Sukkot, Succot or Sukkos (Hebrew: סוכות or סֻכּוֹת sukkōt or sukkos, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles) is a biblical Jewish holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (varies from late September to late October).
The Festival of Sukkot begins on Tishri 15, the fifth day after Yom Kippur. The word "Sukkot" means "booths," and refers to the temporary dwellings that we are commanded to live in during this holiday in memory of the period of wandering. The Hebrew pronunciation of Sukkot is "Sue COAT," but is often pronounced as in Yiddish, to rhyme with "BOOK us."
Sukkot is a harvest festival. Sukkot is the last of the Shalosh R'galim (three pilgrimage festivals). Like Passover and Shavu'ot, Sukkot has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. Historically, Sukkot commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters.
Sukkot was considered the most important of all holidays, referred to simply as 'the Feast' (1 Kings 12:32). It was a time of many sacrifices (Num. 29:12-40) and a time when (on Sabbatical years) the Torah would be read aloud to the people (Deut. 31:10-13). It is one of the three festivals thh Lord required of everyone to attend. (Exod. 23:14, Deut. 16:16).
The Torah explicitly commands three things regarding the festival of Sukkot:
1. To gather the 'four species' (Lev. 23:40)
2. To rejoice before the Lord (Deut. 16:13-14; Lev 23:40)
3. To live in a sukkah/booth (Lev. 23:42)
The Festival of Sukkot begins on Tishri 15, the fifth day after Yom Kippur. The word "Sukkot" means "booths," and refers to the temporary dwellings that we are commanded to live in during this holiday in memory of the period of wandering. The Hebrew pronunciation of Sukkot is "Sue COAT," but is often pronounced as in Yiddish, to rhyme with "BOOK us."
Sukkot is a harvest festival. Sukkot is the last of the Shalosh R'galim (three pilgrimage festivals). Like Passover and Shavu'ot, Sukkot has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. Historically, Sukkot commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters.
Sukkot was considered the most important of all holidays, referred to simply as 'the Feast' (1 Kings 12:32). It was a time of many sacrifices (Num. 29:12-40) and a time when (on Sabbatical years) the Torah would be read aloud to the people (Deut. 31:10-13). It is one of the three festivals thh Lord required of everyone to attend. (Exod. 23:14, Deut. 16:16).
The Torah explicitly commands three things regarding the festival of Sukkot:
1. To gather the 'four species' (Lev. 23:40)
2. To rejoice before the Lord (Deut. 16:13-14; Lev 23:40)
3. To live in a sukkah/booth (Lev. 23:42)
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The study of the festivals is a wonderful way of coming to know Christ more and understand more of what He has done and is doing for us. It is between you and God to decide if you are to walk these out in your own life.
Remember Colossians 2:6, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day." And Romans 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". |
For more information on Sukkot and the other Messianic Jewish Festivals
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