Introduction The Jewish Festival of Sukkot appears in the Bible in Lev 23:34. Sometimes spelt as Succot or Succos. It is described as the “Feast of Tabernacles.” Sukkot is a pilgrimage festival, which means it is one of three festivals which, before the year 70 CE, was celebrated by a mass pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. For this reason it is also known as a foot festival.
In Israel, Sukkot lasts for 7 days. The first and last days are holidays (Yom Tov) like Shabbat, in which, traditionally, work is prohibited. The intermediate days of Sukkot are called Chol Ha-Moed, and traditionally, work is permitted on these days.
Background Reading:
Festival of Tents
33 The LORD spoke to Moses, 34 “Tell the Israelis that starting the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the week-long Festival of Tents to the LORD. 35 On the first day, you are to hold a sacred assembly, when you are not to do any servile work. 36 For seven days, bring offerings made by fire to the LORD. The eighth day is also to be a sacred assembly for you. Bring offerings made by fire to the LORD. It’s a sacred assembly. You are not to do any servile work.
37 “These are the LORD’s appointed festivals that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. Bring offerings made by fire to the LORD—a whole burnt offering, a meal offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings. Do this every day on its assigned date 38 in addition to the LORD’s Sabbath—regarding your gifts, your offerings in fulfillment of vows, and your freely given offerings that you will bring to the LORD.
39 “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you’ve harvested the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of the LORD for seven days. The first day is to be a Sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is to be a Sabbath rest.
40 “On the first day, take branches from impressive fruit trees, branches from palm trees, boughs from thick trees, and poplars from the brooks. Then you are to rejoice in the presence of the LORD your God for seven days. 41 Observe it as a pilgrimage festival in the presence of the LORD for seven days of the year. This is to be an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. Observe the festival during the seventh month. 42 You are to live in tents for seven days. Every native born of Israel is to live in tents 43 in order for your future generations to know that the Israelis lived in tents when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
44 This is what Moses spoke about to the Israelis regarding the LORD’s appointed festivals.
7. 7 Feasts and a Fast – The Feast of Tabernacles
Other slides in this module:
- Life of Moses – Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
- 300-year gap between Joseph and Moses
- First 40 years of the life of Moses
- Thutmose I, the Pharaoh or king of Egypt
- Miriam kept eye on Moses after he had been placed as a baby in a boat
- Second 40 years of the life of Moses
- God spoke to Moses out of a burning bush
- Moses was asked to take off his sandals by God
- The third 40 years of the life of Moses
- Aaron’s Staff becomes a Snake
- The ten plagues of Egypt
- 1st Plague – Blood
- 2nd Plague – Frogs
- 3rd Plague – Lice or Gnats
- 4th Plague – Dung beetles
- 5th Plague – Pestilence
- 6th Plague – Boils
- 7th plague – Nut – Egyptian Goddess of the Sky
- 8th Plague – Locust
- Ninth plague – Darkness
- Tenth plague – Firstborn die
- Passover commemorates the Exodus from Egypt
- Moses the friend of God
- Pillar of Cloud by Day
- Pillar of fire by night
- The Chariots of the Egyptian army
- Moses crosses the Red Sea
- Moses’ older sister Miriam sings a song
- Waters of Marah and Elim
- Manna means ‘What Is It?’
- Water from The Rock at Massah
- Moses at Mount Sinai
- The Ten Commandments or Ten Words of God
- The Three groups of Annual Feasts of God
- The Festival of Passover
- The Festival of Unleavened Bread
- The Festival of First Fruits
- The Festival of Weeks or Pentecost
- The Festival of Trumpets or Feast of Shofars
- The Fast of Yom Kippur
- The Festival of Tabernacles
- The Weekly Sabbath Festival
- The Golden Calf, the idol made by Aaron
- Moses with the New Stone Tablets
- 1st five of the Ten Commandments
- 2nd five of the Ten Commandments
- Ark of God
- The High Priest of Israel
- Tabernacle of God
- Aaron and Miriam oppose Moses
- Exploring Canaan by 12 spies
- 37 years in the wilderness
- Aaron’s Rod that budded
- Speak to the Rock “Give Water”
- Death of Aaron
- The Bronze Snake
- Balak Summons Balaam
- Six cities of Refuge for Israel
- Daughters of Zelophehad
- Moses Blesses the Tribes with Three Sermons
- Moses lived for 120 years
- Caleb was the son of Jephunneh
- Joshua – The Fall of Jericho
- Questions and Answers 1-16
- Questions and Answers 17-32
- Questions and Answers 33-49
- Time Line for Life of Moses
- Next Module – Judges or rulers of Israel
- 7 Feasts and a Fast – Introduction
- 7 Feasts and a Fast – PASSOVER
- 7 Feasts and a Fast – UNLEAVENED BREAD
- 7 Feasts and a Fast – FIRSTFRUITS
- 7 Feasts and a Fast – PENTECOST
- 7 Feasts and a Fast – FEAST OF TRUMPETS
- A Fast – YOM KIPPUR
- 7 Feasts and a Fast – TABERNACLES
- 7 Feasts and a Fast – Weekly Sabbath
- 7 Feasts and a Fast – Other Information
- Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah (The Day of the Sounding of Shofar)
- Yom Kippur, means “Day of Atonement”
- The Jewish Festival of Sukkot
- Background Information – Life of Moses
- Resources – Life of Moses