Feast of Tabernacles

What is the Feast of Tabernacles?

John 7:10-14 Feast of Tabernacles

JOHN 7:10 10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as in secret.

To which “feast” (John 7:10) did they go?
The “Feast of Tabernacles” (John 7:2).

What is the “Feast of Tabernacles” (John 7:2)?
Also known as the “Feast of Booths” because people lived in booths, tents and other makeshift shelters for seven days, the Feast of Tabernacles was the feast that God commanded Jews to keep to commemorate God having led and provided for them for forty years in the wilderness after freeing them from slavery in Egypt: And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD... You shall live in booths for seven days. All who are native-born Israelites shall live in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God’ ” (Leviticus 23:33-34, 42-43). The Feast of Tabernacles was also called the “Feast of Ingathering” (Exodus 23:16) because it took place at the end of the harvest. So just as the land was full of food, the people were to live outdoors in booths for seven days and remember that it is God who gave them food for forty years in the wilderness, and that it is God who still gives them their food. Since the Feast of Tabernacles is about six months after the Feast of Passover, about six months had elapsed since John chapter 6.

JOHN 7:11-14 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” 12 And there was much murmuring among the crowds concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” 13 However, no one spoke openly about Him for fear of the Jews. 14 Now about the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and was teaching.

Why did Jesus go to the Feast of Tabernacles “in secret” (John 7:10)?
The Jews in Jerusalem were trying to capture and kill Him, and “sought Him at the feast” (John 7:11).

If Jesus came to die, why not get captured and killed?
He not only had to die, but die for the right reason and at the right time. He still had six months to go for that.

What effect did His brothers going ahead have?
“There was much murmuring among the crowds concerning Him” (John 7:12). And the Jews were asking, “Where is He?” (John 7:11). So when Jesus' brothers arrived first and the word spread that Jesus wasn't with them but had stayed behind in Galilee, the Jews probably lifted whatever trap they may have had laid for Jesus.

When He did arrive, did Jesus remain hidden?
No, He went right “into the temple” (John 7:14), whose large crowd could hear His message and make it tricky for the Jews to arrest Him without cause, “and was teaching” (John 7:14).