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What is Sukkot?
Sukkot is one of the three major festivals:
Pesach (Passover)
Shavuoth (Feast of Weeks)
Sukkot ( Feast of Tabernacles)
The 'Khag' or 'Festival' of Sukkot is also variously known as:
- Z'man Simchateinu [Hebrew for “Time of Rejoicing”]
- Chag ha-Succot
- Chag ha-Asif
- Feast of Ingathering
- Feast of Tabernacles
- Festival of Booths
Sukkot is observed in autumn 5 days after Yom Kippur. It is held from the 15th to the 21st day of Tishri, which would be late September to late October. At the end of this 7 day observance, Shemini Atzerath, (the Last Great Day) is also celebrated, creating an 8 day festival.
Etymology & History
The word Sukkot itself is the plural form of Sukkah, which is a temporary shelter. Hence “Tabernacle” which actually means "temporary or movable shelter", or “booth” which means essentially the same.
It is also known as 'Festival of In-gathering' because the Hebrew people often used Sukkahs during the fall harvest. That is, the Sukkah was built near the edges of their fields to provide shelter for harvest workers to remain in the field until the the harvest was complete. These dwellings allowed the workers to maximize the amount of time they spent in the fields, harvesting their food more quickly as a result.
The Children of Israel had to live in Sukkahs as they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land, led by Yahshua. Since the Sukkahs were simple makeshift dwellings made of branches and twigs, they were easy to assemble, dismantle, and carry, and afforded some basic shelter and protection which they could also carry as they travelled through the desert.
So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of Yahweh seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. You shall take on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your Elohim seven days. You shall keep it a feast to Yahweh seven days in the year: it is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall keep it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths seven days. All who are native-born in Yisra'el shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Yisra'el to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Mitzrayim. I am Yahweh your Elohim.
Leviticus 23:39-43
Another significance is the consecration of the Temple in Jerusalem during the reign of King Solomon, which also took place during the time of Sukkot. Read in I Kings 8, and II Chronicles chapters 6 & 7.
Prophetic Symbolism
The parallel of our own mortal bodies as temporary dwellings, in which we wander through the wilderness of the world, awaiting our entrance into Eternal Life at the time of the true harvest, should be obvious. This is also referred to as the Harvest of wheat and tares. Thus the 7 day period represents the 7 thousand year week which spans from Adam until the Millenium, ending with the "Time of Rejoicing", when we leave the mortal (temporary) flesh, and inherit immortality in a new, incorruptible and permanent body (or dwelling).
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from Elohim, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling, so that by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
2 Corinthians 5:1-4
Sukkot is commanded to be observed by all generations.
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