Bible Dictionary: Festivals

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Festivals

I. The religious times ordained int he law fall under three heads:

Those formally connected with the institution of the Sabbath;
This historical or great festivals;
The day of atonement.
Immediately connected with the institution of the Sabbath are-- a. The weekly Sabbath itself. b. The seventh new moon, or feast of trumpets. c. The sabbatical year. d. The year of jubilee.
The great feasts are-- a. The passover. b. The feast of pentecost, of weeks, of wheat-harvest or of the first-fruits. c. The feast of tabernacles or of ingathering. On each of these occasions every male Israelite was commanded to "appear before the Lord," that is, to attend in the court of the tabernacle or the temple, and to make his offering with a joyful heart. (27:7; Nehemiah 8:9-12) The attendance of women was voluntary, but the zealous often went up to the passover. On all the days of holy convocation there was to be an entire suspension of ordinary labor of all kinds, (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 16:29; 23:21,24,25,35) but on the intervening days of the longer festivals work might be carried on. The agricultural significance of the three great festivals is clearly set forth int he account of the Jewish sacred year contained in (Leviticus 23:1) ... The times of the festivals were evidently ordained in wisdom, so as to interfere as little as possible with the industry of the people. The value of these great religious festivals was threefold. (1) Religious effects. --They preserved the religious faith of the nation and religious unity among the people. They constantly reminded the people of the divinely-wrought deliverances of the past; promoted gratitude and trust; and testified the reverence of the people for the temple and its sacred contents. Besides this was the influence of well-conducted temple services upon the synagogues through the land. (2) Political effects. --The unity of the nation would be insured by this fusion of the tribes; otherwise they would be likely to constitute separate tribal states. They would carry back to the provinces glowing accounts of the wealth, power and resources of the country. (3) Social effects. --They promoted friendly intercourse between travelling companions; distributed information through the country at a time when the transmission of news was slow and imperfect; and imported into remote provincial districts a practical knowledge of all improvements in arts and sciences.
For the day of atonement see that article. II. After the captivity, the feast of purim, (Esther 9:20) seq., and that of the dedication, 1Macc 4:56, were instituted.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Festivals, Religious

There were daily (Leviticus 23), weekly, monthly, and yearly festivals, and great stress was laid on the regular observance of them in every particular (Numbers 28:1-8; Exodus 29:38-42; Leviticus 6:8-23; Exodus 30:7-9; 27:20).

(1.) The septenary festivals were,

(a) The weekly Sabbath (Leviticus 23:1-3; Exodus 19:3-30; 20:8-11; 31:12, etc.).

(b) The seventh new moon, or the feast of Trumpets (Numbers 28:11-15; 29:1-6).

(d) The year of jubilee (Leviticus 23-35; 25:8-16; 27:16-25).

(2.) The great feasts were,

(a) The Passover. (b) The feast of Pentecost, or of weeks. (c) The feast of Tabernacles, or of ingathering.

On each of these occasions every male Israelite was commanded "to appear before the Lord" (Deuteronomy 27:7; Nehemiah 8:9-12). The attendance of women was voluntary. (Comp. Luke 2:41; 1 Samuel 1:7; 2:19.) The promise that God would protect their homes (Exodus 34:23, 24) while all the males were absent in Jerusalem at these feasts was always fulfilled. "During the whole period between Moses and Christ we never read of an enemy invading the land at the time of the three festivals. The first instance on record is thirty-three years after they had withdrawn from themselves the divine protection by imbruing their hands in the Saviour's blood, when Cestius, the Roman general, slew fifty of the people of Lydda while all the rest had gone up to the feast of Tabernacles, A.D. 66."

These festivals, besides their religious purpose, had an important bearing on the maintenance among the people of the feeling of a national unity. The times fixed for their observance were arranged so as to interfere as little as possible with the industry of the people. The Passover was kept just before the harvest commenced, Pentecost at the conclusion of the corn harvest and before the vintage, the feast of Tabernacles after all the fruits of the ground had been gathered in.

(3.) The Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month (Leviticus 16:1, 34; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11). (see ATONEMENT, DAY OF.)

Of the post-Exilian festivals reference is made to the feast of Dedication (John 10:22). This feast was appointed by Judas Maccabaeus in commemoration of the purification of the temple after it had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes. The "feast of Purim" (q.v.), Esther 9:24-32, was also instituted after the Exile. (Cf. John 5:1.)

Greek

5524. choregeo -- to lead a chorus (ie a group of performers), to ...
... "The provision of a chorus at public festivals was a costly business for
the Athenian public offices, who supplied " (P. Hughs).]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5524.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

4150. moed -- appointed time, place, or meeting
... 1), appointed time (21), appointed times (8), appointment (1), assembly (2), definite
time (1), feasts (2), festal assemblies (1), fixed festivals (3), meeting ...
/hebrew/4150.htm - 7k

2282. chag -- a festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast
... from chagag Definition a festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast NASB Word Usage
feast (52), feasts (5), festival (1), festival sacrifice (1), festivals (3). ...
/hebrew/2282.htm - 6k

Library

Of the Heavenly Festivals, of which those on Earth are Typical.
... Tenth Book. 12. Of the Heavenly Festivals, of Which Those on Earth are
Typical. Now in what manner, in those heavenly things of ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of john/12 of the heavenly festivals.htm

General Service for the Festivals of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
... CHAPTER I. GENERAL SERVICE FOR THE FESTIVALS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,.
AS WELL AS PREPARATIONS THERETO AND OCTAVES THEREOF. At the ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter i general service for.htm

Concerning Private Festivals.
... Chapter XVI."Concerning Private Festivals. Touching the ceremonies, however,
of private and social solemnities"as those of the ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter xvi concerning private festivals.htm

The Service Common to the Festivals of the Holy virgin.
... CHAPTER II. THE SERVICE COMMON TO THE FESTIVALS OF THE HOLY VIRGIN. For O
Lord, I have cried, the following Stichera Tone 4. Similar ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter ii the service common.htm

Concerning the Festivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to ...
... From The Exodus Out Of Egypt, To The Rejection Of That Generation. CHAPTER 10.
Concerning The Festivals; And How Each Day Of Such Festival Is To Be Observed. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning the festivals.htm

Saints' Days, Fasts, and Festivals.
... SAINTS' DAYS, FASTS, & FESTIVALS. MAY 1. St. Philip and St. James, Apostles
and Martyrs. Christ's cross says still, and will say ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /saints days fasts & festivals 5.htm

Saints' Days, Fasts, and Festivals.
... SAINTS' DAYS, FASTS, & FESTIVALS. OCTOBER 18. St. Luke, Physician and Evangelist.
It is good to follow Christ in one thing and to follow Him utterly in that. ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /saints days fasts & festivals 10.htm

Saints' Days, Fasts, and Festivals.
... SAINTS' DAYS, FASTS, & FESTIVALS. SEPTEMBER 21. St. Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist,
and Martyr. There is something higher than happiness. ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /saints days fasts & festivals 9.htm

Saints' Days, Fasts, and Festivals.
... SAINTS' DAYS, FASTS, & FESTIVALS. Whit Sunday. Think of the Holy Spirit
as a Person having a will of His own, who breatheth whither ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /saints days fasts & festivals 6.htm

Saints' Days, Fasts, and Festivals.
... SAINTS' DAYS, FASTS, & FESTIVALS. FEBRUARY 2. The Presentation of Christ in the
Temple, COMMONLY CALLED The Purification of the Virgin Mary. ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /saints days fasts & festivals 2.htm

Thesaurus

Festivals (17 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Festivals, Religious. There were daily (Leviticus
23 ... 9; 27:20). (1.) The septenary festivals were,. (a) The ...
/f/festivals.htm - 15k

Fasts (3 Occurrences)
... of affliction"): I. PRE-EXILIC A) Annual 1. Passover, 15th-22d Nican 2. Pentecost,
6th Ciwan) Pilgrimage 3. Tabernacles, 15th-22d Tishri) Festivals 4. Shemini ...
/f/fasts.htm - 21k

Feasts (45 Occurrences)
... of affliction"): I. PRE-EXILIC A) Annual 1. Passover, 15th-22d Nican 2. Pentecost,
6th Ciwan) Pilgrimage 3. Tabernacles, 15th-22d Tishri) Festivals 4. Shemini ...
/f/feasts.htm - 36k

Feast (209 Occurrences)
... of the observances connected with the offering up of sacrifices (Deuteronomy
12:6, 7; 1 Samuel 9:19; 16:3, 5), and with the annual festivals (Deuteronomy 16: ...
/f/feast.htm - 47k

Trumpets (52 Occurrences)
... Some were made of silver (Numbers 10:2), and were used only by the priests in
announcing the approach of festivals and in giving signals of war. ...
/t/trumpets.htm - 32k

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)
... pen'-te-kost: 1. In the Old Testament: As the name indicates (pentekoste), this
second of the great Jewish national festivals was observed on the 50th day, or ...
/p/pentecost.htm - 21k

Degrees (18 Occurrences)
... is the circumstance that these psalms came to be sung by the people on the ascents
or goings up to Jerusalem to attend the three great festivals (Deuteronomy 16 ...
/d/degrees.htm - 14k

Songs (100 Occurrences)
... (4) The most probable view is that the hymns were sung by pilgrim bands on
their way to the three great festivals of the Jewish year. ...
/s/songs.htm - 62k

Greece (15 Occurrences)
... FORMS OF WORSHIP 1. Shrines 2. Temples 3. Priests 4. Seasons of Worship: Festivals
5. Elements of Worship 6. Prayer 7. Burnt Offering, or Sacrificial Meal 8 ...
/g/greece.htm - 59k

Begging (18 Occurrences)
... (Matthew 20:30 and parallels), which was a gateway to pilgrims going up to Jerusalem
to the great festivals and in the neighborhood of rich men's houses (Luke ...
/b/begging.htm - 18k

Bible Concordance

Festivals (17 Occurrences)

Numbers 10:10 "Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God. I am Yahweh your God."
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 23:31 and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh, on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Yahweh;
(See NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 31:3 He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Yahweh.
(See NAS)

Ezra 3:5 and afterward the continual burnt offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of Yahweh that were consecrated, and of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to Yahweh.
(See NAS)

Nehemiah 10:33 for the show bread, and for the continual meal offering, and for the continual burnt offering, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 1:14 Your new moons and your regular feasts are a grief to my soul: they are a weight in my spirit; I am crushed under them.
(See NAS NIV)

Isaiah 29:1 Wo 'to' Ariel, Ariel, The city of the encampment of David! Add year to year, let festivals go round.
(YLT NIV)

Isaiah 33:20 Look at Zion, the city of our appointed festivals. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a tent that won't be removed. Its stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken.
(WEB NIV)

Ezekiel 45:17 It shall be the prince's part to give the burnt offerings, and the meal offerings, and the drink offerings, in the feasts, and on the new moons, and on the Sabbaths, in all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meal offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 46:11 In the feasts and in the solemnities the meal offering shall be an ephah for a bull, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah.
(See NAS NIV)

Hosea 2:11 And I have caused to cease all her joy, Her festival, her new moon, and her sabbath, Even all her appointed times,
(See NIV)

Hosea 5:7 They are unfaithful to Yahweh; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.
(See NIV)

Amos 5:21 I have hated -- I have loathed your festivals, And I am not refreshed by your restraints.
(YLT NAS)

Amos 8:10 And have turned your festivals to mourning, And all your songs to lamentation, And caused sackcloth to come up on all loins, And on every head -- baldness, And made it as a mourning 'of' an only one, And its latter end as a day of bitterness.
(YLT NAS)

Nahum 1:15 Lo, on the mountains the feet of one proclaiming tidings, sounding peace! Celebrate, O Judah, thy festivals, complete thy vows, For add no more to pass over into thee doth the worthless, He hath been completely cut off!
(YLT NIV)

Zechariah 8:19 Thus says Yahweh of Armies: "The fasts of the fourth fifth, seventh, and tenth months shall be for the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace."
(See NIV)

Malachi 2:3 Lo, I am pushing away before you the seed, And have scattered dung before your faces, Dung of your festivals, And it hath taken you away with it.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Festivals

Related Terms

Fasts (3 Occurrences)

Feasts (45 Occurrences)

Feast (209 Occurrences)

Trumpets (52 Occurrences)

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)

Degrees (18 Occurrences)

Songs (100 Occurrences)

Greece (15 Occurrences)

Begging (18 Occurrences)