The Three Feasts of Pilgrimage, also known as the Shalosh Regalim, are central to the religious life of ancient Israel as prescribed in the Torah. These feasts are the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Each feast required the Israelites to make a pilgrimage to the place where God chose to establish His name, which ultimately became Jerusalem. These feasts are not only times of celebration and worship but also serve as profound reminders of God's providence, deliverance, and covenant with His people.

1. Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, commonly known as Passover (Pesach), commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan and lasts for seven days. The feast is initiated by the Passover meal, which includes the sacrifice of a lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs, as commanded in Exodus 12:8. The Berean Standard Bible states, "They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs."

During this feast, leaven is removed from homes, symbolizing the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt and the purging of sin. Deuteronomy 16:16 instructs, "Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles."

2. Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

The Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot, occurs seven weeks after Passover, marking the completion of the grain harvest. It is also known as Pentecost in the New Testament, celebrated on the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week. This feast commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, a pivotal event in Israel's history.

Leviticus 23:15-16 provides the instructions: "From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you are to count seven full weeks. You shall count fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD."

The Feast of Weeks is a time of thanksgiving for the harvest and a reminder of God's provision and the covenant established at Sinai. It is a time of joy and gratitude, as expressed in Deuteronomy 16:10-11 : "And you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a freewill offering that you give in proportion to how the LORD your God has blessed you. And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God."

3. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month, Tishrei, and lasts for seven days. It commemorates the Israelites' 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, living in temporary shelters. Leviticus 23:42-43 commands, "You are to live in booths for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must live in booths, so that your descendants may know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

Sukkot is a time of rejoicing and celebration of the final harvest of the year. It is marked by the construction of temporary shelters, or sukkahs, where meals are eaten, and sometimes people sleep. The feast is a reminder of God's protection and provision during the wilderness journey and His continued faithfulness.

Zechariah 14:16 prophesies the universal observance of this feast: "Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles."

These three feasts are integral to the spiritual rhythm of Israel, serving as times of remembrance, thanksgiving, and renewal of the covenant relationship with God. They highlight the themes of redemption, revelation, and divine provision, central to the faith and identity of the people of Israel.