Topical Encyclopedia Feast-days in the Bible refer to the appointed times of celebration and remembrance instituted by God for the people of Israel. These sacred occasions were designed to commemorate significant events in Israel's history, to express gratitude, and to foster communal worship. The feasts are primarily outlined in the Pentateuch, particularly in Leviticus 23, and they hold both historical and prophetic significance.1. The Sabbath (Shabbat): The Sabbath is a weekly day of rest and worship, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It is rooted in the creation narrative, where God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). The command to observe the Sabbath is reiterated in the Ten Commandments: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (Exodus 20:8). The Sabbath serves as a perpetual sign of the covenant between God and Israel (Exodus 31:16-17). 2. Passover (Pesach): Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage. It begins on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan, and involves the sacrifice of a lamb, symbolizing the blood that protected the Israelites from the plague of the firstborn (Exodus 12:1-14). The feast is a foreshadowing of Christ, the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29), whose sacrifice delivers believers from sin. 3. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Immediately following Passover, this seven-day feast (Nisan 15-21) involves the removal of leaven from homes, symbolizing the purging of sin (Exodus 12:15-20). It serves as a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, without time for their bread to rise. 4. Feast of Firstfruits: Celebrated on the day after the Sabbath following Passover, the Feast of Firstfruits marks the beginning of the barley harvest. The Israelites were to bring a sheaf of the first grain to the priest as an offering (Leviticus 23:9-14). This feast prophetically points to the resurrection of Christ, the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). 5. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost): Fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits, this feast celebrates the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law at Sinai (Leviticus 23:15-21). In the New Testament, Pentecost marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early church (Acts 2:1-4), signifying the fulfillment of the Law through the Spirit. 6. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): Observed on the first day of the seventh month, Tishri, this feast involves the blowing of trumpets as a call to repentance and preparation for the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:23-25). It is a time of spiritual renewal and anticipation of God's future intervention. 7. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): On the 10th day of Tishri, this solemn day involves fasting and repentance. The high priest enters the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the nation (Leviticus 16:29-34). It prefigures Christ's atoning sacrifice, who entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all (Hebrews 9:11-12). 8. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): Beginning on the 15th day of Tishri, this seven-day feast celebrates the harvest and commemorates the Israelites' wilderness wanderings, during which they lived in temporary shelters (Leviticus 23:33-43). It anticipates the future gathering of God's people and the establishment of His kingdom. 9. Other Feasts and Observances: Additional feasts include Purim, commemorating the deliverance of the Jews in the time of Esther (Esther 9:20-32), and Hanukkah, celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple (John 10:22). While not instituted in the Torah, these feasts hold cultural and historical significance for the Jewish people. Feast-days serve as a rhythm of worship and remembrance, pointing to God's past faithfulness and future promises. They are integral to understanding the biblical narrative and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. Library On Feast Days and Fast Days. Marcion, Justifying his Antithesis Between the Law and the Gospel ... The Gospels are to be Read on the Sabbath I. ... Another Instance of Marcion's Tampering with St. Paul's Text the ... Letter Lxxi. To Lucinius. constitutions of the holy apostles The New Song The Later Hebrew Histories. His Arrival in his Native Land and the virtues Practised There ... Preface Thesaurus Feast-days (1 Occurrence)Feast-days. Feast-day, Feast-days. Feasted . Multi-Version Concordance Feast-days (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 46:11 And ... /f/feast-days.htm - 6k Synagogue (52 Occurrences) Feasted (6 Occurrences) Feast-day (5 Occurrences) Drinkoffering Drink-offering (33 Occurrences) Moons (17 Occurrences) Commerce (3 Occurrences) Solemnity (3 Occurrences) Sabbaths (53 Occurrences) Resources What is the Feast of Tabernacles / Booths / Sukkot? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Feast of Weeks? | GotQuestions.org What are the different Jewish festivals in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Feast-days (1 Occurrence)Ezekiel 46:11 Subtopics Related Terms |
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