What was the Feast of Tabernacles?
Quick answer
Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (Leviticus 23:33–43), was a week-long autumn festival in which Israel lived in temporary shelters to remember their wilderness journey and celebrate God’s provision at harvest.
It commemorated 40 years of God’s care while Israel lived in tents — a yearly reminder that God provides for his people.
In John 7, Jesus attends this feast and stands up to declare, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." The true dwelling and the true water have arrived.
Many Christians see Tabernacles as a picture of the final ingathering when God will dwell with his people in the new creation (Revelation 21:3).
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.