Question: Can you please explain the LAST GREAT DAY and the EIGHTH DAY of the Feast of Tabernacles and also the additional sacrifices in Numbers 28-29 which make this special Sabbath [the 8th day] different from the normal weekly Sabbaths?
Answer: Feast of Tabernacles lasted for seven days. “The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto Yahuwah.” Lev. 23:34. A feast that lasts for seven days and starts on the 15th(a Sabbath) would indeed make the “last day, the great day” of the feast fall on the Preparation Day (the sixth day of the week) with the very next day (John 8:2 and Lev. 23:39) a seventh-day Sabbath.
Most people are confused with the wording of Lev. 23:36 which says that on the 8th day there shall be a holy convocation to Yahuwah. Do not let that confuse you because in both verse 34 and in verse 36 it states that the Feast of Tabernacles is for only seven days: “Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahuwah: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahuwah: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.” But, remember, it starts on the 15th so the 21st (the last, the great day of the feast) would be Preparation Day and the next day would be the seventh-day Sabbath which, of course, is the holy convocation.
This is also confirmed by verse 39 – "Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto Yahuwah seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath."
NOTE carefully here, that this is no coincidence, but a special feature identifying Yahuwah's Luni-solar calendar, for this recurrence every year is impossible in a solar calendar.
The eighth day, being a weekly Sabbath falling on the 22nd of the seventh month every year, is added like an appendage to the seven day Feast of Tabernacles and observed in like manner as evidenced in its additional sacrifices [Numbers 29:35-38] which are more than those for the ‘regular’ weekly Sabbath [Numbers 28:9-10].
REGULAR WEEKLY SABBATH OFFERINGS
On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. (Numbers 28:9-10)
8th DAY OFFERINGS [on Sabbath after Tabernacles]
On the eighth day hold an assembly and do no regular work. Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to Yahuwah, a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bull, the ram and the lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. (Numbers 29:35-38)