Three times a year the Jews were required to assemble at Jerusalem for religious purposes. Enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, Israel's invisible Leader had given the directions in regard to these gatherings. During the captivity of the Jews, they could not be observed; but when the people were restored to their own land, the observance of these memorials was once more begun. It was God's design that these anniversaries should call Him to the minds of the people. But with few exceptions, the priests and leaders of the nation had lost sight of this purpose. He who had ordained these national assemblies and understood their significance witnessed their perversion.

Dette kapitel er bygget op over Joh 7,1-15.37-39
Tre gange om året krævedes det af jøderne, at de skulle forsamles i Jerusalem af religiøse årsager. Israels usynlige fører havde, indhyllet i en skystøtte, givet dem anvisninger med hensyn til disse sammenkomster. Under jødernes fangenskab kunne man ikke overholde dem, men da folket atter var vendt tilbage til deres eget land, begyndte man igen på overholdelsen af disse mindehøjtider. Det var Guds tanke, at disse årsfester skulle erindre folket om ham; men med ganske få undtagelser havde præsterne og folkets ledere tabt dette formål af syne. Han, som havde forordnet disse nationale forsamlinger og forstod deres betydning, var vidne til deres forvanskning.