Topical Bible: The Feast of Tabernacles: The People Dwelt in Booths 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. This feast is celebrated from the 15th to the 21st of Tishrei, the seventh month in the Hebrew calendar, and is a time of great rejoicing and thanksgiving for the harvest. It commemorates the Israelites' 40-year journey in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, during which they lived in temporary shelters or booths.

Biblical Foundation

The command to observe the Feast of Tabernacles is found in Leviticus 23:33-43. The LORD instructed Moses to tell the Israelites: "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days" (Leviticus 23:34). The festival is marked by the construction of booths, or sukkot, which are temporary structures made from branches and leaves. These booths serve as a reminder of the fragile dwellings the Israelites inhabited during their wilderness wanderings.

The purpose of dwelling in booths is explicitly stated in Leviticus 23:42-43: "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" . This practice serves as a tangible reminder of God's provision and protection during a time of vulnerability and dependence on Him.

Historical and Cultural Significance

The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of joy and celebration, reflecting the abundance of the harvest and God's faithfulness. It is a festival that emphasizes community, as families and friends gather to share meals and fellowship in their sukkot. The temporary nature of the booths symbolizes the transient nature of life and the reliance on God's eternal promises.

In addition to its agricultural significance, the Feast of Tabernacles holds eschatological importance. It points forward to the ultimate gathering of God's people and the establishment of His kingdom. The prophet Zechariah speaks of a future time when all nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, highlighting its universal significance (Zechariah 14:16-19).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned in the Gospel of John. Jesus attended the feast in Jerusalem, where He taught in the temple courts. During the feast, He proclaimed, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him’" (John 7:37-38). This declaration connects the themes of the feast with the spiritual sustenance and salvation offered through Christ.

Contemporary Observance

Today, the Feast of Tabernacles is observed by Jewish communities worldwide, and it continues to be a time of joy, reflection, and gratitude. Many Christians also recognize the feast as a time to remember God's faithfulness and to anticipate the fulfillment of His promises. The construction of sukkot and the celebration of God's provision serve as enduring symbols of faith and hope in the lives of believers.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 23:42
You shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 8:15,16
And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth to the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

At the Feast of Tabernacles
... of their tent life, the Israelites during the feast dwelt in booths or tabernacles
of green ... these leafy dwellings, and seemed to be alive with people. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 49 at the feast.htm

In Jerusalem when Herod Reigned
... had gone so far, in his attempts to Grecianise the people, as to ... in every street,
court, and housetop rose the booths at the Feast of Tabernacles, and at ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i in jerusalem when.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... He was still amusing himself with this ignoble intrigue during the year ... Bactrians,
Indians, Parthians, Arians, Arachosians, Armenians, and the people from Susa ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm