Deuteronomy 16:10

10. With a tribute of a free will offering Rather, with a measure. A spontaneous tribute in proportion to their ability. THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES.

In Exodus 23:16, this is spoken of as “the feast of ingathering at the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.” At this feast the people dwelt in booths made of the “boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees and willows of the brook.” Leviticus 23:40. This was the great harvest feast of the year. The fruit of the olive orchards and the vineyards had been at this time gathered. It was at this feast, “in the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Amid the joyous festivities of this great national thanksgiving how these words of Jesus must have impressed the assembled multitudes! No wonder many of the listeners said, “Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ.” John 7:37, seq. Comp. Leviticus 23:34-43; Numbers 29:12-40; Nehemiah 8:14-18.