Feast of Tabernacles(feast of ingathering)
“Feast of Booths (from sukkah, booth or tent)”
Summary
The third great annual festival of Israel, also called the Feast of Ingathering, celebrated for seven days in autumn by dwelling in booths, commemorating the wilderness wanderings and giving thanks for the harvest.
☩Institution and Timing
The Feast of Tabernacles was instituted by God (Leviticus 23:34-43) as the third of Israel's three great annual festivals, following Passover and Pentecost. It began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Tishri, September-October) and continued for seven days, with an eighth day of holy convocation (Leviticus 23:36). It fell at the end of the agricultural year when corn, wine, and oil had been gathered in, hence also called 'the feast of ingathering' (Exodus 23:16).
☩Observance
During the seven days, Israelites dwelt in booths (sukkot) made of branches of olive, palm, pine, and myrtle, in remembrance of their having lived in tents when God brought them out of Egypt (Leviticus 23:42-43). This was a time of great rejoicing, with abundant burnt offerings—more numerous than any other festival. The law was read publicly every seventh year during this feast (Deuteronomy 31:10-12, Nehemiah 8:18). Jesus attended this feast (John 7:2, 14) and on its last day declared Himself the source of living water (John 7:37-38).
☩Prophetic Significance
The feast prefigures the millennium, when God's people will enter into full blessing and rest. Zechariah prophesied that in the kingdom age, all nations will come up to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and those who refuse will receive no rain (Zechariah 14:16-19). The feast points to God's ultimate dwelling with His people: 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them' (Revelation 21:3).
Related Verses20 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.George Morrish, "Tabernacles, Feast of," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Tabernacles, The Feast of," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).