Sukkot – Booths (or Tabernacles)
Importance: High - it is commanded.
Mood: Festive
Background: Occurring just five days after Yom Kippur, this feast is commonly known as the Festival of Booths. This harvest festival is actually known by several names: the "Festival of Booths" (Khag ha-Sukkot); the "Festival of the Ingathering" (Khag ha-Asif), "The Festival" (Khag), and the "Season of Rejoicing" (Zeman Simkhateinu). Being a harvest festival, it is reminiscent of the American concept of Thanksgiving.
Practice: The primary observance associated with Sukkot is the building and dwelling in a temporary shelter, or "booth" (Hebrew sukka). We do not work on the first day of Sukkot (Leviticus 23:35), but the other days we simply party in the evening.
Biblical Support: Leviticus 23:34-44; Nehemiah 8:14
This celebrates the completion of the great fall harvest and reminds us that we lived in tents for 40 years.
Mood: Festive
Background: Occurring just five days after Yom Kippur, this feast is commonly known as the Festival of Booths. This harvest festival is actually known by several names: the "Festival of Booths" (Khag ha-Sukkot); the "Festival of the Ingathering" (Khag ha-Asif), "The Festival" (Khag), and the "Season of Rejoicing" (Zeman Simkhateinu). Being a harvest festival, it is reminiscent of the American concept of Thanksgiving.
Practice: The primary observance associated with Sukkot is the building and dwelling in a temporary shelter, or "booth" (Hebrew sukka). We do not work on the first day of Sukkot (Leviticus 23:35), but the other days we simply party in the evening.
Biblical Support: Leviticus 23:34-44; Nehemiah 8:14
This celebrates the completion of the great fall harvest and reminds us that we lived in tents for 40 years.
2011 Sukkot Message
Welcome to Jesus’ birthday! You may be thinking, “Really? Have you lost your mind? I thought that was Christmas?” I’m pretty sure the ladies at the Mercer Market Bakery were probably thinking that when Tish ordered the cake with “Happy Birthday Jesus!” on it. Like we needed more ammunition for the community to think we’re weirdoes!
Let me explain myself. The Bible doesn’t specifically say when Jesus was born but we can determine the proximate date with remarkable precision. We know that it was not around what we now call Christmas because the sheep were still out in the fields. (Luke 2:8)
John the Baptist was conceived around Sivan 30, the eleventh week. It was when Zechariah was ministering in the Temple that he got an angelic visit announcing a coming son. That was the week of Sivan 12-18. If we add 40 weeks for a normal pregnancy, that means John the Baptist was born around Passover (Nisan 14).
Jesus was conceived six months after John was conceived. (Luke 1:26-33) So Jesus would have been conceived on or around Kislev 25. By the way, that’s Hanukkah. So the “Light of the World” was conceived on the Festival of Lights. If you calculate nine months forward for Jesus’ birth, that means that the approximate time of Jesus’ birth was Sukkot (the early Fall of the year). Since Hashem did pretty much everything else on the Festival timetable, I think it’s pretty safe to say that Jesus was born on Sukkot.
That fits with Luke 2’s account of a tax being imposed at that time. Sukkot is one of the Shalosh Regalim; the Three Pilgrimage Festivals which include Pesach’ Shavuot, and Sukkot.(Exodus 23:14-17; 34:18-23; Deuteronomy 16:16) Because travel was often difficult, and because all the Jews travelled to Jerusalem on the Shalot Regalim, the government routinely imposed their taxes during that time.
We can also determine the year. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt in accordance to the warning instructions from an angel. They stayed there till Hashem told them Herod had died. Then, in accordance to the Law, they brought Mary for her purification and Jesus for His dedication to the Temple in Jerusalem. That’s where Anna and Simeon met Him and prophesied over him. We tend to focus on that but what’s really cool is that Halakha dictates that a male child be brought within forty of his birth to be dedicated or it would be considered a sin. Since they went to Egypt, waited for Herod to die and got back on time, that means we know that this happened pretty close to Herod’s death. Josephus tells us that Herod died during the autumn of 4 BC. Did you get that? Autumn. Again, Fall – not winter. So I believe that Jesus was born on Sukkot of 4 BC.
This sheds light on a couple other biblical passages. This means that when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain (Luke 9:27-36) it was His birthday. Herod would celebrate his birthday with lavish parties with nobility forced to come watch gruesome deaths of gladiators, slaves and criminals. Jesus celebrated His birthday and Moses and Elijah showed up! Herod would dress up in his finest, but Jesus’ whole appearance changed and his clothes became dazzling white and the area was filled with glory.
This also explains why Jesus would risk His life to show up in Jerusalem for Sukkot. Because of the current political situation, even Jesus’ disciples didn’t expect Him to show up. But there were going to be thousands of people from all over the Middle East there for one of the Shalosh Regalim and many of them hoped to hear from this prophet they’d heard about. Jesus didn’t disappoint them. He showed up for His birthday.
Let me back up a minute and explain something. There was a tradition that the High Priest would pour out water over the altar to signify gratitude for the blessing of rain and hopeful expectation of continued rain the following year. While he did so the priest would recite:
This special libation was only made during Sukkot. It was on the last and greatest day of Sukkot, the day that the Priest would pour out the water, that Jesus stood and said,
There are many Derashot we can draw from the Feast of Tabernacles. The most obvious for we Adonaists is that God is our ultimate shelter. We are merely nomads in this world and we don’t lay a lot of import in nations, governments, worldly culture and holidays. We try to not hold very tightly to material goods. We know that this life is only temporary and our eyes remain firmly fixed on our capital city; a city not built by merely human hands but whose Architect and Builder is the Carpenter of Nazareth.
However, this year, I’d like to focus on the four species. Turn if you would to:
Traditionally the various plants that we seen described in these two passages are referred to as the “arba minim”. Arba minim are the four species of vegetation used in ritual observance of Sukkot to fulfill the commandment to “rejoice before the Lord.” Traditionally they are:
Obviously, several of these are not available to Jews everywhere in the world so we consider the matter to be maleh, which means fulfilled or not enforceable. However, I’d still like to use the four species as a type of metaphor.
The lulav (the palm) bears fruit but is not fragrant. Similarly, some people perform what most would consider mitzvoth (good deeds), but do so without spiritual power or blessing. They live by the letter of the law but do so without compassion for others or true love of God. To these people Paul says,
The hadass (the myrtle) on the other hand, smells wonderful but doesn’t bear any fruit! We all know some people that act all sweet and gushy but don’t actually do good deeds. To those people James says,
Third, the aravah (the willow) produces neither fruit nor fragrance. These are the ones that Jude warned us about. He said,
Who are these terrible, tragic, damned souls? Jude answers,
These poor folks have neither the mitzvoth nor the sweetness to at least get along with others. In their misery and self-doubt they try to drag everyone else down to their pitiable level. In their rebellion against God’s will they try to drag others along with them either so they will not be alone in their sin or so they can justify their sin.
Finally, we have the etrog (the citron). The citron has both fruit and fragrance. This is the faithful believer who steadily worships God and serves man and does so with a calm, quiet, peaceful demeanor. This is the one of whom Jesus said,
This is why Peter warned us:
This why James taught,
So today, on Jesus’ birthday, I encourage you to give to Him the greatest form of flattery: imitation. Take on His mindset. Cultivate humility, peaceableness and other worldliness.
Let me explain myself. The Bible doesn’t specifically say when Jesus was born but we can determine the proximate date with remarkable precision. We know that it was not around what we now call Christmas because the sheep were still out in the fields. (Luke 2:8)
John the Baptist was conceived around Sivan 30, the eleventh week. It was when Zechariah was ministering in the Temple that he got an angelic visit announcing a coming son. That was the week of Sivan 12-18. If we add 40 weeks for a normal pregnancy, that means John the Baptist was born around Passover (Nisan 14).
Jesus was conceived six months after John was conceived. (Luke 1:26-33) So Jesus would have been conceived on or around Kislev 25. By the way, that’s Hanukkah. So the “Light of the World” was conceived on the Festival of Lights. If you calculate nine months forward for Jesus’ birth, that means that the approximate time of Jesus’ birth was Sukkot (the early Fall of the year). Since Hashem did pretty much everything else on the Festival timetable, I think it’s pretty safe to say that Jesus was born on Sukkot.
That fits with Luke 2’s account of a tax being imposed at that time. Sukkot is one of the Shalosh Regalim; the Three Pilgrimage Festivals which include Pesach’ Shavuot, and Sukkot.(Exodus 23:14-17; 34:18-23; Deuteronomy 16:16) Because travel was often difficult, and because all the Jews travelled to Jerusalem on the Shalot Regalim, the government routinely imposed their taxes during that time.
We can also determine the year. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Egypt in accordance to the warning instructions from an angel. They stayed there till Hashem told them Herod had died. Then, in accordance to the Law, they brought Mary for her purification and Jesus for His dedication to the Temple in Jerusalem. That’s where Anna and Simeon met Him and prophesied over him. We tend to focus on that but what’s really cool is that Halakha dictates that a male child be brought within forty of his birth to be dedicated or it would be considered a sin. Since they went to Egypt, waited for Herod to die and got back on time, that means we know that this happened pretty close to Herod’s death. Josephus tells us that Herod died during the autumn of 4 BC. Did you get that? Autumn. Again, Fall – not winter. So I believe that Jesus was born on Sukkot of 4 BC.
This sheds light on a couple other biblical passages. This means that when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain (Luke 9:27-36) it was His birthday. Herod would celebrate his birthday with lavish parties with nobility forced to come watch gruesome deaths of gladiators, slaves and criminals. Jesus celebrated His birthday and Moses and Elijah showed up! Herod would dress up in his finest, but Jesus’ whole appearance changed and his clothes became dazzling white and the area was filled with glory.
This also explains why Jesus would risk His life to show up in Jerusalem for Sukkot. Because of the current political situation, even Jesus’ disciples didn’t expect Him to show up. But there were going to be thousands of people from all over the Middle East there for one of the Shalosh Regalim and many of them hoped to hear from this prophet they’d heard about. Jesus didn’t disappoint them. He showed up for His birthday.
Let me back up a minute and explain something. There was a tradition that the High Priest would pour out water over the altar to signify gratitude for the blessing of rain and hopeful expectation of continued rain the following year. While he did so the priest would recite:
- Isaiah 12:1-3 HCSB …"I will praise You, LORD, although You were angry with me. Your anger has turned away, and You have had compassion on me. (2) Indeed, God is my salvation. I will trust Him and not be afraid. Because Yah, the LORD, is my strength and my song, He has become my salvation." (3) You will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation,
This special libation was only made during Sukkot. It was on the last and greatest day of Sukkot, the day that the Priest would pour out the water, that Jesus stood and said,
- John 7:37-38 HCSB On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! (38) The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him."
There are many Derashot we can draw from the Feast of Tabernacles. The most obvious for we Adonaists is that God is our ultimate shelter. We are merely nomads in this world and we don’t lay a lot of import in nations, governments, worldly culture and holidays. We try to not hold very tightly to material goods. We know that this life is only temporary and our eyes remain firmly fixed on our capital city; a city not built by merely human hands but whose Architect and Builder is the Carpenter of Nazareth.
However, this year, I’d like to focus on the four species. Turn if you would to:
- Leviticus 23:40 HCSB On the first day you are to take the product of majestic trees--palm fronds, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook--and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.
- Nehemiah 8:15 HCSB So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout all their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, just as it is written."
Traditionally the various plants that we seen described in these two passages are referred to as the “arba minim”. Arba minim are the four species of vegetation used in ritual observance of Sukkot to fulfill the commandment to “rejoice before the Lord.” Traditionally they are:
- Lulav – a ripe green closed frond from a date palm tree.
- Hadass – boughs with leaves from a myrtle tree.
- Aravah – branches with leaves from a willow tree.
- Etrog – the fruit of a citron tree.
Obviously, several of these are not available to Jews everywhere in the world so we consider the matter to be maleh, which means fulfilled or not enforceable. However, I’d still like to use the four species as a type of metaphor.
The lulav (the palm) bears fruit but is not fragrant. Similarly, some people perform what most would consider mitzvoth (good deeds), but do so without spiritual power or blessing. They live by the letter of the law but do so without compassion for others or true love of God. To these people Paul says,
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 HCSB If I speak the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. (2) If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. (3) And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
The hadass (the myrtle) on the other hand, smells wonderful but doesn’t bear any fruit! We all know some people that act all sweet and gushy but don’t actually do good deeds. To those people James says,
- James 2:14-20 HCSB What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, (16) and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? (17) In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself. (18) But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. (19) You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe--and they shudder. (20) Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?
Third, the aravah (the willow) produces neither fruit nor fragrance. These are the ones that Jude warned us about. He said,
- Jude 1:12-13 HCSB These are the ones who are like dangerous reefs at your love feasts. They feast with you, nurturing only themselves without fear. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn--fruitless, twice dead, pulled out by the roots; (13) wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever!
Who are these terrible, tragic, damned souls? Jude answers,
- Jude 1:16 HCSB These people are discontented grumblers, walking according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.
- Jude 1:19 HCSB These people create divisions and are merely natural, not having the Spirit.
These poor folks have neither the mitzvoth nor the sweetness to at least get along with others. In their misery and self-doubt they try to drag everyone else down to their pitiable level. In their rebellion against God’s will they try to drag others along with them either so they will not be alone in their sin or so they can justify their sin.
Finally, we have the etrog (the citron). The citron has both fruit and fragrance. This is the faithful believer who steadily worships God and serves man and does so with a calm, quiet, peaceful demeanor. This is the one of whom Jesus said,
- Matthew 5:5-9 HCSB Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth. (6) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled. (7) Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy. (8) Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. (9) Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.
This is why Peter warned us:
- 1 Peter 3:10-12 HCSB For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, (11) and he must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it, (12) because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
This why James taught,
- James 3:17-18 HCSB But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. (18) And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
So today, on Jesus’ birthday, I encourage you to give to Him the greatest form of flattery: imitation. Take on His mindset. Cultivate humility, peaceableness and other worldliness.
