The Jewish Feast of Booths (Tabernacles)

A Christian Viewpoint

This year, the Jewish Feast of Booths (Sukkot) takes place at sundown on Oct. 2 and concludes on Oct. 10, 2009. Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, it's a week-long joyful celebration of the fall harvest. It's also a time when the Jews build temporary shelters (sukkah) made of branches to remember how the Hebrews lived under God’s care and protection during their forty years in the wilderness (Neh 8:14-17). In OT times, King Solomon chose The Feast of Sukkot for the consecration of the first Temple (1 Kings 8).

Four special plants are used to cover the booths: citron, myrtle, willow, and palm (Lev 23:39-40). The roof is made of branches and leaves, with enough open spaces to see the stars. Today, many Jewish people erect booths of wood and canvas on their lawns or balconies and eat a least one meal a day in them.

Two Ceremonies

Sukkot is last of three OT annual pilgrimage feasts when all Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem to “appear before the Lord” (Deut 16:16). During services, a lulav made up of the same “four species” of citron, myrtle willow, and palm branches was waved in all four compass directions and up and down to symbolize that God’s presence is everywhere.

Two important ceremonies were part of the last day of Sukkot:

1. The Jewish people marched around the Temple carrying torches and then they set them on the walls of the Temple, indicating that Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles (Is 49:6).

2. A priest carried water from the pool of Siloam to the Temple, symbolizing that when Messiah comes the whole earth will know God “as the waters cover the sea” (Is 11:8-10).

Jesus Fulfills These Two Ceremonies

Jesus fulfilled these ceremonies when on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles he said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me… streams of living water will flow from within him (Jn 7:37-38).

The next morning while the torches were still burning, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12).

Sukkot also represents the final harvest of souls when all nations will celebrate and share in the joy and blessings of God’s Kingdom (Zech 14:16-19). Many scholars believe this feast day points to the Lord’s promise that He will once again “tabernacle” with His people when he comes to reign over the world (Mic 4:1-7).

How Does Jesus Fulfill All Seven Annual Jewish Feasts?

"In the Hebrew Scriptures, the prophet Amos records that God declared he would do nothing without first revealing it to His servants, the Prophets (Amos 3:7). From the Old Covenant to the New, Genesis to Revelation, God provides picture after picture of His entire plan for mankind and one of the most startling prophetic pictures is outlined for us in the Jewish Feasts of Leviticus 23.

The Hebrew word for feasts (moadim) literally means 'appointed times.' God has carefully planned and orchestrated the timing and sequence of each of these seven feasts to reveal to us a special story. The seven annual feasts of Israel were spread over seven months of the Jewish calendar, at set times appointed by God. They are still celebrated by observant Jews today. But for both Jews and non-Jews who have placed their faith in Jesus the Jewish Messiah, these special days demonstrate the work of redemption through God’s Son.

As the four spring feasts were fulfilled literally and right on the actual feast day in connection with Christ’s first coming, these three fall feasts, it is believed by many, will likewise be fulfilled literally in connection to the Lord’s second coming.

The first four of the seven feasts occur during the springtime (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Weeks) and they all have already been fulfilled by Christ in the New Testament. The final three holidays (Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles) occur during the fall, all within a short fifteen-day period.

Many Bible scholars and commentators believe that these fall feasts have not yet been fulfilled by Jesus. However, the 'blessed hope' (Titus 2:13) for all believers in Jesus Christ is that they most assuredly will. As the four spring feasts were fulfilled literally and right on the actual feast day in connection with Christ’s first coming, these three fall feasts, it is believed by many, will likewise be fulfilled literally in connection to the Lord’s second coming."

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (Col 2:16-17 NIV)

This excerpt was quoted from gotQuestions.org where you can read more about the prophetic significance of each of the seven Levitical feasts. I'm indebted to Rose Publishing for the information about Sukkot in their guide, “Feasts and Holidays of the Bible.” For a detailed discussion of all nine Jewish festivals, check out this fascinating book The Jewish Holidays by Michael Strassfeld.

Related: Round Challah Bread for Yom Kippur (Jewish New Year)


Photos: (1) maxnathan, (2 & 3) yanek (Flickr)