Topical Bible: Year: Annual Feasts

◄ Year: Annual Feasts ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The annual feasts in the Bible are divinely instituted celebrations given to the Israelites, serving as both religious observances and communal gatherings. These feasts are outlined primarily in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, and they hold significant theological and historical importance within the biblical narrative. They are not only times of worship and remembrance but also serve as prophetic foreshadowings of future events fulfilled in the New Testament.

Passover (Pesach) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread

The Passover is the first of the annual feasts, commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It is observed on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan (Exodus 12:1-14). The Passover lamb, without blemish, is central to this feast, symbolizing the sacrifice that spared the Israelites from the plague of the firstborn. The Feast of Unleavened Bread immediately follows Passover, lasting seven days, during which no leavened bread is consumed (Exodus 12:15-20). This feast signifies the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt and the call to holiness, as leaven often symbolizes sin.

Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost)

Fifty days after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks is celebrated. It is a harvest festival, marking the end of the grain harvest (Leviticus 23:15-21). This feast is also known as Pentecost in the New Testament, where it gains further significance with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles (Acts 2:1-4). The Feast of Weeks is a time of thanksgiving for God's provision and a reminder of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, which Jewish tradition associates with this time.

Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)

The Feast of Trumpets occurs on the first day of the seventh month, Tishri (Leviticus 23:23-25). It is marked by the blowing of trumpets, calling the people to prepare for the Day of Atonement. This feast is a solemn assembly, emphasizing repentance and spiritual renewal. The trumpet, or shofar, serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the need for His people to be ready for His coming.

Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

The Day of Atonement is observed on the tenth day of Tishri and is the most solemn of the feasts (Leviticus 16:29-34; 23:26-32). It is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance, where the high priest enters the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the nation. The rituals of this day foreshadow the ultimate atonement made by Jesus Christ, as described in the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 9:11-14).

Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)

The Feast of Tabernacles begins on the fifteenth day of Tishri and lasts for seven days, with an additional eighth day of assembly (Leviticus 23:33-43). It commemorates the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and God's provision during that time. Participants dwell in temporary shelters, or booths, as a reminder of their ancestors' dependence on God. This feast is a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the harvest and God's continued faithfulness.

Other Observances

In addition to these major feasts, the Bible also mentions other observances such as the Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25). These times of rest and restoration further emphasize the themes of redemption and reliance on God's provision.

The annual feasts are integral to understanding the rhythm of Israelite worship and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. They are deeply rooted in the history and theology of the Old Testament and find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 25:5
That which grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, neither gather the grapes of your vine undressed: for it is a year of rest to the land.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Passover visit
... went up every year to attend the Passover; and when Jesus had reached the required
age, they took Him with them. There were three annual feasts, the Passover ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 8 the passover visit.htm

The Sacred Officers and Sacred Occasions.
... 3. The Annual Feasts. There were several of these. ... (Lev.23:23-25; Num.29:1-6), the
beginning of the civil year. (4) The Day of Atonement, October 10. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iii the sacred officers.htm

The Kingdom Forming
... 4. Give names of the three annual feasts. 5. Questions on Chapter 16: ... 6. Describe
the Year of Jubilee. 7. Name any six interesting laws recorded in Chapter 19. ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/ii the kingdom forming.htm

The Consecration of Joy
... And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. ... part of the chapter,
which is occupied with an enumeration of the annual 'feasts of the Lord ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the consecration of joy.htm

"The Fullness of the Time"
... all lands the Jews of the dispersion gathered to Jerusalem to the annual feasts. ...
proclaim liberty to the captives," and to declare the "acceptable year of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 3 the fullness of.htm

The Cleansing of the Temple - the Sign,' which is not a Sign.
... Passover must have taken place in the spring (about April) of the same year. ... Then,
some would select this out of the three great annual feasts for the tithing ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the cleansing of.htm

The Feast of Tabernacles.
... feasts. The finest seasons of the year, spring and autumn, were chosen for these
gatherings of the people. Separated into the various tribes, these annual ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the feast of tabernacles.htm

The Upbringing of Jewish Children
... recurring weekly festival, or those of the annual feasts"it must ... out in the booth;
and, chiefest of feasts, the week ... entered on one day of the year only, and ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 7 the upbringing of.htm

From the Beginning of 1785 to the End of 1786
... such technical phrases as quarterly, annual, and general ... society and class meeting,
love-feasts, exhorter, preacher ... This year, for the first time, the minutes ...
/.../chapter 1 from the beginning.htm

Sacred Times --The Lord's Day.
... very naturally transform the two great typical feasts of the ... Of other annual festivals,
the New Testament contains not the ... of the idea of a church year, as a ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 57 sacred timesthe lords.htm