And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
The feast of tabernacles, х chag (H2282) ha-Cukowt (H5521), festival of the booths (see the notes at Exodus 23:16; Exodus 34:22, where it is called, chag (H2282) haa'aaciyp (H614), feast of harvest; Septuagint, heortee skeenoon, skeenopeegia (John 7:2)], This festival, which was instituted in grateful commemoration of the Israelites having securely dwelt in booths or tabernacles in the wilderness, was the third of the three great annual festivals; and, like the other two, it lasted a week. It began on the fifteenth day of the month Tisri, corresponding to the end of our September and beginning of October, which was observed as a Sabbath; and it could be celebrated only at the place of the sanctuary, offerings being made on the altar every day of its continuance. To these seven days an eighth was added, called (Leviticus 23:36) х miqraa' (H4744) qodesh (H6944)] a calling of assembly, "an holy convocation" [and in Numbers 29:35, hashªmiyniy (H8066) `ªtseret (H6116)] (cf. Nehemiah 8:18).
The Jews were commanded during the whole period of the festival to dwell in booths, which were erected on the flat roofs of houses, in the fields, or streets; and the trees made use of are by some stated to be the citron, the palm, the myrtle, the willow, and the pomegranate, while others maintain the people were allowed to take any trees they could obtain that were distinguished for verdure and fragrance. While the solid branches were reserved for the construction of the booths, the lighter branches, twigs of myrtle, and willow, formed into a bouquet at the lower part of the stem, were carried by men in one hand, while in the other was carried (Leviticus 23:40) a citron, or pomegranate, a kind of large lemon, х pªriy (H6529) `eets (H6086) haadaar (H1926)] - 'the boughs (the fruit or produce) of goodly trees'-the fruit of the tree hadar (Benisch: see margin).
It appears from Nehemiah 8:17 that from the days of Joshua the Israelites had not dwelt in booths, according to the regulations of this feast. But on the return from the captivity the practice was revived, and Leviticus 23:15 enumerates the four species of boughs used for the constructing and covering of the booths. The modern Samaritans in Sichem construct their booths from branches of the arbutus tree (Robinson's 'Biblical Researches,' vol 3:, p. 328); and so also do the Karaite Jews, who march in triumphal procession, singing psalms, and crying "Hosanna!" which signifies, 'Save, we beseech thee!' (Psalms 118:15; Psalms 118:25-26.)
It was a season of great rejoicing. But the ceremony of drawing water from the pool, which was done on the last day, seems to have been the introduction of a later period (John 7:37). That last day was the eighth, and, on account of the scene at Siloam, was called "the great day of the feast." The modern Jews in Palestine celebrate only the first and the last day as a real feast, the intermediate days being half secular, half sacred.
Dr. Colenso says that this passage, where the Israelites are described as having dwelt in booths, is not consistent with Exodus 16:16, where they are represented as dwelling in tents. But there is no inconsistency. [For, not to insist on the true interpretation of Exodus 16:16, which has 'ohel (H168), tent, an idiomatic expression for a house or household, (Joshua 22:4; Judges 7:8), the word cikaah is used indifferently for any covert or shelter (Job 38:39), whether booths (Genesis 33:17) or tents (2 Samuel 11:11; Amos 9:11).] The fact is, that some might have tents, while others, who were poor, and not possessing the requisite materials, would content themselves with erecting booths of leafy boughs in the best way they could. Hence, the name of the first stage, "Succoth" (Exodus 12:37). It may be safely affirmed that those erections, in the hurry and privations of the exodian journey to Sinai, would be far ruder and more temporary wigwams than were ever imitated at any future season of the anniversary feast of memorial. For 'it was the first step, the last lingering on the confines of Egyptian vegetation, and the first step into the wandering state of the desert, that was henceforth to be commemorated' (Stanley's 'Lectures on the Jewish Church,' p. 124).
Verse 39. On the first day ... and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath, х shabaatown (H7677)] - (see the note at Leviticus 23:24.)
Verse 40. Ye shall take you on the first day the boughs ... The four arboreal branches specified were not designed for the construction of the booths, but were to be carried into the temple, "to rejoice before the Lord seven days." Verse 41. Ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord ... х chaagag (H2287)] - to keep a festival, to celebrate a holiday by leaping and dancing-by sacred dances (Gesenius) (cf. Exodus 5:1).