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More Leviticus commentaries
Leviticus 20:1-27
Penalties for breaking the law
Leviticus 22:17-25
Perfection is a requirement
Leviticus 23:1-14
Certain times for feasting
Leviticus 23:15-22
What to do when there is sin in Church
Leviticus 23:23-32
Pentecost celebrates the wheat harvest
Leviticus 23:33-44
The “Feast of Tabernacles” was their Thanksgiving
Leviticus 25:1-17
Rest for land and people is important
Leviticus 26:1-13
Blessing promised for obedience
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The “Feast of Tabernacles” was their Thanksgiving
Leviticus 23:33–44
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Here is a list of things housewives are most thankful for: “For husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in the professionals. For children who put away their things & clean up after themselves. They’re such … More
Israel as a nation has not only been a scattered people and a sinful people, but they have been a suffering people. However, one day their suffering will be turned into joy. Like our Thanksgiving day in the United States the “Feast of Tabernacles” was a time of feasting, rejoicing, and giving thanks to God for His bountiful gifts (Duet. 16:13-15).
We must remember that the “Day of Atonement” preceded this feast. People who want happiness without holiness are sure to have disappointment. The “Feast of Tabernacles” was the final and most important feast of the year. It lasted for seven days (from the 15th through the 21st of the seventh month). The feast was not only an agricultural thanksgiving at the end of the fall harvest but also served as a celebration of God’s protective care during Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness living in tents (vv. 33-34).
On the first and eighth day of the “Feast of Tabernacles,” the Israelites were to have a sacred assembly and were not allowed to do any occupational work (v. 35). The offerings to be given were the most elaborate and impressive of the entire year (Num. 29:12-38) The foliage from the trees may have been used in constructing the booths in which the people were to live for seven days. This was a reminder of the tents they lived in when they first came out of Egypt. The “Feast of Tabernacles” pictures the future kingdom that God has prepared for Israel when the Messiah comes (vv. 36-43). For Israel the best is yet to come. The scattered people will be gathered; the sinful people will be cleansed and the sorrowing people will rejoice. This is how Moses instructed the people of Israel to celebrate the Lord’s festivals (v. 44).Application
Just as the “Feast of Tabernacles” was a time to remember and offer thanks for all God had done for the Israelites I need to be thankful for all that God has done and is constantly doing for me and be sure to express this through my prayers.
Leviticus 23:33-44 (English Standard Version)
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. For seven days you shall present food offerings to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work. "These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day, besides the LORD's Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD. "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. You shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed feasts of the LORD.
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