The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Ingathering, is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals in the Jewish calendar, alongside Passover and the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). This festival is rich in historical, agricultural, and theological significance, and it is observed in the fall, beginning on the 15th day of the seventh month, Tishri, according to the Hebrew calendar. It lasts for seven days, with an additional eighth day known as Shemini Atzeret.

Biblical Foundation

The Feast of Tabernacles is instituted in the Torah, where it is described as a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the harvest. In Leviticus 23:33-43, the LORD commands Moses to instruct the Israelites: "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it continues for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; you are not to do any regular work. For seven days you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day, you are to hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you are not to do any regular work" (Leviticus 23:34-36).

The festival is also referred to as the Feast of Ingathering in Exodus 23:16: "You are to celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the produce from what you sow in the field, and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather your produce from the field" . This highlights its agricultural aspect, marking the end of the harvest season.

Historical and Theological Significance

The Feast of Tabernacles commemorates the Israelites' 40-year journey in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. During this time, they lived in temporary shelters, or booths, which is why the festival is also called Sukkot, meaning "booths" in Hebrew. Leviticus 23:42-43 instructs: "You are to live in booths for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must live in booths, so that your descendants may know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God" .

Theologically, the Feast of Tabernacles is a time of joy and celebration, reflecting God's provision and protection. It is a reminder of God's faithfulness and His presence among His people. Deuteronomy 16:13-15 emphasizes the joy of the festival: "You are to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates. For seven days you are to celebrate this feast to the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete" .

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned in the context of Jesus' ministry. John 7:2-14 describes Jesus attending the festival in Jerusalem, where He taught in the temple courts. This event underscores the continued observance of the feast during the Second Temple period and highlights its significance in Jewish religious life.

The Feast of Tabernacles also holds eschatological importance, as it is seen as a foreshadowing of the Messianic age and the ingathering of all nations to worship the LORD. Zechariah 14:16-19 prophesies that all nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in the future kingdom, emphasizing its universal significance.

Contemporary Observance

Today, the Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated by Jewish communities worldwide, with practices including the building of sukkot (temporary booths) and the waving of the lulav and etrog (palm, myrtle, willow branches, and citron). It remains a time of joy, reflection, and gratitude for God's provision and protection throughout history.Exodus 23:16,17
And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you have sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when you have gathered in your labors out of the field.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

At the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple.
... The Jews called it Chanukkah, dedication' or consecration ... Like the Feast of Tabernacles,
it commemorated a ... wilderness; it was another harvest-feast, and pointed ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xiv at the feast.htm

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
... Hence the seventh or last day of the Feast was also called that of ... the booths' were
removed; and the peculiar rites of the Feast of Tabernacles no longer ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in the last.htm

The Consecration of Joy
... led to the women's court, chanted the fifteen so-called 'songs of ... that crowd of
'happy palmers' as joyously celebrating the true feast of tabernacles in the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the consecration of joy.htm

Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's ...
... fact that in the Samaritan Chronicle the place is called Iskar, which ... least remained
over, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles, which followed ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xv the location of.htm

The First Day in Passion-Week - Palm-Sunday - the Royal Entry into ...
... welcome of visitors or kings, [5075] and not distinctive of the Feast of Tabernacles. ...
be remembered, it formed the last Psalm in what was called the Hallel ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i the first day.htm

The Journey to Jerusalem - Chronological Arrangement of the Last ...
... But now the Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. ... in the Temple, and especially at this
Feast which pointed ... point of view, it can scarcely be called unreasonable. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the journey to.htm

The Last Journey from Galilee
... Himself publicly to the people at the Feast of Tabernacles. ... men of the world, the
so-called great and ... rejected the invitation to the gospel feast heard His ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 53 the last journey.htm

God Rejoicing in the New Creation
... There is one reason why you are called upon to rejoice in it, namely, that you are
a part of it. ... Did you ever pine for the feast of tabernacles, or the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/god rejoicing in the new.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... all the dainties of the heavenly feast, the glories ... And hence charity is called a
treasure, a treasure in the ... and say, 'How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

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