About the Feast
The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) takes place in the fall, and is a week-long harvest festival. This is why it also goes by the name of the Feast of Ingathering. There are also two days following the feast, which are separate holidays. They are Shemini Atzeret and Simkhat Torah, and have been traditionally included as part of the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Feast of Tabernacles was the last and most important holiday of the Jewish year. The feast begins five days after Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) on 15 Tishri (September/October). It is quite a drastic change to go from the most solemn feast of the year (Yom Kippur) to the most joyous (Tabernacles) in five days.
The Hebrew word Sukkoth means “booth,” and refers to the flimsy, temporary dwellings that the Jews are commanded to live in during this holiday. It is meant to commemorate how the Jews lived during their wilderness journey under Moses. The feast lasts for seven days and ends on the twenty-first day of Tishri, which is the seventh month.
Leviticus 23:43 states 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.” In essence, God wants the people to remember their beginning. He wants them to remember where they came from and where God brought them. God also wants them to remember his mercy. He wants them to remember that when they dwelt in tabernacles, so did God. God took care of them and dwelt with them. The Jews were to keep this holiday in thankfulness to God for how he provided for them, increased them, and forgave them of their sin.
As mentioned, the feast was a joyous occasion. During this feast, four huge candelabras were built, lighted, and taken care of by young men who ascended ladders occasionally with pitchers of oil to keep them burning. The light from these lamps illuminated the entire city of Jerusalem. People would dance around these lights with torches in their hands while singing hymns of praise. The dancing and music would continue until daybreak.
Water also played an important role in the feast. Before the festival began, the Rabbis taught on every passage of scripture that dealt with water. In the Old Testament, gold pitchers of water were brought from the pool of Siloam to the temple. The priest would then pour out the water over the alter to signify Israel’s gratitude for the rains that had produced the harvest that year, and then they would pray for rain for the upcoming year. The priest would then recite Isaiah 12:1-3, “And in that day you shall say, O LORD, I will praise you: though you were angry with me, your anger is turned away, and you have comforted me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid…Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.” This special libation offering was performed only during the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles. This was done to remind God of the need for abundant rains during the season, and to remind the people of the coming Messiah, who had promised to pour out his Holy Spirit on the people.
The ceremonies would last seven days, and the last day was called Hosha’na Rabba, or the Day of the Great Hosanna. As the celebration went on, the priest blew trumpets and waived a bundle of branches, while the people sang the Great Hallel (Ps. 113-118).
Fulfillment in Christ
Jesus' Birth:
The Bible never specifically says when Jesus was born, but we know it was not during the winter months because the sheep were still in the pasture (Luke 2:8). What can help shed light on the subject is the study of the birth of John the Baptist. A study of the birth of John shows that he was probably conceived around 30 Sivan, the seventh week. Thus, when Zechariah was ministering in the temple and received the announcement from the angel, it was during the time of 12-18 Sivan. This is the period of time in which the eighth course of Abia served in the temple. When we add forty weeks for a normal pregnancy, we see that John was born on or around Passover (14 Nisan). This is significant because during Passover, a cup was set out in anticipation for Elijah. Jesus says that John was this Elijah.
We know that six months after John’s conception, Mary conceived Jesus in the month of Kislev. Hannukah was celebrated on 25 Kislev, so it is possible that the “light of the world” was conceived on the festival of lights.
So, if Jesus was conceived in late Kislev (Nov/Dec) and born 40 weeks later during Sukkoth, we arrive at the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles.
If the day of his birth were the first day of Sukkoth, the day of his circumcision would be the 8th day. This day is a day of sacred assembly. On this day the Jews complete their annual cycle of Torah readings and start again from Genesis. This day is also considered to be a fulfillment of the Torah. The circumcision of Jesus at this time indicates how he had come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.
John 1:14 literally says that Jesus “tabernacle” among us. The Greek word for “dwelt” is used in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the OT) to refer to the feast of tabernacles.
As it relates to Luke’s narrative, it was a common thing for the kings to use the feast to perform a census, thus, this is why Herod did so. Furthermore, the angel who appeared to the shepherds said “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Since Sukkoth was known as a festival of joy, and as the “festival of nations,” the angel was actually giving them a greeting for the festival of Sukkoth. In fact, on the first day of the feast, this prayer was recited by all the people: “Glory to God in the Heavens and on Earth and goodwill towards the earths (lands).” This is also the only festival where the nations are positively encouraged to participate (Zech. 14:16-19).
One ceremony associated with the Feast of Tabernacles involved lights. Each afternoon of the seven days, priests and pilgrims gathered at the Temple. As we mentioned earlier, these four large oil lamps illuminated the Court of the Women. The illumination from these lamps symbolized two things: First, it was symbolic of the Shekinah (visible presence) of God which filled the Temple (1 Ki. 8:10–11). Secondly, it symbolized the Ha’or Gadol (the Great Light) who would come and bring light to those who were spiritually dead and dwelling in darkness (Is. 9:2).
We see this fulfilled with the birth of Jesus in John’s gospel. He begins his gospel with a description of Christ coming into the world, and his description contains multiple references to light (1:4-5, 7-9). This seems to be another indication that Christ came into the world at the Feast of Tabernacles.
Another thing worth mentioning is that in the Sukkoth that the families constructed, the ceremony of "Ushpizin" takes place, in which they welcome God’s Shekinah glory (cf. Lk. 2:9) and the seven "faithful shepherds" (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David). This is probably why the angel appeared to a group of shepherds (Lk. 2:8)? Moreover, in the Ushpizin, the "faithful shepherds" are there to observe how their descendants are fulfilling God's commandments. This also finds correlation to the shepherds' purpose, "to see this thing that has happened" (Lk. 2:15). And where did they go to see Jesus but a little shelter which we have traditionally called a "stable" but which was probably a Sukkah? Indeed, the Greek word for "manger" (Lk. 2:7, 12, 16) was probably the closest translation Luke could find for "Sukkah". In fact, the Hebrew word “stable” is called a Sukkoth (Gen. 33:17).
Finally, Jesus himself gives hints that his incarnation is connected to the Feast of Tabernacles. He compared the manna of the feast with himself as the "real bread that comes down from Heaven" (Jn. 6:31-58), and He said all of this "as the Feast of Tabernacles was close at hand" (Jn. 7:2). The last day of the Feast was when Jesus chose to speak of Himself as "living water"; this was appropriate because the Feast celebrates the harvest and the end of the summer drought. This brings us to our next section.
The Ministry of Jesus:
Jesus’ ministry was also a fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Jews expected the Messiah to appear at the Feast of Tabernacles. This is why Jesus’ skeptical brothers taunted him to go to it (Jn. 7:2-3). What was the basis of this expectation? As we continue to read this section of John’s gospel, we find that Jesus does go to the feast and teaches in the temple during this time. Therefore, the teachings of Jesus during this time were an official, formal announcement that he was the Messiah. So, what is it that Jesus taught?
On the last day of the feast, he stood and proclaimed himself the very fountain of living water (John 7:37-38). WE have seen the importance of water in the Feast of Tabernacles and the anticipation of the Messiah to pour out the Spirit of God. Here, Jesus is claiming that his ministry is a fulfillment of this, and that through him, the living water of the Spirit will be poured out.
We have also seen that during this feast, lamps illuminated the entire city. Jesus shows himself to be the fulfillment of this custom when he declares himself the “light of the world” (John 8:12).
Jesus is the tabernacle of God. In Christ, the fullness of God dwells (Col. 2:9) and God dwells with us through Christ.
The Return of Jesus:
The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us of God’s provision, forgiveness, and protection. It reminds us that God is sustaining us, and will bring us home to glory. It reminds us that there is great joy and rejoicing, because salvation has been open to all nations. Finally, it reminds us that our dwelling here is temporary, and that we have a permanent home in the heavens.
When Christ returns, our joy will be full. When he returns, the dwelling place of God will be fully with man, and thus we will tabernacle with God, and he with us (Rev. 21:3). All the nations will celebrate this feast perpetually, as we live in the new heavens and the new earth.
So, this Christmas, when you see the manger, think of a Sukkoth. Think of Christ, the true tabernacle, coming down to dwell with us to give us the presence of God, show us the true light, and give us the living water of his Spirit. Merry Christmas!