Tabernacles, Feast of

The Feast of Tabernacles (Hebrew Sukkot, "Booths"; also called Feast of Ingathering) was one of the three great pilgrimage festivals of Israel (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:33–43; Deuteronomy 16:13–15). Held on the 15th–22nd of Tishri (September–October), it followed the autumn harvest and commemorated Israel's forty years of wilderness dwelling. Worshippers lived in leafy booths (sukkot) for seven days as a reminder of the tents of the Exodus, and a solemn assembly on the eighth day closed the celebration. It was the most joyous of Israel's festivals and accompanied by an extensive schedule of sacrifices (Numbers 29:12–38). Jesus attended the feast in Jerusalem (John 7:2–10) and on the last great day proclaimed himself the source of living water (John 7:37–39), alluding to the water-pouring ceremony performed each morning of the feast. Zechariah 14:16–19 envisions all nations keeping this feast in the eschatological age.