Topical Bible: Feasts: (Instituted by Moses): First and Last Days Were Sabbatic

◄ Feasts: (Instituted by Moses): First and Last Days Were Sabbatic ►

Topical Encyclopedia

The feasts instituted by Moses hold significant importance in the religious and cultural life of the Israelites, as outlined in the Torah. These feasts were not only times of celebration and remembrance but also served as a means to foster communal identity and spiritual reflection. Among the distinctive features of these feasts is the designation of the first and last days as Sabbatic, or days of rest, which underscores their sacred nature.

Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread

The Passover, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, marks the beginning of the religious calendar for the Israelites. The Passover commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, as described in Exodus 12. The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasts for seven days, begins immediately after Passover. The first and last days of this feast are Sabbatic, as stated in Leviticus 23:7-8 : "On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any ordinary work. For seven days you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly; you must not do any ordinary work."

Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

Fifty days after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost, is celebrated. This feast is a time of thanksgiving for the wheat harvest and is marked by the offering of the firstfruits. The day of Pentecost itself is Sabbatic, as indicated in Leviticus 23:21 : "On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly, and you must not do any ordinary work. This is a permanent statute for you wherever you live, for the generations to come."

Feast of Trumpets

The Feast of Trumpets, occurring on the first day of the seventh month, is a day of rest and a sacred assembly. It is a time of blowing trumpets and preparing for the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 23:24-25 states: "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts. You must not do any ordinary work, but you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD."

Day of Atonement

The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is the most solemn of the feasts, dedicated to repentance and atonement for sins. It is a complete Sabbath, as described in Leviticus 23:32 : "It will be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall humble yourselves. On the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Sabbath."

Feast of Tabernacles (Booths)

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is a seven-day festival celebrating the harvest and commemorating the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. The first and eighth days are Sabbatic, as noted in Leviticus 23:35-36 : "On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly; you must not do any ordinary work. For seven days you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you must not do any ordinary work."

Conclusion

The Sabbatic nature of the first and last days of these feasts highlights their sanctity and the importance of rest and reflection in the worship of God. These days serve as reminders of God's provision, deliverance, and the covenant relationship between God and His people. Through these feasts, the Israelites were called to remember their history, express gratitude, and renew their commitment to the Lord.

Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 23:39,40
Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a feast to the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 28:18-25
In the first day shall be an holy convocation; you shall do no manner of servile work therein:
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 29:12,35
And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have an holy convocation; you shall do no servile work, and you shall keep a feast to the LORD seven days:
Nave's Topical Index

Nehemiah 8:1-18
And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
Nave's Topical Index