲנִי אֶת אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתִּי מִמֶּנּוּ, זֺאת אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר אֶל הָעוֹלָם”. 27הֵם לֹא הֵבִינוּ שֶׁדִּבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם עַל הָאָב. פ

I have “much to judge”: Then Yeshua said to them again, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” They said, “Will He kill Himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. That is why I told you that you would die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” Him.” They asked him, “Who are you?” Yeshua answered them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge; but the One who sent me is truthful, and I speak to the world only what I have heard from Him.”  They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.

אָמַר לָהֶם יֵשׁוּעַ: “כַּאֲשֶׁר תָּרִימוּ אֶת בֶּן־הָאָדָם אָז תֵּדְעוּ כִּי אֲנִי הוּא וְכִי אֵינֶנִּי עוֹשֶׂה דָּבָר מִתּוֹךְ עַצְמִי, אֶלָּא עַל־פִּי מָה שֶּׁלִּמְּדַנִי אָבִי – אֶת זֺאת אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר. וְשׁוֹלְחִי הֲרֵיהוּ אִתִּי. הוּא לֹא עֲזָבַנִי לְבַדִּי, כִּי אֶת הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינָיו אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה תָּמִיד”. כְּשֶׁאָמַר אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הֶאֱמִינוּ בּוֹ רַבִּים. אָמַר יֵשׁוּעַ אֶל הַיְּהוּדִים שֶׁהֶאֱמִינוּ לוֹ: “אִם תַּעַמְדוּ בִּדְבָרִי, תַּלְמִידַי אַתֶּם בֶּאֱמֶת; וְתֵדְעוּ אֶת הָאֱמֶת וְהָאֱמֶת תְּשַׁחְרֵר אֶתְכֶם”. הֵשִׁיבוּ לוֹ: “זֶרַע אַבְרָהָם אֲנַחְנוּ וּמֵעוֹלָם לֹא הָיִינוּ מְשֻׁעְבָּדִים לְאִישׁ. מַדּוּעַ אַתָּה אוֹמֵר ‘בְּנֵי חוֹרִין תִּהְיוּ”?’ עָנָה לָהֶם יֵשׁוּעַ: “אָמֵן אָמֵן אֲנִי אוֹמֵר לָכֶם, כָּל עוֹשֵׂה חֵטְא עֶבֶד הוּא לַחֵטְא. וְאֵין הָעֶבֶד שׁוֹכֵן בַּבַּיִת לְעוֹלָם; הַבֵּן שׁוֹכֵן לְעוֹלָם. לָכֵן אִם הַבֵּן מְשַׁחְרֵר אֶתְכֶם, בֶּאֱמֶת בְּנֵי חוֹרִין תִּהְיוּ.פ

“You will truly be free” if you believe: Yeshua said to them, “When you lift up Ben HaAdam, [as Mosheh lifted up the copper serpent on the pole in the wilderness; cf. Numbers 21:9] then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak only what my Father has taught me.”  “And the One who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” As he spoke these things, many believed in him. Yeshua said to the Yehudim who believed in him: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my talmidim; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”  They [Prushim and scholars] answered him: “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone. Why do you say, ‘You will become free’?”  Yeshua answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.”  A slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you will truly be free.

אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁזֶּרַע אַבְרָהָם אַתֶּם. וְאוּלָם מְבַקְּשִׁים אַתֶּם לַהֲרֺג אוֹתִי, כִּי אֵין לִדְבָרִי מָקוֹם בְּקִרְבְּכֶם. אֲנִי מְדַבֵּר אֶת אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתִי אֵצֶל הָאָב; אַתֶּם עוֹשִׂים מָה שֶּׁשְּׁמַעְתֶּם אֵצֶל אֲבִיכֶם”. 39הֵשִׁיבוּ וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ: “אַבְרָהָם הוּא אָבִינוּ”. אָמַר לָהֶם יֵשׁוּעַ: “אִם בְּנֵי אַבְרָהָם אַתֶּם, עֲשׂוּ כְּמַעֲשֵׂי אַבְרָהָם; אֶלָּא שֶׁכָּעֵת אַתֶּם רוֹצִים לַהֲרֺג אוֹתִי, אִישׁ שֶׁדִּבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם אֶת הָאֱמֶת אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהִים. זֺאת לֹא עָשָׂה אַבְרָהָם. אַתֶּם עוֹשִׂים אֶת מַעֲשֵׂי אֲבִיכֶם”. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: “לֹא יַלְדֵי זְנוּנִים אֲנַחְנוּ. יֵשׁ לָנוּ אָב אֶחָד – הָאֱלֹהִים”. פ

“The truth I heard from God”: I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.  I speak of what I have seen with the Father; you do what you have heard from your father. They answered and said to him, “Abraham is our father.” Yeshua said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham; but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.  “You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to him: “We are not children of fornication. We have one Father—God.”

הֵשִׁיב לָהֶם יֵשׁוּעַ: “אִלּוּ אֱלֹהִים הָיָה אֲבִיכֶם, הֲיִיתֶם אוֹהֲבִים אוֹתִי, שֶׁכֵּן אֲנִי מֵאֵת הָאֱלֹהִים יָצָאתִי וּבָאתִי. הֵן לֹא מֵעַצְמִי בָּאתִי; הוּא שְׁלָחַנִי. מַדּוּעַ אֵינְכֶם מְבִינִים אֶת דִּבּוּרִי? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵינְכֶם יְכוֹלִים לִשְׁמֺעַ אֶת דְּבָרִי. אַתֶּם מֵאֲבִיכֶם הַשָּׂטָן וְאֶת תַּאֲוַת אֲבִיכֶם חֲפֵצִים אַתֶּם לַעֲשׂוֹת. הוּא רוֹצֵחַ הָיָה מֵרֵאשִׁית וּבָאֱמֶת לֹא עָמַד, כִּי אֵין אֱמֶת בּוֹ. מִדֵּי דַּבְּרוֹ שֶׁקֶר, מִתּוֹךְ יֵשׁוּתוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ יְדַבֵּר, כִּי שַׁקְרָן הוּא וַאֲבִי הַשֶּׁקֶר. פ

If God were your Father, you would love me: Yeshua answered them: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came forth from God. I did not come on my own; He sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? Because you cannot hear my word.  You are of your father the Devil, and you desire to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and did not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

וַאֲנִי, כִּי אוֹמֵר אֲנִי אֶת הָאֱמֶת, אֵין אַתֶּם מַאֲמִינִים לִי. מִי מִכֶּם עַל עָווֹן יוֹכִיחֵנִי? וְאִם דּוֹבֵר אֱמֶת אֲנִי, לָמָּה אֵין אַתֶּם מַאֲמִינִים לִי? זֶה אֲשֶׁר מֵאֵת הָאֱלֹהִים שׁוֹמֵעַ אֶת דִּבְרֵי אֱלֹהִים. אַתֶּם אֵינְכֶם שׁוֹמְעִים, כִּי אֵינְכֶם מֵאֵת הָאֱלֹהִים”. הֵשִׁיבוּ וְאָמְרוּ אֵלָיו: “הַאִם לֹא צָדַקְנוּ בְּאָמְרֵנוּ שֶׁשּׁוֹמְרוֹנִי אַתָּה וְשֵׁד בְּךָ”? פ

“Why do you not believe?” And because I speak the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I speak the truth, why do you not believe me? He who is from God hears the words of God. You do not hear, because you are not from God.” They answered and said to him: “Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

עָנָה יֵשׁוּעַ: “אֲנִי אֵין בִּי שֵׁד, אֶלָּא שֶׁמְּכַבֵּד אֲנִי אֶת אָבִי וְאַתֶּם בָּזִים לִי. אֲנִי אֵינֶנִּי מְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת כְּבוֹדִי; יֵשׁ אֶחָד הַמְּבַקֵּשׁ וְשׁוֹפֵט. אָמֵן אָמֵן אֲנִי אוֹמֵר לָכֶם, אִם יִשְׁמֺר אִישׁ אֶת דְּבָרִי לֹא יִרְאֶה מָוֶת לְעוֹלָם”. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: “כָּעֵת נוֹכַחְנוּ לָדַעַת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּךָ שֵׁד. אַבְרָהָם מֵת, וְכֵן גַּם הַנְּבִיאִים, וְאַתָּה אוֹמֵר ‘אִם יִשְׁמֺר אִישׁ אֶת דְּבָרִי לֹא יִטְעַם מָוֶת לְעוֹלָם.’ הַאִם אַתָּה גָּדוֹל מֵאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ שֶׁמֵּת? גַּם הַנְּבִיאִים מֵתוּ. לְמִי אַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה אֶת עַצְמְךָ”? עָנָה יֵשׁוּעַ: “אִם אֲנִי נוֹתֵן כָּבוֹד לְעַצְמִי, כְּבוֹדִי אֵין בּוֹ כְּלוּם. אָבִי, אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים עָלָיו ‘הוּא אֱלֹהֵינוּ,’ הוּא הַמְּכַבֵּד אוֹתִי. וְאַתֶּם אֵינְכֶם מַכִּירִים אוֹתוֹ, אֲבָל אֲנִי מַכִּיר אוֹתוֹ. אִם אֺמַר שֶׁאֵינֶנִּי מַכִּיר אוֹתוֹ אֶהְיֶה שַׁקְרָן כְּמוֹכֶם. אַךְ אֲנִי מַכִּיר אוֹתוֹ וְשׁוֹמֵר אֶת דְּבָרוֹ. אַבְרָהָם אֲבִיכֶם שָׂשׂ לִרְאוֹת אֶת יוֹמִי, וְאָכֵן רָאָה וְשָׂמַח”. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: “עֲדַיִן אֵינְךָ בֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה וְאֶת אַבְרָהָם רָאִיתָ”? הֵשִׁיב לָהֶם יֵשׁוּעַ: “אָמֵן אָמֵן אֲנִי אוֹמֵר לָכֶם, בְּטֶרֶם הֱיוֹת אַבְרָהָם, אֲנִי הוּא”. מִשּׁוּם כָּךְ הֵרִימוּ אֲבָנִים לְהַשְׁלִיךְ עָלָיו, אֶלָּא שֶׁיֵּשׁוּעַ הִסְתַּתֵּר וְיָצָא מִבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. פ

“Abraham rejoiced to see my day”: Yeshua answered: “I have no demon; rather, I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.  I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it and judges. Amen, Amen, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” They said to him: “Now we know for certain that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'”  Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you make yourself out to be?  Yeshua answered: “If I honor myself, my honor means nothing. It is My Father—the One of whom you say, ‘He is our God’—who honors me.  You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him and keep His word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; indeed, he saw it and was glad.”  They said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?”  Yeshua answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Therefore they picked up stones to throw at him, but Yeshua hid himself and left the Temple.

[Messiah’s teaching in Jerusalem on the Eighth day of Shemini Atzeret is continued in Chapter 2.]

Messiah in Shemini Atzeret Chapter 2 >>