On the eighth day he held a solemn assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the feast for seven days — The eighth day (בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי) featured a solemn assembly (עֲצֶרֶת, atzeret—concluding convocation). The preceding seven days had involved both dedication of the altar and the festival proper (שִׁבְעַת־הַדֵּדִיקָצִיוֹן...וְשִׁבְעַת־הַחַג). The eighth day served as conclusion and closing ceremony. In Jewish tradition, the eighth day after Sukkoth became Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Assembly), a separate festival. This pattern—seven days plus an eighth-day conclusion—appears in other biblical celebrations (Leviticus 23:36). The eighth day's solemnity marked the festival's dignified completion.

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