Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
By Messianic Minister Tamar Yeomans
The seventh and final festival given to Israel by Y’HoVaH our Yah is the Festival of Sukkot or “Feast of Tabernacles” as the Christians call it. This is the most joyful and festive of all of Isra’el’s feasts. It is also the most prominent festival and is mentioned more often in Scripture than any other. This festival also served as the historical backdrop for the important teaching of Yeshua HaMashiach in Yochanan (John), Chapters 7 to 9.
The meaning of Sukkot
The Sukkot is known by at least two names in Scripture. It is most often referred to as Sukkot or Tabernacles. Tabernacle is actually from the Latin “tabernaculum” which means “booth” or “hut’. It got the name tabernacle from the Biblical requirement for all of Isra’el to live in temporary shelters during the holiday. This final festival of the year is also known in Scripture as “the Festival of the Ingathering”. This is found in Sh’mot (Exodus) 23:16 and in Sh’mot (Exodus) 34:22.
This festival was observed after all crops had been harvested and gathered in. The festival was always celebrated with great joy. There were two reasons for this joy. First, it commemorated past goodness and previous provision during the wilderness experience and it also commemorated Yah’s present goodness and provision with the completion of the present harvest.
The Time of Sukkot
Sukkot or The Festival of Tabernacles falls in the Isra’eli Autumn. On the Hebrew calendar it always occurs on the 15th day of Tishri or Etanim, which is the original name of the seventh month in the Biblical calendar, till the Babylonian captivity. This date can fall anywhere between late September and mid-October on our calendar. The first day and the eighth day, also known as Shemini Atzeret are considered sacred assemblies or Shabbats. No work is to be done on these days. This regulation is given in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23: 36 & 39
There are three portions of Scripture, which outline the biblical observance of the Festival of Sukkot. The people were to live in booths and rejoice before Yah with branches in V’yikra (Leviticus) 23:33-43. There were to be many daily sacrificial offerings according to B’midbar (Numbers) 29:12-39, and in a Sabbatical, Sh’mittah or seventh year as we are in this year, the Torah was to be read publicly according to D’varim (Deuteronomy) 31:10-13.
The Importance of Sukkot
Because of the joy associated with the Festival of Sukkot, it became the most prominent of Isra’el’s holidays. Ancient rabbis referred to it as “the holiday’. Its importance is also seen in its inclusion in the three pilgrim feasts, when all Jewish males were required to appear before Y’HoVaH in the Temple. These feasts are the Festival of Matzah, the Festival of Shavu’ot and the Festival of Sukkot. They are called pilgrim Festivals because the people were required to pilgrimage to Yerushalayim. It was during the Festival of Sukkot that the people brought their tithes and offerings to the temple. They were not to appear before Y’HoVaH empty-handed according to D’varim (Deuteronomy) 16:16-17.
In the days of the temple, the Festival of Sukkot was viewed with great awe. It was during this festival that Shlomo dedicated the newly built Tabernacle to Y’HoVaH. At the ancient observance of Sukkot it is recorded in 2 Chronicles 5:3 "All the people of Isra’el assembled before the king at the festival in the seventh month."
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 - "Then, when the trumpeters and singers were playing in concord, to be heard harmoniously praising and thanking Y’HoVaH, and they lifted their voices together with the trumpets, cymbals and other musical instruments to praise Y’HoVaH: “For he is good, for his grace continues forever” ––then, the house, the house of Y’HoVaH, was filled with a cloud; 14 so that because of the cloud, the cohanim could not stand up to perform their service; for the glory of Y’HoVaH filled the house of Elohim."
The Prayer of Sukkot
As mentioned earlier, the Festival of Sukkot occurs in Isra’el’s change of seasons and it marks the beginning of the winter rainy season. Yerushalayim receives about 20 inches of each year. This rain occurs between November and March. These rains are also essential for moistening the soil for planting and for the sprouting of the seeds that have been sown. If this rainfall is missed for several weeks, a huge water shortage can quickly develop for the coming year’s crops. Anticipation of rain is at its highest in Isra’el at this festival. So prayers for rain and the Festival of Sukkot have become inseparable to this day.
Sukkot in the Ketuvei HaShellichim
Sukkot has many rich spiritual lessons associated with it. Not far into the Gospel accounts of the life of Yeshua, we find the most powerful reference to the Festival of Sukkot. As the emissary Yochanan relates the special background of Mashiach, he openly declares the divine nature of Yeshua.
In Yochanan Alef (1 John) 1:1 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, And the Word was Elohim." This Word, as Yochanan calls Yeshua, was manifested to the world in a very practical and tangible way. Yochanan (John) 1:14 - "The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh’khinah, The Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth."
Here Yochanan is saying that the Word became a human being (Yeshua) and lived or Tabernacled with us. Yochanan tried to describe HaMashiach’s first coming to His people, the most obvious picture was the holy days of Sukkot, the holy days that celebrates the dwelling of Y’ HoVaH amongst His people.
There is of course some controversy concerning the actual date of Yeshua’s birth in Beit-Lechem. Many believers say that there is no definite statement on the matter and the date cannot be set with certainty. Since the 4th century C.E., the western church has celebrated December 25th as the official day to acknowledge the birth of the Mashiach. However, most historians admit that this was more in concession to the pagans of the Roman Empire than to Holy Scriptures, as has often been the case the early “Church” “Christianized” existing pagan days and festivals to accommodate many new converts. December 25th is a classic case in point. It happened to be an ancient feast to celebrate the return of the Sun after the Winter solstice. It had nothing to do with the birth of Yeshua. Yet still it was adopted. Many people overlook the important evidence that Sukkot provides.
When the Emissary Yochanan describes the birth of HaMashiach, he paints it in terms of Sukkot. Critical events regarding Yah’s plan are consistently fulfilled on the special Holy days of the Hebrew calendar. We find Yeshua dying on the stake and becoming our Passover Lamb at Pesach. The pouring out of the firstfruits of Y’HoVaH’s Ruach HaKodesh also took place on the appropriate Holy Day of Shavu’ot. Would not such an important event as the birth of HaMashiach go unheralded by one of the Biblical Festivals? Of all the Festivals of Y’HoVaH, Sukkot best illustrates the fact that Y’HoVaH would dwell in the midst of His people through the presence of HaMashiach. He may have literally fulfilled his promise on the very first day of Sukkot.
An easy to document, but not a well-known fact, is the date of the birth of Yeshua. This is done by establishing several things.
The Prophetic Fulfilment
There are many lessons to be learned from Sukkot. Y’HoVaH’s provision, His dwelling with His people and the joy of the Ruach HaKodesh, are all themes that draw attention to the plan written in the Scriptures. Yet there is still a future element remaining to be fulfilled by the Festival of Sukkot. The Emissary Yochanan tells us in his vision of final things that the reality of Sukkot will be obvious to all in Revelation 21:1-4.
Sukkot was always known as the holy day that commemorates Y’HoVaH’s dwelling with His people. How fitting for the Kingdom of Elohim, when it fully comes to the redeemed earth, to be considered the ultimate fulfilment of this holy day. Elohim will finally dwell with His people in all His fullness. The Sukkah of Elohim will be among men when Yeshua HaMashiach dwells as the ruler of the 1000-year Messianic Kingdom. Many people, this day, believe He will return to Yerushalayim during Sukkot to begin His Millennium Kingdom reign and therefore flock there at this time each year.
All the feasts of Y’HoVaH have their own particular lessons to teach. Yet, because of its latter day fulfilment, Sukkot seems to be the apex of all the other appointed Festivals. The goal of Elohim’s plan is to ultimately establish His Kingdom on the earth. This is why Sukkot is said to be the premier celebration of the Millennium. As we read of the prophecy of Zechariah in Z’khar’yah 14:16-17. Here Z’khar’yah is saying that the judgement for not celebrating Sukkot is the withholding of rain. Since Sukkot celebrates the fall harvest, it is traditional in the Jewish Community to begin the prayers winter rains essential for the coming year. When Yeshua returns to establish the long-awaited Kingdom, all the people who have been redeemed by His sacrifice will gladly celebrate Sukkot in all its fullness.
What a celebration it will be as His people both Jews and Gentiles, wave their palm branches and call, Ana Y’HoVaH Hoshiana! (Lord, do save us!) Amen.
Come Yeshua, come.
The seventh and final festival given to Israel by Y’HoVaH our Yah is the Festival of Sukkot or “Feast of Tabernacles” as the Christians call it. This is the most joyful and festive of all of Isra’el’s feasts. It is also the most prominent festival and is mentioned more often in Scripture than any other. This festival also served as the historical backdrop for the important teaching of Yeshua HaMashiach in Yochanan (John), Chapters 7 to 9.
The meaning of Sukkot
The Sukkot is known by at least two names in Scripture. It is most often referred to as Sukkot or Tabernacles. Tabernacle is actually from the Latin “tabernaculum” which means “booth” or “hut’. It got the name tabernacle from the Biblical requirement for all of Isra’el to live in temporary shelters during the holiday. This final festival of the year is also known in Scripture as “the Festival of the Ingathering”. This is found in Sh’mot (Exodus) 23:16 and in Sh’mot (Exodus) 34:22.
This festival was observed after all crops had been harvested and gathered in. The festival was always celebrated with great joy. There were two reasons for this joy. First, it commemorated past goodness and previous provision during the wilderness experience and it also commemorated Yah’s present goodness and provision with the completion of the present harvest.
The Time of Sukkot
Sukkot or The Festival of Tabernacles falls in the Isra’eli Autumn. On the Hebrew calendar it always occurs on the 15th day of Tishri or Etanim, which is the original name of the seventh month in the Biblical calendar, till the Babylonian captivity. This date can fall anywhere between late September and mid-October on our calendar. The first day and the eighth day, also known as Shemini Atzeret are considered sacred assemblies or Shabbats. No work is to be done on these days. This regulation is given in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23: 36 & 39
There are three portions of Scripture, which outline the biblical observance of the Festival of Sukkot. The people were to live in booths and rejoice before Yah with branches in V’yikra (Leviticus) 23:33-43. There were to be many daily sacrificial offerings according to B’midbar (Numbers) 29:12-39, and in a Sabbatical, Sh’mittah or seventh year as we are in this year, the Torah was to be read publicly according to D’varim (Deuteronomy) 31:10-13.
The Importance of Sukkot
Because of the joy associated with the Festival of Sukkot, it became the most prominent of Isra’el’s holidays. Ancient rabbis referred to it as “the holiday’. Its importance is also seen in its inclusion in the three pilgrim feasts, when all Jewish males were required to appear before Y’HoVaH in the Temple. These feasts are the Festival of Matzah, the Festival of Shavu’ot and the Festival of Sukkot. They are called pilgrim Festivals because the people were required to pilgrimage to Yerushalayim. It was during the Festival of Sukkot that the people brought their tithes and offerings to the temple. They were not to appear before Y’HoVaH empty-handed according to D’varim (Deuteronomy) 16:16-17.
In the days of the temple, the Festival of Sukkot was viewed with great awe. It was during this festival that Shlomo dedicated the newly built Tabernacle to Y’HoVaH. At the ancient observance of Sukkot it is recorded in 2 Chronicles 5:3 "All the people of Isra’el assembled before the king at the festival in the seventh month."
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 - "Then, when the trumpeters and singers were playing in concord, to be heard harmoniously praising and thanking Y’HoVaH, and they lifted their voices together with the trumpets, cymbals and other musical instruments to praise Y’HoVaH: “For he is good, for his grace continues forever” ––then, the house, the house of Y’HoVaH, was filled with a cloud; 14 so that because of the cloud, the cohanim could not stand up to perform their service; for the glory of Y’HoVaH filled the house of Elohim."
The Prayer of Sukkot
As mentioned earlier, the Festival of Sukkot occurs in Isra’el’s change of seasons and it marks the beginning of the winter rainy season. Yerushalayim receives about 20 inches of each year. This rain occurs between November and March. These rains are also essential for moistening the soil for planting and for the sprouting of the seeds that have been sown. If this rainfall is missed for several weeks, a huge water shortage can quickly develop for the coming year’s crops. Anticipation of rain is at its highest in Isra’el at this festival. So prayers for rain and the Festival of Sukkot have become inseparable to this day.
Sukkot in the Ketuvei HaShellichim
Sukkot has many rich spiritual lessons associated with it. Not far into the Gospel accounts of the life of Yeshua, we find the most powerful reference to the Festival of Sukkot. As the emissary Yochanan relates the special background of Mashiach, he openly declares the divine nature of Yeshua.
In Yochanan Alef (1 John) 1:1 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, And the Word was Elohim." This Word, as Yochanan calls Yeshua, was manifested to the world in a very practical and tangible way. Yochanan (John) 1:14 - "The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh’khinah, The Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth."
Here Yochanan is saying that the Word became a human being (Yeshua) and lived or Tabernacled with us. Yochanan tried to describe HaMashiach’s first coming to His people, the most obvious picture was the holy days of Sukkot, the holy days that celebrates the dwelling of Y’ HoVaH amongst His people.
There is of course some controversy concerning the actual date of Yeshua’s birth in Beit-Lechem. Many believers say that there is no definite statement on the matter and the date cannot be set with certainty. Since the 4th century C.E., the western church has celebrated December 25th as the official day to acknowledge the birth of the Mashiach. However, most historians admit that this was more in concession to the pagans of the Roman Empire than to Holy Scriptures, as has often been the case the early “Church” “Christianized” existing pagan days and festivals to accommodate many new converts. December 25th is a classic case in point. It happened to be an ancient feast to celebrate the return of the Sun after the Winter solstice. It had nothing to do with the birth of Yeshua. Yet still it was adopted. Many people overlook the important evidence that Sukkot provides.
When the Emissary Yochanan describes the birth of HaMashiach, he paints it in terms of Sukkot. Critical events regarding Yah’s plan are consistently fulfilled on the special Holy days of the Hebrew calendar. We find Yeshua dying on the stake and becoming our Passover Lamb at Pesach. The pouring out of the firstfruits of Y’HoVaH’s Ruach HaKodesh also took place on the appropriate Holy Day of Shavu’ot. Would not such an important event as the birth of HaMashiach go unheralded by one of the Biblical Festivals? Of all the Festivals of Y’HoVaH, Sukkot best illustrates the fact that Y’HoVaH would dwell in the midst of His people through the presence of HaMashiach. He may have literally fulfilled his promise on the very first day of Sukkot.
An easy to document, but not a well-known fact, is the date of the birth of Yeshua. This is done by establishing several things.
- The date that the angel Gavriel tells Zechar’yah, while serving in the holy of holies that he is to be a father of Yochanan. Yochanan’s date of birth is established by going forward nine months, the term of pregnancy. Six months after Elizabeth’s conception, Zechar’yah’s wife, we receive
- The approximate date of Miriam’s conception, which was around Chanukah. Nine months after Chanukah is Sukkot. It is believed that he was born on the first day of Sukkot and circumcised and named on the eighth day of Sukkot, which is known as Shemini Atzeret. The actual year is then traced by
- The date of Herod’s death. This is important as Yeshua had to leave Isra’el because Herod, when he learned of the birth of the prophesied king, commanded the killing of all children less than 2 years of age. It was the custom in ancient Israel to count the years of one’s age from the date of conception, therefore, Herod actually killed the children one year old and under according to the way that age is calculated today in Western culture.
The Prophetic Fulfilment
There are many lessons to be learned from Sukkot. Y’HoVaH’s provision, His dwelling with His people and the joy of the Ruach HaKodesh, are all themes that draw attention to the plan written in the Scriptures. Yet there is still a future element remaining to be fulfilled by the Festival of Sukkot. The Emissary Yochanan tells us in his vision of final things that the reality of Sukkot will be obvious to all in Revelation 21:1-4.
Sukkot was always known as the holy day that commemorates Y’HoVaH’s dwelling with His people. How fitting for the Kingdom of Elohim, when it fully comes to the redeemed earth, to be considered the ultimate fulfilment of this holy day. Elohim will finally dwell with His people in all His fullness. The Sukkah of Elohim will be among men when Yeshua HaMashiach dwells as the ruler of the 1000-year Messianic Kingdom. Many people, this day, believe He will return to Yerushalayim during Sukkot to begin His Millennium Kingdom reign and therefore flock there at this time each year.
All the feasts of Y’HoVaH have their own particular lessons to teach. Yet, because of its latter day fulfilment, Sukkot seems to be the apex of all the other appointed Festivals. The goal of Elohim’s plan is to ultimately establish His Kingdom on the earth. This is why Sukkot is said to be the premier celebration of the Millennium. As we read of the prophecy of Zechariah in Z’khar’yah 14:16-17. Here Z’khar’yah is saying that the judgement for not celebrating Sukkot is the withholding of rain. Since Sukkot celebrates the fall harvest, it is traditional in the Jewish Community to begin the prayers winter rains essential for the coming year. When Yeshua returns to establish the long-awaited Kingdom, all the people who have been redeemed by His sacrifice will gladly celebrate Sukkot in all its fullness.
What a celebration it will be as His people both Jews and Gentiles, wave their palm branches and call, Ana Y’HoVaH Hoshiana! (Lord, do save us!) Amen.
Come Yeshua, come.