Sukkot which follows Yom Kippur (the most solemn and holy feast day of the year) is the most joyous and happy. This feast lasts for seven days and requires every biblical family (Leviticus 23:33) to build a Sukkot (booth or tabernacle) for sleeping and eating their meals outside. This feast commemorates and is a remembrance of the wandering in the desert for 40 years by the children of Israel and Gods provision in providing an abundant harvest in the fall season. Many believe that Americas Thanksgiving celebration is rooted and based on the biblical principle of Sukkot. Many people who see their first decorated Sukkot remark how much it looks like American Thanksgiving decorations!
In Temple times Sukkot was one of the three feasts that were required to be celebrated in Jerusalem. Roads would be repaired, buildings spruced up, and four huge oil lamps would be placed to provide light all night long in Jerusalem. Young men would be assigned to care for these large lamps to keep them filled with oil through the night so light would be provided. Men and women would celebrate and dance all night long during this joyous feast. Before the festival, the Rabbis taught on every passage in Scripture dealing with water. Gold pitchers of water were brought from the pool of Siloam to the temple.
The Priest would pour out the water over the altar to signify Israel’s gratitude for the rain that had produced the harvest, and would pray for rain in the next year. The priest would recite Isaiah 12:1- 3. The last day of Sukkot is called Hosha’na Rabba, meaning the “Great Save us Please”. In Temple times water was brought from the “Pool oh Shiloach” for a brilliant service and many would be healed! In John Chapter 7 Yeshua came to the Temple on the last day of Sukkot and stated in verse 38 “Whoever puts his trust in me, as scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!” Many also believe that Yeshua was born during this feast. Zechariah was ministering in the temple when he received the announcement from God of a coming son.
The eighth course of Abia, when Zekharya was ministering, was the week of Sivan 12 to 18 (Killian n.d.). Forty weeks later John the Baptist was born on or about Passover (Nisan 14). We know six months after John’s conception, Miryam conceived Yeshua (Luke 1:26-33). That means Yeshua was conceived six months later in the month of Kislev which is when Hanukkah is celebrated. The “light of the world” was probably conceived during the “Miracle of Lights”! Starting at Hanukkah and adding nine months for Miryam’s pregnancy, one arrives at or on the birth of Yeshua during Sukkot! (the early fall of the year).
God required all male Jews to come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. This great influx of people would spill over into the surrounding towns filling all the local inns to capacity (Bethlehem is approx. five miles from Jerusalem). That’s why Yosef and Miryam could not find a room! We hope you enjoy the following photographs of our joyous Sukkot celebration!
Shaalu Shalom Yerushalayim!
Messianic Rabbi Eric