Topical Bible: Tabernacles

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Overview:
The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot or the Feast of Booths, is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals in the Jewish calendar, alongside Passover and Pentecost. It is a time of joyous celebration and thanksgiving, commemorating the Israelites' 40-year journey in the wilderness and God's provision during that period. The festival is observed for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the seventh month, Tishri, according to the Hebrew calendar.

Biblical Foundation:
The Feast of Tabernacles is instituted in Leviticus 23:33-43, where the LORD commands the Israelites to dwell in temporary shelters for seven days as a reminder of their ancestors' journey through the wilderness. The festival is a time of rest and rejoicing, marked by offerings and sacrifices. In Leviticus 23:42-43 , it is written: "You are to live in booths for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must live in booths, so that your descendants may know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

Significance in the Old Testament:
The Feast of Tabernacles serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and provision. It is a time to reflect on the dependence of the Israelites on God during their wilderness journey. The festival also marks the end of the harvest season, making it a time of thanksgiving for the bounty provided by God. Deuteronomy 16:13-15 emphasizes the joy and gratitude associated with the festival: "You are to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates."

New Testament Context:
In the New Testament, the Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned in the Gospel of John. Jesus attended the festival, and it was during this time that He made significant declarations about His identity and mission. In John 7:37-38 , Jesus proclaimed, "On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.'" This declaration highlights Jesus as the source of spiritual sustenance and fulfillment, drawing a parallel to the water ceremonies performed during the festival.

Prophetic and Eschatological Implications:
The Feast of Tabernacles holds prophetic significance, pointing to the future gathering of all nations to worship the LORD. Zechariah 14:16-19 speaks of a time when all nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, emphasizing its universal and eschatological importance. This prophecy underscores the festival's role in God's redemptive plan, symbolizing the ultimate ingathering of believers and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth.

Contemporary Observance:
Today, the Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated by Jewish communities worldwide, with the construction of sukkahs (temporary shelters) and the performance of rituals that recall the wilderness experience. For Christians, the festival serves as a reminder of God's provision and faithfulness, as well as a foreshadowing of the eternal dwelling with God promised in the New Testament. The themes of thanksgiving, joy, and divine provision continue to resonate, offering a rich tapestry of spiritual reflection and anticipation of the fulfillment of God's promises.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Tabernacles, Feast of

The third of the great annual festivals of the Jews (Leviticus 23:33-43). It is also called the "feast of ingathering" (Exodus 23:16; Deuteronomy 16:13). It was celebrated immediately after the harvest, in the month Tisri, and the celebration lasted for eight days (Leviticus 23:33-43). During that period the people left their homes and lived in booths formed of the branches of trees. The sacrifices offered at this time are mentioned in Numbers 29:13-38. It was at the time of this feast that Solomon's temple was dedicated (1 Kings 8:2). Mention is made of it after the return from the Captivity. This feast was designed (1) to be a memorial of the wilderness wanderings, when the people dwelt in booths (Leviticus 23:43), and (2) to be a harvest thanksgiving (Nehemiah 8:9-18). The Jews, at a later time, introduced two appendages to the original festival, viz., (1) that of drawing water from the Pool of Siloam, and pouring it upon the altar (John 7:2, 37), as a memorial of the water from the rock in Horeb; and (2) of lighting the lamps at night, a memorial of the pillar of fire by night during their wanderings.

"The feast of Tabernacles, the harvest festival of the Jewish Church, was the most popular and important festival after the Captivity. At Jerusalem it was a gala day. It was to the autumn pilgrims, who arrived on the 14th (of the month Tisri, the feast beginning on the 15th) day, like entrance into a silvan city. Roofs and courtyards, streets and squares, roads and gardens, were green with boughs of citron and myrtle, palm and willow. The booths recalled the pilgrimage through the wilderness. The ingathering of fruits prophesied of the spiritual harvest.", Valling's Jesus Christ, p. 133.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

TABERNACLES, FEAST OF

See FEASTS AND FASTS, I, A, 3.

Greek

4634. skenopegia -- the setting up of tents
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: skenopegia Phonetic Spelling:
(skay-nop-ayg-ee'-ah) Short Definition: the feast of tabernacles Definition: the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4634.htm - 6k

4633. skene -- a tent
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition a tent NASB Word Usage dwellings (1), tabernacle
(15), tabernacles (3), tents (1). habitation, tabernacle. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4633.htm - 6k

Library

The Feast of Tabernacles.
... Chapter VII. The Feast of Tabernacles. The discourse in the synagogue at
Capernaum occurred, according to Andrews, in the spring ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the feast of tabernacles.htm

'Three Tabernacles'
... 'THREE TABERNACLES'. 'The Word ... ... So that we are not to think of the Roman palm
of victory, but of the Jewish palm which was borne at the Feast of Tabernacles. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/three tabernacles.htm

The Mystery of the Tabernacles.
... Discourse IX."Tusiane. Chapter V."The Mystery of the Tabernacles. Wherefore,
above all other things, I say to those who love ...
/.../chapter v the mystery of the.htm

At the Feast of Tabernacles
... The DESIRE of AGES Chapter 49 At the Feast of Tabernacles. [This ... perversion. The
Feast of Tabernacles was the closing gathering of the year. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 49 at the feast.htm

At the Feast of Tabernacles - First Discourse in the Temple
... OF HUMILIATION AND DEATH. CHAPTER VI. AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES - FIRST
DISCOURSE IN THE TEMPLE. (John 7:11-36.) IT was Chol ha ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi at the feast.htm

"How Amiable are Thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts. "
... INTRODUCTION AND CLOSE OF WORSHIP. 6. " "How amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord
of Hosts.". 6. LM Watts. "How amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts.". ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/6 how amiable are.htm

HM *Watts. How Amiable are Thy Tabernacles.
... 16. HM *Watts. How Amiable are Thy Tabernacles. 1 Lord of the worlds above, How
pleasant and how fair The dwellings of Thy love, Thine earthly temples are! ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/16 h m watts how.htm

The Three Tabernacles
... THE THREE TABERNACLES. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is
good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapin/the crown of thorns/the three tabernacles.htm

Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles.
... IN JERUSALEM"THE ATTEMPT TO STONE HIM JESUS AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. Then went
he up unto the feast, not publicly, but as it were in secret. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/jesus at the feast of.htm

And at that Time the Feast of Tabernacles of the Jews Drew Near. . ...
... The Text of the Diatessaron. Section XXVIII. And at that time the feast
of tabernacles of the Jews drew near.? [1, 2] [Arabic, p ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxviii and at that.htm

Thesaurus

Tabernacles (43 Occurrences)
...Tabernacles, Feast of. ... "The feast of Tabernacles, the harvest festival of the Jewish
Church, was the most popular and important festival after the Captivity. ...
/t/tabernacles.htm - 21k

Booth (9 Occurrences)
... A hut made of the branches of a tree. In such tabernacles Jacob sojourned for a
season at a place named from this circumstance Succoth (Genesis 33:17). ...
/b/booth.htm - 11k

Fasts (3 Occurrences)
... fast," ta`anith, "a day of affliction"): I. PRE-EXILIC A) Annual 1. Passover,
15th-22d Nican 2. Pentecost, 6th Ciwan) Pilgrimage 3. Tabernacles, 15th-22d Tishri ...
/f/fasts.htm - 21k

Feasts (45 Occurrences)
... fast," ta`anith, "a day of affliction"): I. PRE-EXILIC A) Annual 1. Passover,
15th-22d Nican 2. Pentecost, 6th Ciwan) Pilgrimage 3. Tabernacles, 15th-22d Tishri ...
/f/feasts.htm - 36k

Goodly (46 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Goodly trees. Boughs of, were to be carried in festive
procession on the first day of the feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:40). ...
/g/goodly.htm - 25k

Festivals (17 Occurrences)
... (2.) The great feasts were,. (a) The Passover. (b) The feast of Pentecost,
or of weeks. (c) The feast of Tabernacles, or of ingathering. ...
/f/festivals.htm - 15k

Trees (179 Occurrences)
... the King James Version "boughs") of goodly (= beautiful or noble) trees"): One of
the four species of plants used in the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:40 ...
/t/trees.htm - 45k

Elias (30 Occurrences)
... Matthew 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to
be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and ...
/e/elias.htm - 15k

Talmud
... (5) Yoma', "The Day" of Atonement (Leviticus 16). (6) Cukkah, "Booth," Feast of
Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34 Numbers 29:12 Deuteronomy 16:13). ...
/t/talmud.htm - 37k

Myrtle (7 Occurrences)
... It was one of the trees used in the Feast of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8:15): "the branches
of thick trees" (which see) are interpreted in the Talmud (Cuk. ...
/m/myrtle.htm - 12k

Resources

What should be the focus of Christians on Thanksgiving? | GotQuestions.org

What is Passover? | GotQuestions.org

What was the tabernacle of Moses? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Tabernacles (43 Occurrences)

Matthew 17:4
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Mark 9:5
And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Luke 9:33
And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Luke 16:9
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.
(ASV DBY YLT)

John 7:2
Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Hebrews 11:9
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
(KJV WBS YLT)

Leviticus 23:34
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.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS NIV)

Numbers 24:5
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Deuteronomy 16:13
Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NIV)

Deuteronomy 16:16
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NIV)

Deuteronomy 31:10
And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NIV)

2 Samuel 22:12
And He setteth darkness Round about Him -- tabernacles, Darkness of waters -- thick clouds of the skies.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 8:13
Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Ezra 3:4
They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NIV)

Job 11:14
If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
(KJV WBS)

Job 12:6
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
(KJV WBS)

Job 15:34
For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
(KJV WBS)

Job 18:21
Only these 'are' tabernacles of the perverse, And this the place God hath not known.
(YLT)

Job 21:28
For ye say, 'Where 'is' the house of the noble? And where the tent -- The tabernacles of the wicked?'
(YLT)

Job 22:23
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 43:3
O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Psalms 46:4
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Psalms 49:11
Their heart 'is': Their houses 'are' to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
(YLT)

Psalms 78:28
And causeth 'it' to fall in the midst of His camp, Round about His tabernacles.
(YLT)

Psalms 78:51
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 83:6
The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 84:1
How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 87:2
Jehovah is loving the gates of Zion Above all the tabernacles of Jacob.
(YLT)

Psalms 118:15
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 132:5
Till I do find a place for Jehovah, Tabernacles for the Mighty One of Jacob.
(YLT)

Psalms 132:7
We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Isaiah 32:18
And dwelt hath My people in a peaceful habitation, And in stedfast tabernacles, And in quiet resting-places.
(YLT)

Isaiah 54:2
Enlarge the place of thy tent, And the curtains of thy tabernacles they stretch out, Restrain not -- lengthen thy cords, And thy pins make strong.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 9:19
For -- a voice of wailing is heard from Zion: How have we been spoiled! We have been greatly ashamed, Because we have forsaken the land, Because they have cast down our tabernacles.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 51:30
Ceased have the mighty of Babylon to fight, They have remained in strongholds, Failed hath their might, they have become woman, They have burnt her tabernacles, Broken have been her bars.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 25:4
Therefore, lo, I am giving thee to sons of the east for a possession, And they set their towers in thee, And have placed in thee their tabernacles. They eat thy fruit, and they drink thy milk,
(YLT)

Daniel 11:45
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
(KJV WBS)

Hosea 12:9
And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
(KJV WBS)

Habakkuk 1:6
For, lo, I am raising up the Chaldeans, The bitter and hasty nation, That is going to the broad places of earth, To occupy tabernacles not its own.
(YLT)

Zechariah 14:16
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NIV)

Zechariah 14:18
And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NIV)

Zechariah 14:19
This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NIV)

Malachi 2:12
The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
(KJV WBS)

Subtopics

Feast of Tabernacles by Jesus

Feast of Tabernacles: Design of

Feast of Tabernacles: Instituted

Feast of Tabernacles: Jeroboam Institutes an Idolatrous Feast to Correspond To, in the Eighth Month

Feast of Tabernacles: Observance of, After the Captivity

Feast of Tabernacles: Observance of, Omitted

Feast of Tabernacles: Penalty for not Observing

Feast of Tabernacles: The Law Read in Connection With, Every Seventh Year

Tabernacles

Related Terms

Bars (50 Occurrences)