Sukkot / Feast of Tabernacles
(At this time this material is written in note form and helps go though what is Sukkot and what is talked about during the 7 days of Sukkot.)
Sukkot (H5521) means “tabernacles/booths/tents” and is the plural word for the singular word sukkah.
Readings:
Sukkot 1st day: Lev 22:26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33; 23:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44; Num 29:12, 13, 14, 15, 16; Zech 14:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21; 1 Kgs 8:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Sukkot 2nd day: Num 29:17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Sukkot 3rd day: Num 29:20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Sukkot 4th day is a Shabbat in 2025: Ex 33:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; 34:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26; All of Ecclesiastes; Ezek 38:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; 39:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 (Shabbat reading done instead of Num 29:23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
Sukkot 5th day: Num 29:26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Sukkot 6th day: Num 29:29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34
Jhn 7:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36
Psm 118:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
Sukkot starts on the 15th day of the 7th Month and goes for 7 days to the 21st of the 7th Month (Lev 23:34, 35, 36, 39; Num 29:12). A sukkah/2-3-walled-hut is built to live in during the 7 days (Lev 23:40, 41, 42; Num 29:12). And, “you shall rejoice/be-glad/brighten-up/be-gleesome/be-glad (H8055)” before the LORD for the 7 days (Lev 23:40). It other words, you are required to have fun before the LORD for 7 days. This Holiday also is celebrating the fall harvest of fruits (and vegetables). The fruits like grapes, olives, fig, dates, and pomegranates.
After the Wedding (represented by Yom Kippur), the marriage is consummated and for 7 days there is a celebration known as the marriage supper (Gen 29:27, 28). This would be a time when the LORD tabernacles with HIS Bride/the-Church that HE has married. Sukkot is the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths representing the LORD with HIS Bride. YESHUA, the LORD, comes back to reign on ‘Aretz/Earth with HIS Bride/the-Church for 1000 years during the 7th 1000 years after man’s creation (Rev 20:4, 6). There are 70 cubits from the entrance of the courtyard to the entrance to the Holy of Holies (See Heaven & Hell Movie).
In Neh 8:14, 15, 16, the booths/tabernacles were made of olive (H2132) branches, oil/fat (H8081) tree branches, myrtle (H1918) branches [ref], and date palm (H8558) branches. No fruit is listed. The Etrog is more than likely not part of the four species [ref] [ref].
Lev 23:40 needs to be translated to see the issue, “And, you shall take for yourselves by/in/on the first day fruit (H6529) tree (H6086) beautiful/ornament/honorable/splendid/goodly/glorious (H1926) date-palm (H8558) branches (H3709) and branch (of) leafy/dense/thick/interwoven-foliage (H5687) tree and river/stream/brook willows/poplars (H6155) and you shall rejoice/be-glad/brighten-up/be-gleesome/be-glad (H8055) to face the-LORD/YEHOVAH your GOD/ELOHIM seven days.”
Translations take different positions on the phrase “fruit tree beautiful/ornament/honorable/splendid/goodly/glorious date-palm branches.” Some split the phrase and state there are two things: the “fruit (of a) goodly tree” and the “date-palm branches.” They make the goodly fruit the etrog/citron. Some make the two items a “beautiful fruit tree” and “date palm branches.” They make the fruit trees the trees of the land of Yisra’el/Israel: grapes, figs, dates, olives, and pomegranates. Some make it all one phrase, which is how it is stated since there is no “and” splitting it up. So, the date palm is a beautiful fruit tree. With no fruit listed in Neh 8:15, it would more likely be tree branches instead of fruit. But, also Neh 8:15 has 4 types of tree branches. So, if the phrase “fruit tree beautiful/ornament/honorable/splendid/goodly/glorious date-palm branches” is all one phrase and not split into two types of branches, then Lev 23:40 only has 3 types of branches. Splitting the phrase of Lev 23:40 gives us 4 types of tree branches to each verse. One of the tree branches is a date palm.
The Hebrew word for date palm is tamar (H8558). The “t” can be the prefix for “they/she/he will” [ref] and mar (H4751/H4752) is the Hebrew word for “bitter/bitterness/end-of-wickedness/harlot’s-end/angry” or “a-drop/a-flowing-down/drop-from-distillation/purifying-drop-by-heating ” and mor (H4753) means “myrrh.” For the “tm” we have tam (H8535) “complete/perfect” or tom (H8537) “completeness.” The 70 palms of Exodus with the 12 wells (Ex 15:27); Jericho = City of Palms (Dt 34:3; Jdg 1:16; 3:13; 2 Chron 28:15 with donkeys); righteous bud/sprout/flourish like palm (Psm 92:12); bride like palm (SS 7:7, 8); palm tree figure as ornament called timmor (H8561): olive wood carved into palm tree with cherubim and flowers and gold 1st Temple walls (1 Kgs 6:29) doors (1 Kgs 6:32, 33, 34, 35); Believers with palms in Heaven (Rev 7:9); YESHUA riding on donkey over palm with waving palms (Jhn 12:13, Mt 21:8; Mrk 11:8; ).
With the 70 palms consider the 70 nations concept from Gen 10, 70 came into Egypt in Ex 1:5, 70 elders sat at the marriage supper with Mosheh/Moses on the mount in Ex 24:9, 10, 11, and 70 bulls are sacrificed through the week of Sukkot (13+12+11+10+9+8+7=70) (Num 29:13, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32).
4 Hebrew consonants also can stand in the place of vowels: ‘/a, v/o/u, h/e, y/i. Placing these letters with “mr” like they could be vowels (whether they are or not) gives us an interesting list of words: ma’ar (H3992) “to-pain/prick/irritate/be-in-pain,” me’era (H3994) “a-curse,” mahar (H4116) “be-hurried/haste/make-haste,” mahar (H4117) “to obtain or acquire by paying purchase price, give a dowry,” maher (H4118) “quickly/hurrying/speedy/hastening,” mohar (H4119) “purchase price for wife, wedding money,” mur (H4171) “to-change/alter/exchange,” mora’ (H4172) “fear/reverence/terror,” moreh (H4175) “early rain,” more (H4176) “teacher,” mora (H4177) “razor,” mara’ (H4754) “to-beat/to-whip/to-lash/filthy/to-lift-up-self.” All of these would have “t” as a prefix for “they will” or “HE will.”
(from the article “The Flesh”)
The 15th Hebrew letter called Samekh shown above, means to lean/lay upon, transferring of self, and to-sustain/bring-renewal (make clean) [1]. Samekh is what is done when an unclean person (sinner) lays his (her) hand upon the head of an innocent perfect sacrifice and transfers himself along with the burden (punishment) of his sin to the sacrifice, bringing death to the sacrifice and renewed innocent life to the person (Lev 1:4; 3:2, 8, 13; 4:4, 15, 24, 29, 33). The image of Samekh is of a thorn/thistle growing up from the ground. And, if you have ever leaned against a thorn or thistle, you are aware of how they transfer themselves to you. After ‘Adam and Chavvah (Eve) sinned, thorn trees and thistles grew up as a result of their sin (Gen 3:17, 18). Samekh is the image of the thorn and the thistle growing up from the ground as man took upon himself the uncleanliness of sin and was sent away from the Tree of Life in the Garden of the Lord (Gen 3:18). Now, if Samekh is turned on its side, like below, then it is the image of the three crosses together upon Golgotha (the Skull) (Jhn 19:17). YESHUA (JESUS) not only had a crown of thorns to represent carrying our sin, but HE also laid HIS life upon the Thorn/Thistle/Cross to have our death/wages-of-sin, the Cross represents, transferred to HIMSELF to bring renewed innocent life to the person who turns from their sin and lays their trust & belief in/on YESHUA, the LAMB of GOD (Jhn 19:5; Isa 53:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; Jhn 1:29; 3:16; Act 2:38; Rom 10:9).
The palm leaf/branch is similar to the shape of the Samekh.
See the cross upon the donkey which YESHUA would have sat upon while it was walking upon palm branches.
Besides the poplar tree not really matching any tree in Lev 23:40, the poplar tree also does not compare to the usefulness of the other trees in the list, which we will go over. The Lev 23:40 leafy/dense/thick/interwoven-foliage tree does match the description of myrtle (Myrtus communis) branches grown in Yisra’el/Israel [ref] as shown in the picture below.
The myrtle tree in Hebrew is hadas (H1918). The “hd” can be the Hebrew word for hed (H1906) meaning “shout of joy” or “rejoicing.” Hadas is also where we get the name Hadasah (H1919), which is the English name “Esther.” This is interesting since Yom Kippur could mean a “Day like Purim,” a time of victory. And, now at Sukkot the bride/wife of Purim, Hadasah/Esther shows up. Isa 41:19, 20 points to the myrtle tree as standing for victory along with Isa 55:12, 13 that also shows the myrtle tree stands for a time of joy and shalom/peace. Zech 1:7, 8, 9, 10, 11 is the only other reference to the myrtle tree. This Word of the LORD is coming on the 24th day of the 11th Month, which is 22 days before the victory of Purim on the 15th day of the 12th Month. And, we can still see the myrtle tree standing for a type of peace in verse 11.
Now, we have 2 tree branch types named in both the verses, a willow tree and an olive tree. So, do they match the other verses description? The willow tree of Lev 23:40 would need to go with the oil/fat tree of Neh 8:15. There are several types of willow trees in Yisra’el/Israel that grow by a river/stream/brook, with the white willow (Salix alba) occurring “with great frequency” [ref]. This white willow, as shown in the pictures below, stands out as whitish with the back side of the leaves white like fat.
The willow tree lives by and off of the streams of living water, which is another name for the SPIRIT (Jhn 7:38, 39). Isa 44:1, 3, 4, 5 also compares the willow to Yisra’el/Israel/the-Church when the SPIRIT is poured out on them like streams of living water. As the oil/fat tree, the Hebrew word for oil/fat is shemen (H8081). The “sh” can be a prefix meaning “that” [ref]. The “mn” then can be the Hebrew word “man” (H4478) meaning “manna/Bread-of-Heaven.” The Hebrew word for willow (H6155) is ‘arav/’arab and can also mean “be-sweet/be-pleasant” (H6149) or “to pledge” (H6148) or “to-join/to-mix-together” (H6151) and is similar to ‘erev/’ereb (H6154) meaning “mixed/interwoven” and ‘arev/’areb (H6156) meaning “sweet/pleasant.” So, we have a willow tree representing the body/Body of YESHUA as the sweet pleasant Bread of Heaven that the Church is to partake of in pledge of joining together and being interwoven as YESHUA is joined with the Church through and by the SPIRIT (Living Water). On top of that, a willow tree has properties similar to aspirin and can be used for pain relief. Some say this is a myth, but I have tried it myself, and it works better than aspirin. This points to YESHUA WHO “carried/bore” “our pain/anguish/grief/affliction/sorrow” (Isa 53:4).
The olive tree of Neh 8:15 needs to match the beautiful/ornament/honorable/splendid/goodly/glorious fruit tree of Lev 23:40. The olive tree has fruit and the tree is compared to Yisra’el/Israel in Isa 17:4, 5, 6 and Jer 11:16. In fact, Jer 11:16 calls the olive tree “luxuriant/fresh/green (H7488) beautiful/fair/goodly (H3303) fruit (H6529) lovely/goodly/beautiful/outline/form (H8389).” Then, Rom 11:17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 also has the olive tree being the Church with natural and wild olive branches representing Jews and Gentiles. The ” beautiful/ornament/honorable/splendid/goodly/glorious fruit tree” seems to match the olive tree. So, we have 4 tree branches that are to be used to create the sukkah/booth for the Feast of Sukkot/Tabernacles: the olive; the date palm; the myrtle; and the white willow. Living in this type of sukkah for the week would give you the smell of the olive tree “a green, earthy aroma” [ref] and a fruity smell from the olive, the smell of the white willow of “mild, bark like” [ref], the smell of the true myrtle of “airy, sweet pollen notes are lifted and sustained by the toasty allspice (a berry of the same family), sweet birch root, and resinous camphor. The hit of the clove-like note from the allspice is reminiscent of carnation if carnation had a much more interesting cousin. Then there’s the leaves. Fresh, green, herbal with the likes of sage, basil, tomato stem, and even citrus with only hints of the darker resinous camphor notes that the potent liquor, and even essential oil, is known for” [ref], and the smell of the date palm of “sweet, musky aroma characteristic of dried dates” and “earthy or sugary” [ref].
Notice the leaves of the olive, willow, and myrtle are similar like lips. Even the leaves of the date palm are similar, though longer.
The symbolism of the olive was already kind of presented. The Hebrew word for olive is zayith/tyz (H2132) and is similar to the Hebrew word zavith/tyvz (H2106) that means “corner,” can mean “corner stone,” and is used in Zech 9:15 for the corners of the bronze altar. Olive oil comes from the olive tree and is used to represent the SPIRIT as shown when the SPIRIT comes upon those who were anointed with olive oil (1 Sam 16:13) and anointing of the LORD is spoken of like an anointing (Isa 61:1; Luk 4:18). So, the olive tree is representing the one body of the one Jewish/Gentile Church in YESHUA (the Corner Stone) filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.
This is a link to Hebrew4Christians.com page on Sukkot and gives a fuller description of the holiday not explained above.
Hoshana Rabba (Great Salvation) / 7th & Last Day of Sukkot
Hoshana Rabba (Great Salvation), Sukkot 7th and last day: Num 29:32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38; Jhn 7:37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53; Psm 118:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
There is a tradition on each of the Sukkot days called a hakkafot/hakafot of the assembly circling once around where the Torah or the shepherd of the assemble would normally stand/sit [ref]. This circling is done 7 times on Hoshana Rabba and the willows of the sukkah are beaten on the ground [ref] [ref]. This sounds like when Yisra’el/Israel entered the promise land and circled Yericho/Jericho once for 6 days and then 7 times on the 7th day when they defeated Yericho/Jericho (Josh 6:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20). The Jewish wedding also has had from ancient times a circling of the groom 7 times by the bride [ref]. And, this day was also viewed as a mini-Yom-Kippur, which also points back to the wedding [ref]. This all points to the marriage of YESHUA the Groom/Husband to the Bride/Wife/the-Church during the 7th 1000 years after man’s creation (Rev 19:7, 8, 9). This is also the last day of the pouring out of water (like living water) in which YESHUA said those who would come to HIM would receive the Living Water of the SPIRIT (Jhn 7:38, 39). This is the HOLY SPIRIT given as a bridal gift as the Promise of the FATHER that seals the pledge of marriage to the LORD (Luk 24:49; Acts 2:33; 2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13). (Working on the “Marriage” article at this time.)
Shemini ‘Atzeret / 8th Day Sacred Assembly
Shemini (H8066) means “8th.” And, the Hebrew word ‘Atzeret (H6116) means a “sacred/solemn assembly/meeting.” Shemini/Shmyny is similar to the Hebrew word Shemayin/Shmyn (H8065) that means “heaven/sky.” ‘Atzeret is from the Hebrew word ‘atzar (H6113) that means “to stay/restrain/prevail” and “to retain/store” So, this day can be a continuing/staying of Sukkot. And, the words point to a prevailing/staying of Heaven. These words can also point to the “storing in Heaven” pointing to YESHUA’s words of the treasures we store up in Heaven (Mt 6:19, 20, 21), that we will finally see when we are eternally with the LORD in Heaven. There are traditionally prayers for rain (living-water) on this day. In Yisra’el/Israel there are the spring and the fall rains. There is a good article HERE about the rains and their meaning pointing to the pouring out of the SPIRIT to soften us and fill us and help us the dirt to bring forth by faith eternal fruit from the seed of the Word, which was also spoken of by YESHUA on Shemini ‘Atzerat in Jhn 7:37, 38, 39.
Readings:
Shemini Atzeret 8th Day (22nd Day): Dt 14:22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29; 15:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; 16:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17; Num 29:35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40; 30:1; 1 Kgs 8:54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66; Psm 118:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
Shemini Atzeret or the 8th Day is on the 22nd day of the 7th Month (Lev 23:34, 35, 36, 39). You are not required to live in the sukkah or have fun this day (but you can), but it is a holy convocation/reading/assembly (Lev 23:36, 39; Num 29:35). Even the name of the day suggest an asking to stay.
1 bull is sacrificed on the eighth day for Yisra’el/Israel (Num 29:35, 36).
After the 7th 1000 year when starting the 8th 1000 years after Creation, Rev 21:3 states the Tabernacle of GOD is among men, which continues forever. This 8th 1000 year of continued tabernacling forever is represented in Shemini Atzeret.
After the 70 cubits from the entrance of the courtyard to the entrance to the Holy of Holies, the next 10 cubits make 80 cubits and are of the Holy of Holies. So, at the beginning of the 8th 1000 years, the cubed Holy-of-Holies/New-Yerushalayim/New-Jerusalem/the-City-of-Shamayim/the-City-of-Heaven comes down upon the Earth/’Aretz (Rev 21:1, 2, 3, 16).
The 22nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet ends with the 22nd letter of Tav, which is the letter that looks like the Cross [ref].
This is a link to Hebrew4Christians.com page on Shemini Atzeret and gives a fuller description of the holiday not explained above.
(Not done, yet, working on in as of 10/10/2025)