What IS the Feast of Tabernacles?

Sukkot

The Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot or the Feast of Booths, is a significant biblical festival observed in the fall. It commemorates the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. This week-long festival is one of the three major pilgrimage feasts where all Hebrew males were required to appear before YAHUAH in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Biblical Observance

The observance of the Feast of Tabernacles is thoroughly documented in the Scriptures, emphasizing its importance and the specific commands given by YAHUAH:

• Exodus 23:16: “Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.”
  This verse refers to the Feast of Ingathering, which is another name for Sukkot, marking the end of the agricultural year and the gathering of the harvest.

• Exodus 34:22: “Celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the year.”
  This verse reiterates the significance of the Festival of Ingathering, reinforcing its role in the agricultural cycle and the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

• Leviticus 23:34-43: “Say to the Israelites: ‘The fifteenth day of the seventh month is the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to YAHUAH... You are to live in booths for seven days... So your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am YAHUAH your Elohim.’”
  This passage provides detailed instructions for the observance of Sukkot, including the command to live in temporary booths (sukkot) as a reminder of the Israelites' temporary dwellings during their wilderness journey.

• Numbers 29:12-40: Provides additional details on the offerings and specific practices associated with Sukkot, including the number of sacrifices and the ceremonial aspects of the feast.

• Deuteronomy 16:13-15: “Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress... For seven days celebrate the festival to YAHUAH your Elohim at the place YAHUAH will choose.”
  This passage highlights the requirement to celebrate Sukkot for seven days and to do so in the place chosen by YAHUAH, emphasizing its importance as a pilgrimage feast.

• Ezra 3:4: “Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day.”
  This verse reflects the observance of Sukkot during the time of Ezra, showing the continued adherence to the festival’s requirements.

• Nehemiah 8:13-18: Describes the celebration of Sukkot after the return from Babylonian exile, emphasizing the joy and community participation in the observance.

Connection to Yahusha

The Feast of Tabernacles also carries prophetic significance related to Yahusha (Yeshua):

• John 7:2: “But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near...”
  The New Testament mentions Yahusha attending the Feast of Tabernacles, showing His participation in this important festival and providing a context for His teachings during this time.

• John 7:37-38: “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Yahusha stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’”
  During the Feast of Tabernacles, Yahusha proclaimed Himself as the source of living water, connecting His ministry to the festival's themes of provision and divine sustenance.

• Revelation 21:3: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! Elohim’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and Elohim Himself will be with them and be their Elohim.’”
  The prophetic vision in Revelation describes the ultimate fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles in the future Kingdom, where YAHUAH will dwell with His people, reflecting the festival’s themes of divine presence and fellowship.

The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is a deeply significant festival in the biblical calendar, commemorating the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness and celebrating the harvest. Its observance, detailed in various Scriptures, includes living in temporary booths and offering sacrifices. Yahusha’s participation in the festival and His teachings during this time underscore the spiritual significance of Sukkot and its prophetic connection to His ministry and the future Kingdom of YAHUAH.

How to Keep the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): Written Torah Instructions 

1. Timing of the Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is a week-long festival that begins on the 15th day of the 7th month, Tishri, and lasts for seven days. It is a time to remember the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and their reliance on YAHUAH for provision.

• Leviticus 23:34: “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to YAHUAH.’”

New Testament Reference: Yahusha celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, affirming its importance.

• John 7:2: “Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.”

2. Building and Dwelling in Booths

During the Feast of Tabernacles, it is commanded to live in temporary structures (booths or sukkot) as a reminder of the Israelites' temporary dwellings during their journey in the wilderness.

• Leviticus 23:42-43: “You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 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. I am YAHUAH your Elohim.”

New Testament Reference: The concept of dwelling in temporary structures is reflective of the spiritual journey and the transient nature of earthly life.

• 2 Peter 1:13-14: “Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Master Yahusha showed me.”

3. Offering Sacrifices

During Sukkot, the Israelites were to offer specific sacrifices each day of the festival. These offerings included burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings.

• Numbers 29:12-38: This passage provides detailed instructions for the offerings to be made each day during the Feast of Tabernacles.

New Testament Reference: The ultimate fulfillment of these sacrifices is found in Yahusha’s sacrifice, which serves as the perfect offering for sin.

• Hebrews 10:10: “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Yahusha once for all.”

4. Rejoicing and Celebrating

The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of great rejoicing and celebration, acknowledging YAHUAH’s provision and blessings.

• Deuteronomy 16:14-15: “You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to YAHUAH your Elohim in the place which YAHUAH chooses, because YAHUAH your Elohim will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.”

New Testament Reference: Yahusha emphasizes joy and celebration in His teachings, reflecting the spirit of Sukkot.

• Luke 15:32: “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.”

5. The Festival of Ingathering

Sukkot is also known as the Festival of Ingathering because it marks the end of the agricultural year and the gathering of crops.

• Exodus 23:16: “And the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.”

New Testament Reference: The concept of ingathering is linked to the gathering of believers into YAHUAH’s Kingdom.

• Matthew 13:30: “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

6. Future Fulfillment

The Feast of Tabernacles will have its ultimate fulfillment in the future Kingdom of YAHUAH, where all nations will come to worship YAHUAH and celebrate Sukkot.

• Zechariah 14:16: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, YAHUAH of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”

New Testament Reference: The future aspect of Sukkot is anticipated in the coming of the Kingdom where Yahusha will reign.

• Revelation 21:3: “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of YAHUAH is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. YAHUAH Himself will be with them and be their Elohim.’”

Conclusion

The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is a joyful celebration that commemorates the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and acknowledges YAHUAH's provision. It involves dwelling in booths, offering sacrifices, and rejoicing in the blessings of YAHUAH. This feast has a significant future fulfillment, where all nations will celebrate in the Kingdom of YAHUAH, reflecting the ultimate gathering and dwelling with YAHUAH. As we observe Sukkot, we look forward to the time when the tabernacle of YAHUAH will be with us in the promised Kingdom.

The Promised Land draws near! Amein Alleluyah.