◄ Leviticus 23:9 ►
And the LORD said to Moses,
Study Bible
The LORD
This phrase refers to Yahweh, the covenantal name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). In Hebrew, it is represented by the Tetragrammaton YHWH, emphasizing God's eternal, self-existent nature. The use of "The LORD" here underscores the divine authority and holiness of the instructions that follow. It reminds us that the laws and festivals outlined in Leviticus are not mere human traditions but are divinely ordained, reflecting God's desire for His people to live in holiness and obedience.

also said
The phrase indicates a continuation of communication between God and Moses. The Hebrew root for "said" is "amar," which conveys not just speaking but also the intention and authority behind the words. This ongoing dialogue between God and Moses highlights the unique role of Moses as a mediator between God and the Israelites. It also emphasizes the importance of listening to God's voice, as His words are life-giving and foundational for the community's spiritual and social order.

to Moses
Moses is a central figure in the Pentateuch, serving as the leader, lawgiver, and prophet of Israel. His name, derived from the Hebrew "Mosheh," is traditionally understood to mean "drawn out," reflecting his rescue from the Nile River. Moses' role as the recipient of God's law underscores the importance of faithful leadership and obedience to God's commands. It also points to the necessity of having a mediator who can faithfully convey God's will to His people, a role ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the greater Moses (Hebrews 3:3).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is giving instructions to His people through Moses.

2. Moses
The prophet and leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His laws and commandments to the people.

3. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are receiving these instructions as part of their covenant relationship with Him.

4. Mount Sinai
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, it is the place where God gave the Law to Moses, including the instructions in Leviticus.

5. Feasts of the LORD
The broader context of Leviticus 23, which outlines the appointed feasts and holy convocations for the Israelites.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Authority
The LORD speaks directly to Moses, emphasizing His authority and the importance of His instructions. We are reminded of God's sovereignty in our lives and the need to heed His Word.

The Role of Mediators
Moses serves as a mediator between God and the Israelites. This foreshadows Christ as our ultimate mediator, who intercedes on our behalf.

The Importance of Obedience
The instructions given to Moses were to be followed precisely by the Israelites. This teaches us the importance of obedience to God's commands in our own lives.

The Significance of Holy Days
The feasts and holy convocations were times set apart for worship and remembrance. We are encouraged to set aside time for worship and reflection on God's goodness.

Covenant Relationship
The instructions in Leviticus 23 are part of the covenant relationship between God and His people. We are reminded of our covenant relationship with God through Christ and the responsibilities it entails.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God's authority in Leviticus 23:9 influence your view of His commands in your life today?

2. In what ways does Moses' role as a mediator point to the work of Christ in the New Testament?

3. How can we apply the principle of setting aside holy days for worship and reflection in our modern context?

4. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate obedience to God's Word in our daily lives?

5. How does the concept of a covenant relationship with God, as seen in Leviticus, impact your understanding of your relationship with Him through Christ?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 12
The Passover instructions, which are part of the broader context of the feasts and offerings described in Leviticus 23.

Numbers 28-29
These chapters provide additional details on the offerings and sacrifices associated with the feasts.

Deuteronomy 16
Offers further instructions on the observance of the feasts, emphasizing the importance of remembering God's deliverance.

Hebrews 10
Discusses the fulfillment of the Law and the sacrificial system in Christ, connecting the Old Testament feasts to the New Covenant.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Paul refers to Christ as our Passover lamb, drawing a parallel between the Old Testament feasts and their fulfillment in Jesus.
Sermons
The FestivalsR.A. Redford Leviticus 23:1-44
Feasts of the LordW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 23:2-44
God's FestivalsHenry, MatthewLeviticus 23:2-44
God's Holy DaysHenry, MatthewLeviticus 23:2-44
Seven Feasts Mentioned in This ChapterD. C. Hughes, M. A.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Great FeastsJ. C. Gray.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Holy FestivalsJ. A. Seiss, . D. D.Leviticus 23:2-44
The PassoverJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 23:4-14
Provision and PietyW. Clarkson Leviticus 23:9-14
The Feast of the FirstfruitsR.M. Edgar Leviticus 23:9-14
The First Sheaf a Wave Offering of the HarvestR.A. Redford Leviticus 23:9-14
The Conditions of the Spiritual Land-TenureH. T. Edwards, M. A.Leviticus 23:9-15
People
Ephah, Israelites, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Saying, Spake, Speaketh, Spoke
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 23:9-11

     4456   grain
     4510   sowing and reaping

Leviticus 23:9-20

     4442   firstfruits

Leviticus 23:9-22

     8644   commemoration

Library
The Consecration of Joy
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 34. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. 35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
IT was the last, the great day of the Feast,' and Jesus was once more in the Temple. We can scarcely doubt that it was the concluding day of the Feast, and not, as most modern writers suppose, its Octave, which, in Rabbinic language, was regarded as a festival by itself.' [3987] [3988] But such solemn interest attaches to the Feast, and this occurrence on its last day, that we must try to realise the scene. We have here the only Old Testament type yet unfilfilled; the only Jewish festival which has …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Chronology
45. The length of the public ministry of Jesus was one of the earliest questions which arose in the study of the four gospels. In the second and third centuries it was not uncommon to find the answer in the passage from Isaiah (lxi. 1, 2), which Jesus declared was fulfilled in himself. "The acceptable year of the Lord" was taken to indicate that the ministry covered little more than a year. The fact that the first three gospels mention but one Passover (that at the end), and but one journey to Jerusalem, …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell in You, He that Raised up Christ from the Dead Shall Also
Rom. viii. 11.--"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." It is true the soul is incomparably better than the body, and he is only worthy the name of a man and of a Christian who prefers this more excellent part, and employs his study and time about it, and regards his body only for the noble guest that lodges within it, and therefore it is one of the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Jesus Living at Nazareth and visiting Jerusalem in his Twelfth Year.
(Nazareth and Jerusalem, a.d. 7 or 8.) ^C Luke II. 40-52. ^c 40 And the child grew [This verse contains the history of thirty years. It describes the growth of our Lord as a natural, human growth (compare Luke i. 80); for, though Jesus was truly divine, he was also perfectly man. To try to distinguish between the divine and human in Jesus, is to waste time upon an impracticable mystery which is too subtle for our dull and finite minds], and waxed strong [His life expanded like other human lives. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Healing Peter's Mother-In-Law and Many Others.
(at Capernaum.) ^A Matt. VIII. 14-17; ^B Mark I. 29-34; ^C Luke IV. 38-41. ^c 38 And he arose out of the synagogue [where he had just healed the demoniac], ^b 29 And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came { ^c entered} ^b into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [Peter and Andrew had dwelt at Bethsaida (John i. 44). They may have removed to Capernaum, or Bethsaida, being near by, may be here counted as a part, or suburb, of Capernaum. Its name does not contradict …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision A. Jesus Cleanses the Temple. ^D John II. 13-25. ^d 13 And the passover of the Jews was at hand [We get our information as to the length of our Lord's ministry from John's Gospel. He groups his narrative around six Jewish festivals: 1, He here mentions the first passover; 2, another feast, which we take to have been also a passover (v. 1); 3, another passover (vi. 4); 4, the feast of tabernacles (vii. 2); 5, dedication (x. 22); 6, passover (xi. 55). This …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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