During the Feast of Tabernacles God's people were instructed to go to a place He would designate. When they got there He told them to construct temporary living quarters (often called booths). These two acts help us remember that we are merely sojourners during the days of our life and that our existence in this world is temporary.

• The temporary dwellings of the Feast of Tabernacles are also referred to as tents in Hosea 12:9
• The Christian perspective of our flesh and blood existence as a temporary dwelling place is also found in 2 Peter 1:13.

Temporary Dwellings at the Feast of Tabernacles

The theme of temporary dwellings is recorded in Nehemiah 8:11-18. Nehemiah has charge over the people who have returned to Israel after the 70 year long Babylonian captivity. The nation had gone into captivity because they had forgotten the God of Israel and His commands. Now the people who were allowed to return were to be re-introduced to the commandments of God... including the Feast of Tabernacles.

Since the people were already in Jerusalem (the designated place) they did not have to travel anywhere. But they were instructed to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with:

• Choice food and drink
• A solemn day of rest on the first day of the Feast (an annual Sabbath)
• Building temporary dwellings from branches and palm leaves
• Time for instruction in God's word