Leviticus 23:34 Study Bible: "Speak to the children of Israel, and say, 'On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of booths for seven days to the LORD.

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◄ Leviticus 23:34 ►

"Speak to the Israelites and say, 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Feast of Tabernacles to the LORD begins, and it continues for seven days.

Study Bible

Speak to the Israelites
This phrase underscores the direct communication between God and His chosen people, the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "speak" is "דַּבֵּר" (daber), which implies a command or authoritative instruction. This highlights the importance of the message being delivered. The Israelites, descendants of Jacob, are the covenant people through whom God chose to reveal His laws and purposes. This communication signifies a divine relationship and responsibility, emphasizing the need for obedience and reverence.

and say
The Hebrew word "אָמַר" (amar) is used here, which means to declare or proclaim. This reinforces the idea that what follows is not merely a suggestion but a divine ordinance. The repetition of communication terms ("speak" and "say") emphasizes the importance of the message and the need for clarity and understanding among the Israelites.

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month
This specifies the timing of the Feast of Tabernacles, known in Hebrew as "Sukkot." The seventh month, Tishrei, is significant in the Jewish calendar, marking a time of harvest and reflection. The fifteenth day is a full moon, often associated with completion and fulfillment in biblical symbolism. This timing connects the feast with the agricultural cycle, reminding the Israelites of God's provision and the importance of gratitude.

the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles
The term "Feast of Tabernacles" is translated from the Hebrew "חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת" (Chag HaSukkot). "Chag" means feast or festival, indicating a time of celebration and joy. "Sukkot" refers to booths or temporary shelters, symbolizing the Israelites' dependence on God during their wilderness journey. This feast is a time to remember God's faithfulness and protection, encouraging believers to trust in His provision and care.

begins
The Hebrew root "חָגַג" (chagag) implies to celebrate or keep a festival. The beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles marks a period of rejoicing and communal worship. It is a time to gather, reflect, and renew one's commitment to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and blessings.

and it lasts for seven days
The number seven in the Bible often represents completeness or perfection. The seven-day duration of the feast signifies a complete cycle of worship and celebration. It is a time for the Israelites to dwell in booths, reflecting on their journey and God's provision. This period serves as a reminder of the temporal nature of earthly life and the eternal security found in God. The seven days also encourage believers to dedicate time to spiritual reflection and community, fostering a deeper relationship with God and one another.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to whom the laws and festivals were given.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who instituted the Feast of Tabernacles as a time of remembrance and celebration.

3. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
A seven-day festival beginning on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, commemorating the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and God's provision.

4. The Wilderness
The place where the Israelites wandered for 40 years after their exodus from Egypt, living in temporary shelters.

5. The Seventh Month (Tishrei)
The month in the Hebrew calendar when the Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated, typically falling in September or October.

Teaching Points

Remembrance and Gratitude
The Feast of Tabernacles is a time to remember God's provision and faithfulness during the Israelites' wilderness journey. Christians can apply this by regularly reflecting on God's faithfulness in their own lives.

Temporary Dwellings
The use of booths or temporary shelters during the feast reminds believers of the transient nature of earthly life and the importance of focusing on eternal things.

Joyful Celebration
The feast is characterized by joy and thanksgiving, encouraging believers to cultivate a spirit of joy and gratitude in their worship and daily lives.

Community and Fellowship
The communal aspect of the feast highlights the importance of fellowship and unity among God's people, encouraging believers to engage in community life.

Prophetic Fulfillment
The Feast of Tabernacles points to the future gathering of all nations to worship God, reminding Christians of the hope of Christ's return and the establishment of His kingdom.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the Feast of Tabernacles help us understand the importance of remembering God's past provisions in our lives?

2. In what ways can the temporary nature of the booths used during the feast remind us of our own journey as pilgrims on earth?

3. How can we incorporate the principles of joy and gratitude from the Feast of Tabernacles into our daily worship and life?

4. What role does community play in the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, and how can we apply this to our church life today?

5. How does the prophetic aspect of the Feast of Tabernacles, as seen in Zechariah 14, influence our understanding of God's future plans for His people and the world?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 23:16
This verse refers to the Feast of Ingathering, another name for the Feast of Tabernacles, highlighting its agricultural significance.

Deuteronomy 16:13-15
Provides additional instructions for the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, emphasizing joy and thanksgiving.

John 7:2, 37-39
Jesus attends the Feast of Tabernacles, and on the last day, He speaks of living water, connecting the festival to His ministry and the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 14:16-19
Prophecies about the nations celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in the Messianic age, indicating its future significance.

Sermons

The Festivals	R.A. Redford	Leviticus 23:1-44
Feasts of the Lord	W. H. Jellie.	Leviticus 23:2-44
God's Festivals	Henry, Matthew	Leviticus 23:2-44
God's Holy Days	Henry, Matthew	Leviticus 23:2-44
Seven Feasts Mentioned in This Chapter	D. C. Hughes, M. A.	Leviticus 23:2-44
The Great Feasts	J. C. Gray.	Leviticus 23:2-44
The Holy Festivals	J. A. Seiss, . D. D.	Leviticus 23:2-44
The Hebdomad	J.A. Macdonald	Leviticus 23:23-44
Joy Before the Lord	W. Clarkson	Leviticus 23:33-43
The Pilgrim Spirit as Illustrated in the Feast of Tabernacles	R.M. Edgar	Leviticus 23:33-43
The Feast of Tabernacles	J.A. Macdonald	Leviticus 23:33-44
The Feast of Tabernacles	R.A. Redford	Leviticus 23:33-44
A Festival Kept to the Lord	E. Payson, D. D.	Leviticus 23:34-42
Dwelling in Booths	S. Martin, D. D.	Leviticus 23:34-42
Harvest Thanksgiving	Philip Neale.	Leviticus 23:34-42
Pleasant Ministries	J. Parker. D. D.	Leviticus 23:34-42
Sojourning in Booths	W. H. Jellie.	Leviticus 23:34-42
The Feast of Tabernacle	J. B. Lowe, . B. A.	Leviticus 23:34-42
The Feast of Tabernacles	H. M. Grout, D. D.	Leviticus 23:34-42
The Feast of Tabernacles	De Witt S. Clark.	Leviticus 23:34-42
The Feast of Tabernacles	D. C. Hughes, M. A.	Leviticus 23:34-42
The Feast of Tabernacles	Henry, Matthew	Leviticus 23:34-42
The Feast of Tabernacles	Bp. Babington.	Leviticus 23:34-42
The Feast of Tabernacles (A New Year's Sermon)	Anon.	Leviticus 23:34-42

People

Ephah, Israelites, Moses

Places

Teman

Topics

Begins, Booths, Feast, Fifteenth, Kept, Lasts, Lord's, Month, Saying, Seven, Seventh, Sons, Speak, Tabernacles, Tents

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Leviticus 23:34

     1653   numbers, 6-10
     1654   numbers, 11-99
     4951   month
     4970   seasons, of year
     4975   week
     5312   feasting
     7400   New Year, the

Leviticus 23:23-36

7435 sacrifice, in OT

Leviticus 23:26-36

8629 worship, times

Leviticus 23:32-36

8270 holiness, set apart

Leviticus 23:33-34

7358 Feast of Tabernacles

Leviticus 23:33-36

8642 celebration

Leviticus 23:33-43

4208 land, divine responsibility
8644 commemoration

Leviticus 23:34-36

4921 day
5338 holiday

Library

The Consecration of Joy
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 34. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. 35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
IT was the last, the great day of the Feast,' and Jesus was once more in the Temple. We can scarcely doubt that it was the concluding day of the Feast, and not, as most modern writers suppose, its Octave, which, in Rabbinic language, was regarded as a festival by itself.' [3987] [3988] But such solemn interest attaches to the Feast, and this occurrence on its last day, that we must try to realise the scene. We have here the only Old Testament type yet unfilfilled; the only Jewish festival which has …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Chronology
45. The length of the public ministry of Jesus was one of the earliest questions which arose in the study of the four gospels. In the second and third centuries it was not uncommon to find the answer in the passage from Isaiah (lxi. 1, 2), which Jesus declared was fulfilled in himself. "The acceptable year of the Lord" was taken to indicate that the ministry covered little more than a year. The fact that the first three gospels mention but one Passover (that at the end), and but one journey to Jerusalem, …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell in You, He that Raised up Christ from the Dead Shall Also
Rom. viii. 11.--"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." It is true the soul is incomparably better than the body, and he is only worthy the name of a man and of a Christian who prefers this more excellent part, and employs his study and time about it, and regards his body only for the noble guest that lodges within it, and therefore it is one of the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Jesus Living at Nazareth and visiting Jerusalem in his Twelfth Year.
(Nazareth and Jerusalem, a.d. 7 or 8.) ^C Luke II. 40-52. ^c 40 And the child grew [This verse contains the history of thirty years. It describes the growth of our Lord as a natural, human growth (compare Luke i. 80); for, though Jesus was truly divine, he was also perfectly man. To try to distinguish between the divine and human in Jesus, is to waste time upon an impracticable mystery which is too subtle for our dull and finite minds], and waxed strong [His life expanded like other human lives. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Healing Peter's Mother-In-Law and Many Others.
(at Capernaum.) ^A Matt. VIII. 14-17; ^B Mark I. 29-34; ^C Luke IV. 38-41. ^c 38 And he arose out of the synagogue [where he had just healed the demoniac], ^b 29 And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came { ^c entered} ^b into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [Peter and Andrew had dwelt at Bethsaida (John i. 44). They may have removed to Capernaum, or Bethsaida, being near by, may be here counted as a part, or suburb, of Capernaum. Its name does not contradict …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision A. Jesus Cleanses the Temple. ^D John II. 13-25. ^d 13 And the passover of the Jews was at hand [We get our information as to the length of our Lord's ministry from John's Gospel. He groups his narrative around six Jewish festivals: 1, He here mentions the first passover; 2, another feast, which we take to have been also a passover (v. 1); 3, another passover (vi. 4); 4, the feast of tabernacles (vii. 2); 5, dedication (x. 22); 6, passover (xi. 55). This …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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