The observance of feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths is a significant aspect of the religious life and calendar in the Bible, particularly within the Old Testament. These observances are deeply rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and His people, serving as times of worship, remembrance, and community gathering.

Feasts

The feasts of Israel are divinely instituted celebrations that commemorate God's acts of salvation and provision. They are outlined primarily in the Pentateuch, with Leviticus 23 providing a comprehensive list. The major feasts include:

1. Passover (Pesach): Celebrated on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan), Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. It involves the sacrifice of a lamb and the eating of unleavened bread. "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD. You are to celebrate it as a permanent statute for the generations to come" (Exodus 12:14).

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Immediately following Passover, this seven-day feast involves the removal of leaven from homes, symbolizing purity and separation from sin (Exodus 12:15-20).

3. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost): Occurring 50 days after the Sabbath following Passover, this feast celebrates the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law at Sinai (Leviticus 23:15-21).

4. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): Marking the beginning of the civil year, this feast is a day of rest and trumpet blasts, calling the people to repentance (Leviticus 23:23-25).

5. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): A solemn day of fasting and repentance, it is the only day the high priest enters the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the nation (Leviticus 16; 23:26-32).

6. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): A seven-day feast celebrating the harvest and commemorating the Israelites' wilderness wanderings, during which they lived in temporary shelters (Leviticus 23:33-43).

New Moons

The new moon, marking the beginning of each month in the Hebrew calendar, is a time of special offerings and trumpet blasts. Numbers 10:10 states, "Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God" . The new moon is a time of renewal and reflection, often associated with the anticipation of God's continued provision and guidance.

Sabbaths

The Sabbath, observed weekly from Friday evening to Saturday evening, is a day of rest and worship, rooted in the creation narrative where God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). The command to observe the Sabbath is enshrined in the Ten Commandments: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God" (Exodus 20:8-10). The Sabbath serves as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, a reminder of God's creation and redemption.

In addition to the weekly Sabbath, the Bible also prescribes sabbatical years and the Year of Jubilee, which extend the principles of rest and restoration to the land and society (Leviticus 25).

Theological Significance

These observances are not merely ritualistic but are imbued with theological significance. They serve as reminders of God's faithfulness, the need for holiness, and the anticipation of ultimate redemption. The feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths point forward to the fulfillment of God's promises in Christ, who is seen as the ultimate Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) and the one who provides true rest (Hebrews 4:9-10).