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 first fruits of your labors, which you sow in the field: and the feast of harvest, at the end of the year, when you gather in your labors out of the field.
And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you sow in the field: and the feast of harvest, at the end of the year, when you gather in your labors out of the field.
And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you sow in the field: and the feast of harvest, at the end of the year, when you gather in your labors out of the field.
"Speak to the children of Israel, and say, 'On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tents for seven days to Yahweh. On the first day shall be a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work. read more. Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. It is a solemn assembly; you shall do no regular work.
Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. It is a solemn assembly; you shall do no regular work.
"'So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of Yahweh seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest.
"'So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of Yahweh seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. You shall take on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God seven days. read more. You shall keep it a feast to Yahweh seven days in the year: it is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall keep it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths seven days. All who are native-born in Israel 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 Yahweh your God.'"
"'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work, and you shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days:
"'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work, and you shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days: and you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;
and you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish; and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenth parts for each ram of the two rams,
and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenth parts for each ram of the two rams, and a tenth part for every lamb of the fourteen lambs;
and a tenth part for every lamb of the fourteen lambs; and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it. "'On the second day [you shall offer] twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
"'On the second day [you shall offer] twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish; and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and their drink offerings.
and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and their drink offerings. "'On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
"'On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish; and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it. "'On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
"'On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish; their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it. "'On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
"'On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish; and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it. "'On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
"'On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish; and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offerings of it.
and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offerings of it. "'On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
"'On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish; and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it. "'On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no servile work;
"'On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no servile work; but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;
but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;
but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish; their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance:
their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance: and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it.
When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty: you shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, and out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress; as Yahweh your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. read more. You shall remember that you were a bondservant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you: therefore I command you this thing today.
You shall keep the feast of tents seven days, after that you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your winepress:
You shall keep the feast of tents seven days, after that you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your winepress: and you shall rejoice in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite, and the foreigner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates. read more. You shall keep a feast to Yahweh your God seven days in the place which Yahweh shall choose; because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your increase, and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be altogether joyful.
Moses commanded them, saying, "At the end of [every] seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of tents,
Moses commanded them, saying, "At the end of [every] seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of tents, when all Israel is come to appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
when all Israel is come to appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and your foreigner who is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Yahweh your God, and observe to do all the words of this law;
Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and your foreigner who is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Yahweh your God, and observe to do all the words of this law; and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it."
and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it."
All the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.
On the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers' [houses] of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law. They found written in the law, how that Yahweh 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 out to the mountain, and get olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written."
and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written." So the people went out, and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.
So the people went out, and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim. All the assembly of those who were come again out of the captivity made booths, and lived in the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness. read more. Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. 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 to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. 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 to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
In the seventh [month], in the fifteenth day of the month, in the feast, shall he do the like the seven days; according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meal offering, and according to the oil.
Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water."
Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."