Joh 7:2-5 | TNotes | STEP | 7:2 Jewish men were required to come to the Temple for the Festival of Shelters (Exod 23:14-17 ; Deut 16:16 ), an annual seven-day autumn harvest festival in Jerusalem six months after Passover (John 6:4 ). People lived in temporary shelters for the seven days as a reminder of the tents Israel used for forty years in the wilderness.

bExod 23:14-17►

cDeut 16:16►

dJohn 6:4►

fMark 3:31►

gJohn 7:5►

‏ John 7:2-5

7:2 ^a Jewish men were required to come to the Temple for the Festival of Shelters (Exod 23:14-17 ^b; Deut 16:16 ^c), an annual seven-day autumn harvest festival in Jerusalem six months after Passover (John 6:4 ^d). People lived in temporary shelters for the seven days as a reminder of the tents Israel used for forty years in the wilderness.
Summary for John 7:3-5: 7:3-5 ^e Jesus’ brothers (see also Mark 3:31 ^f) reminded him of his religious obligation to celebrate the festival. Their words were cynical because at this time they didn’t believe in him (John 7:5 ^g).