Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Etymology:The term "booths" refers to temporary shelters or huts, often constructed from branches and leaves. In Hebrew, the word is "sukkot" (סֻכּוֹת), which is the plural form of "sukkah." These structures are significant in biblical history and religious observance, particularly in the context of the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths.
Biblical Significance:Booths hold a prominent place in the religious and cultural life of ancient Israel, primarily through the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals outlined in the Torah, where Israelites were commanded to dwell in booths for seven days. The purpose was to commemorate the Israelites' 40-year journey in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, during which they lived in temporary shelters.
Scriptural References:1.
Leviticus 23:42-43 : "You are to live in booths for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must live in booths, so that your descendants may know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."
2.
Nehemiah 8:14-17 : "And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month. So they proclaimed this message in all their cities and in Jerusalem: 'Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.' So the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths for themselves on their rooftops, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim. The whole assembly who had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this, and there was great rejoicing."
Historical and Theological Context:The Feast of Booths, or Sukkot, is celebrated in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, Tishrei, and is a time of joy and thanksgiving for the harvest. It serves as a reminder of God's provision and protection during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. The construction of booths symbolizes the transient nature of life and the reliance on God's providence.
New Testament Connection:While the New Testament does not explicitly command the observance of the Feast of Booths, it does mention Jesus attending the festival. In
John 7:2-10, Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, which underscores the continued importance of this festival during His time.
Cultural and Modern Observance:In contemporary Jewish practice, Sukkot is still observed with the construction of sukkot (booths) where meals are eaten, and some even sleep in them. This practice serves as a tangible connection to the historical experiences of the Israelites and a reminder of God's faithfulness.
Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons:The booths symbolize humility, dependence on God, and the impermanence of earthly dwellings. They remind believers of the need to trust in God's provision and protection, just as the Israelites did in the wilderness. The Feast of Booths also points to the eschatological hope of dwelling with God eternally, as seen in prophetic visions of a future where God tabernacles with His people (
Revelation 21:3).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Booths[SUCCOTH;TABERNACLES, THE FEAST OF, FEAST OF]
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BOOTHS, FEAST OFSeeFEASTS AND FASTS, I, 2.
Greek
4634. skenopegia -- the setting up of tents... October. Word Origin from skene and pegnumi Definition the setting up of
tents NASB Word Usage feast of
Booths (1). tabernacles.
...Strong's Hebrew
5524. Sukkoth Benoth -- "booths of daughters," an Assyr.-Bab. god... 5523, 5524. Sukkoth Benoth. 5525 . "
booths of daughters," an Assyr.-Bab.
... Word
Origin from Sukkoth and bath Definition "
booths of daughters," an Assyr.-Bab.
...5521. sukkah -- a thicket, booth
... 5520, 5521. sukkah. 5522 . a thicket, booth. Transliteration: sukkah Phonetic
Spelling: (sook-kaw') Short Definition:Booths. Word...
5523. Sukkoth -- a city East of the Jordan, also a place in Egypt
... Succoth. Or Cukkoth {sook-kohth'}; plural of cukkah;booths; Succoth, the name of
a place in Egypt and of three in Palestine -- Succoth. see HEBREW cukkah....
Library
The Consecration of Joy
... Ye shall dwell inbooths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall
dwell inbooths: 43. That your generations may know that...
Chastity the Chief Ornament of the True Tabernacle; Seven
... Ye shall dwell inbooths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in
booths; that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to...
Authorship of the Pentateuch.
... On the second day "they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by
Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell inbooths in the feast of the...
Instructed in the Law of God
... forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches,
and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to makebooths, as it...
At the Feast of Tabernacles
... wilderness. In commemoration of their tent life, the Israelites during
the feast dwelt inbooths or tabernacles of green boughs....
Ezra-Nehemiah
... 42,360 (ii.). An altar was erected, the feast ofbooths was celebrated,
and the regular sacrificial system was resumed. Next year...
Jesus Discussed in Jerusalem.
... In its original institution God commanded, "Ye shall dwell inbooths or tabernacles
seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell inbooths," the reason...
The Exodus
... They stayed in Succoth, orbooths. Because such an immense multitude could
not find houses, they therefore madebooths; and hence...
That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken...
... punctuation and sense of Josephus, and this contrary to the opinion of Valesilus
and Dr. Hudson, lest Josephus should say that the Jews builtbooths or tents...
In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
... Let us suppose ourselves in the number of worshippers, who on the last, the Great
Day of the Feast,' are leaving theirbooths' at daybreak to take part in the...
Thesaurus
Booths (24 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BOOTHS, FEAST OF. See FEASTS AND FASTS,
I, 2. Multi-Version Concordance
Booths (24 Occurrences).
...Succoth (18 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible DictionaryBooths. (1.) The first encampment of the Israelites after
leaving Ramesses (Exodus 12:37); the civil name of Pithom (qv)....
Booth (9 Occurrences)
...Booths were erected also at the feast of Tabernacles (qv), Leviticus 23:42, 43,
which commemorated the abode of the Israelites in the wilderness....
Tabernacles (43 Occurrences)
... During that period the people left their homes and lived inbooths formed of the
branches of trees.... Thebooths recalled the pilgrimage through the wilderness....
Eli'jah (93 Occurrences)
... Matthew 17:4 And Peter answering said to Jesus, 'Sir, it is good to us to be here;
if thou wilt, we may make here threebooths -- for thee one, and for Moses...
Home-born (14 Occurrences)
... (ASV JPS). Leviticus 23:42 Ye shall dwell inbooths seven days; all that
are home-born in Israel shall dwell inbooths; (ASV JPS)....
Natives (6 Occurrences)
... been clean; (YLT). Leviticus 23:42 Inbooths ye dwell seven days; all who
are natives in Israel dwell inbooths, (YLT). Ezekiel 23:15...
Native-born (16 Occurrences)
... I am Yahweh your God. (WEB NIV). Leviticus 23:42 You shall dwell inbooths seven
days. All who are native-born in Israel shall dwell inbooths, (WEB NAS NIV)....
Ben-ha'dad (26 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 20:12 And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was
drinking, he and the kings, in thebooths, that he said unto his servants: 'Set...
Succoth-benoth (1 Occurrence)
... In Hebrew, Succoth-benoth means "booths of daughters," and has been explained as
the chambers wherein the Babylonians placed women for prostitution; orbooths...
Resources
What is the Feast of Tabernacles / Booths / Sukkot? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the meaning and importance of the transfiguration? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Valley of Succoth in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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