The Feast of the Tabernacles ~ Sukkot

Since we have been here, there have been two Jewish Holidays; the New Year and The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). On Wednesday, we saw the start of another huge Hoilday; Sukkot (The Feast of the Tabernacles) which lasts for eight days although traditionally in the Torah it was a seven day Holiday.

The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths andSukkot, is the seventh and last feast that the Lord commanded Israel to observe and one of the three feasts that Jews were to observe each year by going to “appear before the Lord your God in the place which He shall choose” (Deuteronomy 16:16). The importance of the Feast of Tabernacles can be seen in how many places it is mentioned in Scripture. In the Bible we see many important events that took place at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. For one thing, it was at this time that Solomon’s Temple was dedicated to the Lord (1 Kings 8:2).

The Feast of Tabernacles takes place on the 15th of the Hebrew month Tishri. This was the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar and usually occurs in late September to mid-October. The feast begins five days after the Day of Atonement and at the time the fall harvest had just been completed. It was a time of joyous celebration as the Israelites celebrated God’s continued provision for them in the current harvest and remembered His provision and protection during the 40 years in the wilderness.

As one of the three feasts that all “native born” male Jews were commanded to participate in, the Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned multiple times in Scripture, sometimes called the Feast of the Ingathering, the Feast to the Lord, or the Feast of Booths (Exodus 23:16; Deuteronomy 16:13). As one of the pilgrim feasts (when Jewish males were commanded to go to Jerusalem), it was also the time when they brought their tithes and offerings to the Temple (Deuteronomy 16:16). With the influx of people coming to Jerusalem at that time, we can only imagine what the scene must have been like. Thousands upon thousands of people coming together to remember and celebrate God’s deliverance and His provision, all living in temporary shelters or booths as part of the requirements of the feast. During the eight-day period, so many sacrifices were made that it required all twenty-four divisions of priests to be present to assist in the sacrificial duties.

We find God’s instructions for celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in Leviticus 23, given at a point in history right after God had delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt. The feast was to be celebrated each year on “the fifteenth day of this seventh month” and was to run for seven days (Leviticus 23:34). Like all feasts, it begins with a “holy convocation” or Sabbath day when the Israelites were to stop working to set aside the day for worshiping God. On each day of the feast they were to offer an “offering made by fire to the Lord” and then after seven days of feasting, again the eighth day was to be “a holy convocation” when they were to cease from work and offer another sacrifice to God (Leviticus 23). Lasting eight days, the Feast of Tabernacles begins and ends with a Sabbath day of rest. During the eight days of the feast, the Israelites would dwell in booths or tabernacles that were made from the branches of trees (Leviticus 23:40–42).

The Feast of Tabernacles, like all the feasts, was instituted by God as a way of reminding Israelites in every generation of their deliverance by God from Egypt. Of course, the feasts are also significant in that they foreshadow the work and actions of the coming Messiah. Much of Jesus’ public ministry took place in conjunction with the Holy Feasts set forth by God.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Tabernacles.html#ixzz3FjHy8n00



We visited a congregation on Wednesday evening for a special Sukkot service which marked the beginning of this celebration.  A service was held with worship music, (some dancing and waving of flags) and a teaching in Hebrew and then we all ascended to the roof for a feast. It is also around this time of year that the rain begins and we literally saw the heavens open and the rain came in huge drops while we were standing on the roof. Someone told us that this seems to happen each year and they feel that it is the Lord's blessing upon His land.

Deuteronomy 11:14

14 then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.

A booth at the base of some apartments.

A booth at Joppa.

At the end of the service, the shofars were blown and what a sound it was! It reminded me of the movie, Narnia for some reason! 

It is indeed a privilege to be here at this time and witness the 'booths' being assembled on the streets. People do not usually sleep in them for the entire time, if at all from what I understand, but they do eat their meals inside the booths. Restaurants also set up booths outside so people can eat their meals in them. I guess that is one way to keep God's commandment.

'You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths.'

Leviticus 23:42

So we have a few more 'Sabbaths' to work around which means that the shops all close until Saturday evening and so planning is always required! However, there is always a hush and a stillness which covers Jerusalem which is very relaxing and pleasant.