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Feast of Tabernacles (Booths)

Illustration of Feast of Tabernacles (Booths)

During the Feast of Tabernacles the children of Israel constructed temporary booths and dwelt in them for seven days in the seventh month, recalling how the Lord sheltered them amid the wilderness wanderings after their deliverance from Egypt. This joyful observance, the most celebratory of the annual feasts, highlighted God's faithful provision of food, water, and guidance throughout their journey, while pointing ahead to the time when He would dwell permanently among His redeemed people. In the days of Nehemiah the people renewed this feast with great gladness, and the Savior later used its imagery of living water to invite all who thirst to come unto Him.

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Details

Category
Fall Feasts
Hebrew Name
Sukkot
Timing
15th-21st of Tishri (September/October)
Calendar
Tishri, 15th-21st
Season
Fall
Observance
Dwell in booths for seven days, wave palm branches, water-pouring ceremony, torch-lighting ceremony, great rejoicing.

Significance

Celebrates God's provision and presence during the wilderness journey. The most joyful feast, looking forward to God dwelling permanently with His people.

New Testament Fulfillment

Jesus may have been born during Tabernacles (God tabernacling among us). Points to the Millennium when God dwells with humanity. On the last great day, Jesus offered living water.

Key Passages

The Command

Leviticus 23:33-43

A33nd the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. 35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. 37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: 38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. 39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. 40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: 43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Living Water

John 7:37-39

I37n the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

God Dwells With Man

Revelation 21:3-4

A3nd I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Nehemiah's Celebration

Nehemiah 8:14-17

A14nd they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:

15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto 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. 16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

Did You Know?

1

Families lived in temporary shelters (booths) for 7 days. Remembering the wilderness wandering.

2

Jesus was likely born during Tabernacles, not December. 'the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.'

3

On the last day of this feast, Jesus stood and cried 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.'

4

This is the only feast that will be celebrated in the Millennium (Zechariah 14:16).