Related words

• The feast
• Feast of Booths
• Feast of Tents
• The Ingathering
• Sukkot

Additional Info

Given 1400 years before Jesus was born.

• Many believe Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles because it is the only time in history when all the “signs” lined up perfectly.

Tabernacle: God rested on the lid of the Ark of the Witness

• It was where the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night could be seen.
• The people God told to observe the feast of tabernacle was a mixture of Israelites, Egyptians, people who had joined them as they traved, etc.
• It was a “tent of meeting” as it was called or “the place appointed to meet with the Lord.”

All of God’s appointed times represent something from the past, present and future as it relates to God’s timings:

• Old Covenant: It symbolized that God lovingly took care of them in the wilderness
• New Covenant: It symbolizes Emmanual with us - Jesus came to dwell among us and the upcoming millennial rign of Jesus on earth.
• Future rest: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.

A time when all the nations gather and build temporary booths and stay in it to be reminded of the journey their forefather’s took.

It’s about community, bringing in others, share God’s goodness.

Jesus observed the Feast of Tabernacles. He did not observe the birthday of the Sun god was on the 25th during his time.

The disciples all observed the Feast of Tabernacles

Paul observed the Feast of Tabernacles.

The early church observed it all the way until around 500 years after Jesus observed his last Feast of Tabernacles.

Jesus spoke the parable about the rich man who did the wedding as a picture of the Feast of Tabernacles.

The wedding feast of the lamb is pointed to by feast of tabernacles.

We are now tabernacling in this flesh and blood, temporary dwellers in this land. We are an emboded spirit clothed in a temporary dwelling place.

Emmanual - And the word became flesh and tabernacled among us.

The feasts lay out God’s plan of salvation.

When the Feast of Tabernacles is fulfilled, he will once again fill the creation with his presence. The sun will never set on the Seventh Day rest. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their array. - Genesis 2

You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 23

All the nations will go up year after year to worship the King and to keep the Feast of Booths (Zechariah 14 )

Some Messianic Jews believe Yehoshua/Jesus was born during this time.

• Born six months after John (Luke 1 :23-27)
• And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (Literal Greek of John 1 :14):14)

“In that day I will raise up the booth [Sukkot] of David that is fallen and repair its breaches,  and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations [Goyim - non Jewish] who are called by my name,” declares the Lord who does this. Amos 9

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2

17 And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them. 18 And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain;[a] there shall be the plague with which the Lord afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. 19 This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. Zech 14

Christians choose to celebrate only Christmas instead, missing out on the message of the second coming.

• The Israelites had nothing as they traveled in the wilderness, but God provided for them. He was all they needed. He made his presence among His people.
• God has provided for us. He sent Jesus so He could make His presence known in us.
• One day, we will be in his presence when His Kingdom Comes!

The Time of Our Rejoicing - Celebrating YHWH’s Presence, Provision, and Protection.

• The Glory in the first temple, that was in the tabernacle, that was in the the wilderness, has been restored in the person of Yehoshua/Jesus. It celebrates the Kingdom.
• The 7th Holiday, in the 7th month, lasts for 7 days. 7=completion

Hebrew Scriptures / Old Testament

Exodus 19 : 16-19

• God rested on mount Sinai - he dwelled on the mountain.

Exodus 23 :16

• Three annual festivals - Tabernacles is referred to here as the Festival of Ingathering .
• At the end of the year
• When you gather your crops
• All the men must appear before the Lord

Exodus 34 :22

• The New Tables of Testimony were given. The festivals were listed as part of making a covenant. It is referred to as the Festival of Ingathering .
• at the turn of the year.
• all men appear before the Lord

Exodus 40 :34

• Once God takes up residence in the tabernacle, Israel is now supposed to orient the whole of their lives around the reality of God’s presence there.

Leviticus 23

• Listing of appointed times. Remember that I put you in the booths when I led you out of Egypt.
• Begins on the fifteenth day of the seventh month
• first day sacred assembly
  • do no work
  • after you have gathered the crops of the land
  • take branches from luxuriant trees - palms, willows, and other leafy trees and rejoice before the Lord for seven days.
    • Jewish tradition:
      • Myrtle reiminds of the high and rocky places as they travelled through the wilderness - God is with you.
      • Willow reminds of the dryness of the land - God provides water
      • Palm - reminds of the lowest valleys - God never leaves
      • We are all on a journey - the whole world is camping on our way to our forever home.
      • Waving of the branches
        • up - Lord is King of all heaven
        • down - Lord is King of all earth
        • toward ourselves - Lord is king of all our lives
        • All around - journey with joy of the Lord - who is in all our tents - we are the tabernacles.
          For seven days present food offering (each day)
          Burnt offerings
          grain offerings
          sacrifices
          drink offerings
          in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths
          in addition to your gifts
          in addition to whatever you vowed
          in addition to all the freewill offerings
          On eighth day
          hold sacred assembly
          present food offerings
          It is a closing special assembly
          Do no regular work
          Lasting ordience for gernerations to come
          Live in temporary shelters
          for seven days
          all native-born Israelites

Numbers 15 :13-14

• Generations to come, whenever a foreigner or anyone else living among you presents a food offering they must do exactly as you do.
• The community is to have the same rules for you and the foreigner residing among you.
• You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord.
• Same laws and regulations apply to you and the foregner residing among you.

Numbers 29

• Appointed times listed
• fifteenth day of the seventh month
• sacred assembly
• do no regular work
• celebrate for seven ndays
• present a food offering
  • burnt offering
  • grain offering
  • sin offering
  • in addition to regular buring offering with grain and drink
• Second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh days
  • offerings
  • grain and drink offering
  • sin offering
  • in addition to regular burnt offering with it’s grain and drink offering
• Eigth days
  • closing special assembly
  • do no regular work
  • Present food offering
    • burnt offering with grain and drink offering
    • Sin offering
    • in addition to regular burnt offering with grain and drink offering
    • in addition to what you vow
    • in addition to your free will offering

Deuteronomy 16

• Appointed times listed.
• Seven days AFTER you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress.
• be joyful at your festival
• everyone ... the foreigners who live in your towns.
• Seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord at the place the Lord will choose.
• All men must appear at the place the Lord chooses every year
• Do not appear empty handed. Bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord has blessed you.

Deuteronomy 31:10

• Come back to the word of God.
• At the end of every seven years, during the Festival of Tabernacles red this law so that they will hear, learn, and fear the Lord your God.

1 Kings 8 :1-4

• 440 years from Deuteronomy 16

2 Chronicles 1

• This was during the feast of tabernacles

Ezra 3 and Nehamiah 8 & Nehamiah 9

• the focus of the celebration was the word of God, it was the centerpiece of what people gathered around which brought a revival.
• They met before the water gate.
• About 400 years later, Jesus would stand in the very same square near the water gate and shout out on the Feast of tabernacle, who ever thirst will come to me and out of me will flow living waters John 7 .
  • This is significant because through the water gate on the 7th day of the feast, the high priest and a parade of people would go down to the creek and bring back pitchers of water through the water gate and pour it out as a symbol of God cleansing the earth.
  • Water symbolizes the Ruach / Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 7 :14

• and shall call him Immanuel (Shmo Immanue El) - God is with us
• Interesting commentary on this verse: Immanuel - Bible Meaning and Definition "God with Us" (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/immanuel/)

Isaiah 33 :20

• Zion, city of festivals. Jerusalem, a peaceful above, a tabernacle that will not be moved, it’s stakes will never be pulled up, nor and of it’s ropes broken. Ties with Revelation 7 , John saw no dwelling place, God was the dwelling place.

Isaiah 49 :10 - John 7 - Revelation 7

• they will neither hunger nor thirst
• nor desert heat or sun beat down on them
• He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of living water

Micah 4

• Points us to the time when Jesus will be king of the entire earth. Sukkot reminds us their is an eternal home, Messiah is coming back.
• In the last days
  • Lord’s temple established as highest mountain,
  • people will stream to it
  • Many nations will come
• In that day
  • gathers lamb, exciles, grieving
• for now many nations gather against them
  • gathered like sheaves to the threshing floor

Zechariah 14

• pictures the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles. A day of the Lord is coming Jerusalem
• posessions plundered and divided within walls
• God will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight AGAINST Jerusalem
• city will be captured, ransacked, women raped
• half city will go into exile
• God will go out fight against those nations on a day of battle.
  • feet on Mount of Olives
  • Mount of Olives will split in two
    • forming great valley, mountains north and south
• Jerusalem will flee by God’s mountain valley
  • as fled from earthquake in days of Uzziah
• The the Lord will come and all the holy ones with him
  • No sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness
  • Unique day - known only to the Lord
  • no distinction between day and night
  • evening comes - still ight
• Living water flow out of Jerusalem
  • half east of dead sea
  • half west of Mediterranean sea
  • in summer and winter
• Lord will be king over the whole earth
  • one Lord
  • his name the only name
• Jerusalem raised from the Benjamin Gate to the First Gate, to the Corner Gate and from the Tower to Hananel to the royal winepresses and will remain in its place
  • inhabited, never again it be destroyed
  • Jerusalem secure
• Lord will stike all nations that fought against Jerusalem
  • plague
  • flesh will rotw while they stand
  • eyes rot out of sockets
  • tongues rot in their mouths
  • Great panic
    • seize each other and attacke
  • Judah will fight at Jerusalem
  • wealth of surrounding nations collected
    • gold, silver, and clothing
  • Plague will strike horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all animals in those camps.
  • survivors will go up year after yar to worship the King, Lord Almighty and celebrate the Feastival of Tabernacles.
    • Any do not go
      • will have no rain
      • plague will be brought on them
      • will be punishment
• “On that day holy to the Lord” will be inscribed on the bells of the horses
• Cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like sacred bowls in front of the altar
• Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be h]oly to the Lord
• All who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them.
• No longer be an Canaanite in the house of the Lord

At that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly ... seven more days. On the Eight day he sent the people away; and they blessed the King.

The festival that sealed the Temple’s dedication was the Feast of Tabernacles. Sukkot.

Second Writings / New Testament

Matthew 1 :23

• The virgin will conceive and gie birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel SHMO IMMANU-EL

Matthew 7 :21-29

• Not everyone who says Lord Lord will enter
  • many will say we prophesy, drive out demons, perform miracles
  • I will say I never knew you - away from me evildoers
  • everyone who hears and does not practices
• only one who does the will of the Father will enter
  • who hears these words and practices them

Matthew 17 Transfiguration (Mark 9 and Luke 9 )

• Peter wanted to build three sukkots - for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah

Matthew 22 Wedding Banquet King for Son (Luke 14 )

• Sent servants to invite - invitees refused to come
• Sent more servants to invite - invitees paid no attention
  • went off to fields
  • went off to business
  • went off to try out oxen
  • couldn’t come just got married
  • seized servants and mistreated and killed them
• King was enraged
  • sent army and destroyed the murders
  • burned their city
  • no one invited will get to taste the banquet
• Sent servants to the street corners to invite
  • gathered all the people they could find
  • bad as well as good
  • brought in poor
  • brought in crippled
  • brought in blind
  • brought in lame
  • wedding hall was filled with guests
• King came to sese guests
  • noticed man not wearing wedding clothes
  • told attendants to tie him up and trhow him outside
    • into the darkness
    • weeping and gnashing of teeth
• Many invited, few were chosen

Luke 12 - Watch

• be dressed ready for service, lamps burning
• servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet
  • when he knocks immediately open the door
  • good for those servants watching
    • he will serve them
  • even if he comes in the middle of the night ir toward day break
• be ready, the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect
• Managers
  • be like faithful and wise manager
    • good master finds doing so when he returns
    • put in charge of all possessions
  • Unfaithful and foolish manager
    • beats the other servants
    • eat and drink and get drunk
    • master comes on day unexpected
    • master coms at an hour manager unaware of
    • Master cuts manager to pieces and assign him a place with unbelievers
    • beaten with many blows
  • one not knowing but does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.
    • everyone given much, much demanded, much more will be asked.

John 1 :14 Literal Translation

• And the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us, and we saw his esteem, esteem as of an only brought-forth of a father, complete in favour and truth.
• And the Dvar Hashem took on gufaniyut (corporeality) and made his sukkah, his Mishkan (Tabernacle) among us
• Those at that time would have known exactly what John was trying to convey. They would have very quickly recalled the Tabernacle of Moses and the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.

John 5 - Bethesda healing on Feast of Tabernacles

• Near Sheep gate - pool of Bethesda
• Blind, lame, paralyzed lie there
• Man, invalide for 38 years
  • Jesus told him pick up mat and walk
  • later Jesus told him stop sinning or something worse will happen to you
• Jewish leaders
  • It’s a Sabbath day
  • Against law to carry mat
• Day to come
  • All i n graves will hear voice and come out
  • those who have done good will rise to live
  • those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

John 7 Jesus at Festival of Tabernacles

• Jesus was going around in Galilee
  • not in Judea - Jewish leaders looking to kill him there
  • Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near
• Brothers told Jesus leave Galilee and go to Judea
  • so disciples will see his works
  • no one who wants to become public acts in secret
  • show yourself to the world
  • brothers did not believe in him
• Jesus responded
  • My time is not yet - for you any time will do
  • the world cannot hate you - hates me I testify about evil works
  • You go to the festival - I am not
    • because time has not yet come
    • he stayed in Galilee (78 miles/24 hours walking)
  • after brothers left, he went secretly
• At the festival
  • Jewish leaders were watching and asking about him
  • the crowd
    • some said he was a good man
    • some said he deceived the people
    • no one said anything publicly for fear of the leaders
    • when asked why they were trying to kill him, they said he was demon possessed and no one was trying to kill him
• Half was through the festival
  • Jesus went up to the temple courts
  • began to teach
  • Jews were amazed because he was not taught
  • Jesus replied:
    • My teaching not my own
    • comes from one who sent me
    • anyone who chooosed to do the will of God will find out if my teaching comes from God or I speak on my own
      • Whoever speaks on their own it is for personal glory
      • Woeer seeks glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth - nothing false in him
    • Moses gave you the law - but not one of you keeps it
    • Why are you trying to kill me?
    • One miracle and you are all amazed
      • Moses gave you circumcision through the patriarchs - you circumcise on the Sabbath
      • why angry at me for healing a man’s body on Sabbath (John 5)
    • Stop juding by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.
• On last day of festival
  • Jesus stood and said in loud voice
    • Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink
    • Whoever blieves in me, as Scritpure has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them
      • by this he meant the spirit, whom those who believed in him would later receive
      • the spirit had not come since jesus had not yet been glorified.
• Ezra and Nehamiah 8 & Nehamiah 9
  • the focus of the celebration was the word of God, it was the centerpiece of what people gathered around which brought a revival. They met before the water gate. About 400 years later, Jesus would stand in the very same square near the water gate and shout out on the Feast of tabernacle, who ever thirst will come to me and out of me will flow living waters John 7 . This is significant because through the water gate on the 7th day of the feast, the high priest and a parade of people would go down to the creek and bring back pitchers of water through the water gate and pour it out as a symbol of God cleansing the earth.

Revelation 7

• He who sits on the thrown will tabernacle them with his presence
  • those who have come out of the great tribulation
  • who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb
• ever will they hunger or thirst
  • the lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd
  • he will lead them to springs of living water

Revelation 19

• Heard sounded like great multitude, like roar of rishing water - loud peals of thinder: shouting
  • rejoice - wedding of the lamb has come
  • bride made herself ready - fine linen, bright and clean
    • fine linen - righteous acts of God’s holy people
• Angel said write this:
  • Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.
  • These are the true words of God
• White Horse - rider Faithful and Ture
  • Dressed in robe dipped in blood,
  • his name is the Word of God
  • Out of mouth sharp sword to strike down the nations
  • On his robe and his thigh written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords
• Armies of heaven following him
  • riding on white horses
  • dressed in fine linen, white and clean
• Messenger standing in sun
  • Cried in loud voice to all the birds flying in midair
    • Come gather together for the great supper of God
    • so you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small
• Beast and Kings of the Earth
  • armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army
    • killed by the sword
    • all the birds gorged on their flesh
  • beast was captured
    • with the false prophet

Revelation 21 :3

• First heaven and earth passed away
• saw new heaven and new earth
• no sea
• Holy city - New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God
  • prepared as a bride beautifully dressed
• Loud voice from the throne
  • Look! God’s tabernacle is now among the people
  • He will dwell with them
  • They will be his people
  • God himself with be with them and be their God

Christians Celebrate Feast of Tabernacles

• Tabernacles is a week-long festival. It occurs from Wednesday, Tishrei 15 through Tuesday, Tishrei 21.

• St. Jerome (PL 25, 1529 & 1536-7) speaking of how the Judaeo-Christians celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles…tells us that they gave the feast a millenarian significance (Bagatti, Bellarmino. Translated by Eugene Hoade. The Church from the Circumcision. Nihil obstat: Marcus Adinolfi. Imprimi potest: Herminius Roncari. Imprimatur: +Albertus Gori, die 26 Junii 1970. Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, p.202).

• In the days of unleavened bread Paul, coming down from Galatia, arrived in Asia, considering the repose among the faithful in Smyrna to be a great refreshment in Christ Jesus after his severe toil, and intending afterwards to depart to Jerusalem. So in Smyrna he went to visit Strataeas, who had been his hearer in Pamphylia, being a son of Eunice the daughter of Lois. These are they of whom he makes mention when writing to Timothy, saying; Of the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice;whence we find that Strataeas was a brother of Timothy. Paul then, entering his house and gathering together the faithful there, speaks to them concerning the Passover and the Pentecost, reminding them of the New Covenant of the offering of bread and the cup; how that they ought most assuredly to celebrate it during the days of unleavened bread, but to hold fast the new mystery of the Passion and Resurrection. For here the Apostle plainly teaches that we ought neither to keep it outside the season of unleavened bread, as the heretics do, especially the Phrygians…but named the days of unleavened bread, the Passover, and the Pentecost, thus ratifying the Gospel (Pionius. Life of Polycarp , Chapter 2. Translated by J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, 1889, pp.488-506).

• What must one say, when even He that was gentler than all men so appeals and cries out at the feast of Tabernacles? For it is written; And on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, If any man thirsteth, let him come to Me and drink(Chapter 19).

• And on the sabbath, when prayer had been made long time on bended knee, he, as was his custom, got up to read; and every eye was fixed upon him. Now the lesson was the Epistles of Paul to Timothy and to Titus, in which he says what manner of man a bishop ought to be. And he was so well fitted for the office that the hearers said one to another that he lacked none of those qualities which Paul requires in one who has the care of a church. When then, after the reading and the instruction of the bishops and the discourses of the presbyters, the deacons were sent to the laity to enquire whom they would have, they said with one accord, ‘Let Polycarp be our pastor and teacher’ (Chapter 22).

• And on the following sabbath he said; ‘Hear ye my exhortation, beloved children of God…’ (Chapter 24). - A book called The Life of Polycarp

• Polycrates (http://www.cogwriter.com/polycrates.htm), who was bishop of Ephesus, wrote the following around 195 A.D.:

• We observe the exact day; neither adding, nor taking away. For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the day of the Lord’s coming, when he shall come with glory from heaven, and shall seek out all the saints. Among these are Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who fell asleep in Hierapolis; and his two aged virgin daughters, and another daughter, who lived in the Holy Spirit and now rests at Ephesus; and, moreover, John (https://www.cogwriter.com/john.htm), who was both a witness and a teacher, who reclined upon the bosom of the Lord, and, being a priest, wore the sacerdotal plate. He fell asleep at Ephesus. And Polycarp (https://www.cogwriter.com/polycarp.htm) in Smyrna, who was a bishop and martyr; and Thraseas (https://www.cogwriter.com/thraseas.htm), bishop and martyr from Eumenia, who fell asleep in Smyrna. Why need I mention the bishop and martyr Sagaris (https://www.cogwriter.com/sagaris.htm) who fell asleep in Laodicea, or the blessed Papirius (https://www.cogwriter.com/papirius.htm), or Melito (https://www.cogwriter.com/melito.htm), the Eunuch who lived altogether in the Holy Spirit, and who lies in Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven, when he shall rise from the dead ? All these observed the fourteenth day of the passover (https://www.cogwriter.com/passover.htm) according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven. I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said ‘ We ought to obey God rather than man’…I could mention the bishops who were present, whom I summoned at your desire; whose names, should I write them, would constitute a great multitude. And they, beholding my littleness, gave their consent to the letter, knowing that I did not bear my gray hairs in vain, but had always governed my life by the Lord Jesus (Eusebius. Church History. Book V, Chapter 24).