SIMCHAT BEIT HASHOEVA REENACTED ON OCT. 12, 2014 IN JERUSALEM (VIDEO/COMMENTARY)

The last time this happened was in the first century, during the Second Temple period.  It occurred during the Festival of Sukkot.  On the seventh day of Sukkot, a priest would take a golden pitcher down to the pool of Siloam (which means salvation) ("We will gather waters from the wells of salvation," Isaiah 12:3).   He would dip the pitcher, allowing it to fill up to the brim.  Then he would go up to the altar in the Temple, circle the altar seven times, then pour both the "waters of salvation" upon the altar (which was actually a blend of wine and water).

What does it mean?

We read in John about Yeshua's death on the cross:

"34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: 'Not one of his bones will be broken,' 37 and, as another scripture says, 'They will look on the one they have pierced,'" (John 19:34-37)

This gush of water brought on by pericardial or pleural effusion (or both) represents the water of the Holy Spirit which makes us clean:

"There shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanliness," (Zech. 13:1) 

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols," (Ezekiel 36:25)

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'  But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Yeshua was not yet glorified," (John 7:37-39)

But the water also mixed with blood and would've appeared like the mixture of wine and water used by the priest on Sukkot VII.  What does the blood signify?

This is the blood of the REAL Passover Lamb, the blood that takes away the sins of the world.  The Passover lamb could not have any of its bones broken:

"It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones," (Exodus 12:46)

And the Messiah would thus not have any of his bones broken:

"He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken," (Psalm 34:20)

And one day Israel will mourn for this pierced yet unbroken Messiah:

"10 'And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit[a] of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son," (Zech. 12:10)

Something else illustrative used to happen in the first century during the Second Temple period.   For the seven days of Sukkot the priests erected seventy-five foot candlesticks in the Temple!

"The Lord is my light and my salvation," (Psalm 27:1)

And these lights were extinguished on the eighth day of Sukkot (which is really Shemini Atzeret).  Why were these lights extinguished?  Are we meant to live in the dark in the Olam Haba?

"No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory.  Your sun will no longer set, nor will your moon wane; for you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over," (Isaiah 60:19-20)

This reminds of the Sukkot when the transfiguration occurred and Yeshua's face shined like the sun:

"Six days later Yeshua took with Him Peter and James and John His brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.  And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.  And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking to Him.  Then answered Peter, and said unto Yeshua, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three booths here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah," (Matt. 17:1-4).

May the eyes of all Israel be opened in our day, that they may see the one whom we pierced, and mourn for him as one mourns for an only child!  May all Israel turn to the Torah, our Light, our Water, our Salvation!

See the following link for the video of the Simchat Beit Hashoeva ceremony:

CLICK HERE FOR LINK