Topical Bible: Jerusalem: The Jews: Went up To, at the Feasts

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Jerusalem holds a central place in Jewish religious life, particularly as the destination for pilgrimage during the major feasts. The city, often referred to as Zion, is the site of the Temple, the focal point of Jewish worship and sacrifice. The Torah commands the Israelites to appear before the Lord at the Temple during three major feasts: Passover (Pesach), the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). These pilgrimages are deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and are a testament to the covenantal relationship between God and His people.

Passover (Pesach): Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage, as described in the Book of Exodus. The pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover is a fulfillment of the commandment found in Deuteronomy 16:16: "Three times a year all your men are to 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." The Gospels recount Jesus' own participation in the Passover pilgrimage, as seen in Luke 2:41-42 : "Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast."

Feast of Weeks (Shavuot): Also known as Pentecost, Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is celebrated seven weeks after Passover. The pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Shavuot is another occasion for the Israelites to present themselves before the Lord. Acts 2:1-5 describes the gathering of Jews from various regions in Jerusalem during this feast: "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place... Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven."

Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): Sukkot is a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the harvest, as well as a commemoration of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. The command to celebrate Sukkot in Jerusalem is found in Leviticus 23:34-43 and Deuteronomy 16:13-15. 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."

The pilgrimages to Jerusalem during these feasts are not merely ritualistic obligations but are profound expressions of faith and community. They serve as reminders of God's past deliverance, His ongoing provision, and the hope of future redemption. The act of going up to Jerusalem is both a physical journey and a spiritual ascent, drawing the worshiper closer to God and His holy presence.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 2:42
And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 122:4
Where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to the testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Fragment v. --That up to the Time of the Destruction of Jerusalem ...
... time of the last destruction of Jerusalem, which happened ... was early; and they themselves
went not into ... the same evangelist says: "The Jews therefore, because ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/fragment v that up to the.htm

The Age of the Apostles (Ad 33-100)
... and going which in those days took place throughout the world, how Jews from all
quarters went up to keep the Passover and other feasts at Jerusalem; how the ...
/.../chapter i the age of.htm

Acts XXI
... (16) Some of the disciples from C??sarea went with us ... [520] Nothing but the annual
feasts brought together in Jerusalem the Jews from distant provinces. 17. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxi.htm

Jesus Living at Nazareth and visiting Jerusalem in his Twelfth ...
... Every adult male Jews dwelling in Jud??a was required to ... the school of the rabbis
in Jerusalem (Mark 6 ... spoke both Hebrew and Greek], they went up [the altitude ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xvi jesus living at nazareth.htm

Christ Before Pilate.
... great feasts he was wont to come up to Jerusalem to prevent ... Hence, it was needful
for the Jews to go to Pilate ... They themselves went not into the judgment hall. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/christ before pilate.htm

The Journey to Jerusalem - Chronological Arrangement of the Last ...
... not walk in Jud??a, because the Jews [the leaders ... Himself before the world - in Jerusalem,
the capital ... longer to be apprehended, He also went up, but privately ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the journey to.htm

The Wall Rebuilt.
... many years; and most of the Jews who were ... kept the three yearly pilgrimages to Jerusalem,
singing, as ... the parties from towns and villages went up together in ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xiv the wall rebuilt.htm

Sad Fasts Changed to Glad Feasts
... private interpretation," so the message to the Jews also bears a ... they shall dwell
in the midst of Jerusalem: and they ... I will go also;" and they went up to the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/sad fasts changed to glad.htm

The Story of the Purging of the Temple Spiritualized. Taken ...
... To the richer Jews they had oxen to sell, and there ... in each of the disciples as He
ascended to Jerusalem, whence it is not said, Jesus went up to "Jerusalem ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/16 the story of the.htm

John iv. 54; v. 1
... After this there was a feast of the Jews." What "feast"? Methinks that of Pentecost.
"And Jesus went up to Jerusalem." Continually at the feasts He frequenteth ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxvi john iv 54.htm