© 2011 Jewish Prayer Focus
Succot
The consummation of the feasts is the Feast of Tabernacles or booths. The Hebrew title, Succot, means a temporary shelter (hut) which is a reminder of life in the wilderness when they had no permanent homes. During these 40 years, the Hebrew people were totally reliant on God's provision for their daily food and water. Succot occurs on the fifteenth day of the month of Tishri (September/October). It is the celebration of the ingathering of the fruit harvest (Ex 23:16). This is the end of the agricultural year after the hot dry season and ushers in the rains to soften the earth and prepare for ploughing and sowing. It is a time of rejoicing and thankfulness for the harvest and resting after the labour, and is a seven-day festival (Lev 23:33-36, 39-44).
It is the third pilgrimage festival at which time the people were to assemble in Jerusalem before the Lord (Deut 16:13-17). As with the first two, Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks, we can assume that God has something important to show His people. Every seventh year (sabbatical year), the Law was to be read publicly before the assembly (Deut 31:10-13). Ezra did this in Neh 8:13-18, and the people repented and rededicated themselves to the Lord. It is also the time when Solomon's Temple was dedicated (2 Chron 7:1-10).
During the Succot celebrations in New Testament times, there was a 'water libation' ceremony each morning. The High Priest walked to the pool of Siloam and drew water in a pitcher, which was carried to the altar and poured out before the Lord. This is the background of John chapters 7-9. On the last or great day of the Feast (John 7:37), known as 'Hoshana Rabba' [the great hosanna], the Messianic fervour climaxed, during this ceremony and as the priests chanted the Messianic greeting Ps 118:25 'O Lord do save, we beseech thee, do save we beseech thee, do send prosperity', the congregation waved palm branches. As this is the season for the beginning of the rains, prayers for rains are part of the liturgy for Succot.
In the evening Temple service at Succot, there was a special menorah-lighting ceremony where the large candle-sticks that lit the temple were lit in the central court of the Temple. This was celebrated with great joy, music, singing and dancing. It is in this context that Jesus made some remarkable Messianic claims, which caused tremendous division amongst the religious and lay people (Jn 7:40-53).
"If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me as
The consummation of the feasts is the Feast of Tabernacles or booths. The Hebrew title, Succot, means a temporary shelter (hut) which is a reminder of life in the wilderness when they had no permanent homes. During these 40 years, the Hebrew people were totally reliant on God's provision for their daily food and water. Succot occurs on the fifteenth day of the month of Tishri (September/October). It is the celebration of the ingathering of the fruit harvest (Ex 23:16). This is the end of the agricultural year after the hot dry season and ushers in the rains to soften the earth and prepare for ploughing and sowing. It is a time of rejoicing and thankfulness for the harvest and resting after the labour, and is a seven-day festival (Lev 23:33-36, 39-44).
It is the third pilgrimage festival at which time the people were to assemble in Jerusalem before the Lord (Deut 16:13-17). As with the first two, Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks, we can assume that God has something important to show His people. Every seventh year (sabbatical year), the Law was to be read publicly before the assembly (Deut 31:10-13). Ezra did this in Neh 8:13-18, and the people repented and rededicated themselves to the Lord. It is also the time when Solomon's Temple was dedicated (2 Chron 7:1-10).
During the Succot celebrations in New Testament times, there was a 'water libation' ceremony each morning. The High Priest walked to the pool of Siloam and drew water in a pitcher, which was carried to the altar and poured out before the Lord. This is the background of John chapters 7-9. On the last or great day of the Feast (John 7:37), known as 'Hoshana Rabba' [the great hosanna], the Messianic fervour climaxed, during this ceremony and as the priests chanted the Messianic greeting Ps 118:25 'O Lord do save, we beseech thee, do save we beseech thee, do send prosperity', the congregation waved palm branches. As this is the season for the beginning of the rains, prayers for rains are part of the liturgy for Succot.
In the evening Temple service at Succot, there was a special menorah-lighting ceremony where the large candle-sticks that lit the temple were lit in the central court of the Temple. This was celebrated with great joy, music, singing and dancing. It is in this context that Jesus made some remarkable Messianic claims, which caused tremendous division amongst the religious and lay people (Jn 7:40-53).
"If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me as
the Scripture says, From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water'" (Jn 7:37,38).
"I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (Jn 8:12, see also 9:5)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM" (Jn 8:58).
It is small wonder that they wanted to stone Him (Jn 8:59). He then saw a man born blind, sent him to the pool of Siloam, where the water was drawn for the Temple ceremony, and he came back with his sight restored, eventually worshipping His healer as the 'Son of Man'. The blind sinner was given his sight and the seeing Pharisees were declared blind (Jn 9:39).
What a mighty object lesson was taught on those days. Who will you follow? Those who taught from a book, but condemned the life-giver, or the one who can open blind eyes and give living water to the thirsty?
CURRENT PRACTICES
With no temple, the lighting ceremony cannot take place, but a certain group in Israel today are again drawing the water from the pool of Siloam at Succot. All over the world religious Jews still build a little hut in back yards or on verandahs, eat in them, and sometimes sleep in them for 7 days. They are not water-proof as they have to be open to the sky, though they can be thatched. They are decorated with different types of fruit as well as other brightly-coloured decorations.
Leviticus 23:40 mentions four 'species' of vegetation that were to be brought to the Feast of Tabernacles: the fruit of beautiful trees, palm branches, boughs of leafy trees, and willows. The rabbis defined the first and third as an etrog (a citrus like a large lemon) and a myrtle branch. The branches are bound together in a 'lulav' - the date palm branch and waved together before the Lord in the Temple.
On the last day of the Feast today, there is a celebration called 'Simchat Torah', which means 'rejoicing in the Law'. It occurs at the point where the weekly readings from the Torah (Pentateuch) finish and the new cycle begins. It celebrates the joy in the instructions of God given to Moses. The scrolls are paraded around the synagogue and even out into the streets with dancing and singing. This tradition began in the Middle Ages.
"I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (Jn 8:12, see also 9:5)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM" (Jn 8:58).
It is small wonder that they wanted to stone Him (Jn 8:59). He then saw a man born blind, sent him to the pool of Siloam, where the water was drawn for the Temple ceremony, and he came back with his sight restored, eventually worshipping His healer as the 'Son of Man'. The blind sinner was given his sight and the seeing Pharisees were declared blind (Jn 9:39).
What a mighty object lesson was taught on those days. Who will you follow? Those who taught from a book, but condemned the life-giver, or the one who can open blind eyes and give living water to the thirsty?
CURRENT PRACTICES
With no temple, the lighting ceremony cannot take place, but a certain group in Israel today are again drawing the water from the pool of Siloam at Succot. All over the world religious Jews still build a little hut in back yards or on verandahs, eat in them, and sometimes sleep in them for 7 days. They are not water-proof as they have to be open to the sky, though they can be thatched. They are decorated with different types of fruit as well as other brightly-coloured decorations.
Leviticus 23:40 mentions four 'species' of vegetation that were to be brought to the Feast of Tabernacles: the fruit of beautiful trees, palm branches, boughs of leafy trees, and willows. The rabbis defined the first and third as an etrog (a citrus like a large lemon) and a myrtle branch. The branches are bound together in a 'lulav' - the date palm branch and waved together before the Lord in the Temple.
On the last day of the Feast today, there is a celebration called 'Simchat Torah', which means 'rejoicing in the Law'. It occurs at the point where the weekly readings from the Torah (Pentateuch) finish and the new cycle begins. It celebrates the joy in the instructions of God given to Moses. The scrolls are paraded around the synagogue and even out into the streets with dancing and singing. This tradition began in the Middle Ages.
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