Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 23:42

Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

Booths – According to Jewish tradition, what were used at the Feast of Tabernacles were strictly tabernacula, structures of boards, with a covering of boughs.

The booth in which the Israelite kept the Feast, and the tent which was his ordinary abode in the wilderness, had this in common – they were temporary places of sojourn, they belonged to camp-life. The seven days of abode in the booths of the festival was thus a fair symbol of the forty years of abode in tents in the wilderness. The Feast might well become the appointed memorial of this period of their history for the ages to come.

All that are Israelites born – The omission of the foreigners in this command is remarkable. Perhaps the intention was that on this joyous occasion they were to be hospitably entertained as guests. Compare Deu 16:14.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Booths were erected in their cities or towns, either in their streets or gardens, or the tops of their houses, Neh 8:16, which were made flat, and therefore were proper and fit for that use.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Ye shall dwell in booths seven days,…. So that it seems they were not obliged to dwell in them on the eighth day, which was an holy convocation, a sabbath in which no servile work was to be done as the first, Le 23:36. The eighth day was a day by itself, a sort of an appendage to the feast of tabernacles, when they went into their houses again, and kept it as an holy day; and perhaps principally in giving thanks for the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, to which this seems to be appropriated from Le 23:39. According to the Jewish writers, they did not go out of their booths until they had dined in them on this day; and as they went out used to say,

“may it be the will of God that we may be worthy the next year to dwell in the booth of Leviathan c;”

that is, to feast with the Messiah in the world to come. And to those days the Jews have added a ninth, which they call “the joy of the law”, and which they keep for joy of having finished the reading of the law; which being divided into as many sections or lessons as weeks in the year, were so ordered to be read as to be finished at this time d:

all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths; the Targum of Jonathan is,

“all the males in Israel, and even the little ones, that do not need their mothers, sit in the shades blessing their Creator, when they enter there.”

And, according to the Misnah e, women, servants, and little ones, are free from the booths (i.e. are not obliged to dwelt in one), but a little one, who hath no need of its mother, is obliged to dwell in the booths: and elsewhere it is said, that sick persons, and such as wait upon them, are not obliged, nor messengers upon any business, nor travellers and watchmen in cities, and keepers of gardens and orchards; if such travel, or keep watch in the day, they are obliged to be in them at night, and if in the night, then they are to dwell in them in the day f. Jarchi says, that everyone born in Israel comprehends proselytes, who were bound by this law.

c Lebush, par. 2. c. 668. sect. 5. d Buxtorf. Synagog. Jud. c. 27. Leo Moden’s History of the Rites of the Jews, par. 3. c. 7. sect. 6. e Misn. Succah, c. 2. sect. 6. f R. Alphes, par. 1. Succah, c. 2. fol. 374. 2. 375. 1.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(42) Dwell in booths seven days.Because the eighth day was a separate festival, when the booths were no more used. (See Lev. 23:36.)

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

42. Ye shall dwell in booths This command excludes a cloth or skin covering, according to the decisions of Jewish expounders, and every thing pertaining to the animal and mineral kingdoms. Every thing withered, or faded, or of ill savour, or unclean, was also prohibited. The booths must be fresh and fragrant, in correspondence with the gladness of their tenants.

The first part of October, when this feast was celebrated, the weather in Palestine is neither hot nor cold, nor subject to storms, but admirably adapted to outdoor life.

All Israelites shall dwell The word “shall” is here altogether too strong a translation of the Hebrew future, which is often rendered by may or can. “To insist on the absolute universality is to become a bond-slave to the letter.”

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Lev 23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

Ver. 42. Ye shall dwell in booths. ] The siege of Jerusalem by the Romans lasted six months. It began at the passover, and ended at this feast of tabernacles. Ita festum illud fuit finis istius politiae.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)