Leviticus 23:34
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord.
a. ASV: Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto Jehovah. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]
b. YLT: 'Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, In the fifteenth day of this seventh month is a feast of booths seven days to Jehovah; [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]
c. Classic Amplified: Say to the Israelites, The fifteenth day of this seventh month, and for seven days, is the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths to the Lord. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]
d. NLT: “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. Begin celebrating the Festival of Shelters on the fifteenth day of the appointed month—five days after the Day of Atonement. This festival to the LORD will last for seven days. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]
e. Stone Edition THE CHUMASH, Rabbinic Commentary: Speak to the Children of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Succos, a seven-day period for HASHEM. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE CHUMASH Copyright 1998, 2000 by MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, Ldt.]
f. Peshitta Eastern Text: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month you shall keep thefeast of tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT.Copyright Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]
1. “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying…”
a. Speak [Strong: 1696 dâbar, daw-bar'; a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue:—answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, × well, × work.]
b. unto [Strong: 413 ʼêl, ale; (but used only in the shortened constructive form אֶל ʼel, el); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or among; often in general, to:—about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because (-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, × hath, in (-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to (-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with (-in).]
c. [the] children [Strong: 1121 bên, bane; from H1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.):—afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, × came up in, child, colt, × common, × corn, daughter, × of first, firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, × in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, rebel, + robber, × servant born, × soldier, son, + spark, steward, + stranger, × surely, them of, + tumultuous one, valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.]
d. [of] Israel [Strong: 3478 Yisrâʼêl, yis-raw-ale'; from H8280 and H410; he will rule as God; Jisraël, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity:—Israel.]
e. saying [Strong: 559 ʼâmar, aw-mar'; a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):—answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, × desire, determine, × expressly, × indeed, × intend, name, × plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), × still, × suppose, talk, tell, term, × that is, × think, use (speech), utter, × verily, × yet.]
2. “...The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord.”
a. [the] fifteenth [Strong: 2568 châmêsh, khaw-maysh'; masculine חֲמִשָּׁה chămishshâh; a primitive numeral; five:—fif(-teen), fifth, five (× apiece).] [Strong: 6240 ʻâsâr, aw-sawr'; for H6235; ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth:—(eigh-, fif-, four-, nine-, seven-, six-, thir-) teen(-th), + eleven(-th), + sixscore thousand, + twelve(-th).]
b. day [Strong: 3117 yôwm, yome; from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb):—age, always, chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), elder, × end, evening, (for) ever(-lasting, -more), × full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaineth, × required, season, × since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), × whole ( age), (full) year(-ly), younger.]
c. [of] this [Strong: 2088 zeh, zeh; a primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that:—he, × hence, × here, it(-self), × now, × of him, the one...the other, × than the other, (× out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, × thus, very, which.]
d. seventh [Strong: 7637 shᵉbîyʻîy, sheb-ee-ee'; or שְׁבִעִי shᵉbiʻîy; ordinal from H7657; seventh:—seventh (time).]
e. month [Strong: 2320 chôdesh, kho'-desh; from H2318; the new moon; by implication, a month:—month(-ly), new moon.]
f. [shall be the] feast [Strong: 2282 chag, khag; or חָג châg; from H2287; a festival, or a victim therefor:—(solemn) feast (day), sacrifice, solemnity.]
g. [of] tabernacles [Strong: 5521 çukkâh, sook-kaw'; feminine of H5520; a hut or lair:—booth, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent.]
h. [for] seven [Strong: 7651 shebaʻ, sheh'-bah; or (masculine) (שִׁבְעָה shibʻâh); from H7650; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number:—(+ by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times).]
i. days [Strong: 3117 yôwm, yome; from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb):—age, always, chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), elder, × end, evening, (for) ever(-lasting, -more), × full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaineth, × required, season, × since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), × whole ( age), (full) year(-ly), younger.]
j. [unto the] LORD {Strong: 3068 Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw'; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord.]
1). The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three “pilgrim feasts”, (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles). They were referred to those names because during the Feasts Israel was required to come to Jerusalem to celebrate them.
a). Exodus 23:14-17 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty: (Passover)
23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field (Pentecost) and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.(Tabernacles)
23:17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God.
2). During the feast of Tabernacles there were a particular set of sacrifices to be offered during the certain eight days.
a). Numbers 29:12-39 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days:
29:13 And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:
29:14 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,
29:15 And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:
29:16 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
29:17 And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
29:18 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
29:19 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings.
29:20 And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;
29:21 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
29:22 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.
29:23 And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
29:24 Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
29:25 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
29:26 And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
29:27 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
29:28 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.
29:29 And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
29:30 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
29:31 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
29:32 And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
29:33 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
29:34 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
29:35 On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein:
29:36 But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:
29:37 Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:
29:38 And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.
29:39 These things ye shall do unto the Lord in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.
3). During the Feast of Tabernacles and possibly during the other pilgrim feasts is when the Israelites brought their tithes and offerings.
a). Deuteronomy 16:16, 17 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty:
16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.
4). It was during the Feast of Tabernacles that Solomon dedicated the newly built Temple.
a). 1 Kings 8:1-66
b). 2 Chronicles 5:1-7:10
5). The Water Libation Ceremony [The Feasts of the LORD, Kevin Howard, Marvin Rosenthal, pp.138, 139] “During the Feast of Tabernacles, the intense anticipation of rain came to be reflected in the Temple Services. Each morning of Tabernacles, a water libation (sacrificial pouring out of a liquid) was offered to the Lord as a visual prayer for rain. Shortly after dawn each morning, while the many sacrifices were being prepared, the high priest was accompanied by a joyous procession of music and worshippers down to the Pool of Siloam. The high priest carried a golden pitcher capable of holding a little more than a quart of water. He carefully dipped the pitcher into the pool and brought it back to the Temple Mount. At the same time, another procession went down to a nearby location south of Jerusalem known as Motza where willows of the brook grew in great abundance. There they gathered the long, thin willows and brought them back to the Temple. At the Temple, the willows were placed on the sides of the altar so that their tops formed a canopy of drooping branches over the altar. Meanwhile, the high priest with the water from the Pool of Siloam had reached the southern gate of the Temple. It was known as the Water Gate because of this ceremony. As he entered, three blasts of the silver trumpets sounded from the Temple, and the priests with one voice repeated the words from Isaiah, “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). The high priest slowly proceeded to the great stone altar in the Inner Court of the Temple and ascended the right side of the ramp. At the peak, he turned to the left where there were two silver basins which drained to the base of the altar. One was reserved for the regular drink offerings (libations of wine) and one for the water libations during this feast. As the high priest raised the golden pitcher to pour the water offering, the people shouted, “Raise your hand!” In response, the high priest lifted his hand higher and poured, allowing the people to verify his action… As the high priest poured out the water libation before the Lord, a drink offering of wine was simultaneously poured into the other basin. Three blasts of the silver trumpets immediately followed the pouring and signaled the start of the Temple music. The people listened as a choir of Levites sang the Hallel (i.e., the praise Psalms 113-118). At the proper time, the congregation waved their palm branches toward the altar and joined in the singing: “Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity” (Psalm 118:25). At the same time the priests, with palm branches in hand, marched around the altar…The custom of carrying branches and singing psalms during the Feast of Tabernacles is of ancient origin. It dates back at least to the time of Maccabees, some 165 years before Christ (Cf. 2 Maccabees 10:6, 7). The water-drawing ceremony is also form antiquity. Although debate exists as to whether Isaiah alluded to the water-drawing ceremony (Isaiah 12:3) or the ceremony was derived from the words of Isaiah, it is known that the ceremony was in use at least 100 years before the time of Jesus.”
6). Jesus celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. The whole of John 7 loosely focuses on the debates among the Jewish leaders and the people concerning Jesus, whether he was the Messiah or not. It was on the last day of the feast, and scholars believe during the great Water Libation Ceremony that Jesus cried out the words of John 7:37, 38.
a). John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
