In order to discover what event there is, which the prophet had in view, and which, either by itself, or in connexion with Christ's first advent, corresponds with the feast of Tabernacles, and which moreover calls for such distinguished honour in the latter day ; we must examine the whole preceding context. The prophet is speaking respecting the future restoration and conversion of the Jews e. He foretells, that it will be opposed to the uttermost by the heathen nations : but that the Jews will triumph over all their enemies f, and having destroyed immense multitudes of them, will be the instruments of con- verting the rest to the faith of Christ g. Now, it is obvious, that the Jews, in going up to their own land, must dwell in booths made of the branches of trees ; or, at best, in tents, such as soldiers use when they take the field. It is equally obvious, that, in appearance, they will be as likely to fall a prey to their enemies, as when they came out of Egypt to sojourn in the wilderness. Yet shall they be as miraculously preserved then as heretofore ; not only through the destruction of their enemies, but by a supply of all their wants : and they shall have renewed to them all their former mercies under their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will then reign over them, and fix his Tabernacle in the midst of them, as their Head and Kingh. By this blessed event, their surviving enemies will be convinced, and converted to the faith of Christ : and all who shall resist the evidence thus afforded them, and refuse to join them in the worshipping of the Saviour, shall be visited with plagues, which shall mark plainly the indignation of God against them. At the feast of Tabernacles they were wont to pray for the latter rain, which fell at that season of the year1: and God threatens, that they who should not unite with them in these holy exercises "should have no rain." And whereas Egypt was independent of rain, their land being fertilized by the overflowing of the Nile, they should have some other plague equivalent to that inflicted on other dis- obedient nations k: for God would sorely chastise all who should refuse to unite in celebrating this wonderful event, and in honouring the Saviour who shall have brought it to pass.
Now, here we have an object worthy of such an ordinance to prefigure it : for it is the consummation of all the prophecies, relating either to the Jewish or Gentile world. And here we see why this feast is to be observed, not only in preference to, but to the exclusion of, the other two. And certainly, if we conceive, as many do, that the Lord Jesus Christ will then descend, and personally reign on earth, the connexion between
e ver. 11. f ver. 12 — 14. See also Zech. xii. 3, 6 — 9.
s Isai.lxvi. 14 — 1C, 19. h Ezek. xxxiv. 23, 24. with Rev. xxi. 3. » Joel ii. 23. k ver. 18.
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