Individuals who were a part of the nation of Israel could remain holy and pure before God by obeying the guidelines set forth in such matters as sacrifice and food (Leviticus 17), sexual behavior (Leviticus 18), relationships to friends and family (Leviticus 19), capital punishment (Leviticus 20), and behavior of priests (Leviticus 21-22); however, there were also ways that the nation as a whole could remain right with God, which were expressed in celebrating religious festivals. These national expressions of worship were detailed in Leviticus 23 and include the Sabbath (23:3), Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread (23:5-8), Feast of Firstfruits (23:9-14), Feast of Weeks (23:15-22), Feast of Trumpets (23:23-25), Day of Atonement (23:26-32), and the Feast of Tabernacles (23:33-44). Each of these feasts were an appointed time when Israel was to come together to publicly display their worship of God. If Israel wanted to maintain a proper relationship with God they would need to celebrate these festivals according to the instructions given by God.
Although the Sabbath is the only weekly display of worship, the mentioning of it reminded the Israelites that they were to work six days and on the seventh day they were to rest (23:3). The command to keep the Sabbath was established in God’s initial creation and then repeated as a part of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). The rest of the celebrations were to be observed yearly. Here is a listing of the Feasts and some details concerning each one:
Feast: The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread (23:4-8)
Date: 14th of the first month, March/April on the Jewish calendar, at sunset the Passover begins (23:5). Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the 15th of the first month and ended on the 21st (23:6)
Purpose: The Passover celebrated God’s delivering of Israel from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 12) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread served as a reminder of Israel’s quick departure from Egypt and their related hardships
Feast: Feast of Firstfruits (23:9-14)
Date: 16th of the first month, which would have been celebrated as a part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Purpose: The first part of the barley harvest was to be brought to the priest (23:9-11) along with a burnt, grain, and drink offering (23:12-13) as a consecration of the entire harvest to God.
Feast: Feast of Weeks/Harvest or Pentecost (23:15-22)
Date: The 50th day after the Sabbath preceding the Feast of Firstfruits, which would have been around the 6th of May/June (23:15-16)
Purpose: This was a dedication of the wheat harvest to the Lord by offering special sacrifices (23:17-20). The sacrifices would sanctify Israel and ready her for a new season of work. Celebrating this feast also reminded Israel to care for the poor if it was in their ability to help (23:22)
Feast: Feast of Trumpets or Rosh Hashanah (23:23-25)
Date: the first day of the seventh month, September/October (23:24)
Purpose: Trumpets were blown on this day as a special reminder that the Day of Atonement was approaching. The day of this feast was to be a day of rest and special offerings/sacrifices were to be made (23:25; Numbers 29:1-6)
Feast: Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur (23:26-32)
Date: 10th day of the seventh month
Purpose: This day was appointed as a time to cleanse the nation and tabernacle from sin. Full details are given in Leviticus 16. Israel was to afflict themselves (probably fasting), abstain from work, and offer sacrifices on this day of cleansing.
Feast: Feast of Tabernacles, also Booths or Ingathering (23:33-44)
Date: 15th day of the seventh month and celebrated for 8 days (23:33-34)
Purpose: A feast of thanksgiving for God’s provision of harvest for the year, but also a celebration for God’s protection of the Israelites during the 40 years in the wilderness when they dwelt in tents. As a remembrance of this time of wandering in the wilderness, the nation of Israel was to live in tents for seven days.
Dear God, help me to often reflect on the good You have done in my life and rejoice in Your work.
