Five days after Yom Kippur is Sukkot aka the Feast of Tabernacles and occurs on October 4th which is equivalent to the 15th Day of the 7th Month on the Zadok Priestly calendar and is a High Shabbat a (no work day). Sukkot is celebrated for 7 days ending on the October 10th. Then immediately afterwards on October 11th is the 8th Day Closing Assembly a NO WORK DAY! So, in summary we are to do no work on the 1st Day and the 8th Day because they are High-Shabbat’s (October 4th and October 11th.)
Leviticus 23:39-41 (Samaritan)
“On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the festival of YAHWEH for seven days, with a SHABBAT REST ON THE FIRST DAY AND A SHABBAT REST ON THE EIGHTH DAY. And on the first day you shall take for yourselves a beautiful fruit tree, palm branches, and branches of a leafy tree, and willows of the brook, and you shall REJOICE before YAHWEH your ELOHIM for seven days.”
The etymology for the word Tabernacle in Leviticus 23:34 is “Sukkah” pronounced sook-kaw’ H5521 and Brown-Driver-Briggs defines it as- thicket, covert, booth or temporary shelter. Strong’s defines sukkah as a hut or lair: booth, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent.
In the Otiot “Sukkah” is spelled Samech, Kaph, Hey
Samech is a picture of a thorn and means: Grab, hate, PROTECT
Kaph is a picture of an open palm and means: TO COVER, bend, allow, tame
Hey is a picture of a man with arms raised and means: Look, reveal, breath, DISTINCTION
When we combine all three of these letters together, we get this message: A PROTECTIVE COVERING shows DISTINCTION for the people of YAHWEH!
It makes perfect sense because the people of YAHWEH are always distinct from the rest of the world and this appointed time is no different as we will be camping out in tents for seven days. That distinction is clearly made for all the citizens of Yisra’el which includes the native-born and the proselyte:
Leviticus 23:42-43 (Samaritan)
“You shall DWELL IN BOOTHS for seven days. Every citizen in Yisra’el shall dwell in booths. That your generations may know that I HAD THE SONS OF YISRA’EL DWELL IN BOOTHS when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.”
Notice YAHWEH says “Every citizen” shall dwell in booths? And yes this includes the grafted in gentiles who are no longer called gentiles but citizens of Yisra’el.
Ephesians 2:17-18 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“Also, when He (YESHUA) came, He announced as Good News peace to you far off (gentiles) and peace to those nearby (native-born), news that through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, YOU ARE FELLOW-CITIZENS WITH ELOHIM’S PEOPLE AND MEMBERS OF ELOHIM’s family.”
Leviticus 23:42 (Aramaic)
“You shall DWELL IN HUTS seven days; ALL THE HOUSE OF YISRA’EL SHALL DWELL IN HUTS. That your generations may know that I made the children of Yisra’el to dwell in huts when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
We are distinct peculiar people when we walk with YAHWEH and He makes this clear when He was bringing His people out of Egypt.
Exodus 8:18-19 (Samaritan)
“And on that day I will SET APART the land of Goshen, where MY PEOPLE are standing on it, that no different kinds of animals will be there. In order that you may know that I, YAHWEH, am in the midst of the land. And I will SET A DISTINCTION BETWEEN MY PEOPLE and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur.”
Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles is the true thanksgiving however, Satan has attempted to copy YAHWEH as he usually does, and he has the world rejecting YAHWEH’S days with a pagan substitute. There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9) as we see the world walking in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, just as many of the wicked kings of Yisra’el did. He mocked YAHWEH’s Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles by making his own day EXACTLY ONE MONTH after YAHWEH’s. It’s time to get away from the false thanksgiving that the world celebrates and follow YAHWEH’s true Thanksgiving which is Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles, followers of YESHUA don’t need TWO THANKSGIVINGS, the only one that needs to be celebrated is the one found in the kodesh (set-apart) scriptures.
1 Kings 12:32
“And Jeroboam performed a FESTIVAL on the FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE EIGHTH MONTH, LIKE THE FESTIVAL THAT WAS IN JUDAH (SUKKOT)FEAST OF TABERNACLES…”
Leviticus 23:34:
'Speak to the children of Yisra’el saying, 'On the FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE SEVENTH MONTH IS THE FESTIVAL OF SUKKOT/Chag HaSukot (Feast of Tabernacles) begins, and it lasts for seven days.
This alone should be an eye opener! Also, the modern thanksgiving has connections with harvest deities which is a direct transgression against our ELOHIM.
Abraham was the first to celebrate Sukkot
Jubilees 16:20-31
“And he built BOOTHS (Sukkah) for himself and for his servants on this Festival, and he was the FIRST to celebrate the FESTIVAL OF SUKKOT on the earth. Verse 25-31 “And he blessed his Creator who had created him in his generation, for He had created him according to His good pleasure; for He knew and perceived that from him would arise the Branch of Righteousness (YESHUA) for the everlasting generations, and from him a SET APART SEED, so that it should become like Him who had made all matters (YAHWEH). And he blessed and REJOICED, and he called the name of this Festival the Festival of YAHWEH, a joy acceptable to the Most High EL. And we blessed him forever, and all his seed after him throughout all the generations of the earth, because he celebrated this Festival in its season, according to the witness of the tablets of the heavens. For this reason it is ordained on the tablets of the heavens concerning Yisra’el, that they SHOULD CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL OF SUKKOT SEVEN DAYS WITH JOY (Leviticus 23:40 REJOICE), in the seventh month, acceptable before YAHWEH-a Law FOREVER, throughout their generations every year. And to this there is NO LIMIT OF DAYS; for it is ordained FOREVER regarding Yisra’el that they should celebrate it and DWELL IN BOOTHS, and put wreaths upon their heads, and take leafy BRANCHES, and willows of the stream. And Abraham took branches of palm trees, and the fruit of good trees, and every day going round the altar with the branches seven times in the morning, he praised and gave thanks to his ELOHIM for all matters in JOY.”
That is exactly what YAHWEH commands in Leviticus 23:39-42:
On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm trees, twigs of leafy trees, and willows of the stream, and REJOICE before YAHWEH your ELOHIM for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to YAHWEH for seven days each year-a LAW forever in your generations; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.”
For anyone who is still undecided about whether you should be celebrating these Appointed Times/Feast days of YAHWEH, I would like you to consider this:
Galatians 3:27-29
“For as many of you as were immersed (baptized) into Messiah, have put on Messiah. There is not Jew nor Greek (Aramean in Aramaic), there is not male and female, for you are all ONE in Messiah YESHUA. And if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise.”
If we belong to YESHUA and we are the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise, then are you doing what Abraham did? He was the first to celebrate Sukkot and we are to celebrate it as well. He kept the commandments and so should we, so shouldn’t you do as Abraham did?
John 8:39 (Hebrew)
“They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father!” So YESHUA said to them, “If you are the SONS OF ABRAHAM, DO THE WORKS OF ABRAHAM!”
Genesis 26:5
“Because Abraham obeyed My voice and guarded My Charge: My Commands, My Laws, and My Torah.”
Sukkot details:
We are commanded to dwell in a sukkah which was defined above as thicket, covert, booth or temporary shelter, hut or lair: booth, cottage covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent. A sukkah is a temporary dwelling topped with foliage, limbs, branches, and other materials to provide shade while living outdoors or even camping out in a tent. I personally will set up a tent to sleep in and a sukkah topped with a bamboo roof and other foliage to gather, eat, and read under during the day.
Leviticus 23:34-44 (Aramaic):
'Speak to the children of Yisrael saying, 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month is YAHWEH'S Festival of Sukkot/Chag HaSukot (Feast of Tabernacles) begins, and it lasts for seven days. The FIRST DAY is a set-apart gathering; DO NO SERVILE WORK. For seven days present offerings made to YAHWEH by fire, and on the EIGHTH DAY hold a set-apart gathering and present an offering made to YAHWEH by fire. It is a closing Festival, YOU DO NO SERVILE WORK.”
YAHWEH continues in verse 39 by saying: 'But on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast to YAHWEH for seven days; the first day is a suspension of labor (no work day, October 4th), and the eighth day also is a solemn rest (no work day, October 11th). And you shall take for yourselves on the first day, the fruits of goodly trees, citron, branches of palm trees, myrtle, and willows of the brook; and you shall REJOICE before YAHWEH your ELOHIM for seven days ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE HOUSE OF YISRA’EL (Native-born and those grafted in). And you shall keep this feast to YAHWEH for seven days in the year. It is a STATUE FOR EVER THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in huts seven days; ALL THE HOUSE OF YISRA’EL SHALL DWELL IN HUTS (BOOTHS). That your generations may know that I made the children of Yisra’el to dwell in huts (booths) when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.”
Leviticus 23:39-41 (Samaritan)
“On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the festival of YAHWEH for seven days, with a SHABBAT REST ON THE FIRST DAY AND A SHABBAT REST ON THE EIGHTH DAY. And on the first day you shall take for yourselves a beautiful fruit tree, palm branches, and branches of a leafy tree, and willows of the brook, and you shall REJOICE before YAHWEH your ELOHIM for seven days.”
Tempe Scroll Composite text: Column 27:10, Column 28:1-2, Column 29:10
“And on the fifteenth day of this month, this shall be a set-apart convocation for you. All laborious work you shall not do on it. And you shall celebrate a FEAST of YAHWEH of seven days, fire offerings, a pleasing scent for YAHWEH. Column 29:10 “The EIGHTH DAY, there shall be an assembly for you. All laborious work you shall not do on it.”
Numbers 29:12-35 (Aramaic)
“And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you have a set-apart gathering, you do NO MANNER OF HARD WORK, and you shall keep a FEAST to YAHWEH seven days, and you shall bring near a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a SWEET FRAGRANCE to YAHWEH: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones they are, and their grain offering: fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenth parts for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenth parts for each of the two rams, and one-tenth part for each of the fourteen lambs, and one male goat as a iniquity offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering. (The number of bulls decrease by “one” each day) verse 32 Then on the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones…” Verse 35 “On the EIGHTH DAY you shall have a solemn assembly, you shall do NO MANNER OF HARD WORK; but you shall offer burnt offerings, a sacrifice made by fire, of a SWEET SAVOR TO YAHWEH, one bullock, one ram, and four lambs of the first year without blemish…”
As with all the animal sacrifices that are mentioned in the Old Covenant including all of those on the Appointed Times/Feast Days, we have been given a gift by our Father YAHWEH in YESHUA Who is the Lamb of YAHWEH who takes away the iniquities of the world and offered Himself with His blood and not the blood of bulls and goats. YESHUA fulfills the animal offerings for us with His blood and is the sweet fragrance that YAHWEH mentions:
Ephesians 5:2
“And walk in love, as Mashiach (Messiah) also has loved us, and gave Himself for us, a gift and an offering to YAHWEH for a SWEET-SMELLING FRAGRANCE.”
Hebrews 9:12-14 (Aramaic)
“And He (YESHUA) did not enter with the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the set-apart place, and obtained for us EVERLASTING SALVATION. For if the blood of goats and calves and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who were defiled cleansed them even to the cleansing of their flesh, how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to ELOHIM, purify our conscience from dead works so that we may serve the living ELOHIM? For this cause He became the mediator of the New Covenant and by His death He became salvation for those who transgressed the old covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
More on Sukkot:
Mathew 17:1-4 (Hebrew)
“And after six days YESHUA took Peter, and James, and John his brother, and brought them up onto one exceeding high mountain, the figure (His figure) was changed before them, and the form of His face shone like the sun, and His garment was like snow. Then Moses and Elijah appeared to Him, talking with Him. And Peter said to YESHUA, “My Master, it is good for us to be here. If You want, let us make here three TENTS, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
As we see Peter knew the importance of the tent/booth/sukkah and wanted to build one for all three of them.
Hosea 12:9 (Aramaic)
“But I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM since the land of Egypt, again I shall make you dwell in TENTS as in the days of the SOLEMN FEASTS.”
Hosea 12:9 (Septuagint)
“But I YAHWEH your ELOHIM brought you up out of the land of Egypt: I will yet cause you to DWELL IN TENTS, ACCORDING TO THE DAYS OF THE FEAST.”
The etymology for the word tent here is “Ohel” H168 and defined by Strong’s as a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance) covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.”
Genesis 33:17 (Samaritan)
“And Jacob departed to Sakkoota (Sukkot), and built himself a house, and made BOOTHS (Sukkah) for his livestock. That is why the name of the place is called Sukkote.”
Jonah 4:5 (Aramaic)
“So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made a BOOTH (Sukkah) for himself, and sat under it in the shade to see what would happen to the city.”
The word booth in both Genesis 33 and Jonah 4:5 is the same word in Strong’s #5521 which is “Sukkah” pronounced (soo-kah) a shelter, or temporary dwelling.” The same sukkah we are dwell in for 7 days.
How are we to celebrate this Feast?
We can look to how the Israelites celebrated Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles in the days of Nehemiah when they returned from Babylonian exile and studying the scriptures to walk in Torah as we are commanded.
Nehemiah 8:13-18 (Aramaic)
"On the second day were gathered together the chiefs of all the fathers of all the people, the priests and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, to understand from him the word of the Torah. And they found it written in the Torah which YAHWEH had commanded by Moses that the children of Yisra’el should DWELL IN BOOTHS (Sukkah) in the FEAST of the month of October (Reference to the month of the Feast of Tabernacles). And that they should hear everything which Moses wrote in the book of the Torah; and the heralds proclaimed throughout all the towns and in Jerusalem, saying, Go up to the mountain and bring olive BRANCHES and walnut BRANCHES and PALM BRANCHES and BRANCHES of CITRONS AND BRANCHES of willow trees, and make BOOTHS, as it is written in the Book of the Torah of Moses.” So the people went forth and brought them, and made themselves BOOTHS, everyone upon the roof of his house and in their courts and in the court of the house of YAHWEH and in the street of the water gate and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. And all the people of those who had returned from the captivity made BOOTHS AND DWELT IN THE BOOTHS; for since the days of Yeho’shua (Joshua) the son of Nun to that day the children of Yisra’el had not done so. And there was VERY GREAT GLADNESS. Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, they read in the book of the Torah of YAHWEH. And they CELEBRATED THE FEAST FOR SEVEN DAYS; AND ON THE EIGHTH DAY WAS A SOLMEN ASSEMBLY, ACCORDING TO THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN.”
So we see that Abraham in his day and those who came back from Babylonian exile followed the exact came command of Leviticus 23 which is to REJOICE, DWELL IN BOOTHS FOR 7 DAYS, AND TAKE PALM BRANCHES, LEAFY BRANCHES, WILLOWS OF THE STEAM AND BLESS YAHWEH and hold an assembly on the 8th day. This is the perfect time to make a huge feast, cookout, eat and rejoice! If the world has the mindset to celebrate big on their pagan holidays, then it is our duty to show the world that YAHWEH’s Appointed Times are greater and to be celebrated with joy.
It’s interesting to note the connection with branches with those that will be standing before YESHUA! They overcame the world and suffering and now will get to rejoice with branches similar to Sukkot.
Revelation 7:9 (Hebrew)
“And after this I saw a great company which one is not able to number, from all the nations standing before the throne and before the Lamb, and they were clothed in white garments, and in their hands were BRANCHES, and they cried out with a great voice and said, “Salvation belongs to YAHWEH and to the Lamb!”
Is the Sukkot/Chag HaSukot: The Feast of Tabernacles important?
Yes! Look not further than this prophetic scripture.
Zechariah 14:16-19 (Aramaic):
“Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, YAHWEH Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Sukkot/Chag HaSukot (Feast of Tabernacles). And it shall be, whosoever will not come up of ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH to Jerusalem to worship the King, YAHWEH of Hosts, they will have no rain. If the FAMILY OF EGYPT (Egyptian people) do not go up and not come the plague with which YAHWEH will smite the nations that DO NOT COME UP TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. This shall be the punishment of EGYPT AND THE PUNISHMENT OF ALL NATIONS THAT DO NOT COME UP TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES.”
As explained in an older messaged titled “Are we rehearsing on earth for what is to come?” We saw that everything we do on earth is a dress rehearsal for the finale and that believers have twisted what Paul was really saying in Colossians 2:16-17! Paul was saying in the Aramaic English New Testament, Let no pagan (unbeliever) judge you for KNOWING THE TRUTH! So we see that when YESHUA comes to reign for 1,000 years on the earth that ALL NATIONS including the Egyptian will have to come up to Jerusalem to celebrate The Festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) or have no rain and plagues. This points exactly to what Paul was saying about the Festivals being “a prophetic shadow of what is to come.” If the entire world will have to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles when YESHUA returns, then how is the law done away with? Or if the law just for the Jews, then why do the ALL NATIONS including the Egyptians having to celebrate it? We know the Egyptians are not native-born Israelites/Jews.
Isaiah 2:2-3 (The 1,000 reign of YESHUA)
“And it shall come to pass in the LAST DAYS, that the mountain of YAHWEH’s house shall be established above the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and ALL NATIONS SHALL LOOK TO IT. And many people shall go and say, Come, let us to up to the mountain of YAHWEH, to the house of the ELOHIM of Jacob; and HE WILL TEACH US OF HIS WAYS (Psalms 119:1, Psalms 103:7), and we will walk in His PATHS: for out of Zion shall go forth the TORAH, and the word of YAHWEH from Jerusalem.”
Micah 4:1-7
“But it shall come to pass in the LATTER DAYS that the mountain of the house of YAHWEH shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and all the people shall gather to it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of YAHWEH, and to the house of the ELOHIM of Jacob; and He will TEACH US OF HIS WAYS, and we will walk in His paths; for the TORAH shall go forth out of Zion, and the word of YAHWEH from Jerusalem. And He shall judge between many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and there shall be none to harm them; for the mouth of YAHWEH of hosts has spoken it. For all people will walk everyone in the name of his mighty one, and we will walk in the Name of YAHWEH our ELOHIM for ever and ever. In that day, says YAHWEH, I will gather those who are afar off, and I will bring near those who have been driven out and those whom I have afflicted. And I will make those who have been driven out a remnant, and those who are afar off a strong nation; and YAHWEH SHALL REIGN OVER THEM IN MOUNT ZION from henceforth, even forever.”
During the 1,000 year reign of YESHUA the Torah will still be kept and we see the nations going up to Jerusalem to learn it because it is YAHWEH’s WAYS! The Feast of Tabernacles is the same feast found in the Torah (Leviticus 23) so this is more proof that the Torah is not away with.
More Connections
John 1:14 (TS 2009)
“And the Word became flesh and PITCHED HIS TENT among us, and we saw His esteem, esteem as of an only brought-forth of a father, complete in favor, and truth.”
John 1:14 (Hebrew)
“And so EL was made flesh and DWELT among you, and we saw His esteem, esteem as of an only brought-forth of a father, complete in favor, and truth.”
Just like when you go camping, you have to pitch a tent to dwell in just like we have to pitch a tent/booth/succah to dwell in during Sukkot the Feast of Tabernacles. So we can see the symbolism and importance of this celebration.
Revelation 21:3
“And I heard a loud voice from the heavens saying, “See, the BOOTH OF ELOHIM is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and ELOHIM Himself shall be with them and be their ELOHIM.”
Numbers 1:52
“And the children of Yisra’el shall PITCH THEIR TENTS, everyone by his own CAMP, everyone by his own banner, according to their divisions.”
The Feast of Tabernacles is a foreshadow of YESHUA coming to pitch His tent with us and dwell with us when He returns. He will be our ELOHIM and we will be His people. So let us make every effort to be obedient and rejoice to the King for seven days, dwell in tents/booths and not working on the first and eighth day, HalleluYAH!
As always may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!