Living in tents is a significant theme, often symbolizing temporary dwellings. The first mention of tents appears with Cain's descendants, early cowboys who dwelt in tents and tended livestock. The Patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—lived in tents as a way of life for many decades. Throughout their wilderness journey, the children of Israel also resided in tents for forty years, embodying impermanence. Although tents were among the earliest habitations of men, imagining living in one for a significant time feels daunting. Ancient tents, often called houses of hair, were functional despite their unappealing exteriors. Typically made of woven goat hair, they contracted when wet to form a seal against leaks. If torn, owners could easily weave patches to repair them. Surprisingly, these black tents maintained a cool temperature even in desert heat. Constructing such a tent could take up to a year, yet it could accommodate as many as ten people. Many were artistically crafted, with interiors stitched from dyed gazelle hide in vibrant colors, resembling tapestries. In the ancient Middle East, living in a tent daily for years, or even a lifetime, as the Patriarchs did, was common. Abraham, for instance, sat in the tent door during the heat of the day, possibly pitching his tent near trees for shade or windbreaks. Sarah may have shared the same tent or had her own adjacent one, a practice not uncommon for wives, often separated by a curtain. Most camps were set up around the patriarch, maintaining a close-knit arrangement. Though tent living as a way of life has largely disappeared, some Arabians strive to preserve their desert lifestyle by residing in traditional tents during moderate months, returning to houses in winter.

Tents serve as temporary dwellings during the Feast of Tabernacles. Some participants camp in tents rather than hotel rooms or recreational vehicles. The Hebrew word sukka refers to a tabernacle or hut as a temporary shelter. God commanded native Israelites to dwell in such booths to recall their ancestors' time in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. Biblical patriarchs including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived in tents for extended periods without permanent homes except burial plots. Moses and Aaron spent at least forty years in tents. David used tents while tending sheep and during military campaigns. Many prophets and all the apostles lived in tents or similar temporary shelters while traveling. Jesus Christ had no permanent place during His ministry and lived in temporary dwellings. These examples illustrate a sense of impermanence. God's people rarely maintained settled lives because He leads them toward the Kingdom of God rather than allowing fixation on the present world. Living in tents during the Feast reinforces movement toward a goal at God's direction while fostering loyalty to Him over any earthly homeland.