
Text -- Leviticus 23:1-3 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Cause to be proclaimed, by the priests.

Days for your assembling together to my worship in a special manner.

Wesley: Lev 23:3 - -- So it runs in the general for the sabbath day, and for the day of expiation, Lev 23:28, excluding all works about earthly employments whether of profi...
So it runs in the general for the sabbath day, and for the day of expiation, Lev 23:28, excluding all works about earthly employments whether of profit or of pleasure; but upon other feast days he forbids only servile works, as Lev 23:7, Lev 23:21, Lev 23:36, for surely this manifest difference in the expressions used by the wife God must needs imply a difference in the things.

Wesley: Lev 23:3 - -- Other feasts, were to be kept before the Lord in Jerusalem only, whither all the males were to come for that end; but the sabbath was to be kept in al...
Other feasts, were to be kept before the Lord in Jerusalem only, whither all the males were to come for that end; but the sabbath was to be kept in all places, both in synagogues, and in their private houses.
JFB: Lev 23:2 - -- Literally, "the times of assembling, or solemnities" (Isa 33:20); and this is a preferable rendering, applicable to all sacred seasons mentioned in th...
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" (Psa 89:15). Those "holy convocations" were evidences of divine wisdom, and eminently subservient to the maintenance and diffusion of religious knowledge and piety.

JFB: Lev 23:3 - -- (See on Exo 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...
(See on Exo 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.
Clarke: Lev 23:2 - -- These are my feasts - The original word מועד moad is properly applied to any solemn anniversary, by which great and important ecclesiastical,...
These are my feasts - The original word

Clarke: Lev 23:3 - -- The seventh day is the Sabbath - This, because the first and greatest solemnity, is first mentioned. He who kept not this, in the most religious man...
The seventh day is the Sabbath - This, because the first and greatest solemnity, is first mentioned. He who kept not this, in the most religious manner, was not capable of keeping any of the others. The religious observance of the Sabbath stands at the very threshold of all religion. See Clarke’ s note on Gen 2:3.
Defender -> Lev 23:3
Defender: Lev 23:3 - -- The weekly day of rest, commemorating God's completed work of creation (Exo 20:8-11), was even more sacred than the seven annual feasts. No "servile" ...
The weekly day of rest, commemorating God's completed work of creation (Exo 20:8-11), was even more sacred than the seven annual feasts. No "servile" work could be done in the latter (Lev 23:8, Lev 23:21, Lev 23:25, Lev 23:35, Lev 23:36), but no work at all could be performed on the sabbath. Also, no work could be performed on the great day of atonement (Lev 23:28)."
TSK: Lev 23:2 - -- the feasts : God appointed several festivals among the Jews. The Passover was celebrated on the 14th, or rather 15th day of the first month in the ec...
the feasts : God appointed several festivals among the Jews. The Passover was celebrated on the 14th, or rather 15th day of the first month in the ecclesiastical year, which was the seventh of the civil year, and lasted seven days. The Pentecost was celebrated on the fiftieth day after the passover, in memory of the law’ s being given to Moses on Mount Sinai, fifty days, or seven weeks after the departure out of Egypt. The word is derived from the Greek word
proclaim : Exo 32:5; Num 10:2, Num 10:3, Num 10:10; 2Ki 10:20; 2Ch 30:5; Psa 81:3; Joe 1:14, Joe 2:15; Jon 3:5-9

TSK: Lev 23:3 - -- Lev 19:3; Exo 16:23, Exo 16:29, Exo 20:8-11, Exo 23:12, Exo 31:15, Exo 34:21, Exo 35:2, Exo 35:3; Deu 5:13; Isa 56:2, Isa 56:6, Isa 58:13; Luk 13:14, ...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes: Lev 23:1 - -- The specified times for public worship according to the Law were; (1) The daily morning and evening sacrifices, sometimes called "the continual bur...
The specified times for public worship according to the Law were;
(1) The daily morning and evening sacrifices, sometimes called "the continual burnt-offering."
(2) The weekly Sabbath.
(3) the day of the new moon.
(4) the "set feasts"Num 29:39 or appointed times of annual observance, of which there were five, the Passover, the Day of Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. For each of these occasions special sacrifices were appointed Num. 28; 29.

Barnes: Lev 23:2 - -- The feasts - literally, the appointed times. So in Lev 23:4, Lev 23:37, etc. This section Lev. 23:1-38 sets forth for practical guidance the re...
The feasts - literally, the appointed times. So in Lev 23:4, Lev 23:37, etc. This section Lev. 23:1-38 sets forth for practical guidance the relation in which the appointed times of the Lord, weekly as well as annual, stood to the ordinary occupations of the people.
Holy convocations - Days of sabbatical rest for the whole people; they owed their name to gatherings for religious edification, which, in later times, were probably held in every town and village in the holy land. There were in the course of the year, besides the weekly Sabbaths, seven days of holy convocation Exo 12:16; Num 28:18, Num 28:25-26; Num 29:1, Num 29:12, Num 29:35, with a distinction between them as regards strictness of observance (compare Lev 23:3, Lev 23:28 with Lev 23:7).

Barnes: Lev 23:3 - -- The seventh day had been consecrated as the Sabbath of Yahweh, figuring His own rest; it was the acknowledged sign of the covenant between God and H...
The seventh day had been consecrated as the Sabbath of Yahweh, figuring His own rest; it was the acknowledged sign of the covenant between God and His people. See the Exo 20:1-11 notes. As such it properly held its place at the head of the days of holy convocation.
Poole: Lev 23:2 - -- Ye shall proclaim i.e. cause to be proclaimed by the priests. See Num 10:8-10 .
Holy convocations days for your assembling together to my worship a...
Ye shall proclaim i.e. cause to be proclaimed by the priests. See Num 10:8-10 .
Holy convocations days for your assembling together to my worship and service in a special manner.
These are my feasts which I have appointed, and the right observation whereof I will accept.

Poole: Lev 23:3 - -- No work ; so it runs in the general for the sabbath day, and for the day of expiation, Lev 23:28 , excluding all works about earthly occasions or e...
No work ; so it runs in the general for the sabbath day, and for the day of expiation, Lev 23:28 , excluding all works about earthly occasions or employments, whether of profit or pleasure; but on other feast days he forbids only servile works, as Lev 23:7,21,36 , for surely this manifest difference in the expressions used by the wise God must needs imply a difference in the things. In all your dwellings : this is added to distinguish the sabbath from other feasts, which were to be kept before the Lord in Jerusalem only, whither all the males were to come for that end; but the sabbath was to be kept in all places, where they were, both in synagogues, which were erected for that end, and in their private houses.
Haydock: Lev 23:2 - -- Holy. The Hebrew, Chaldean, and Septuagint add, "and meet together; or, these are my feasts of assembly." On these days the people were called to...
Holy. The Hebrew, Chaldean, and Septuagint add, "and meet together; or, these are my feasts of assembly." On these days the people were called together to hear the word of God, &c. (Menochius)

Haydock: Lev 23:3 - -- Sabbath. Hebrew, "the rest of rest;" a day in which no unnecessary servile work must be done, no more than on the great holidays, ver. 6, 8. (Haydo...
Sabbath. Hebrew, "the rest of rest;" a day in which no unnecessary servile work must be done, no more than on the great holidays, ver. 6, 8. (Haydock) ---
Called holy, because it shall be really so: in which sense the word is often used, Isaias ix. 6, &c. ---
Day; you must not even dress meat, which was also forbidden on the day of expiation. ---
Lord, on which he ceased from work, and which you must keep in his honour. ---
Habitations. In the temple, the priests were intent upon sacrificing, which was indeed a material, but not a formal, violation of the sabbath, Matthew xii. 5.
Gill: Lev 23:1 - -- And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... Much about the same time as before; and having delivered to him various laws concerning the holiness of the people ...
And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... Much about the same time as before; and having delivered to him various laws concerning the holiness of the people of Israel, who were to serve him, and of the holiness of the priests, that were to minister in holy things to him, and of the purity and perfections of their sacrifices, he here appoints various times and seasons, for the more special worship and service of him:
saying; as follows.

Gill: Lev 23:2 - -- Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them,.... Speak to them to gather together, and then say unto them what follows, they all being oblige...
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them,.... Speak to them to gather together, and then say unto them what follows, they all being obliged to keep the feasts, and observe the solemnities hereafter directed to; though it may be the heads of the tribes and the elders of the people were summoned together, and the following things were delivered to them, and by them to the people:
concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts; appointed and ordered by God, and to be kept to the honour of his name; these are the general names for the particular holy times and seasons after appointed; they are in general called "feasts", though one of them, the day of atonement, was, strictly speaking, a fast; yet being a cessation from all work, and opposed to working days, days of labour and business, it is comprehended in this general title: nor is it unusual with other nations to call a fast a feast; so Aelianus h relates of the Tarentines, that having been besieged by the Romans, and delivered from them, in memory of their sufferings appointed a feast which was called a fast: the word used has the signification of stated, fixed, appointed times and seasons, and of convening or meeting together at such times, and that for the performance of solemn worship and service, which is true of them all; for there are certain times of the week and month fixed for them, and when the people in bodies assembled together, and in a solemn manner worshipped the Lord; and these are called "convocations", because the people were called together at those times by the priests, and that with the sound of a trumpet, Num 10:2; and "holy", because separated from other days, and set apart for holy services: the words may be rendered, as they are by many i: "the solemnities of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim holy convocations, these are my solemnities"; times for holy, religious, and solemn service, of his appointment and for his glory: Aben Ezra seems to understand all this of the sabbath only, which is next mentioned, expressed in the plural number, because, as he observes, there are many sabbaths in a year; and indeed the general title of the rest of the feasts is afterwards given, Lev 23:4.

Gill: Lev 23:3 - -- Six days shall work be done,.... Or may be done by men, any sort of lawful work and honest labour, for the sustenance of themselves and families:
b...
Six days shall work be done,.... Or may be done by men, any sort of lawful work and honest labour, for the sustenance of themselves and families:
but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest; from all bodily labour and work of any kind; typical of rest by Christ and in him:
an holy convocation; when the people were called to holy exercises, to pray and praise, and hear the word, and offer sacrifice:
ye shall do no work therein; not any at all, see Exo 31:15,
it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings: other feasts were kept in the sanctuary, in the tabernacle or temple, or where they were; but this was not only observed there and in their synagogues, but in their private houses, or wherever they were, whether, travelling by sea or land; and so the Targum of Jonathan and Aben Ezra interpret it.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Lev 23:1-44
TSK Synopsis: Lev 23:1-44 - --1 The feasts of the Lord.3 The sabbath.4 The passover.9 The sheaf of first-fruits.15 The feast of Pentecost.22 Gleanings to be left for the poor.23 Th...
MHCC -> Lev 23:1-3
MHCC: Lev 23:1-3 - --In this chapter we have the institution of holy times; many of which have been mentioned before. Though the yearly feasts were made more remarkable by...
Matthew Henry -> Lev 23:1-3
Matthew Henry: Lev 23:1-3 - -- Here is, I. A general account of the holy times which God appointed (Lev 23:2), and it is only his appointment that can make time holy; for he is th...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Lev 23:1-2; Lev 23:3
Keil-Delitzsch: Lev 23:1-2 - --
This chapter does not contain a "calendar of feasts,"or a summary and completion of the directions previously given in a scattered form concerning t...

Keil-Delitzsch: Lev 23:3 - --
At the head of these moadim stood the Sabbath , as the day which God had already sanctified as a day of rest for His people, by His own rest on t...
Constable: Lev 17:1--27:34 - --II. The private worship of the Israelites chs. 17--27
The second major division of Leviticus deals with how the ...

Constable: Lev 23:1-44 - --C. Sanctification of the Sabbath and the feasts of Yahweh ch. 23
God considered the Israelites (chs. 17-...
