Topical Bible: The Feast of Tabernacles: Sacrifices During

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot or the Feast of Booths, is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals in the Jewish calendar, as outlined in the Torah. It is celebrated from the 15th to the 22nd day of the seventh month, Tishrei, and is a time of great rejoicing and thanksgiving for the harvest. The festival commemorates the Israelites' 40-year journey in the wilderness, living in temporary shelters, and God's provision during that time.

Biblical Instructions for Sacrifices

The sacrificial offerings during the Feast of Tabernacles are detailed in the Book of Numbers. Each day of the festival involves specific sacrifices, which are unique in their number and composition compared to other feasts. The instructions are found in Numbers 29:12-38.

Daily Sacrifices

1. First Day: "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work. You are to celebrate a feast to the LORD for seven days. Present as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD: thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished." (Numbers 29:12-13)

2. Second Day: The offerings include twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, along with their grain and drink offerings.

3. Third Day: Eleven young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, with their respective grain and drink offerings.

4. Fourth Day: Ten young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, with the accompanying offerings.

5. Fifth Day: Nine young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, with their grain and drink offerings.

6. Sixth Day: Eight young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, with the prescribed offerings.

7. Seventh Day: Seven young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, with their grain and drink offerings.

8. Eighth Day: "On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you must not do any regular work. Present as a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished." (Numbers 29:35-36)

Additional Offerings

In addition to the daily burnt offerings, each day also required a sin offering of one male goat. These offerings were made alongside the regular burnt offerings and their grain and drink offerings, as specified in the Mosaic Law.

Symbolism and Significance

The sacrifices during the Feast of Tabernacles are rich in symbolism. The decreasing number of bulls offered each day may symbolize the diminishing of sin or the progressive sanctification of the people. The consistent number of rams and lambs emphasizes the need for continual atonement and dedication to God. The sin offering of a male goat each day underscores the necessity of purification and repentance.

The Feast of Tabernacles, with its elaborate sacrificial system, highlights the themes of thanksgiving, divine provision, and the anticipation of God's ultimate dwelling with His people. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the call for His people to live in obedience and gratitude.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 23:36,37
Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation to you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and you shall do no servile work therein.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 29:13-39
And you shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet smell to the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

At the Feast of Tabernacles - First Discourse in the Temple
... the deep blue canopy over head, the smoke of the burning, smouldering sacrifices
rose in ... Truly, well might Israel designate the Feast of Tabernacles as the ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi at the feast.htm

Teaching in the Temple on the Octave of the Feast of Tabernacles.
... as follows: (1) During the seven days of Tabernacles the Priests ... and by special
ordinances, as a separate feast ({hebrew ... 4) Difference in the sacrifices ({hebrew ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii teaching in the.htm

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
... 48 a). The sacrifices for that occasion were quite different from those for
Tabernacles;' the booths ... and the peculiar rites of the Feast of Tabernacles no ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in the last.htm

The Consecration of Joy
... The eighth day was marked as no part of the feast proper, by the number of sacrifices
offered on it, dropping to one bullock ... The feast of tabernacles was the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the consecration of joy.htm

The Sacred Officers and Sacred Occasions.
... (Num.10:10) and were celebrated by sacrifices. (Num.28:11-15). ... (5) The Feast of
Tabernacles, October 15, lasting a week. ... (7) The Feast of Purim, March 14 and 15. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iii the sacred officers.htm

Appendix x. On the Supposed Temple-Synagogue.
... the first night of the Feast of Tabernacles, the pious ... house of water drawing"'
(the night-feast and services ... the place of the Services and Sacrifices of the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix x on the supposed.htm

The Temple and Its Dedication
... Then king and people offered sacrifices before the Lord. ... The week following was
spent by the happy throng in observing the Feast of Tabernacles. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm

Altar and Temple
... was the commencement of the great festival of tabernacles, the most joyous feast
of the year ... to the dignity, though there could be no sacrifices in Babylon ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/altar and temple.htm

The Journey to Jerusalem - Chronological Arrangement of the Last ...
... But now the Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. ... would require time, especially on this
Feast, when booths ... the common practice to offer such sacrifices as might ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the journey to.htm

John Chapter vii. 13-Jan
... law, what things they did, whether in sacrifices, or in ... in secret: He was in the
feast of tabernacles, but there ... is, when as many days of that feast had passed ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxviii john chapter vii.htm