Sukkoth (Booths)

Torah: Leviticus 22:25-23:44

Maftir: Numbers 29:12-16 Prophets: Zechariah 14:1-21

by Min. Donald H. Garrett

The Feast (Festival) of Sukkoth (called Booths or Tabernacles in English) occurs in the Fall just after the Day of Atonement. The Scriptures above are what is traditionally read on day one. Day two is the same except Prophets is 1 Kings 8:2-21. During this feast/festival is when Yeshua was born according to New Testament (Brit HaChadasha) references to the season, not December 25 as the rest of the world likes to proclaim. However, that is not the focus of this writing.

TORAH:

In reading the Torah section above, I noticed that part of it does not pertain to Sukkoth. I understand the relevance of mentioning the qualifying animals for the sacrifices in Leviticus 22:25-33. However for this Feast, it is not necessary to read Leviticus 23:4-32. Those verses should be read on the corresponding Holy Days that they refer to. Chapter 22:22 begins with what blemishes (deficits) are not acceptable in the animals provided for sacrifice on the alter. Verse 25 says the animals from the hand of a stranger shall not be offered either. Verse 26-30 explains that animals younger than eight days are not suitable for offering, animals in their youth shall not be offered with their parent animals, and all must be eaten on the same day, nothing left until tomorrow. Verses 31-33 reminds us of YaHVaH’s Holiness and our obedience to His commandments. 

Chapter 23:1-3 make it quite clear that the Holy Days mentioned here are YaHVaH’s appointed festivals, not the festivals of the Jews, or the Israelites, or any other religion. They are His days and if you follow Him, you should observe these days. Also listed here is the first Holy Day, the Shabbat.

Skipping to Chapter 23:33, we see the dates and times for Sukkoth. In the verses 34 to 42 this festival is lined out as a 7 day festival with a beginning Shabbat on the first day and an ending Shabbat on the eighth day after the festival. Note, it says the festival is on the 15th day of the 7th month. It doesn’t say Tishri is the 1st month as our calendar says today, it says it is the 7th month. In fact, it says this three times in these verses and anything said 3 times by YaHVaH is to be noted. This is to be a “seven-day period for YaHVaH” verse 34 and “You shall celebrate it as a festival for YaHVaH, a seven-day period in the year, an eternal decree for your generations” verse 41. How long again? AN ETERNAL DECREE, in other words, forever. Why? “So that your generations will know that I [YaHVaH] caused the Children of Israel to dwell in booths” verse 43. And Mosheh declared all of YaHVaH’s festivals to the Israelites.

Interestingly, the traditional readings do not include Deuteronomy 16:13- 17. These Scriptures reaffirm the Festival of Sukkoth with inclusion. It says who all should be present: you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maidservant, the Levite, the proselyte, the orphan, and the widow who are in your cities. In other words, everybody in the Nation should be there.

MAFTIR:

Numbers 29:12 begins with a restatement (4th time) that the Festival is to be on the 15th day in the 7th month. These verses basically tell exactly what additional offerings are to be made during this Festival. 13 young bulls, 2 rams, and 14 lambs under 1 year old, all unblemished. Along with all of these animals is the flour for each. In my research, an ephah of flour is about a bushel of flour weighing between 50 and 64 pounds. When you add up all the flour to be used for these sacrifices, it comes to approximately 400 to 500 pounds of flour. This is quantity of flour and number of animals is to be done each and every day of the 7 day Festival. WOW! 

PROPHETS: 

Zechariah 14 refers to the End Times when nations will come against Israel (and conquer). Yet, YaHVaH will provide an escape route for His Remnant who believe. The Mount of Olives will be split asunder and a valley created. All the nations who attacked Jerusalem will be judged and their bodies will melt away (including any animals). The melting away sounds very similar to a nuclear explosion result and we know YaHVaH is quite capable of causing such by just speaking it into existence. 

How does this tie into Sukkoth? Because all who are left will come to Jerusalem after that and worship the King YaHVaH, Master of Legions, and celebrate the Festival of Sukkoth each year. Those who do not will be destroyed. This is very similar to what is written in Revelation regarding the coming of the Lord Yeshua against to destroy and judge the nations, placing them in obedience, and having them come up to worship at this Festival of Sukkoth. Yes, we have the Festival in the Torah, in the Prophets, and in Revelation. Remember the ETERNAL DECREE in Leviticus. 

In reading Zechariah where the day will be neither day or night and all the other references reminds me of Yeshua’s crucifixion. He was crucified on the Mount of Olives, an earthquake happened and tore the Temple veil in two, and the day grew dark as the night. We know this happened at Pesach (Passover), but I believe this was pointing directly to the Scripture in Zechariah 14 (and Revelation) regarding what will happen in the End Times. Basically, saying I’m coming back to where you crucified Me to destroy and judge you, while making a way for those who worship and believe in Me. Of course, I have no direct proof, but it is very interesting in the similarities.

(c) Copyright September 2021 Min. Donald H. Garrett and Odon Obadyah Ministries, Inc.

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