by Robert C. Veil, Jr.
In the 23rd chapter of Leviticus we have God’s directions to the children of Israel regarding
the observance of religious feasts or festivals under the Mosaic law. Referred to as “set feasts of
Jehovah,” these observances were holy convocations or sacred assemblies. Their general purpose
was to perpetuate the display of God’s providence and grace, in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt
and preserving them in the wilderness. Additionally, these feasts served to excite and maintain in
the Israelites a spirit of gratitude and obedience by leading them to consider deeply the greatness
of God’s favors which they had received from his merciful hands.
- The weekly sabbath fell on the 7th day of each week, (23:3). The Hebrew word means
“rest” and thus it was a day of solemn rest on which no manner of work was to be done. The
Sabbath commandment had been clearly set forth previously, (see Exodus 20:8-11), and is repeated
here as an introduction to the discussion of holy times and seasons in general. - The passover fell annually on the 14th day of the first month, (23:4-8). The first month of
the religious year was called Nisan (our March-April time frame), earlier called Abib. Originally
commanded in Exodus 12, this feast commemorated God sparing the Israelites from the plague of
the death of the firstborn of Egypt, (see Exodus 2:29-30). - The passover was followed immediately by the seven days of unleavened bread (vs. 6),
which began on the 15th day of the month. - On the 16th day of the month was the feast of first fruits, (23:9-14). This was a harvest
festival in which the first fruits were offered to God. This included a ceremony in which sheaves
of barley (the first crop to ripen) were harvested and waved before God. - Seven weeks and one day after the Passover was the feast of weeks, called in the new
testament, “Pentecost,” (23:15-22). Celebrated 50 days (“penta”) after first fruits, this feast marks
the end of the grain harvest. The feast therefore always fell on a Sunday, the first day of the week.
This was the feast being observed in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the apostles
and the Lord’s church was established, (see Acts 2:1-4). - All of the above feasts occurred in the spring time. The first of the fall festivals was known
as the feast of trumpets, which celebrated the commencement of the new civil year, (23:23-25).
Occurring on the 1st day of the seventh month, this holy convocation featured the blowing of
trumpets signaling a day of solemn rest. - On the 10th day of the seventh month was the annual day of atonement, (Yom Kippur),
the most solemn observance of the year, (23:26-32). The details of this observance are described
in Leviticus 16. It was on this day each year that the high priest entered the most holy place of the
tabernacle and offered a blood sacrifice annually for the sins of the people. There was to be “no
man in the tent of meeting” when the high priest entered the most holy place, (Leviticus 16:17).
This action by the high priest prefigured Jesus Christ himself offering his own blood in the
presence of God as he purchased the church, (Acts 20:28). - The feast of tabernacles began on the 15th day of the seventh month, and continued for
seven days, (23:33-36). It was also known as the feast of “booths” because it commemorated the
Israelites dwelling in temporary shelters during their wilderness wandering. This feast was also
known as the feast of “ingathering” (Exodus 23:16) because it marked the end of the harvest year,
at which time all crops had been gathered.
Each of the above, with the exception of the weekly Passover, was commemorated by a holy
feast. Thus, there were seven annual feasts commanded and observed by the Israelites. Since they
were tied to the time of year as it related to crop production, the people were continuously reminded
to keep the feasts religiously in their annual calendar.
While these feast requirements ended with the fulfillment and passing away of the mosaic law
(cf. Ephesians 2:11-22; Colossians 2:8-19), a background understanding of them is vital in
grasping how God expects us to ever remember His amazing provisions for our salvation.
