Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on John 7:37
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
In the last day, that great day of the feast, etc.] That is, of tabernacles, as appears from (<430702>John 7:2), which was usually called gj, “the feast”, in distinction from the passover and Pentecost f326; and the eighth day of it was called ˆwrjah lgrh, “the last day of the feast” f327, as here: and it was a “great day”, being, as is said in (<032336>Leviticus 23:36), an holy convocation, a solemn assembly, in which no servile work was done, and in which an offering was made by fire unto the Lord. According to the traditions of the Jews, fewer sacrifices were offered on this day than on the rest; for on the first day they offered thirteen bullocks, and lessened one every day; so that on the seventh, day, there was but seven offered, and on the eighth day but one, when the priests returned to their lots, as at other feasts f328; but notwithstanding the Jews make out this to be the greater day for them, since the seventy bullocks offered on the other seven days, were for the seventy nations of the world; but the one bullock, on the eighth day, was peculiarly for the people of Israel f329: and besides, they observe, that there were several things peculiar on this day, as different from the rest; as the casting of lots, the benediction by itself, a feast by itself, an offering by itself, a song by itself, and a blessing by itself f330: and on this day they had also the ceremony of drawing and pouring water, attended with the usual rejoicings as on other days; the account of which is this f331: “the pouring out of water was after this manner; a golden pot, which held three logs, was tilled out of Siloah, and when they came to the water gate, they blew (their trumpets) and shouted, and blew; (then a priest) went up by the ascent of the altar, and turned to the left hand, (where) were two silver basins — that on the west side was filled with water, and that on the east with wine; he poured the basin of water into that of wine, and that of wine into that of water.” At which time there were great rejoicing, piping, and dancing, by the most religious and sober people among the Jews; insomuch that it is said f332, that “he that never saw the rejoicing of the place of drawing of water, never saw any rejoicing in his life.” And this ceremony, they say f333, is a tradition of Moses from Mount Sinai, and refers to some secret and mysterious things; yea, they plainly say, that it has respect to the pouring forth of the Holy Ghost f334. “Says R. Joshua ben Levi, why is its name called the place of drawing water? because, from thence çdwqh jwr µybawç, “they draw the Holy Ghost”, as it is said, “and ye shall draw water with joy out of the wells of salvation”, (<231203>Isaiah 12:3).” Moreover, it was on this day they prayed for the rains for the year ensuing: it is asked f335, “from what time do they make mention of the powers of the rains (which descend by the power of God)? R. Eliezer says, from the first good day of the feast (of tabernacles); R. Joshua says, from the last good day of the feast. — They do not pray for the rains, but near the rains;” that is, the time of rains; and which, one of their commentators says f336, is the eighth day of the feast of tabernacles; for from the feast of tabernacles, thenceforward is the time of rains. The Jews have a notion, that at this feast the rains of the ensuing year were fixed: hence they say f337, that “at the feast of tabernacles judgment is made concerning the waters;” or a decree or determination i…
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