Neh. 7:73; 8:1-18, Let’s Go Camping (Succoth, 2)

There are several examples of or references to Succoth in Scripture.  These would include:

·       1 Ki. 8:2,62-66: Solomon planned the dedication of the temple during Succoth.  Likewise (1 Ki. 12:32), Jeroboam planned an alternative feast during the 8^th month as part of the idolatrous worship of the golden calves.

·       Neh. 8: In the Post-Exilic time, under Ezra, Israel celebrated Succoth.  Ezra read from the Book of the Law of Moses each day during the feast.

·       Zech. 14:16-19 indicates there will be celebrations of Succoth in the Messianic Kingdom.  That passage indicates participation by the Nations, which is an important aspect about Succoth: it was the one religious festival during the year when it was appropriate and encouraged to include one’s Gentile friends.

Succoth is a wonderful time to visit Israel, in my opinion.  An organization called International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) has an annual emphasis on getting people from the nations to Israel at that time.  Thousands heed the call.  The first time we were in Israel we arrived at the end of Succoth.  Christian friends we visited had erected a booth outside the apartment building where they lived in Haifa.  They invited people in the building to use it or to join them there.  The goal these days is to eat at least one meal per day in the shelter during the feast.  The large apartment buildings in the cities would often have these shelters on the balconies of some of the apartments or on the sidewalk in front of the building.  A large hotel decorated their banquet hall to make it look like an outdoor shelter so people could get the “feeling” as they enjoyed their meals.  Yes, these days some have left the camping behind and stay a week in a hotel instead.

I do remember that first time in Israel going out for a walk in Tiberias our second night there.  I had noticed down one street people gathered outside a building, and as I got closer saw that it was a Synagogue.  It was the women and children outside the building and the men were inside.  About the time I was walking past the men began lifting shouts of joy with clapping as a rabbi-looking man in front was doing something.  The women and children also joined in the celebration.  A few years later I learned that this was the day at the end of Succoth (the 9^th Day) called “Simchat Torah.”  What the man was doing was rewinding the scroll of the Law so they could begin again the annual reading and study. 

Tabernacles is a great time in Israel and has the potential to be significant in the homes of Jews and Gentiles.  It is especially significant for Christians.  Next time!

Camping at Gideon's Spring during Succoth