Reference: Tabernacles, The Feast Of
Smith
("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
And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of your labors, which you have sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when you have gathered in your labors out of the field.
And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of your labors, which you have sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when you have gathered in your labors out of the field.
And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of your labors, which you have sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when you have gathered in your labors out of the field.
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. On the first day shall be a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work on it. read more. Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and you shall do no regular work on it.
Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and you shall do no regular work on it.
Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. And you shall take on the first day the fruit of choice trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. read more. And you shall keep it as a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations: you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are born Israelites shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no regular work, and you shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:
And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no regular work, and you shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: And you shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet aroma unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:
And you shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet aroma unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish: And their grain offering shall be of flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two-tenths of an ephah to each ram of the two rams,
And their grain offering shall be of flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two-tenths of an ephah to each ram of the two rams, And a tenth of an ephah to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:
And a tenth of an ephah to each lamb of the fourteen lambs: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering. And on the second day you shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
And on the second day you shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: And their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance:
And their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and their drink offerings. And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;
And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; And their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance:
And their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance: And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its drink offering.
And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its drink offering. And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: Their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance:
Their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering. And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: And their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance:
And their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance: And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its drink offering.
And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its drink offering. And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish.
And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish. And their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance:
And their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance: And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering. And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: And their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance:
And their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance: And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering. On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no regular work on it:
On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no regular work on it: But you shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet aroma unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:
But you shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet aroma unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:
But you shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet aroma unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish: Their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance:
Their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, according to the ordinance: And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its drink offering.
And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its drink offering.
And one goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its drink offering.
And when you send him out free from you, you shall not let him go away empty: You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, and out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress: of that with which the LORD your God has blessed you you shall give unto him. read more. And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you: therefore I command you this thing today.
You shall observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that you have gathered in your grain and your wine:
You shall observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that you have gathered in your grain and your wine: And you shall rejoice in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within your gates. read more. Seven days shall you keep a solemn feast unto the LORD your God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD your God shall bless you in all your increase, and in all the works of your hands, therefore you shall surely rejoice.
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,
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, When all Israel has come to appear before the LORD your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
When all Israel has come to appear before the LORD your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and your stranger that is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:
Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and your stranger that is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: And that their children, who have not known anything, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land which you go over Jordan to possess.
And that their children, who have not known anything, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land which you go over Jordan to possess.
And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.
And on the second day were gathered together the heads of the fathers' houses of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: read more. And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mountain, and bring olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.
And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mountain, and bring olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written. So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the water gate, and in the square at the gate of Ephraim.
So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the water gate, and in the square at the gate of Ephraim. And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness. read more. Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the same in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the grain offering, and according to the oil.
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.
Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.