Chapter 8
The Feast of Tabernacles
סֻכּוֹת
Sukkot · soo-KOHT
Key 8: God Dwells with Humanity
At a Glance
- Meaning
- Booths; also called the Feast of Ingathering
- When
- 15 to 21 Tishrei
- Duration
- Seven days; the first day is a holy convocation
- Key Scriptures
- Leviticus 23:33-43; Deuteronomy 16:13-15; John 7:37-39
Preparing live dates...
Dates follow Israel observance, with times at Jerusalem astronomical sunset.
What Scripture Says
Leviticus 23:34 (NKJV)
"The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD."
Five days after the Day of Atonement, the most solemn day of the year, came the most joyful.
Leviticus 23:42-43 (NKJV)
"that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt"
For seven days Israel lived in temporary shelters, remembering the wilderness years when God sheltered and fed them.
Leviticus 23:40 (NKJV)
"and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days."
Israel was commanded to take the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and to rejoice.
Deuteronomy 16:13-15 (NKJV)
"so that you surely rejoice."
Tabernacles was the joy of the completed harvest, shared with sons and daughters, servants, Levites, strangers, the fatherless, and widows (Deuteronomy 16:14).
Exodus 23:16 (NKJV)
"and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field."
It marked the final gathering of the year's harvest, the fruit and grapes of late summer and fall.
Deuteronomy 31:10-12 (NKJV)
"you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing."
Every seventh year, at Tabernacles, the whole Law was to be read aloud to men, women, children, and the stranger.
Zechariah 14:16 (NKJV)
"shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles."
Zechariah foresaw the nations that once came against Jerusalem going up every year to keep this feast.
In the Tabernacle and Temple
The offerings of Tabernacles were the largest of the year. On the first day the priests offered thirteen young bulls, then one fewer each day, down to seven on the seventh day: seventy bulls in all, along with rams, lambs, and goats (Numbers 29:12-34). The Talmud links the seventy bulls to the seventy nations listed in Genesis 10, understanding them as offerings on behalf of all the nations of the world.
King Solomon dedicated the first Temple at this feast, in the seventh month, and the glory of the LORD filled the house (1 Kings 8:2, 10-11; 2 Chronicles 5:3, 13-14). After the exile, the people built booths on their rooftops and in their courtyards, "And there was very great gladness" (Nehemiah 8:14-17).
In the Days of Jesus of Nazareth
By the first century, two ceremonies marked the feast in the Temple. Each morning a priest drew water from the Pool of Siloam and poured it out at the altar with great rejoicing. The Mishnah says that whoever has not seen the rejoicing of the water-drawing has never seen rejoicing in his life. At night, great golden lampstands were lit in the Court of the Women, and their light was said to fill every courtyard in Jerusalem.
John records that Jesus went up to Jerusalem at this feast (John 7:2, 10). "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink'" (John 7:37). John explains that He spoke of the Spirit whom believers would receive (John 7:39). Soon after, still in the Temple, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).
At the Transfiguration, Peter offered to build three tabernacles: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah (Matthew 17:4).
Jewish Observance Today
Sukkot is one of the most joyful times of the Jewish year. In Israel it lasts seven days, with the first day a full holy day and the rest intermediate days, followed immediately by Shemini Atzeret.
The sukkah
Families build a booth with a roof of branches or leaves, open enough to see the stars. Meals are eaten in it, and some sleep in it.The four species
The lulav (a palm branch bound with myrtle and willow) and the etrog (a citron) are held together and waved in every direction during prayers, following Leviticus 23:40.Hallel and Hoshanot
Psalms of praise (Psalms 113-118) are sung, and worshipers circle the synagogue with the four species, praying "Hoshana," save us.Hoshana Rabbah
On the seventh day, worshipers circle seven times and beat willow branches on the ground.Ushpizin
By tradition, the patriarchs and other biblical figures are symbolically welcomed into the sukkah as guests, one each night.Water-drawing celebrations
In Israel, public celebrations recall the water-drawing rejoicing of the Temple.
Fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth
Each connection is labeled: what the New Testament states directly, and what Christians interpret from the patterns of Scripture.
Living Water
Stated in the New Testament
On the last great day of the feast, Jesus offered living water to anyone who was thirsty and spoke of the Spirit (John 7:37-39).
The Light of the World
Stated in the New TestamentTheological interpretation
Jesus declared, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). John places the saying in the Temple treasury (John 8:20), during the days around the feast. That setting is stated; the link to the great lamps of the feast is an interpretation.
He Tabernacled Among Us
Stated in the New TestamentTheological interpretation
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The Greek word for dwelt means pitched His tent. John uses tabernacle language for the incarnation; seeing a link to this feast is an interpretation.
The Tabernacle of God with Men
Stated in the New Testament
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people" (Revelation 21:3).
Palm Branches and Hosanna
Theological interpretation
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds "took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: 'Hosanna!'" (John 12:13), the prayer of Psalm 118 sung at Tabernacles. In Revelation, "a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues" stands before the throne "with palm branches in their hands" (Revelation 7:9). Many see Tabernacles imagery in both scenes.
Born at Tabernacles?
Theological interpretation
Some suggest that Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, based on calculations from Luke 1. Scripture does not give the date of His birth, so this remains speculation.
The Key to Humanity
God Dwells with Humanity
The Bible's story begins with God walking with humanity in a garden and ends with God dwelling among humanity in a city. In between, sin drove us out, and God came looking for us. He dwelt with Israel in a tent in the wilderness. In Jesus of Nazareth, the Word "became flesh and dwelt among us." And the final vision of Scripture is a voice from heaven: "the tabernacle of God is with men" (Revelation 21:3). Tabernacles is the most joyful feast because it pictures the end of the story. Zechariah saw all nations coming to keep it, and Revelation saw a multitude from every nation holding palm branches before the throne. Tabernacles is the key that tells humanity where history is going: home, with God, forever.
Seventh-day Adventist View
Seventh-day Adventists see the Feast of Tabernacles as pointing to the final harvest at Christ's return and to God dwelling with His redeemed people in the earth made new (Revelation 21:1-3). Adventist teaching links the joy of the ingathering with the end of the great controversy between good and evil. Adventists do not keep it as an annual feast.
Hebrew Words to Know
סֻכָּה
Sukkah
A booth or temporary shelter; plural sukkot.
לוּלָב
Lulav
A palm branch, bound with myrtle and willow.
מִשְׁכָּן
Mishkan
The tabernacle; the dwelling place of God.
Questions for Reflection
- 1.Israel left solid homes to live in fragile booths for a week. What does that teach about where real security comes from?
- 2.Tabernacles came five days after the Day of Atonement. Why does joy follow repentance and forgiveness?
- 3.Jesus offered living water to anyone who was thirsty. What are you thirsty for?
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.