Hebrew Voices #103 – A Jerusalem Sukkot Encampment
In this episode of Hebrew Voices, A Jerusalem Sukkot Encampment, Nehemia Gordon speaks with an American couple who sparked a worldwide Sukkot-movement by pitching a tent in Jerusalem with their seven children. They share the story of their humble beginnings … Continue reading →
In this episode of Hebrew Voices, A Jerusalem Sukkot Encampment, Nehemia Gordon speaks with an American couple who sparked a worldwide Sukkot-movement by pitching a tent in Jerusalem with their seven children. They share the story of their humble beginnings studying the Bible, which led them to discovering the name of God and forgoing pagan holidays. Years later and hundreds of people, from all over the world, join them in fulfillment of prophecy of Zechariah 14:16 about the nations of the world celebrating the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem.
I look forward to reading your comments!
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Hebrew Voices #103 - A Jerusalem Sukkot Encampment
Emily: I would go out every Sukkot. I would have to get away from all these women and children, at least once during the week, go to the backside of the pasture, and just cry, and just cry out to Yah about, “Can we just do this all together in Jerusalem like we’re doing it here?” and so, that was my prayer and my cry from 2010.
Nehemia: Shalom, this is Nehemia Gordon. And I’m coming to you from Gan Ha’atzmaut, Independence Park, in the heart of Jerusalem, and I’m surrounded here by an encampment of people who have come on the pilgrimage of Sukkot. I’m here with Emily and David, shalom, guys!
David: Shalom.
Emily: Shalom.
Nehemia: Where are you, guys from, and what brought you here to Independence Park on Sukkot?
David: We come to obey the commandment to dwell in booths for a week.
Nehemia: Okay, and where did you come from?
Emily: We came from the United States. David’s originally from Mexico, but we represent the United States and Mexico, but we came to dwell in sukkahs, but in Jerusalem.
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Excellent question, Donald. We know they had petroleum and they had fire and super-hot kilns and ovens, so maybe they had discovered Nylon long before Dupont 🙂
But based on Nehemiah 8, I’d guess their tents were made of rayon instead (as it is cellulose/wood based) 🙂
did they have nylon in the old testament??
Visit the pilgrims again, right now (Sukkot 2023), at the Peace Forest Camping site in Jerusalem. Bring food 🙂
It seems the study sources being used by me may be either inadequate or my understanding based on these sources may not yet be perfected. Thank you for the information.
Thank you for that clarification, Nehemia. It’s nice to know I’m not crazy in this particular situation. The jury might still be out on the general question, however 🙂 .
1Sam 11:11 and 1Ki 20:12, 16 have the plural סכות.
You can look in any Hebrew text and see the plural ending for yourself. Here is an online version of Nehemiah 8:
https://www.mechon-mamre.org/i/t/t35b08.htm
Simply search for the words סכת and סכות on the page and you will find the plural forms yourself.
Would you mind sharing what you study process is. I think this would be helpful for others.
In my interlinear, I see both passages (in 2 Samuel 11 and 1 Kings 20) using בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹת or basukkot, in the plural.
Are you guys telling me that this is incorrect?,
Please provide references that show the plural Hebrew for the word in these verses. In my studies, nothing comes up that shows that any of these are the Hebrew plural “sukkot”, but only the Hebrew for the singular “sukkah”. Only when the name of a place is mentioned does the Hebrew plural “sukkot” come up.
Actually, it is the plural form sukkot in Lev 23:42 (once) and Neh 8:15-17 (4 times).
In Lev 23:42 and Neh 8:15-17, and all other verses where the English translation is either “booths”, “tabernacles”, “tents”, or “pavilions”, the Hebrew word from which those translations come is always the singular “sukkah”-a hut. So, which should we trust, the English or the Hebrew?
How about Lev 23:42 and Neh 8:15-17? It is plural in in those verses in the sense of “booths”.
Gen 33:17, is the first verse that uses “Sukkoth”, and it uses it as a name of a place. Even though the definition says it is plural of “sukkah”, in scripture, in all instances where it is used, it is only used to refer to the place. In both 2 Samuel 11:11, and 1 Kings 20, in all instances, only the singular form is used.
I’m sorry, friend, but you lost me there.
The 2 Samuel 11:11 and 1 Kings 20 passages I mentioned use the word in a plural form.
Sukkot ( בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹת ) is plural. Sukkah ( בַסֻּכָּ֣ה ) is singular. The fact that some particular place/city is named in the plural form doesn’t change the grammar of the language. One such dwelling is a sukkah. Multiple such dwellings are called sukkot.
Example (from English): The fact that we have a place in the USA named “Three Rivers” doesn’t mean that we can no longer use the word “rivers” in a non-place-name fashion. We would still say “For my upcoming rafting trip, I need to decide between the Arkansas and Colorado rivers.”
Perhaps I’ve misunderstood you. In that case, could you please explain?
In your scripture references you indicate that they were dwelling in “sukkot”, but you call yours a “Sukkah”. According to scripture, all of these should be called “sukkah” since “Sukkot” (Sukkoth) is the name of a place. In Gen 33:17, both “Sukkot” (place) and “sukkah” (booths) are referenced.
Thank-you for the voices segment. very enjoyable. first time.
was observing Shabbat in the Philippines and i chanced upon this video. chills all over! praying for and looking forward to one day getting to observe/celebrate YeHoVaH’s feasts in the Promised Land with His Chosen People. thank you for posting this inspiring video, Nehemiah!
Got your books, by the way and loved each one of them!
Shabbat shalom from Manila!
Love this…
The reference that Nehemia gave from 2 Samuel 11:11 (re. “the ark and iIsrael and Judah are dwelling in [sukkot]”) is very interesting. That verse also references the soldiers being “encamped” using the same term used in many other military contexts as well as for the people Israel being “encamped” against the sea when they thought they were trapped by Pharaoh. That one, absolutely, was in both reality and intent, temporary.
Also, in 1 Kings 20, in the story of ben-Hadad attacking Ahab’s Samaria, “sukkot” is used twice to refer to what various English translations render as “tents”, “temporary dwellings”, “pavillions”, “quarters”, and “booths”. It is much easier to imagine an attacking army, having embarked on anything longer than a day-trip mission, setting up camp in tents and pavilions rather than putting in the time and effort to build wooden structures.
This makes my Charlie Brown Sukkah (a tent adorned with branches) seem much more legitimate. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Very inspiring. Hope to get there for sukkot – it’s been my desire for many years.
Col ha Cavodh l’yhwh, we kept the feast last month, most of our group, some this month too, seems like a “double blessing”. Great to see some people “living the dream” of keeping the feast in Jerusalem! I hope that the civic authorities will take notice, and help make some arrangements that the campers need not relocate in the middle of the event.
Such an awesome story of ephraim returning! Insipes me to be there next year.
7th year, 7 kids, 7 mo pregnant ?
I’m sure Nehemia caught that!
Wow!! That was wonderful! Thank you for highlighting Yehovah’s work in the life of these humble, sincere truth seekers!! Refreshing to the spirit!
Amazing!
Love this story of their Discovery of truth . And stepping out . I hope they get some where safe and permanent Next year ?. Thank you Nehemia for supporting them..Gaylene Donehue NZ
Thank you so much, Nehemia. It’s been a long year waiting for this one. I don’t think we really understand how much time and effort goes into the editing and publishing process for these interviews. And the end? Well, just … wow!
Greetings Kimberly,
The Varela Family go directly to scripture in search of answers. They use the term sukkot as the title for this feast. They also repeat the traditional idea held by many that the purpose for this feast is to remember the Israelites dwelling in the wilderness. Why do you use the term sukkot as the title for this feast? Is it possible that this is not the title for this feast? Is it possible that by learning the true title for this feast, the true purpose for this feast will be revealed?
I’m filled with so much emotion, that the tears are falling!! What an awesome story of life! I feel blessed to watch this unfold and look forward to reading the book. Thank You Varela Family and your quest to be children of Yehovah our Father, according to scripture, in the most heartfelt of ways!
Wow! This is so inspiring. I want to be in Jerusalem for Sukkot, too.
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