The Feasts of Israel
From a bookmark available at gladtidingspublishing.com.
In the Old Testament, there are seven annual feasts ordained by God. Jewish men were commanded to go to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16). These feasts held great significance to the Jews and were a foreshadowing of things to come in the New Testament.
PASSOVER: Exodus 12:1-28; 43-49; Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 28:16; Deuteronomy 16:1-8
- On Nisan (Abib) 14, the first month of the Jewish calendar, Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage was commemorated. Christ is our Passover (John 1:29). The Passover feast is the foundation for the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:17-30), foreshadowing the marriage supper of the Lamb.
FEAST OF UNLEAVED BREAD: Exodus 12:15-20; 13:3-10; Leviticus 23:6-8; Numbers 28:17-25; Deuteronomy 16:3-8.
- Connected to the Passover, it began on Nisan 15 and continued for one week to remember the hardships that Israel endured and the haste in which they had to leave Egypt.
DAY OF FIRSTFRUITS: Leviticus 23:9-14; Numbers 28:26-31
- The day after the Sabbath of Passover, the Day of Firstfruits as celebrated. It consecrated the first of the harvest to God. Jesus is the firstfruits of them that slept (1 Corinthians 15:20-26).
FEAST OF PENTECOST (SHABUOT AND FESTIVAL OF WEEKS): Leviticus 23:15-22; Numbers 28:26-31; Deuteronomy 16:9-12
- This occurred the day of the seventh Sabbath of the Day of Firstfruits. It was to consecrate the feast of the wheat harvest. It was at this festival that the church was founded in Acts 2.
DAY OF TRUMPETS (ROSH HASHANAH): Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers 10:10; 29:1-6
- This occurred on Tisri 1, the first day of the seventh month, the sabbatical month. In the New Testament, blowing trumpets is associated with the return of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
DAY OF ATONMENT (YOM KIPPUR): Leviticus 16; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11.
- Tishri 10 was the annual Day of Atonement for the priests and the people. It represented the redeeming work of Christ in His crucifixion.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES OR BOOTHS (SUKKOT): Leviticus 23:33-43; Numbers 29:12-38; Deuteronomy 16:13-17
- This began on Tishri 15 and continued for one week. It commemorated God’s protection while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and was a time of rejoicing for the harvest. It foreshadows the protection God offers Christians in the church (Ephesians 1:22-23)
-Via House to House
