Bible Encyclopedias
Booth

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

booth , booth : The Hebrew word ṣukkāh (rendered in the King James Version "booth" or "booths," eleven times; "tabernacle" or "tabernacles," ten times; "pavilion" or "pavilions," five times; "cottage" once) means a hut made of wattled twigs or branches (Leviticus 23:42; Nehemiah 8:15 ). In countries where trees are abundant such wattled structures are common as temporary buildings as they can be constructed in a very short time. Cattle were probably housed in them (Genesis 33:17 ). Such hurriedly-made huts were use d by soldiers (2 Samuel 11:11; 1 Kings 20:12 ) and by harvesters - hence, the name feast of "booths" or "tabernacles" (see TABERNACLES , FEAST OF ). Job (Job 27:18 ) uses booth (parallel moth's house) as a symbol of impermanence. Similar huts were erected in vineyards, etc., to protect them from robbers and beasts of prey. The isolated condition of Jerusalem in the time of the prophet Isaiah is compared to a "booth in a vineyard" (Isaiah 18:1-7 ).