With sacred song and thanksgiving the worshipers celebrated this occasion. A little before the feast was the Day of Atonement, when, after confession of their sins, the people were declared to be at peace with Heaven. Thus the way was prepared for the rejoicing of the feast. "O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever" (Ps. 106:1) rose triumphantly, while all kinds of music, mingled with shouts of hosanna, accompanied the united singing. The temple was the center of the universal joy. Here was the pomp of the sacrificial ceremonies. Here, ranged on either side of the white marble steps of the sacred building, the choir of Levites led the service of song. The multitude of worshipers, waving their branches of palm and myrtle, took up the strain, and echoed the chorus; and again the melody was caught up by voices near and afar off, till the encircling hills were vocal with praise.

Tempelgæsterne fejrede denne begivenhed med lovsange og taksigelser. Kort tid før denne højtid fejredes forsoningsdagen, hvor folket efter at have bekendt deres synder blev erklærede for at have fred med Gud. På denne måde var vejen banet for en glædesfest. "Lov Herren,thi han er god, og hans miskundhed varer evindelig!" (Sl. 106, 1) lød med sejrsklang medens alle slags musik, blandet med hosiannaråb, ledsagede den fælles sang. Templet var midtpunktet for den almindelige glæde. Her foregik offerceremonierne med al deres pragt. Her ledede levitternes kor, der stod opstillet på begge sider af den hvide marmortrappe op til den hellige bygning, gudstjenestens sang. De mange tempelgæster, der svang deres palme og myrtegrene, faldt ind i melodien og sang med i korene, og atter blev tonen opfanget af stemmer fjern og nær, indtil bjergene rundt omkring genlød af lovsang.