15-22 Tishrei 5783 – Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), begins at sundown on Sunday, 9 October 2022 and ends at nightfall on Monday, 17 October 2022.
Historical background and tradition
Sukkot, commonly called the Feast of Tabernacles or in some translations the Festival of Shelters, and also known as the Feast of Ingathering, is a biblical holiday celebrated from the evening on the 15th to the evening of the 22nd day to the of the seventh month of Tishrei in the Jewish religious calendar. This eight-day festival occurs five days after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. There is a separate day on the eight-day of the feast, called Shemini Atzeret (שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת —”Eighth [day of] Assembly” (Leviticus 23:36).
“Perform the Festival of Booths for seven days after the ingathering from your threshing-floor and from your winepress, and you shall rejoice in your festival, you and your son and your daughter, and your male servant and your female servant, and the Lĕwite, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates. “For seven days you shall observe a festival to יהוה [Yahowah] your Elohim in the place which יהוה [Yahowah] chooses, because יהוה [Yahowah] your Elohim does bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be only rejoicing! (Deuteronomy 16:13-15).
It was an eternal law in perpetuity to celebrate the festivals of Elohim
When the Creator Elohim created the heavens and the earth, He set the appointed times of the year when His people were to appear in unity and peace to celebrate with Him. This was an eternal law which was to be observed, not just in the biblical times, but to be observed as long as the earth exist.
“These are the appointed times of יהוה [Yahowah] which you proclaim as set-apart gatherings, … ‘And you shall observe it as a festival to יהוה [Yahowah] for seven days in the year – a law forever in your generations. Observe it in the seventh month” (Leviticus 23:37, 41).
First and eight days are rest days
The first and the eight day of the feast and the Sabbath in between are non-working rest days, with no regular paid work to be performed.
“And יהוה [Yahowah] spoke to Mosheh, saying,
“Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Booths for seven days to [Yahowah] יהוה. ‘On the first day is a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work. ‘For seven days you bring an offering made by fire to יהוה. On the eighth day there shall be a set-apart gathering for you, and you shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה [Yahowah]. It is a closing festival, you do no servile work” (Leviticus 23:33-36).
Celebration on the night of the first day
Traditionally, the evening before the first day, there is festive gathering often with a meal and celebration. Often there is a toast to heaven to thank Messiah for the work that He has done and to look forward to the day that He returns to establish the kingdom of Heaven.
Flags of Nations – Flag of King Messiah
Feast goers in Jerusalem celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with a “Nations March” in Jerusalem, where representatives of nations walk through the streets of Jerusalem waving their flags in support of Israel and Jerusalem. In the wilderness after the Exodus of Egypt, each tribe of Israel had their own banner (flag) and the flag of Elohim signifying their camp and division in the desert (Numbers1:52; Psalms 20:5). When Messiah has conquered the earth, He will set His flag in Jerusalem so people will know that He is in charge. (Isaiah 5:26, 11:10-12, 13:2, 18:3, 49:22, 62:10; Jeremiah 50:2, 51:12). Messiah will have the flag of Heaven with His Name and Title when He returns to the earth to fight those who oppose Him and His people (Revelation 19:11).
Festival of Ingathering – a harvest celebration of the ingathering of wine and fruit of the land
Like Passover and Shavuot (Pentecost), Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. Sukkot celebrates the promised ingathering of the fall harvest in the Promised Land (Exodus 3:8). It commemorates the miraculous protection, after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt, when Elohim provided for the children of Israel during the 40 years of wandering in the desert and living in temporary shelters. Elohim gave them the Torah (Law) atop of Mount Sinai and entered into a covenant for them to keep this law as a special people to Elohim. Historically, Sukkot also commemorates this forty-year period during which the people of the tribes of Israel were wandering in the desert and living in temporary shelters.
‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gather in the fruit of the land, observe the festival of יהוה [Yahowah] for seven days. On the first day is a rest, and on the eighth day a rest” (Leviticus 23:39).
“Perform the Festival of Booths for seven days after the ingathering from your threshing-floor and from your winepress, and you shall rejoice in your festival” (Deuteronomy 16:13).
The Great Shepherd who tabernacled among the people
The Feast of Tabernacles is an annual reminder to people that Elohim is the Great Shepherd who has chosen to ‘tabernacle among them,’ to lead, protect and bless His flock of believers wherever they wander (Hebrews 13:20).
Messiah tabernacled with humans
When Yahowah Elohim divested His heavenly glory to be born as the human Yahowshua, He dwelled among sinful humans. The Scriptures says that pitched His tent, in reference to Sukkot (Feast of Booths). As the Word, He was the spiritual temple (Tabernacle) of Elohim before He became Yahowshua. It is in Him and through Him that we can tabernacle and have a relationship with Heaven and the Father of All (Matthew 26:61; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Today Messiah is the tabernacle and spiritual temple for believers (2 Corinthians 5:1-4; Hebrews 8:2-6, 9:11; 2 Peter 1:13-14; Revelation 21:3).
“And the Word became flesh and pitched His tent [tabernacle] among us, and we saw His esteem, esteem as of an only brought-forth of a father, complete in favour and truth” (John 1:14).
Elohim is the source of Life for all humans
Elohim provided them with every physical need on daily basis, such as: shelter, water, food, clothing, etc. Elohim also provided them with the spiritual nourishment that they needed. Today people may not recognize the Creator as the one who provides life and sustenance to humans. But if the Creation did not produce life from which we live, we would die. If our bodies did not perform the functions that He Created them to do, we would die. We may not see that we depend on the Creator for everything, but He is the beginning and end of our human existence. He is the existential source of human life.
Believers receive their spiritual needs through a relationship with Messiah
From Exodus to Deuteronomy, we read about how they wanted the gods they were used to in Egypt. The festival pictures a time of abundance in the land of milk and honey, which is why during the festival the book of Ecclesiastes is read. Materialism and vanity are often what humans are seeking from life and frequently pray for. Instead, during this festival we should focus on what Elohim has done for us and the desire for a relationship based on spiritual purity and truth with Messiah as our role model and salvation.
Dwelling in Booths or Huts reminds us of the desert journey of our ancestors
Sukkot is one of the most joyful festivals on the biblical calendar. “Sukkot,” a Hebrew word meaning “booths” or “huts,” refers to the biblical festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest.
Feast goers often celebrate Sukkot by erecting a foliage-covered booth or huts (known as a sukkah). These Sukkot booths are erected on the first day of the festival with branches as a memorial to remind us of the building of booths during our ancestors’ wanderings in the wilderness. It serves as a reminder to us today that this modern world and its reality is a temporary dwelling, and we are to seek the permanent dwelling with Elohim through Messiah. Our ancestors, the children of Israel, came out of Egypt and he bondage of slavery to live in temporary dwellings. Believers in Messiah are coming out of the bondage of sin to live a righteous life through Messiah.
“Dwell in booths for seven days; all who are native Yisra’ĕlites dwell in booths, so that your generations know that I made the children of Yisra’ĕl dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Mitsrayim. I am יהוה [Yahowah] your Elohim” (Leviticus 23:42-43).
Many observant Jews are required to eat in the sukkah for eight days (seven days in Israel), and some even sleep in the sukkah for the duration of the holiday. The sukkah is decorated and the first day is considered a holy day in which most forms of work are forbidden.
Four species of plants waved during the Feast of Booths
Observant believers and Jews tie together in a bouquet three types of branches and one type of fruit and wave them in a special ceremony each day of the Sukkot holiday, excluding Shabbat. These four plants arbat ha’minim (four species) are based on four plants mentioned in the Scriptures, and the rabbinic version includes the following: etrog (fruit of the citron tree), lulav (palm frond), hadas (leaves from the myrtle tree), and aravah (leaves from the willow tree).
“And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of good trees, branches of palm trees, twigs of leafy trees, and willows of the stream, and shall rejoice before יהוה your Elohim for seven days” (Leviticus 23:40). 
The Orthodox Jews has a final culmination of Sukkot for the seventh day of Sukkot, called Hoshanah Rabah. On that day in the synagogue Jews circle the room seven times while the four species (plants) (Hebrew: ארבעת המינים arba’at ha-minim) (Leviticus 23:40) are held and special prayers are recited.
Greetings on Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles)
To wish someone a Happy Sukkot, simply say “Chag Sameach!” (Happy Holiday). The end of the feast greetings: “Let’s meet next year in Jerusalem.” People will in the future will follow the ways and the paths of Elohim and want to come to the hear the Teaching of the Word of יהוה from Jerusalem.
“And many peoples shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of [Yahowah] יהוה, to the House of the Elohim of Jacoḇ, and let Him teach us His ways, and let us walk in His paths, for out of Tsiyon comes forth the Torah [KJV: Law], and the Word of יהוה from Yerushalayim” (Isaiah 2:3, Micah 4:2).
The three Festival harvests – Barley, Wheat and Grape
Sukkot is the last of the Shalosh R’galim (three pilgrimage festivals – Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, Shavuot/Pentecost and Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles). The festivals of (Yahowah) יהוה are grouped in three, for three different harvest times of the year. It was during the three harvests of barley, wheat and grape in the year when all the males were to stand before the presence (face) of Elohim. These three festivals are prophetic of the “harvest of souls,” where the divine command goes forth for all eligible males in charge of a household where to stand three times a year before the presence (face) of Elohim (Leviticus 27:3).
“Three times in the year you are to observe a festival to Me:
“Guard the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Seven days you eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Aḇiḇ – for in it you came out of Mitsrayim – and do not appear before Me empty-handed; and the Festival of the Harvest, the first-fruits of your labours which you have sown in the field; and the Festival of the Ingathering at the outgoing of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labours from the field. “Three times in the year all your males are to appear before the Master [Yahowah] יהוה. (Exodus 23:14-17).
Making Offerings to Elohim
We are reminded that we are to come with a gift to Elohim as to the blessings that He has bestowed on us. In these modern times that is not based each household having agriculture harvests and with no Levitical priesthood, many organizations take up feast offerings or donations, or distribute food or clothing to poor people. It is up to each person to determine based on their understanding of the Scriptures and how the Spirit guides them in how to give tithes and offerings based on their net disposable income or intake. The Bible clearly hints to giving to the person’s source of spiritual teaching and to those in need. Yet, Messiah Himself, His direct disciples and Sha’ul never asked for donations or took up tithes and offerings. Sh’aul was a Pharisee, but not a Levite, but in the service of Messiah, he provided his own living (including his fellow travel companions) as a tentmaker for Roman soldiers and shepherds, using cloth, leather and skins (Acts 18:3-4, 20:33-34). It was standard practice for rabbis to have learned a trade. His father was also a tentmaker. It is possible that he also made the outer coverings of the tents for the use during the Feast of Tabernacles.
“Three times a year all your males appear before יהוה your Elohim in the place which He chooses: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and at the Festival of Weeks, and at the Festival of Booths. And none should appear before יהוה empty-handed, but each one with the gift of his hand, according to the blessing of יהוה your Elohim which He has given you” (Deuteronomy 16:16-17).
Bring an offering made by fire to יהוה
For eight days, the feast attendees were required to bring an offering made by fire to Yahowah Elohim through the Levitical priesthood at the Temple in Jerusalem (Leviticus 23:36-38). There no longer is a Temple or a Levitical priesthood. The Levitical priesthood ended when the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. Both of them have been replaced by Messiah who gave His life as the sacrificial offering for believers (Hebrews 9:11-14, 24-28). As Melchizedek, the High Priest of Elohim, He is now accepting our living sacrifices, and requiring us to humbly follow His lead in living a life perfect to the Father (Micah 6:8; Romans 12:1). Our prayers and our works are as incense to Him in Heaven where He now resides (Revelation 8:3-4).
Pilgrim feasts with travel to Jerusalem for appearance and sacrifice
Because it is a pilgrim feast many people in our modern times travel away from their homes to a temporary dwelling, which becomes their “Sukkot” dwelling for eight days. The Feast pilgrims often gave special offerings at Sukkot in gratitude for Elohim’s provision, as they were commanded not to show up “empty-handed” (Deuteronomy 16:16). There is an interesting note in Job where even angels where required to appear before Elohim at certain times (Job 1:6).
Modern world removed from paradigm of agriculture mentioned in the Scriptures
The ancient world was based on agriculture and everyone depending upon rain and favorable elements for their harvests to produce the crops providing their livelihood. The Scriptures therefore is based on agricultural blessings and curses. In our modern world we lose context of this paradigm and the understanding of why Elohim base many biblical concepts on agriculture, because we live in cities and suburbs which have a ready access to produce in grocery stores. Few believers are involved in agriculture or harvest of any sort.
Prophetic times for all nations to come to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles
Zechariah prophesied that after the return of Messiah all the nations would be required to travel to Jerusalem to keep the feast. Elohim will punish the clans and nations who will not send a representative to the feast. Calamities would befall those nations who do not have correct worship of Elohim. Even in our times, there are nations and people who are cursed for their pagan and Satanic worship.
“And it shall be that all who are left from all the gentiles which came up against Yerushalayim, shall go up from year to year to bow themselves to the Sovereign, יהוה [Yahowah] of hosts, and to observe the Festival of Booths. And it shall be, that if anyone of the clans of the earth does not come up to Yerushalayim to bow himself to the Sovereign, יהוה [Yahowah] of hosts, on them there is to be no rain” (Zechariah 14:16-17).
Jerusalem was destined by Elohim to be a “house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13).
The festival was not only for the House of Israel, but all nations were invited to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with worship of Elohim at His appointed time. To commemorate this prophecy, Israel sacrificed seventy bulls at Sukkot on behalf of the seventy nations descended from Noah (Genesis 10:32, 11:9; Numbers 29:12-35). Solomon also later dedicated the Temple at Sukkot and he encouraged foreigners to come there to pray (2 Chronicles 6:32-33). During the Millennium reign of Messiah, correct worship of Elohim will be required by all humans: “And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” declares [Yahowah] יהוה” (Isaiah 66:23). When the prophesied new heavens and new earth is established after the Millennium and judgment period, there will only be righteous humans alive (Isaiah 66:22-23; Revelation 21:1-8).
The Millennium Rest of Messiah
The seven days of Sukkot pictures the one-thousand-year reign of Messiah, the King of Kings and Master of Masters, on earth (Rev 19:11-21). The Devil (Hebrew: HaSatan – the Adversary) and all his demons and legions of people who are worshiping his greedy and violent way of life, morals, and lies will be defeated, restrained and later destroyed. In our world is almost impossible to imagine the utopian world and society humans would be able to have under the leadership of Messiah. Instead of constant wars, nations would seek peace and pursue it, and real peaceful progress with life, liberty and pursuit of happiness to be afforded to everyone, not just for the rich and the global elite (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). Even the Creation itself groans in pain, and eager to blossom when there is no more pollution and bloodshed the earth has to absorb (Romans 8:22).
The Thousand Years of the reign of Heavens under Messiah and his kings and priests
“And I saw a messenger coming down from the heaven, having the key to the pit of the deep and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and he threw him into the pit of the deep, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should lead the nations no more astray until the thousand years were ended. And after that he has to be released for a little while. And I saw thrones – and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them – and the lives of those who had been beheaded because of the witness they bore to יהושע [Yahowshua] and because of the Word of Elohim, and who did not worship the beast, nor his image, and did not receive his mark upon their foreheads or upon their hands. And they lived and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years (and the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended) – this is the first resurrection. Blessed and set-apart is the one having part in the first resurrection. The second death possesses no authority over these, but they shall be priests of Elohim and of Messiah, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:1-6).
“and made us sovereigns and priests to our Elohim, and we shall reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:10 – cf. Daniel 7:18-27).
Eight Day of the Feast – The Last Great Day
We will cover the eight and last day of Feast in the following article when Elohim will end human suffering and mankind will be united within the family of Elohim.
May you have a great Sukkot / Feast of Tabernacles!
“He that bears witness of these matters says, “Yes, I am coming speedily.” Amĕn. Yes, come, Master [Yahowshua] יהושע! The favour of our Master [Yahowshua] יהושע Messiah be with the set-apart ones. Amĕn” (Revelation 22:20-21).
