The Feast of Tabernacles
By S. N. HASKELL
The feast of tabernacles was the last feast of the yearly round of service, and typified the consummation of the entire plan of redemption. It began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when the harvests were all gathered from field, vineyard, and olive grove. From all parts of Palestine groups of devout Jews wended their way to Jerusalem. Not only from the different sections of the Holy Land did they come, but believing Jews from all the surrounding countries went up to Jerusalem to attend the feast of tabernacles. The Lord required all the men to attend the feast, but many of the women and children also attended. Ex. 23: 16, 17. It was a time of great rejoicing, and all were expected to bring a thank-offering to the Lord. Burnt offerings, meat-offerings, and drink-offerings were offered at this time. Lev. 23: 37. The feast of tabernacles began five days after the day of atonement, and all Israel were rejoicing in their acceptance with God, and also for the bounties of the harvest which had been gathered. The feast continued seven days; the first day was kept as a ceremonial sabbath, and the eighth day was also a ceremonial sabbath. Lev. 23: 36, 39. This feast was both commemorative and typical. It commemorated their desert wanderings, and in remembrance of it, all Israel dwelt in booths during the seven days. In the streets, on the housetops, in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God booths were made of “boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook.” Lev. 23: 40-43; Neh. 8: 15, 16. It was a period of rejoicing, and all were to share the feast with the poor, the stranger, and the Levites. Deut. 16: 13-17. Every seventh year “the solemnity of the year of release” came during the feast of tabernacles, when debtors were released from their obligations. Deut. 15: 1-4. At this time the entire Levitical law was read in the hearing of all; men, women, and children, and even the strangers within their gates, were required to listen to the reading of the law. Deut. 31: 10-13. The first new year began in the autumn; for at creation, time began with fruit-trees laden with fruit all ready for food for man. Gen. 1: 29; 3: 6. The feast of tabernacles, or feast of ingathering as it was also called, was held in the “year’s end,” or “revolution of the year.” Ex. 34: 22, margin. The civil year of the Jewish calendar always ended in the autumn, but the sacred year began in the spring; hence the feast of tabernacles was held in the seventh month of the sacred year. Some very interesting Bible scenes are connected with this feast. Solomon’s temple was dedicated at the feast of tabernacles. 1 Kings 8: 2, 65. When Israel returned from Babylonian captivity, this was the first feast celebrated after the wall of Jerusalem was restored. It was a time of great rejoicing. Neh. 7: 73; 8: 17, 18. In commemorating the journeying of the children of Israel, they not only commemorated the tent life by living in booths, but the temple was especially illuminated in commemoration of the pillar of fire that guided them in their wanderings; and on the last day of the feast a beautiful service commemorated the miraculous supply of water in the desert. This was the crowning service of “the last day, that great day of the feast.” John 7: 37. The priest dipped a flagon5of water from the Kedron, and bearing it aloft, marching to the sound of music, meanwhile chanting portions of the one hundred twenty-second psalm, he entered the temple court. By the altar were two silver basins, and as the priest poured the water into one basin, another priest poured a flagon of wine into the other basin, and the wine and water, mingled together, flowed through a pipe back to the Kedron. It was on the day of this service that Jesus stood in the temple court and cried, “If any man will thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” John 7: 37-39. Christ led them by the pillar of cloud, and he it was who supplied the water from the rock. “They drank of that spiritual Rock that went with them, and that Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor. 10: 4, margin. He, the great Life-giver, was in their midst, and even while celebrating his power to quench their thirst, they were ready to kill him. Many incidents in Christ’s life cluster around the last feast of tabernacles which he attended. While this feast commemorated the journeying of Israel in the wilderness, it also commemorated their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. It would be well if every one who has been delivered from the Egyptian darkness of sin would occasionally celebrate his deliverance by recognizing the leadings of the Lord in the journey of his life, and thanking him for the many blessings received. The feast of tabernacles was typical as well as commemorative. It followed the day of atonement, which meets its anti-type in the judgment; hence this feast must typify an event that comes after the close of the judgment. When Christ comes out from the heavenly sanctuary, it will be but a short time until he will come to the earth to gather his people. He will then take them to heaven, where they will behold the glory he had with the Father before the world was. John 17: 24. For one thousand years the saints will reign with Christ in heaven (Rev. 20: 4) before they come to their eternal home,—this earth, free from every curse. The New Jerusalem, with its gates of pearl and streets of gold, will be the metropolis of the glorious abode of the redeemed. As we journey through this wilderness of sin and sorrow, it is our blessed privilege by faith to watch the movements of our High Priest, and be ready to greet with joy his appearance when he comes to take his faithful ones to sojourn with him for a time in the heavenly courts before they share in the eternal bliss of the earth made new. Every feast, as well as every offering and service in the Levitical ceremonies, pointed to the beautiful home of the redeemed. Each one is a guide-board on the great pathway of life pointing toward the heavenly home. The Jews failed to read these guide-boards aright, and to-day are wandering over the earth without the light from the blessed Messiah shining from the cross of Calvary upon their pathway. Let us take warning by their failure, and not make the same fatal mistake by failing to discern the light still reflected from types and symbols. Every type and symbol is illuminated by the light from Calvary. The gospel was all through the system of Judaism; true, it was veiled in types and symbols, but the light from Calvary illuminates the entire Jewish economy; and all who will study it in the light of the cross will gain such an intimate acquaintance with him who is the Antitype of every service, that, beholding, they will become changed into his image from glory to glory. 2 Cor. 3: 18. The typical service shines the brightest when placed by the side of the Antitype. A study of any part of the Levitical system points to some characteristic in the life of Christ. The system of Judaism reveals in a remarkable manner the character of Christ. The entire Bible is full of it. Every Bible writer refers to the Levitical service to illustrate divine truth; and the individual who is familiar with the entire sanctuary service of types and symbols, not only receives a blessing from the study, but also understands other portions of the Sacred Book more fully on account of his familiarity with the different feasts and sacrifices which are referred to so frequently all through the Bible.