The Festival of Shelters

(Numbers 29.12-40)

^33 (A) The Lord told Moses ³⁴ to say to the community of Israel:

Beginning on the fifteenth day of the seventh month,^[a] and continuing for seven days, everyone must celebrate the Festival of Shelters in honor of me. ³⁵ No one is to do any work on the first day of the festival—it is a time when everyone must come together for worship. ³⁶ For seven days, sacrifices must be offered on the altar. The eighth day is also to be a day of complete rest, as well as a time of offering sacrifices on the altar and of coming together for worship.

³⁹ Remember to begin the Festival of Shelters on the fifteenth day of the seventh month after you have harvested your crops. Celebrate this festival for seven days in honor of me and don't do any work on the first day or on the day following the festival. ⁴⁰ Pick the best fruit from your trees^[a] and cut leafy branches to use during the time of this joyous celebration in my honor. ⁴¹ I command you and all of your descendants to celebrate this festival during the seventh month of each year. ⁴² For seven days every Israelite must live in a shelter, ⁴³ so future generations will know that I made their ancestors live in shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

The Festival of Shelters

(Leviticus 23.33-43; Numbers 29.12-38)

Moses said to Israel:

^13-15 (A) After you have finished the grain harvest and the grape harvest,^[a] take your sons and daughters and all your servants to the place where the Lord chooses to be worshiped. Celebrate the Festival of Shelters for seven days. Also invite the poor, including Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows.

The Lord will give you big harvests and make you successful in everything you do. You will be completely happy, so celebrate this festival in honor of the Lord your God.