Then Jehu ordered, “Make arrangements for a celebration for Baal.” So they announced it.

“I absolutely despise your festivals! I get no pleasure from your religious assemblies!

Blow the trumpet in Zion. Announce a holy fast; proclaim a sacred assembly!

“‘On the eighth day you are to have a holy assembly; you must do no ordinary work on it.

You must eat bread made without yeast for six days. The seventh day you are to hold an assembly for the Lord your God; you must not do any work on that day.

On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had dedicated the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for seven more days.

Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!

(9:1) I wish I had a lodging place in the desert where I could spend some time like a weary traveler. Then I would desert my people and walk away from them because they are all unfaithful to God, a congregation of people that has been disloyal to him.

Announce a holy fast; proclaim a sacred assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the temple of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.

For seven days you must present a gift to the Lord. On the eighth day there is to be a holy assembly for you, and you must present a gift to the Lord. It is a solemn assembly day; you must not do any regular work.

Ezra read in the book of the law of God day by day, from the first day to the last. They observed the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly as was required.