RESTORING A PEOPLE, REBUILDING A NATION
Note: Zechariah 14 explains how this feast is a statue forever and how there will come a time that all nations will understand and appreciate this commanded feast. (Zech.14:16)
A sukkah- derived from sekhakh (coverings) - refers to a booth generally constructed for temporary or modest dwelling, these booths were made from tree branches Nehemiah 8:14-16, such as one that might have provided for cattle, Genesis 33:17.
On the 1st day the Israelites where commanded to gather in the fruits of their land (Leviticus 23:39) and to make a Lulav which is a closed frond of the date palm tree (Leviticus 23:40).
Boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of thick trees and willows of the brook.
Note: Boughs of goodly trees- although no special tree was mention it probably was the olive tree being that Nehemiah 8:15 mentions the olive branches were to be fetched during the time of the feast.
The four are lumped together under term lulav, since the lulav is the largest and most prominent.
What the Creator commands on Sukkot:
1. To not work the 1st day (Lev. 23:35)
2. To rejoice before YHWH (Deut. 16:13-14; Deut. 23:40)
3. To live in Sukkah (booths) (Lev. 23:42)
4. To gather on the first day boughs of goodly trees. (Lev. 23:40)
"SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL, SAYING, THE FIFTEETH DAY OF THIS SEVENTH MONTH SHALL BE THE FEAST OF TABERNALCES FOR SEVEN DAYS UNTO YAHOWAH" Leviticus 23:34
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLE
The Feast of Tabernacle/ Sukkot takes place after Yom Kippur on the 15th day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:34, Deut. 16:13-15). Sukkot commemorates the time when The Children of Israel were wandering in the desert for fourty-years, living in booths (Leviticus 23:43). Agriculturally, Sukkot is a harvest festival and also known as the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 34:22). This is considered as one of the most joyous times of the season that lasts eight days. You are allowed to do work that only pertains to preparation of the feast the first day and the eighth day, but it prohibits you from doing occupational work the 1st day and the eighth day these days are to be as a Sabbath, (Leviticus 23:35,36,39). This feast shall be a holy convocation and seven days you are to dwell in booths and keep a solemn feast (Leviticus 23:42, Deuteronomy 16:15), it shall be kept forever throughout generations (Leviticus 23:41, Zechariah 14:16-19) The Creators reasoning to dwell in booths is so the generations may know that he made the Israelites dwell in booths when brought out of hard boundage from Egypt. (Lev. 23:43)
The Feast Of Tabernacle/Sukkot
Begins sunset: Ethanim 15th
Ends sunset: Ethanim on the eigth day (Shemini Atzeret)
