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 [you will keep] the Feast of Harvest, [with] the firstfruits of your work, what you sow in the field. And [you will keep] the Feast of Harvest Gathering when the year goes out, when you gather your work from the field.
And [you will keep] the Feast of Harvest, [with] the firstfruits of your work, what you sow in the field. And [you will keep] the Feast of Harvest Gathering when the year goes out, when you gather your work from the field.
And [you will keep] the Feast of Harvest, [with] the firstfruits of your work, what you sow in the field. And [you will keep] the Feast of Harvest Gathering when the year goes out, when you gather your work from the field.
"Speak to the {Israelites}, saying, 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, this [shall be] the Feast of Booths [for] seven days for Yahweh. On the first day [there shall be] a holy assembly; you must not do any {regular work}. read more. [For] seven days you must present an offering made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day it shall be a holy assembly for you, and you shall present an offering made by fire to Yahweh; it [is] a celebration; you must not do {any regular work}.
[For] seven days you must present an offering made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day it shall be a holy assembly for you, and you shall present an offering made by fire to Yahweh; it [is] a celebration; you must not do {any regular work}.
" 'Surely on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, at your gathering the land's produce, you shall hold Yahweh's festival for seven days; on the first day [there shall be] a rest period and on the eighth day a rest period.
" 'Surely on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, at your gathering the land's produce, you shall hold Yahweh's festival for seven days; on the first day [there shall be] a rest period and on the eighth day a rest period. And on the first day you shall take for yourselves the first fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees and branches of a leafy tree and of a brook's poplar trees, and you shall rejoice {before} Yahweh your God [for] seven days. read more. And you must hold it [as] a festival for Yahweh [for] seven days in the year; [it shall be] a {lasting statute} throughout your generations; in the seventh month you must hold it. You must live in the booths [for] seven days; all the natives in Israel must live in the booths, so that your generations shall know that I made the {Israelites} live in booths when I brought them from the land of Egypt; I [am] Yahweh your God.'"
" 'Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you will have a holy convocation; {you will not do any regular work}, and you will hold a religious feast for Yahweh for seven days.
" 'Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you will have a holy convocation; {you will not do any regular work}, and you will hold a religious feast for Yahweh for seven days. You will present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: thirteen bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs {in their first year}; they will be without defect.
You will present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: thirteen bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs {in their first year}; they will be without defect. And their grain offering [will be of] finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram,
And their grain offering [will be of] finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs;
one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation. " 'On the second day: twelve bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs {in their first year}; they will be without defect;
" 'On the second day: twelve bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs {in their first year}; they will be without defect; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs, by their number according to the stipulation;
and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs, by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their libations.
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their libations. " 'On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect {in their first year};
" 'On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect {in their first year}; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs, by their number according to the stipulation;
and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs, by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation. " 'On the fourth day: ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect {in their first year};
" 'On the fourth day: ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect {in their first year}; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation;
and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation. " 'On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect {in their first year};
" 'On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect {in their first year}; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation;
and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation. " 'On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect {in their first year}; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation;
" 'On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect {in their first year}; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation;
and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation. " 'On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect {in their first year};
" 'On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect {in their first year}; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation;
and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation. " 'On the eighth day you will have an assembly; {you will not do any regular work}.
" 'On the eighth day you will have an assembly; {you will not do any regular work}. You will present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs without defect {in their first year};
You will present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs without defect {in their first year};
You will present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs without defect {in their first year}; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation;
and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
And when you send him [out] free from you, you shall not send him [away] empty-handed. You shall generously supply him from [among] your flocks and from your threshing floor and from your press; [according to] that [with which] Yahweh your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. read more. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you; therefore I [am] commanding you thus {today}.
"You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths for yourselves seven days {at the gathering in of the produce} from your threshing floor and from your press;
"You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths for yourselves seven days {at the gathering in of the produce} from your threshing floor and from your press; and you shall rejoice at your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your slave and your slave woman and the Levite and the orphan and the widow that [are] in your {towns}. read more. Seven days you shall celebrate [your] feast to Yahweh your God at the place Yahweh will choose, for Yahweh your God shall bless you in all of your produce and in all [of] the work of your hand, and you shall surely [be] rejoicing.
Then Moses commanded them, {saying}, "At the end of seven years, in the time of the year for canceling debts during the Feast of Booths,
Then Moses commanded them, {saying}, "At the end of seven years, in the time of the year for canceling debts during the Feast of Booths, {when all Israel comes to appear before} Yahweh their God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel {in their hearing}.
{when all Israel comes to appear before} Yahweh their God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel {in their hearing}. Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little children and your aliens that are in your {towns}, so that they may hear and so that they may learn and they may revere Yahweh your God, and {they shall diligently observe} all the words of this law.
Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little children and your aliens that are in your {towns}, so that they may hear and so that they may learn and they may revere Yahweh your God, and {they shall diligently observe} all the words of this law. And [then] their children, who have not known, they [too] may hear, and they may learn to revere Yahweh their God all the days {that you live} on the land that you [are] crossing the Jordan {to get there} to take possession of it."
And [then] their children, who have not known, they [too] may hear, and they may learn to revere Yahweh their God all the days {that you live} on the land that you [are] crossing the Jordan {to get there} to take possession of it."
All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the festival in the month of Ethnaim, that is, the seventh month.
Solomon held the festival at that time and all of Israel with him, a great assembly from Lebo Hamath up to the wadi of Egypt before Yahweh our God, for seven days [and] seven days, [a total of] fourteen days.
On the second day the heads of the {families} of all the people, the priests, and the Levites gathered together to Ezra the scribe to study the words of the law. They found written in the law, which Yahweh had commanded by the hand of Moses, that the {Israelites} should live in booths during the festival of the seventh month, read more. and that they should proclaim and give voice in all of their cities in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hill and bring olive tree branches, olive oil wood branches, myrtle shrub branches, palm tree branches, and other leafy tree branches to make booths, as it is written."
and that they should proclaim and give voice in all of their cities in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hill and bring olive tree branches, olive oil wood branches, myrtle shrub branches, palm tree branches, and other leafy tree branches to make booths, as it is written." So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the house of God, in the public square of the Water Gate, and in the public square of the Gate of Ephraim.
So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the house of God, in the public square of the Water Gate, and in the public square of the Gate of Ephraim. And all of the assembly of those who returned from captivity made booths and lived in the booths because the {Israelites} had not done it from the days of Jeshua son of Nun until that day. And there was very great joy. read more. And he read from the scroll of the law of God day by day from the first day up to the last day. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was an assembly according to the rule.
And he read from the scroll of the law of God day by day from the first day up to the last day. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was an assembly according to the rule.
And he read from the scroll of the law of God day by day from the first day up to the last day. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day there was an assembly according to the rule.
In the seventh [month], on the {fifteenth} day of the month, during the feast, he shall provide just as [he has for] these seven days, as [he did for] the sin offering, [as he did for] the burnt offering, and [as he did] for the grain offering, and [as he did] for the olive oil.'"
Now on the last day of the feast--the great [day]--Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let him drink, the one who believes in me. Just as the scripture said, 'Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.'"
Then 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."