Reference: Tabernacles, The Feast Of
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("the feast of ingathering"), the third of the three great festivals: of the Hebrews, which lasted from the 15th till the 22d of Tisri.
1. The following are the principal passages in the Pentateuch which refer to it:
Ex 23:16; Le 23:34-36,39-43; Nu 29:12-38; De 16:13-15; 31:10-13
In Nehe 8, there is an account of the observance of the feast by Ezra.
2. The time of the festival fell in the autumn, when the whole of the chief fruits of the ground, the corn, the wine and the oil, were gathered in.
Ex 23:16; Le 23:39; De 15:13-15
Its duration was strictly only seven days,
De 16:13; Eze 45:25
but it was followed by a day of holy convocation, distinguished by sacrifices of its own, which was sometimes spoken of as an eighth day.
During the seven days the Israelites were commanded to dwell in booths or huts formed of the boughs of trees. The boughs were of the olive palm, pine, myrtle and other trees with thick foliage.
According to rabbinical tradition each Israelite used to tie the branches into a bunch, to be carried in his hand to which the name lulab was given. The burnt offerings of the Feast of Tabernacles were by far more numerous than those of any other festival. There were offered on each day two rams, fourteen lambs and a kid for a sin offering. But what was most peculiar was the arrangement of the sacrifices of bullocks, in amounting to seventy.
The eighth day was a day of holy convocation of peculiar solemnity. On the morning of this day the Hebrews left their huts and dismantled them, and took up their abode again in their houses. The special offerings of the day were a bullock a ram, seven lambs and a goat for a sin offering.
When the Feast of Tabernacles fell on a sabbatical year, portions of the law were read each day in public, to men, women, children and strangers.
De 31:10-13
We find Ezra reading the law during the festival "day by day, from the first day to the last day."
3. There are two particulars in the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles which appear to be referred to in the New Testament, but are not noticed in the Old. These were the ceremony of pouring out some water of the pool of Siloam and the display of some great lights in the court of the women. We are told that each Israelite, in holiday attire, having made up his lulab, before he broke his fast repaired to the temple with the lulab in one hand and the citron in the other, at the time of the ordinary morning sacrifice. The parts of the victim were laid upon the altar. One of the priests fetched some water in a golden ewer from the pool of Siloam, which he brought into the court through the water-gate. As he entered the trumpets sounded, and he ascended the slope of the altar. At the top of this were fixed two silver basins with small openings at the bottom. Wine was poured into that on the eastern side, and the water into that on the western side, whence it was conducted by pipes into the Cedron. In the evening, both men and women assembled in the court of the women, expressly to hold a rejoicing for the drawing of the water of Siloam. At the same time there were set up in the court two lofty stands, each supporting four great lamps. These were lighted on each night of the festival. It appears to be generally admitted that the words of our Saviour,
Joh 7:37-38
--"If a man thirst, let him come unto me drink. He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" --were suggested by the pouring out of the water of Siloam. But it is very doubtful what is meant by "t
Joh 8:12
"I am the light of the world "-- refer to the great lamps of the festival.
4. Though all the Hebrew annual festivals were seasons of rejoicing, the Feast of Tabernacles was, in this respect, distinguished above them all. The huts and the lulabs must have made a gay end striking spectacle over the city by day, and the lamps, the flambeaux, the music and the joyous gatherings in the court of the temple must have given a still more festive character to the night. The main purposes of the Feast of Tabernacles are plainly set forth in
and Levi 23:43 It was to be at once a thanksgiving for the harvest and a commemoration of the time when the Israelites dwelt in tents during their passage through the wilderness. In one of its meanings it stands in connection with the Passover. as the Feast of Abib, and with Pentecost, as the feast of harvest; in its other meaning, it is related to the Passover as the great yearly memorial of the deliverance from the destroyer and from the tyranny of Egypt. But naturally connected with this exultation in their regained freedom was the rejoicing in the more perfect fulfillment of God's promise in the settlement of his people in the holy blessing. But the culminating point of was the establishment of the central spot of the national worship in the temple at Jerusalem. Hence it was evidently fitting that the Feast of Tabernacles should be kept with an unwonted degree of observance at the dedication of Solomon's temple,
Joseph. Ant. viii. 4,5; again, after the rebuilding of the temple by Ezra,
and a third time by Judas Maccabaeus when he had driven out the Syrians and restored the temple to the worship of Jehovah. 2 Macc. 10:5-8.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Also [observe] the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of your produce from what you sow in the field, and [observe] the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather your produce from the field.
Also [observe] the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of your produce from what you sow in the field, and [observe] the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather your produce from the field.
Also [observe] the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of your produce from what you sow in the field, and [observe] the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather your produce from the field.
"Tell the Israelites: The Festival of Booths to the Lord begins on the fifteenth day of this seventh month and continues for seven days. There is to be a sacred assembly on the first day; you are not to do any daily work. read more. You are to present a fire offering to the Lord for seven days. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and present a fire offering to the Lord. It is a solemn gathering; you are not to do any daily work.
You are to present a fire offering to the Lord for seven days. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and present a fire offering to the Lord. It is a solemn gathering; you are not to do any daily work.
"You are to celebrate the Lord's festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh month for seven days after you have gathered the produce of the land. There will be complete rest on the first day and complete rest on the eighth day.
"You are to celebrate the Lord's festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh month for seven days after you have gathered the produce of the land. There will be complete rest on the first day and complete rest on the eighth day. On the first day you are to take the product of majestic trees-palm fronds, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook-and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. read more. You are to celebrate it as a festival to the Lord seven days each year. This is a permanent statute for you throughout your generations; you must celebrate it in the seventh month. You are to live in booths for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must live in booths, so that your generations may know that I made the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God."
"You are to hold a sacred assembly on the fifteenth day of the seventh month; you must not do any daily work. You are to celebrate a seven-day festival for the Lord.
"You are to hold a sacred assembly on the fifteenth day of the seventh month; you must not do any daily work. You are to celebrate a seven-day festival for the Lord. Present a burnt offering, a fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: 13 young bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old. They are to be unblemished.
Present a burnt offering, a fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: 13 young bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old. They are to be unblemished. Their grain offering is to be of fine flour mixed with oil, six quarts with each of the 13 bulls, four quarts with each of the two rams,
Their grain offering is to be of fine flour mixed with oil, six quarts with each of the 13 bulls, four quarts with each of the two rams, and two quarts with each of the 14 lambs.
and two quarts with each of the 14 lambs. Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. "On the second day [present] 12 young bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished-
"On the second day [present] 12 young bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished- with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number.
with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. "On the third day [present] 11 bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished-
"On the third day [present] 11 bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished- with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number.
with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. "On the fourth day [present] 10 bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished-
"On the fourth day [present] 10 bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished- with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number.
with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. "On the fifth day [present] nine bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished-
"On the fifth day [present] nine bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished- with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number.
with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. "On the sixth day [present] eight bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished-
"On the sixth day [present] eight bulls, two rams, 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished- with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number.
with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. "On the seventh day [present] seven bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished-
"On the seventh day [present] seven bulls, two rams, and 14 male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished- with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number.
with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings. "On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you are not to do any daily work.
"On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you are not to do any daily work. Present a burnt offering, a fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished-
Present a burnt offering, a fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished-
Present a burnt offering, a fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old-[all] unblemished- with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number.
with their grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, in proportion to their number. Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
Also [offer] one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.
When you set him free, do not send him away empty-handed. Give generously to him from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You are to give him whatever the Lord your God has blessed you with. read more. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.
"You are to celebrate the Festival of Booths for seven days when you have gathered in [everything] from your threshing floor and winepress.
"You are to celebrate the Festival of Booths for seven days when you have gathered in [everything] from your threshing floor and winepress. Rejoice during your festival-you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, as well as the Levite, the foreign resident, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates. read more. You are to hold a seven-day festival for the Lord your God in the place He chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, and you will have abundant joy.
Moses commanded them, "At the end of [every] seven years, at the appointed time in the year of debt cancellation, during the Festival of Booths,
Moses commanded them, "At the end of [every] seven years, at the appointed time in the year of debt cancellation, during the Festival of Booths, when all Israel assembles in the presence of the Lord your God at the place He chooses, you are to read this law aloud before all Israel.
when all Israel assembles in the presence of the Lord your God at the place He chooses, you are to read this law aloud before all Israel. Gather the people-men, women, children, and foreigners living within your gates-so that they may listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and be careful to follow all the words of this law.
Gather the people-men, women, children, and foreigners living within your gates-so that they may listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and be careful to follow all the words of this law. Then their children who do not know [the law] will listen and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."
Then their children who do not know [the law] will listen and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."
So all the men of Israel were assembled in the presence of King Solomon in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim at the festival.
Solomon and all Israel with him-a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt-observed the festival at that time in the presence of the Lord our God, seven days, and seven [more] days-14 days.
On the second day, the family leaders of all the people, along with the priests and Levites, assembled before Ezra the scribe to study the words of the law. They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in booths during the festival of the seventh month. read more. So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout all their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and [other] leafy trees to make booths, just as it is written."
So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout all their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and [other] leafy trees to make booths, just as it is written." The people went out, brought back [branches], and made booths for themselves on each of their rooftops, and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate, and the square by the Gate of Ephraim.
The people went out, brought back [branches], and made booths for themselves on each of their rooftops, and courtyards, the court of the house of God, the square by the Water Gate, and the square by the Gate of Ephraim. The whole community that had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. They had not celebrated like this from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day. And there was tremendous joy. read more. Ezra read out of the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day there was an assembly, according to the ordinance.
Ezra read out of the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day there was an assembly, according to the ordinance.
Ezra read out of the book of the law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day there was an assembly, according to the ordinance.
At the festival [that begins] on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, he will provide the same things for seven days-the same sin offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, and oil.
On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him."
Then Jesus spoke to them again: "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life."