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
You are to observe the Festival of Harvest, celebrating the first fruits of your work in planting the field, and the Festival of Tabernacles at the end of the year, when you gather the fruit of your work from the field.
You are to observe the Festival of Harvest, celebrating the first fruits of your work in planting the field, and the Festival of Tabernacles at the end of the year, when you gather the fruit of your work from the field.
You are to observe the Festival of Harvest, celebrating the first fruits of your work in planting the field, and the Festival of Tabernacles at the end of the year, when you gather the fruit of your work from the field.
"Tell the Israelis that starting the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the week-long Festival of Tents to the LORD. On the first day, you are to hold a sacred assembly, when you are not to do any servile work. read more. For seven days, bring offerings made by fire to the LORD. The eighth day is also to be a sacred assembly for you. Bring offerings made by fire to the LORD. It's a sacred assembly. You are not to do any servile work.
For seven days, bring offerings made by fire to the LORD. The eighth day is also to be a sacred assembly for you. Bring offerings made by fire to the LORD. It's a sacred assembly. You are not to do any servile work.
"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you've harvested the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of the LORD for seven days. The first day is to be a Sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is to be a Sabbath rest.
"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you've harvested the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of the LORD for seven days. The first day is to be a Sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is to be a Sabbath rest. "On the first day, take branches from impressive fruit trees, branches from palm trees, boughs from thick trees, and poplars from the brooks. Then you are to rejoice in the presence of the LORD your God for seven days. read more. Observe it as a pilgrimage festival in the presence of the LORD for seven days of the year. This is to be an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. Observe the festival during the seventh month. You are to live in tents for seven days. Every native born of Israel is to live in tents in order for your future generations to know that the Israelis lived in tents 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 same seventh month. No servile work is to be done. You are to celebrate a festival to the LORD for seven days by
"You are to hold a sacred assembly on the fifteenth day of the same seventh month. No servile work is to be done. You are to celebrate a festival to the LORD for seven days by bringing these burnt offerings made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD: Thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without any defects,
bringing these burnt offerings made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD: Thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without any defects, along with their grain offering of fine flour mixed with olive oil three tenths for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams,
along with their grain offering of fine flour mixed with olive oil three tenths for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, and one tenth for each of the fourteen lambs,
and one tenth for each of the fourteen lambs, accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings."
accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings." "On the second day, you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects,
"On the second day, you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances,
along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances, and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings."
and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings." "On the third day, you are to present eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects,
"On the third day, you are to present eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances,
along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances, and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings."
and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings." "On the fourth day, you are to present ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects,
"On the fourth day, you are to present ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances,
along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances, and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings."
and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings." "On the fifth day, you are to present nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects,
"On the fifth day, you are to present nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances,
along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances, and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings."
and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings." "On the sixth day, you are to present eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects,
"On the sixth day, you are to present eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances,
along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances, and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings."
and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its corresponding grain and drink offerings." "On the seventh day, you are to present seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects,
"On the seventh day, you are to present seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen one year old lambs, all without defects, along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances,
along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances, and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with corresponding grain and drink offerings."
and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with corresponding grain and drink offerings." "On the eighth day, you are to call a sacred assembly. No servile work is to be done.
"On the eighth day, you are to call a sacred assembly. No servile work is to be done. You are to offer these burnt offerings by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, and seven one year old lambs, all without defects,
You are to offer these burnt offerings by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, and seven one year old lambs, all without defects,
You are to offer these burnt offerings by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, and seven one year old lambs, all without defects, along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bull, ram, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances,
along with corresponding grain and drink offerings for the bull, ram, and lambs, according to their number, based on the ordinances, and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with corresponding grain and drink offerings.
and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with corresponding grain and drink offerings.
and accompanied by one goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with corresponding grain and drink offerings.
But when you set them free, don't send them away empty-handed. Provide for them liberally from your flock, threshing floor, and wine vat. As the LORD your God has blessed you, so give to them. read more. Don't ever forget that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, yet the LORD your God redeemed you. Therefore, I'm giving you these commands today.
"Celebrate the Festival of Tents for seven days after you harvest from your threshing floor and your wine press.
"Celebrate the Festival of Tents for seven days after you harvest from your threshing floor and your wine press. Rejoice in your festival you, your son, your daughter, your male and female slaves, the descendants of Levi, and foreigners, orphans, and widows, who live in your cities. read more. For seven days you are to celebrate in the presence of the LORD your God at the place where the LORD will choose; for the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in everything you do, and your joy will be complete.
Then he gave these orders: "At the end of seven years, the year designated for release, during the Festival of Tents,
Then he gave these orders: "At the end of seven years, the year designated for release, during the Festival of Tents, when all of Israel comes to appear in the presence of the LORD your God at the place that he'll choose, read this Law aloud to them.
when all of Israel comes to appear in the presence of the LORD your God at the place that he'll choose, read this Law aloud to them. Gather the people the men, women, children, and the foreigners that live in your cities so they may hear and fear the LORD your God, and so they may be careful to obey the words contained in this Law.
Gather the people the men, women, children, and the foreigners that live in your cities so they may hear and fear the LORD your God, and so they may be careful to obey the words contained in this Law. Their children who don't know will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan River to possess."
Their children who don't know will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan River to possess."
So all the men gathered together to meet with King Solomon at the Festival of Tents in the month Ethanim, the seventh month.
So Solomon observed the Festival of Tents at that time, as did all of Israel with him. A large assembly came up from as far away as Lebo-hamath and the Wadi of Egypt to appear in the presence of the LORD our God, not just for seven days, but for seven days after that, a total of fourteen days.
The next day, the heads of the families of all the people were gathered together, along with the priests and the descendants of Levi, to meet with Ezra the scribe in order to understand the words of the Law. They found written in the Law that the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelis were to live in tents during the festival scheduled for the seventh month. read more. So they circulated a proclamation throughout their towns and in Jerusalem. It said, "Go out to the hill country and bring back olive branches, wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of mature trees, in order to set up tents, as has been written."
So they circulated a proclamation throughout their towns and in Jerusalem. It said, "Go out to the hill country and bring back olive branches, wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of mature trees, in order to set up tents, as has been written." Then the people went out and found branches to make tents for themselves on the roofs of their houses, in their courtyards, and in the courts of God's Temple, in the plaza near the Water Gate, and in the plaza near the Gate of Ephraim.
Then the people went out and found branches to make tents for themselves on the roofs of their houses, in their courtyards, and in the courts of God's Temple, in the plaza near the Water Gate, and in the plaza near the Gate of Ephraim. The entire assembly of those who had returned from exile erected tents and lived in them. Indeed, from the days of Nun's son Joshua until that day the Israelis had not done so. Joy was everywhere, read more. and Ezra continued to read from the Book of the Law of God day by day, from the first day through the last. They celebrated for seven days, and on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly according to regulation.
and Ezra continued to read from the Book of the Law of God day by day, from the first day through the last. They celebrated for seven days, and on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly according to regulation.
and Ezra continued to read from the Book of the Law of God day by day, from the first day through the last. They celebrated for seven days, and on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly according to regulation.
On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, during a seven day festival, the Regent Prince is to present these as daily sin offerings, burnt offerings, and grain offerings mixed with oil.'"
On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have rivers of living water flowing from his heart."
Later on, Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."