2 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, Concerning the feasts H4150 of the LORD, H3068 which ye shall proclaim H7121 to be holy H6944 convocations, H4744 even these are my feasts. H4150
3 Six H8337 days H3117 shall work H4399 be done: H6213 but the seventh H7637 day H3117 is the sabbath H7676 of rest, H7677 an holy H6944 convocation; H4744 ye shall do H6213 no work H4399 therein: it is the sabbath H7676 of the LORD H3068 in all your dwellings. H4186
4 These are the feasts H4150 of the LORD, H3068 even holy H6944 convocations, H4744 which ye shall proclaim H7121 in their seasons. H4150
5 In the fourteenth H702 H6240 day of the first H7223 month H2320 at even H6153 is the LORD'S H3068 passover. H6453
6 And on the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of the same month H2320 is the feast H2282 of unleavened bread H4682 unto the LORD: H3068 seven H7651 days H3117 ye must eat H398 unleavened bread. H4682
7 In the first H7223 day H3117 ye shall have an holy H6944 convocation: H4744 ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work H4399 therein.
8 But ye shall offer H7126 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD H3068 seven H7651 days: H3117 in the seventh H7637 day H3117 is an holy H6944 convocation: H4744 ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work H4399 therein.
9 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
10 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, When ye be come H935 into the land H776 which I give H5414 unto you, and shall reap H7114 the harvest H7105 thereof, then ye shall bring H935 a sheaf H6016 of the firstfruits H7225 of your harvest H7105 unto the priest: H3548
11 And he shall wave H5130 the sheaf H6016 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 to be accepted H7522 for you: on the morrow H4283 after the sabbath H7676 the priest H3548 shall wave H5130 it.
12 And ye shall offer H6213 that day H3117 when ye wave H5130 the sheaf H6016 an he lamb H3532 without blemish H8549 of the first H1121 year H8141 for a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD. H3068
13 And the meat offering H4503 thereof shall be two H8147 tenth deals H6241 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD H3068 for a sweet H5207 savour: H7381 and the drink offering H5262 thereof shall be of wine, H3196 the fourth H7243 part of an hin. H1969
14 And ye shall eat H398 neither bread, H3899 nor parched corn, H7039 nor green ears, H3759 until the selfsame H6106 H2088 day H3117 that H5704 ye have brought H935 an offering H7133 unto your God: H430 it shall be a statute H2708 for ever H5769 throughout your generations H1755 in all your dwellings. H4186
15 And ye shall count H5608 unto you from the morrow H4283 after the sabbath, H7676 from the day H3117 that ye brought H935 the sheaf H6016 of the wave offering; H8573 seven H7651 sabbaths H7676 shall be H1961 complete: H8549
16 Even unto H5704 the morrow H4283 after the seventh H7637 sabbath H7676 shall ye number H5608 fifty H2572 days; H3117 and ye shall offer H7126 a new H2319 meat offering H4503 unto the LORD. H3068
17 Ye shall bring out H935 of your habitations H4186 two H8147 wave H8573 loaves H3899 of two H8147 tenth deals: H6241 they shall be of fine flour; H5560 they shall be baken H644 with leaven; H2557 they are the firstfruits H1061 unto the LORD. H3068
18 And ye shall offer H7126 with the bread H3899 seven H7651 lambs H3532 without blemish H8549 of the first H1121 year, H8141 and one H259 young H1241 H1121 bullock, H6499 and two H8147 rams: H352 they shall be for a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD, H3068 with their meat offering, H4503 and their drink offerings, H5262 even an offering made by fire, H801 of sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068
19 Then ye shall sacrifice H6213 one H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering, H2403 and two H8147 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings. H8002
20 And the priest H3548 shall wave H5130 them with the bread H3899 of the firstfruits H1061 for a wave offering H8573 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 with the two H8147 lambs: H3532 they shall be holy H6944 to the LORD H3068 for the priest. H3548
21 And ye shall proclaim H7121 on the selfsame H6106 day, H3117 that it may be an holy H6944 convocation H4744 unto you: ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work H4399 therein: it shall be a statute H2708 for ever H5769 in all your dwellings H4186 throughout your generations. H1755
22 And when ye reap H7114 the harvest H7105 of your land, H776 thou shalt not make clean riddance H3615 of the corners H6285 of thy field H7704 when thou reapest, H7114 neither shalt thou gather H3950 any gleaning H3951 of thy harvest: H7105 thou shalt leave H5800 them unto the poor, H6041 and to the stranger: H1616 I am the LORD H3068 your God. H430
23 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
24 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 In the seventh H7637 month, H2320 in the first H259 day of the month, H2320 shall ye have a sabbath, H7677 a memorial H2146 of blowing H8643 of trumpets, an holy H6944 convocation. H4744
25 Ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work H4399 therein: but ye shall offer H7126 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068
26 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
27 Also H389 on the tenth H6218 day of this seventh H7637 month H2320 there shall be a day H3117 of atonement: H3725 it shall be an holy H6944 convocation H4744 unto you; and ye shall afflict H6031 your souls, H5315 and offer H7126 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068
28 And ye shall do H6213 no work H4399 in that same H6106 day: H3117 for it is a day H3117 of atonement, H3725 to make an atonement H3722 for you before H6440 the LORD H3068 your God. H430
29 For whatsoever soul H5315 it be that shall not be afflicted H6031 in that same H6106 day, H3117 he shall be cut off H3772 from among his people. H5971
30 And whatsoever soul H5315 it be that doeth H6213 any work H4399 in that same H6106 day, H3117 the same soul H5315 will I destroy H6 from among H7130 his people. H5971
31 Ye shall do H6213 no manner of work: H4399 it shall be a statute H2708 for ever H5769 throughout your generations H1755 in all your dwellings. H4186
32 It shall be unto you a sabbath H7676 of rest, H7677 and ye shall afflict H6031 your souls: H5315 in the ninth H8672 day of the month H2320 at even, H6153 from even H6153 unto even, H6153 shall ye celebrate H7673 your sabbath. H7676
33 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
34 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 The fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of this seventh H7637 month H2320 shall be the feast H2282 of tabernacles H5521 for seven H7651 days H3117 unto the LORD. H3068
35 On the first H7223 day H3117 shall be an holy H6944 convocation: H4744 ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work H4399 therein.
36 Seven H7651 days H3117 ye shall offer H7126 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD: H3068 on the eighth H8066 day H3117 shall be an holy H6944 convocation H4744 unto you; and ye shall offer H7126 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD: H3068 it is a solemn assembly; H6116 and ye shall do H6213 no servile H5656 work H4399 therein.
37 These are the feasts H4150 of the LORD, H3068 which ye shall proclaim H7121 to be holy H6944 convocations, H4744 to offer H7126 an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD, H3068 a burnt offering, H5930 and a meat offering, H4503 a sacrifice, H2077 and drink offerings, H5262 every thing H1697 upon his H3117 day: H3117
38 Beside the sabbaths H7676 of the LORD, H3068 and beside your gifts, H4979 and beside all your vows, H5088 and beside all your freewill offerings, H5071 which ye give H5414 unto the LORD. H3068
39 Also in the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of the seventh H7637 month, H2320 when ye have gathered H622 in the fruit H8393 of the land, H776 ye shall keep H2287 a feast H2282 unto the LORD H3068 seven H7651 days: H3117 on the first H7223 day H3117 shall be a sabbath, H7677 and on the eighth H8066 day H3117 shall be a sabbath. H7677
40 And ye shall take H3947 you on the first H7223 day H3117 the boughs H6529 of goodly H1926 trees, H6086 branches H3709 of palm H8558 trees, and the boughs H6057 of thick H5687 trees, H6086 and willows H6155 of the brook; H5158 and ye shall rejoice H8055 before H6440 the LORD H3068 your God H430 seven H7651 days. H3117
41 And ye shall keep H2287 it a feast H2282 unto the LORD H3068 seven H7651 days H3117 in the year. H8141 It shall be a statute H2708 for ever H5769 in your generations: H1755 ye shall celebrate H2287 it in the seventh H7637 month. H2320
42 Ye shall dwell H3427 in booths H5521 seven H7651 days; H3117 all that are Israelites H3478 born H249 shall dwell H3427 in booths: H5521
43 That your generations H1755 may know H3045 that I made the children H1121 of Israel H3478 to dwell H3427 in booths, H5521 when I brought them out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt: H4714 I am the LORD H3068 your God. H430
44 And Moses H4872 declared H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478 the feasts H4150 of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Leviticus 23
Commentary on Leviticus 23 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 23
Le 23:1-4. Of Sundry Feasts.
2. Speak unto the children of Israel, … concerning the feasts of the Lord—literally, "the times of assembling, or solemnities" (Isa 33:20); and this is a preferable rendering, applicable to all sacred seasons mentioned in this chapter, even the day of atonement, which was observed as a fast. They were appointed by the direct authority of God and announced by a public proclamation, which is called "the joyful sound" (Ps 89:15). Those "holy convocations" were evidences of divine wisdom, and eminently subservient to the maintenance and diffusion of religious knowledge and piety.
3. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest—(See on Ex 20:8). The Sabbath has the precedence given to it, and it was to be "a holy convocation," observed by families "in their dwellings"; where practicable, by the people repairing to the door of the tabernacle; at later periods, by meeting in the schools of the prophets, and in synagogues.
4. These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons—Their observance took place in the parts of the year corresponding to our March, May, and September. Divine wisdom was manifested in fixing them at those periods; in winter, when the days were short and the roads broken up, a long journey was impracticable; while in summer the harvest and vintage gave busy employment in the fields. Besides, another reason for the choice of those seasons probably was to counteract the influence of Egyptian associations and habits. And God appointed more sacred festivals for the Israelites in the month of September than the people of Egypt had in honor of their idols. These institutions, however, were for the most part prospective, the observance being not binding on the Israelites during their wanderings in the wilderness, while the regular celebration was not to commence till their settlement in Canaan.
Le 23:5-8. The Passover.
5. the Lord's passover—(See Ex 12:2, 14, 18). The institution of the passover was intended to be a perpetual memorial of the circumstances attending the redemption of the Israelites, while it had a typical reference to a greater redemption to be effected for God's spiritual people. On the first and last days of this feast, the people were forbidden to work [Le 23:7, 8]; but while on the Sabbath they were not to do any work, on feast days they were permitted to dress meat—and hence the prohibition is restricted to "no servile work." At the same time, those two days were devoted to "holy convocation"—special seasons of social devotion. In addition to the ordinary sacrifices of every day, there were to be "offerings by fire" on the altar (see Nu 28:19), while unleavened bread was to be eaten in families all the seven days (see 1Co 5:8).
Le 23:9-14. The Sheaf of First Fruits.
10. ye shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest—A sheaf, literally, an omer, of the first-fruits of the barley harvest. The barley being sooner ripe than the other grains, the reaping of it formed the commencement of the general harvest season. The offering described in this passage was made on the sixteenth of the first month, the day following the first Passover Sabbath, which was on the fifteenth (corresponding to the beginning of our April); but it was reaped after sunset on the previous evening by persons deputed to go with sickles and obtain samples from different fields. These, being laid together in a sheaf or loose bundle, were brought to the court of the temple, where the grain was winnowed, parched, and bruised in a mortar. Then, after some incense had been sprinkled on it, the priest waved the sheaf aloft before the Lord towards the four different points of the compass, took a part of it and threw it into the fire of the altar—all the rest being reserved to himself. It was a proper and beautiful act, expressive of dependence on the God of nature and providence—common among all people, but more especially becoming the Israelites, who owed their land itself as well as all it produced to the divine bounty. The offering of the wave-sheaf sanctified the whole harvest (Ro 11:16). At the same time, this feast had a typical character, and pre-intimated the resurrection of Christ (1Co 15:20), who rose from the dead on the very day the first-fruits were offered.
Le 23:15-22. Feast of Pentecost.
15. ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath—that is, after the first day of the passover week, which was observed as a Sabbath.
16. number fifty days—The forty-ninth day after the presentation of the first-fruits, or the fiftieth, including it, was the feast of Pentecost. (See also Ex 23:16; De 16:9).
17. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals, &c.—These loaves were made of "fine" or wheaten flour, the quantity contained in them being somewhat more than ten pounds in weight. As the wave-sheaf gave the signal for the commencement, the two loaves solemnized the termination of the harvest season. They were the first-fruits of that season, being offered unto the Lord by the priest in name of the whole nation. (See Ex 34:22). The loaves used at the Passover were unleavened; those presented at Pentecost were leavened—a difference which is thus accounted for, that the one was a memorial of the bread hastily prepared at their departure, while the other was a tribute of gratitude to God for their daily food, which was leavened.
21. ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein—Though it extended over a week, the first day only was held as a Sabbath, both for the national offering of first-fruits and a memorial of the giving of the law.
22. thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, &c.—(See on Le 19:9). The repetition of this law here probably arose from the priests reminding the people, at the presentation of the first-fruits, to unite piety to God with charity to the poor.
Le 23:23-25. Feast of Trumpets.
24. In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath—That was the first day of the ancient civil year.
a memorial of blowing of trumpets—Jewish writers say that the trumpets were sounded thirty successive times, and the reason for the institution was for the double purpose of announcing the commencement of the new year, which was (Le 23:25) to be religiously observed (see Nu 29:3), and of preparing the people for the approaching solemn feast.
27-32. there shall be a day of atonement … and ye shall afflict your souls—an unusual festival, at which the sins of the whole year were expiated. (See Le 16:29-34). It is here only stated that the severest penalty was incurred by the violation of this day.
34-44. the feast of tabernacles, for seven days unto the Lord—This festival, which was instituted in grateful commemoration of the Israelites having securely dwelt in booths or tabernacles in the wilderness, was the third of the three great annual festivals, and, like the other two, it lasted a week. It began on the fifteenth day of the month, corresponding to the end of our September and beginning of October, which was observed as a Sabbath; and it could be celebrated only at the place of the sanctuary, offerings being made on the altar every day of its continuance. The Jews were commanded during the whole period of the festival to dwell in booths, which were erected on the flat roofs of houses, in the streets or fields; and the trees made use of are by some stated to be the citron, the palm, the myrtle, and the willow, while others maintain the people were allowed to take any trees they could obtain that were distinguished for verdure and fragrance. While the solid branches were reserved for the construction of the booths, the lighter branches were carried by men, who marched in triumphal procession, singing psalms and crying "Hosanna!" which signifies, "Save, we beseech thee!" (Ps 118:15, 25, 26). It was a season of great rejoicing. But the ceremony of drawing water from the pool, which was done on the last day, seems to have been the introduction of a later period (Joh 7:37). That last day was the eighth, and, on account of the scene at Siloam, was called "the great day of the feast." The feast of ingathering, when the vintage was over, was celebrated also on that day [Ex 23:16; 34:22], and, as the conclusion of one of the great festivals, it was kept as a sabbath.