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Text -- Leviticus 23:15-22 (NET)

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Context
The Festival of Weeks
23:15 “‘You must count for yourselves seven weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day you bring the wave offering sheaf; they must be complete weeks. 23:16 You must count fifty days– until the day after the seventh Sabbath– and then you must present a new grain offering to the Lord. 23:17 From the places where you live you must bring two loaves of bread for a wave offering; they must be made from two tenths of an ephah of fine wheat flour, baked with yeast, as first fruits to the Lord. 23:18 Along with the loaves of bread, you must also present seven flawless yearling lambs, one young bull, and two rams. They are to be a burnt offering to the Lord along with their grain offering and drink offerings, a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord. 23:19 You must also offer one male goat for a sin offering and two yearling lambs for a peace offering sacrifice, 23:20 and the priest is to wave them– the two lambs– along with the bread of the first fruits, as a wave offering before the Lord; they will be holy to the Lord for the priest. 23:21 “‘On this very day you must proclaim an assembly; it is to be a holy assembly for you. You must not do any regular work. This is a perpetual statute in all the places where you live throughout your generations. 23:22 When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.’”
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Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

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NET Notes , Geneva Bible

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TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Lev 23:15 - -- From the sixteenth day of the month, and the second day of the feast of unleavened bread inclusively.

From the sixteenth day of the month, and the second day of the feast of unleavened bread inclusively.

Wesley: Lev 23:16 - -- Of new corn made into loaves.

Of new corn made into loaves.

Wesley: Lev 23:18 - -- In Num 28:11, Num 28:19, it is two young bullocks and one ram. Either therefore it was left to their liberty to chuse which they would offer, or one o...

In Num 28:11, Num 28:19, it is two young bullocks and one ram. Either therefore it was left to their liberty to chuse which they would offer, or one of the bullocks there, and one of the rams here, were the peculiar sacrifices of the feast day, and the other were attendants upon the two loaves, which were the proper offering at this time. And the one may be mentioned there, and the other here, to teach us, that the addition of a new sacrifice did not destroy the former, but both were to be offered, as the extraordinary sacrifices of every feast did not hinder the oblation of the daily sacrifice.

Wesley: Lev 23:19 - -- In Lev 4:14, the sin-offering for the sin of the people is a bullock, but here a kid; &c. the reason of the difference may be this, because that was f...

In Lev 4:14, the sin-offering for the sin of the people is a bullock, but here a kid; &c. the reason of the difference may be this, because that was for some particular sin of the people, but this only in general for all their sins.

Wesley: Lev 23:20 - -- Some part of them in the name of the whole; and so for the two lambs, otherwise they had been too big and too heavy, to be waved.

Some part of them in the name of the whole; and so for the two lambs, otherwise they had been too big and too heavy, to be waved.

Wesley: Lev 23:20 - -- Who had to themselves not only the breast and shoulder as in others, which belonged to the priest, but also the rest which belonged to the offerer; be...

Who had to themselves not only the breast and shoulder as in others, which belonged to the priest, but also the rest which belonged to the offerer; because the whole congregation being the offerer here, it could neither be distributed to them all, nor given to some without offence to the rest.

Wesley: Lev 23:21 - -- A sabbath or day of rest, called pentecost; which was instituted, partly in remembrance of the consummation of their deliverance out of Egypt by bring...

A sabbath or day of rest, called pentecost; which was instituted, partly in remembrance of the consummation of their deliverance out of Egypt by bringing them thence to the mount of God, or Sinai, as God had promised, and of that admirable blessing of giving the law to them on the 50th day, and forming them into a commonwealth under his own immediate government; and partly in gratitude for the farther progress of their harvest, as in the passover they offered a thank-offering to God for the beginning of their harvest. The perfection of this feast, was the pouring out of the holy spirit upon the apostles on this very day, in which the law of faith was given, fifty days after Christ our passover was sacrificed for us. And on that day the apostles, having themselves received the first-fruits of the spirit, begat three thousand souls thro' the word of truth, as the first-fruits of the Christian church.

Wesley: Lev 23:22 - -- From the plural, ye, he comes to the singular, thou, because he would press this duty upon every person who hath an harvest to reap, that none might p...

From the plural, ye, he comes to the singular, thou, because he would press this duty upon every person who hath an harvest to reap, that none might plead exemption from it. And it is observable, that though the present business is only concerning the worship of God, yet he makes a kind of excursion to repeat a former law of providing for the poor, to shew that our devotion to God is little esteemed by him if it be not accompanied with acts of charity to men.

JFB: Lev 23:15 - -- That is, after the first day of the passover week, which was observed as a Sabbath.

That is, after the first day of the passover week, which was observed as a Sabbath.

JFB: Lev 23:16 - -- The forty-ninth day after the presentation of the first-fruits, or the fiftieth, including it, was the feast of Pentecost. (See also Exo 23:16; Deu 16...

The forty-ninth day after the presentation of the first-fruits, or the fiftieth, including it, was the feast of Pentecost. (See also Exo 23:16; Deu 16:9).

JFB: Lev 23:17 - -- 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 gav...

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 Exo 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.

JFB: Lev 23:21 - -- 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 ...

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.

JFB: Lev 23:22 - -- (See on Lev 19:9). The repetition of this law here probably arose from the priests reminding the people, at the presentation of the first-fruits, to u...

(See on Lev 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.

Clarke: Lev 23:15 - -- Ye shall count unto you - seven Sabbaths - That is, from the sixteenth of the first month to the sixth of the third month. These seven weeks, called...

Ye shall count unto you - seven Sabbaths - That is, from the sixteenth of the first month to the sixth of the third month. These seven weeks, called here Sabbaths, were to be complete, i. e., the forty-nine days must be finished, and the next day, the fiftieth, is what, from the Septuagint, we call pentecost. See the note on Luk 6:1.

Clarke: Lev 23:22 - -- Neither shalt thou gather any gleaning - See the note on Lev 19:9.

Neither shalt thou gather any gleaning - See the note on Lev 19:9.

Defender: Lev 23:16 - -- The Lord "came down" at Sinai on the 50th day after the first Passover (Exo 12:6; Exo 19:1, Exo 19:11), just as the Holy Spirit came down fifty days a...

The Lord "came down" at Sinai on the 50th day after the first Passover (Exo 12:6; Exo 19:1, Exo 19:11), just as the Holy Spirit came down fifty days after Christ's crucifixion (Act 1:3, Act 1:4; Act 2:1-4)."

TSK: Lev 23:15 - -- Lev 23:10, Lev 23:11, Lev 25:8; Exo 34:22; Deu 16:9, Deu 16:10

TSK: Lev 23:16 - -- Act 2:1

TSK: Lev 23:17 - -- two wave : Num 28:26 leaven : Lev 7:13; Mat 13:33 the firstfruits : Lev 23:10; Exo 22:29, Exo 23:16, Exo 23:19, Exo 34:22, Exo 34:26; Num 15:17, Num 1...

TSK: Lev 23:18 - -- seven lambs : Lev 23:12, Lev 23:13; Num 28:27-31; Mal 1:13, Mal 1:14 with their : Num 15:4-12

seven lambs : Lev 23:12, Lev 23:13; Num 28:27-31; Mal 1:13, Mal 1:14

with their : Num 15:4-12

TSK: Lev 23:19 - -- one kid : Lev 4:23-28, Lev 16:15; Num 15:24, Num 28:30; Rom 8:3; 2Co 5:21 two lambs : Lev. 3:1-17, Lev 7:11-18

one kid : Lev 4:23-28, Lev 16:15; Num 15:24, Num 28:30; Rom 8:3; 2Co 5:21

two lambs : Lev. 3:1-17, Lev 7:11-18

TSK: Lev 23:20 - -- wave them : Lev 23:17, Lev 7:29, Lev 7:30; Exo 29:24; Luk 2:14; Eph 2:14 holy to : Lev 7:31-34, Lev 8:29, Lev 10:14, Lev 10:15; Num 18:8-12; Deu 18:4;...

TSK: Lev 23:21 - -- proclaim : Lev 23:2, Lev 23:4; Exo 12:16; Deu 16:11; Isa 11:10 a statute : Lev 23:14; Gen 17:7; Exo 12:17; Num 18:23

TSK: Lev 23:22 - -- Lev 19:9, Lev 19:10; Deu 16:11-14, Deu 24:19-21; Rth 2:3-7, Rth 2:15, Rth 2:16-23; Job 31:16-21; Psa 41:1-3, Psa 112:9; Pro 11:24, Pro 11:25; Isa 58:7...

Lev 19:9, Lev 19:10; Deu 16:11-14, Deu 24:19-21; Rth 2:3-7, Rth 2:15, Rth 2:16-23; Job 31:16-21; Psa 41:1-3, Psa 112:9; Pro 11:24, Pro 11:25; Isa 58:7, Isa 58:8, Isa 58:10; Luk 11:41; 2Co 9:5-12; To the institution of the feast of pentecost is annexed a repetition of that law, by which they were required to leave the gleanings of their fields, and the corn that grew on the ends of the butts, for the poor. It may come in here as a thing which the priests must take occasion to remind the people of, when they brought their first-fruits, intimating to them, that to obey even in this small matter was better than sacrifice; and that unless they were obedient, their offerings should not be accepted. It also taught them that the joy of harvest should express itself in charity to the poor, who must have their due out of what we have, as well as God his. They that are truly sensible of the mercy they receive from God, will without grudging shew mercy to the poor.

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Lev 23:9-22 - -- These verses contain a distinct command regarding the religious services immediately connected with the grain harvest, given by anticipation against...

These verses contain a distinct command regarding the religious services immediately connected with the grain harvest, given by anticipation against the time when the people were to possess the promised land.

Lev 23:10

Sheaf - The original word, "omer", means either a sheaf Deu 24:19; Rth 2:7, or a measure Exo 16:16. Our version is probably right in this place. The offering which was waved Lev 7:30 was most likely a small sheaf of barley, the grain which is first ripe. The first fruits of the wheat harvest were offered seven weeks later in the loaves of Pentecost. See Lev 23:15-17. The two offerings thus figure the very commencement and the completion of the grain harvest; compare Rth 1:22; Rth 2:23.

Lev 23:11

On the morrow after the sabbath - It is most probable that these words denote the 16th of Abib, the day after the first day of holy convocation (see Lev 23:5-8 note), and that this was called "the Sabbath of the Passover", or, "the Sabbath of unleavened bread".

Lev 23:13

Two tenth deals - Two omers, or tenth parts of an ephah, about a gallon and three quarters. See Lev 19:36 note. The double quantity (contrast Exo 29:40; Num 15:4; Num 28:19-21), implying greater liberality, was appropriate in a harvest feast.

Drink offering - This and Lev 23:18, Lev 23:37 are the only places in the book of Leviticus in which drink-offerings are mentioned. See the Exo 29:40 note.

Lev 23:14

Bread ... parched corn ... green ears - These are the three forms in which grain was commonly eaten. The old name, Abib, signified "the month of green ears."See Jos 5:11.

Lev 23:15

The morrow after the sabbath - See Lev 23:11 note.

Seven sabbaths - More properly, seven weeks (compare Deu 16:9). The word Sabbath, in the language of the New Testament as well as the Old, is used for "week"(Lev 25:8; Mat 28:1; Luk 18:12, etc.).

Lev 23:16

The morrow after the seventh week was the 50th day after the conclusion of a week of weeks. The day is called in the Old Testament, "the feast of harvest"Exo 23:16, "the feast of weeks,""the feast of the first fruits of wheat harvest"Exo 34:22; Deu 16:10, and "the day of the first fruits"Num 28:26. The word "Pentecost"used in the heading of this chapter in English Bibles is found only in the Apocrypha and the New Testament, Tobit 2:1; 2 Macc. 12:32; Act 2:1; Act 20:16; 1Co 16:8.

Lev 23:17

Habitations - Not strictly houses, but places of abode in a general sense. It seems here to denote the land in which the Israelites were to dwell so as to express that the flour was to be of home growth. The two loaves were to be merely waved before Yahweh and then to become the property of the priests. No bread containing leaven could be offered on the altar (see the Lev 2:11 note). The object of this offering seems to have been to present to the Lord the best produce of the earth in the actual condition in which it is most useful for the support of human life. It thus represented in the fittest manner the thanksgiving which was proper for the season. The loaves appear to be distinctively called "the first fruits for Yahweh,"and references to them are found in Rom 11:16; 1Co 15:20, 1Co 15:23; Jam 1:18; Rev 14:4, etc. As these loaves offered before Yahweh sanctified the harvest of the year, so has "Christ the firstfruits"sanctified the Church, which, in its union with Him as the firstfruits, becomes also the Sanctifier of the world. See the services for Whitsuntide.

Lev 23:18

More properly, seven sheep of a year old (to be distinguished from the lamb in Lev 23:12), and a young bull which might be from one to three years old. Compare Num 28:26-27.

Lev 23:19

Properly, a shaggy he-goat Lev 4:23 and two sheep of a year old.

Lev 23:20

When living creatures were "waved"Lev 7:30 before Yahweh, it is said that they were led to and fro before the tabernacle according to an established form.

Lev 23:21

The self-same day - The Feast of Weeks was distinguished from the two other great annual feasts by its consisting, according to the Law, of only a single day. But in later times it is said that during the following six days the Israelites used to bring their offerings to the temple, and to give the week something of a festal character in the suspension of mourning for the dead.

Lev 23:22

The repetition of the Law (see the margin reference) is appropriately connected with the thanksgiving for the completed grain harvest.

Poole: Lev 23:15 - -- From the morrow after the sabbath i.e. from the sixteenth day of the month, and the second day of the feast of unleavened bread inclusively. See on L...

From the morrow after the sabbath i.e. from the sixteenth day of the month, and the second day of the feast of unleavened bread inclusively. See on Lev 23:11 .

Seven sabbaths i.e. weeks, which are so called, by a synecdoche, from the chief day of it, both here and Luk 18:12 Act 20:7 1Co 16:2 .

Poole: Lev 23:16 - -- i.e. After seven weeks, or forty-nine days, the morrow after which was the fiftieth day, called also pentecost. A new meat offering to wit, of new...

i.e. After seven weeks, or forty-nine days, the morrow after which was the fiftieth day, called also pentecost.

A new meat offering to wit, of new corn made into loaves, as it follows.

Poole: Lev 23:17 - -- Out of your habitations i.e. out of the corn of your own land, for which and for the fruits of it you are now to offer praises unto God. And this als...

Out of your habitations i.e. out of the corn of your own land, for which and for the fruits of it you are now to offer praises unto God. And this also, as well as the former sacrifice, was brought out of the common charge, and in the name of the whole nation, whence it is said to be brought out of their habitations in the plural number. Some conceive two several loaves were brought from every family, or, as others, from every city or town. But this is easily confuted from Lev 23:18 , where we read that with the bread, to wit, the two loaves, were to be offered seven lambs, one bullock, &c., which doubtless was a common oblation, and in the name of all.

Two wave loaves in double proportion, as before, Lev 23:13 .

Baken with leaven because these were not offered to God, but wholly given to the priest for food. See on Lev 2:11 7:13 .

Poole: Lev 23:18 - -- Two rams in Num 28:11,19 it is two young bullocks and one ram. Either therefore it was left to their liberty to choose which they would offer, or ...

Two rams in Num 28:11,19 it is two young bullocks and one ram. Either therefore it was left to their liberty to choose which they would offer, or one of the bullocks there, and one of the rams here, were the peculiar sacrifices of the feast-day, and the other were attendants upon the two loaves, which were the principal and most proper offering at this time. And the one may be mentioned there, and the other here, to teach us that the addition of a new sacrifice did not destroy the former, but both were to be offered, as the extraordinary sacrifices of every feast did not hinder the oblation of the daily sacrifice.

Poole: Lev 23:19 - -- One kid: in Lev 4:14 the sin-offering for the sin of the people is a bullock, but here a kid , &c.; the reason of the difference may be this, becau...

One kid: in Lev 4:14 the sin-offering for the sin of the people is a bullock, but here a kid , &c.; the reason of the difference may be this, because that was for some particular sin of the people, but this only in general for all their sins. If it be said, then this should have been the better sacrifice, as being for far more, and possibly greater, offences; it may be replied, that this is not the only instance wherein the greater sins are expiated by smaller sacrifices, and the smaller sins by greater sacrifices, which was to instruct us, that sins were not expiated by the sacrifices for any worth in them, but only in respect of Christ, and that, though all sins are not equal, yet they are all expiated by one and the same price, even by the blood of Christ.

Poole: Lev 23:20 - -- The priest shall wave them i.e. some part of them in the name of the whole, and so for the two lambs, otherwise they had been too big and too heavy t...

The priest shall wave them i.e. some part of them in the name of the whole, and so for the two lambs, otherwise they had been too big and too heavy to be waved. So it is a synecdochical expression. For the priests ; who had to themselves not only the breast and shoulder, as in others, which belonged to the priest, but also the rest which belonged to the offerer, because the whole congregation being the offerer here, it could neither be distributed to them all, nor given to some without offence or injury to the rest.

Poole: Lev 23:21 - -- An holy convocation a sabbath or day of rest, called pentecost, which was instituted, partly in remembrance of the consummation of their deliverance ...

An holy convocation a sabbath or day of rest, called pentecost, which was instituted, partly in remembrance of the consummation of their deliverance out of Egypt, by bringing them thence to the mount of God, or Sinai, as God had promised, and of that admirable blessing of giving the law to them at that time, and forming them into a commonwealth under his own immediate government; and partly in gratitude for the further progress of their harvest, as in the passover they offered a thank-offering to God for the beginning of their harvest.

Poole: Lev 23:22 - -- From the plural ye he comes to the singular thou, because he would press this duty upon every person who hath a harvest to reap, that none might ple...

From the plural ye he comes to the singular thou, because he would press this duty upon every person who hath a harvest to reap, that none might plead exemption from it. And it is observable, that though the present business is only concerning the worship of God, yet he makes a kind of excursion to repeat a former law of providing for the poor, to show that our piety and devotion to God is little esteemed by him, if it be not accompanied with acts of charity to men.

Haydock: Lev 23:15 - -- Sabbath. Not the ninth day of the week, but the first day of the Passover; from the morrow of which seven weeks or 49 days were reckoned; and the ne...

Sabbath. Not the ninth day of the week, but the first day of the Passover; from the morrow of which seven weeks or 49 days were reckoned; and the next day was Pentecost. (Menochius) ---

They began, therefore, to count on the 16th of Nisan, and end on the 6th of the third month Sivan. All the intermediate days took their denomination from this second day of the Passover; so that the next Saturday was called the first sabbath after the second day; in Greek Deuteroproton, the second-first; (Luke vi. 1,) a term which had puzzled all the interpreters until Jos. Scaliger made this discovery. (Emend. 6.) The Samaritans count from the day after that sabbath which follows the Passover; so that if the festival fall on Monday, they celebrate Pentecost later than the Jews. See their Letter to Huntington. (Calmet)

Haydock: Lev 23:16 - -- Sacrifice. Hebrew mincha, which relates to the offerings of corn and liquors. Two loaves of wheaten flour leavened, were presented probably by th...

Sacrifice. Hebrew mincha, which relates to the offerings of corn and liquors. Two loaves of wheaten flour leavened, were presented probably by the nation. This festival was instituted in memory of the law being given from Mount Sinai, which was a figure of the law of grace promulgated by the Holy Ghost and by the apostles, on the day of Pentecost. (Calmet)

Haydock: Lev 23:17 - -- Loaves. The Protestants supply wave loaves, (Haydock) though their Hebrew text has nothing. The Samaritan is more correct. (Houbigant)

Loaves. The Protestants supply wave loaves, (Haydock) though their Hebrew text has nothing. The Samaritan is more correct. (Houbigant)

Haydock: Lev 23:18 - -- Lambs. More were prescribed, Numbers xxviii. 27. Josephus joins all together. ([Antiquities?] B. iii. 10.)

Lambs. More were prescribed, Numbers xxviii. 27. Josephus joins all together. ([Antiquities?] B. iii. 10.)

Haydock: Lev 23:20 - -- Use. None of the peace-offerings were burnt upon the altar, as the bread was leavened. (Calmet)

Use. None of the peace-offerings were burnt upon the altar, as the bread was leavened. (Calmet)

Haydock: Lev 23:21 - -- Most holy. Hebrew, "a holy convocation." (Haydock) --- It is generally supposed that it had an octave, though the Scripture says nothing of it.

Most holy. Hebrew, "a holy convocation." (Haydock) ---

It is generally supposed that it had an octave, though the Scripture says nothing of it.

Gill: Lev 23:15 - -- And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath,.... Not the seventh day sabbath in the passover week, nor the whole feast of unleavened...

And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath,.... Not the seventh day sabbath in the passover week, nor the whole feast of unleavened bread, but the first day of it, which was an holy convocation, a sabbath in which no servile work was to be done, Lev 23:7; and it was from the day after this, even the sixteenth of Nisan, that the following count was to be made; so the Targum of Jonathan, after the first feast day of the passover: and Josephus s is very clear in it, that Pentecost, or the feast of weeks, was the fiftieth day from the sixteenth of Nisan, when the above offerings were made:

from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; which plainly points out the express day from whence the count was to begin, even on the day when the sheaf of the firstfruits of the barley harvest was offered:

seven sabbaths shall be complete; or seven weeks, that is, forty nine days; and hence, Jarchi says, we learn that the count began from the evening, or otherwise the weeks would not be complete; and Gersom thinks the day in which the sheaf was offered is included in the days counted; for the count began from the day after the first of the passover, and lo, seven days are seven weeks of days, which make forty nine days.

Gill: Lev 23:16 - -- Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath,.... Or weeks, forty nine days being counted, the following was the fiftieth day, or Pentecost: shal...

Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath,.... Or weeks, forty nine days being counted, the following was the fiftieth day, or Pentecost:

shall ye number fifty days; from whence this feast had the name of Pentecost, Act 2:1; all in Israel were obliged to number those days, except women and servants t: the manner of doing it was this u; on the night of the second (day of the passover), after the evening prayer, they began to number; but if anyone forgot to number at the beginning of the night, he went and numbered all the night; for the commandment is for everyone to number by himself, and he ought to number standing, and to bless first, and number the days and weeks: How? on the first day he says, This is one day, until he comes to seven days, and then he says, This is the seventh day, which is one week; and on the eighth day he says, This is the eighth day, which is one week and one day, and so till he comes to the fourteenth; then he says, This is the fourteenth day, which make two weeks; and in this way he numbers, and goes on until the forty ninth day: and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord; that is, of new corn, as the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi explain it, and this was of wheat; for it was the offering for the wheat harvest, which was offered on the fiftieth day from the offering of the sheaf or omer of the barley harvest.

Gill: Lev 23:17 - -- And ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals,.... Out of their habitations in the land of Canaan; and not out of thos...

And ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals,.... Out of their habitations in the land of Canaan; and not out of those without the land, as Jarchi observes; and not out of all of them, as Ben Gersom remarks; though the Vulgate Latin version has it, out of "all" of our habitations, but wrongly; and indeed out of no one particular habitation, because it was at the public expense; but they were brought from some part of the country or another, even the quantity of two tenth parts of an ephah, or two omers of wheat flour made into two loaves, which were to be, and were waved before the Lord, and hence so called; and are the same with the new meat offering, or rather bread offering, made of the new corn, in the preceding verse, so Jarchi:

they shall be of fine flour; of wheat flour, the finest of it, of which all meat or bread offerings were made; and this was particularly on account of the wheat harvest, and therefore it was proper that the finest of the wheat should be used on this occasion; See Gill on Lev 2:1; each loaf or cake, according to Maimonides w, was seven hands' breadths long, four hands' breadths broad, and four fingers high:

they shall be baked with leaven; the common meat offering was unleavened, part of which was burnt on the altar, where no leaven might be burnt, Lev 2:4; and from hence it may be concluded that no part of these loaves was to be burnt, but the whole of them fell to the share of the priests:

they are the firstfruits unto the Lord; which he claimed as his, and gave unto his priests; and it was but right and just he should have them, as an acknowledgment of all coming from his hands, and as expressive of gratitude for them, and for the sanctification of the rest; hence this is called the feast of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, Exo 34:22.

Gill: Lev 23:18 - -- And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish, of the first year,.... That is, with the two wave loaves, the meat or bread offering...

And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish,

of the first year,.... That is, with the two wave loaves, the meat or bread offering: and besides these:

and one young bullock, and two rams; in Num 28:27 it is two young bullocks, and one ram; and Aben Ezra suggests, that this was at the will and option of the priest, whether one bullock and two rams, or two bullocks and one ram; but according to Maimonides x, these sacrifices were distinct from them; they are sacrifices of the day, as being a feast day, and these belonged to the loaves; so that according to him, and so he expresses it, there were to be offered on this day, besides the daily sacrifices, three bullocks, three rams, and fourteen lambs, twenty beasts in all, for burnt offerings; and two goats for sin offerings to be eaten, and two lambs for peace offerings to be eaten; and with this account agrees Josephus y, they sacrifice for burnt offerings, he says, three bullocks, and two rams, (or, as Dr. Bernard thinks, it should be read three rams,) and fourteen lambs, and two goats for sin offerings:

they shall be for a burnt offering unto the Lord, with their meat offering, and their drink offering; each of the said beasts were offered, unto the Lord on the altar of burnt offering, and burnt thereon; and to every beast they offered, there was a meat offering and a drink offering: the meat offering consisted of three tenth deals, or omers, of fine flour, to a bullock, two to a ram, and one to a lamb; and the drink offering was half an hin of wine to a bullock, the third part of one to a ram, and a fourth part to a lamb, as Jarchi observes, which appears from Num 28:12,

even an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the Lord; an acceptable burnt offering to God.

Gill: Lev 23:19 - -- Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering,.... Which was for the sin of the whole congregation, typical of Christ, whose soul wa...

Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering,.... Which was for the sin of the whole congregation, typical of Christ, whose soul was made an offering for sin; in virtue of which all other sacrifices become acceptable to God, and believers enjoy the fruits and blessings of divine grace:

and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings; which Gersom says were the most holy things, and were only slain in the north, and only eaten by males, as the rest of the holy things, and are the only peace offerings of the congregation that were offered throughout the whole year.

Gill: Lev 23:20 - -- And the priests shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits,.... The two loaves called the two wave loaves, Lev 23:17; with which were waved the...

And the priests shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits,.... The two loaves called the two wave loaves, Lev 23:17; with which were waved the two lambs of the peace offerings; and these alive, as Jarchi and Ben Gersom intimate. The Jewish doctors z dispute, whether, in waving, the lambs were put above the bread, or the bread above the lambs; which some reconcile by observing, that the bread was put by the side of the lambs:

for a wave offering before the Lord; being waved this way and that way, upwards and downwards, and towards the several quarters of the world, showing that the fruits of the earth were owing to the providential goodness of God everywhere:

with the two lambs; not that all the above sacrifices were waved, or any part of them, along with the lambs, but the wave loaves, and they were waved together, as one wave offering to the Lord:

they shall be holy to the Lord for the priests; both the loaves and the lambs, these were separated and devoted wholly to the Lord, and to be eaten by his priests; the peace offerings of a single person were light holy things, as Jarchi says; but the peace offerings of the congregation, as these were, are the most holy things, and so to be eaten only by the priests, and by the males only, in the court of the tabernacle.

Gill: Lev 23:21 - -- And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you,.... This proclamation was made by the priests with the sound ...

And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you,.... This proclamation was made by the priests with the sound of a trumpet, that the people might observe that this fiftieth day, or day of Pentecost, was devoted to sacred service, and that they were called to holy exercises in it:

ye shall do no servile work therein; what was not necessary for food, as Ben Gersom observes, but what was necessary on that account, as kindling a fire, &c. might be done, see Lev 23:7; for this was to be kept in like manner as the first and seventh days of the feast of unleavened bread; the general design of which was to express thankfulness for the appointed weeks of the harvest, and to honour the Lord with the firstfruits of the increase of the earth: and the Jews say, as Ben Gersom observes, that this fiftieth day, being reckoned from the sixteenth of Nisan, fell upon the sixth of Sivan, on which day, they say, the law was given, which is another reason for the observance of it: and it is remarkable, that on this same day the Word of the Lord went out of Zion, and the law or doctrine of the Lord, even the everlasting Gospel, went out of Jerusalem, published by the apostles of Christ to the people of all nations, Act 2:14; when they were favoured with the firstfruits of the Spirit, after our Lord's ascension to heaven, and receiving gifts for men, which he now in an extraordinary manner bestowed on his disciples, Act 2:1; and which were the firstfruits of all others, after to be given forth in the course of time, and of the effusion of the Spirit in the latter day; and when there was a number of souls converted, as the firstfruits of after conversions among Jews and Gentiles, Act 2:41; and particularly of the conversion of the Jews in the latter day, and of the harvest of souls in the end of the world, Mat 13:30,

it shall be a statute for ever all your dwellings throughout your generations; so long as they dwelt in the land of Canaan, and had their harvest in it, even until the Messiah came, in whom all those types and figures had their accomplishment.

Gill: Lev 23:22 - -- And when ye reap the harvest of your land,.... This law is repeated from Lev 19:9; and as Aben Ezra observes, the feast of weeks being the feast of th...

And when ye reap the harvest of your land,.... This law is repeated from Lev 19:9; and as Aben Ezra observes, the feast of weeks being the feast of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, it is repeated, that they might not forget what God had commanded them to do at that time, namely, to leave somewhat for the poor; and the Jewish writers a observe, that this law, being put among the solemn feasts of the passover, pentecost, and tabernacles, and the beginning of the year, and the day of atonement, teaches, that he that observes it, and leaves the corner of the field and the gleanings to the poor, it is as if he built the sanctuary, and offered his sacrifices in the midst of it; but a much better reason may be given for it, which was, to teach them that when they expressed their thankfulness to God, they should exercise charity and liberality to the poor:

thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: See Gill on Lev 19:9,

thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God; See Gill on Lev 19:10.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Lev 23:15 Heb “seven Sabbaths, they shall be complete.” The disjunctive accent under “Sabbaths” precludes the translation “seven c...

NET Notes: Lev 23:16 Heb “and.” In the translation “then” is supplied to clarify the sequence.

NET Notes: Lev 23:17 Heb “with leaven.” The noun “leaven” is traditional in English versions (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV), but “yeast” is...

NET Notes: Lev 23:18 See the note on Lev 1:9.

NET Notes: Lev 23:19 Heb “a he-goat of goats.”

NET Notes: Lev 23:20 Smr and LXX have the Hebrew article on “lambs.” The syntax of this verse is difficult. The object of the verb (two lambs) is far removed f...

NET Notes: Lev 23:21 Heb “for your generations.”

NET Notes: Lev 23:22 Compare Lev 19:9-10.

Geneva Bible: Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the ( g ) sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall...

Geneva Bible: Lev 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with ( h ) leaven; [they a...

Geneva Bible: Lev 23:20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits [for] a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the ...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

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 23:15-22 - --The feast of Weeks was held in remembrance of the giving of the law, fifty days after the departure from Egypt; and looked forward to the outpouring o...

Matthew Henry: Lev 23:15-22 - -- Here is the institution of the feast of pentecost, or weeks, as it is called (Deu 16:9), because it was observed fifty days, or seven weeks, aft...

Keil-Delitzsch: Lev 23:15-17 - -- The law for the special observance of the feast of Harvest (Exo 23:16) is added here without any fresh introductory formula, to show at the very ou...

Keil-Delitzsch: Lev 23:18-19 - -- In addition to the loaves, they were to offer seven yearling lambs, one young bullock, and two rams, as burnt-offerings, together with their (the ap...

Keil-Delitzsch: Lev 23:20 - -- " The priest shall wave them (the two lambs of the peace-offerings), together with the loaves of the first-fruits, as a wave-offering before Jehova...

Keil-Delitzsch: Lev 23:21-22 - -- On this day a holy meeting was to be held, and laborious work to be suspended, just as on the first and seventh days of Mazzoth . This was to be ma...

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-...

Constable: Lev 23:15-22 - --4. The Feast of Pentecost 23:15-22 This festival had several names: Harvest, Weeks, and Pentecos...

Guzik: Lev 23:1-44 - --Leviticus 23 - The Feasts of the LORD A. Listing of the Feasts. 1. (1-3) The Sabbath. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the chil...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Leviticus (Book Introduction) LEVITICUS. So called from its treating of the laws relating to the ritual, the services, and sacrifices of the Jewish religion, the superintendence of...

JFB: Leviticus (Outline) BURNT OFFERINGS OF THE HERD. (Lev. 1:1-17) THE MEAT OFFERINGS. (Lev. 2:1-16) THE PEACE OFFERING OF THE HERD. (Lev. 3:1-17) SIN OFFERING OF IGNORANCE....

TSK: Leviticus (Book Introduction) Leviticus is a most interesting and important book; a book containing a code of sacrificial, ceremonial, civil, and judicial laws, which, for the puri...

TSK: Leviticus 23 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Lev 23:1, The feasts of the Lord; Lev 23:3, The sabbath; Lev 23:4, The passover; Lev 23:9, The sheaf of first-fruits; Lev 23:15, The feas...

Poole: Leviticus (Book Introduction) THIRD BOOK OF MOSES CALLED LEVITICUS THE ARGUMENT This Book, containing the actions of about one month’ s space, acquainteth us with the Lev...

Poole: Leviticus 23 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 23 The feasts or, the Lord, Lev 23:1,2 . The sabbath, Lev 23:3 . The passover, Lev 23:4-8 . The sheaf of first-fruits, Lev 23:9-14 . The fe...

MHCC: Leviticus (Book Introduction) God ordained divers kinds of oblations and sacrifices, to assure his people of the forgiveness of their offences, if they offered them in true faith a...

MHCC: Leviticus 23 (Chapter Introduction) (Lev 23:1-3) The feasts of the Lord, The Sabbath. (Lev 23:4-14) The Passover, The offering of first-fruits. (Lev 23:15-22) The feast of Pentecost. ...

Matthew Henry: Leviticus (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Third Book of Moses, Called Leviticus There is nothing historical in all this book of Leviticus exc...

Matthew Henry: Leviticus 23 (Chapter Introduction) Hitherto the levitical law had been chiefly conversant about holy persons, holy things, and holy places; in this chapter we have the institution of...

Constable: Leviticus (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The Hebrews derived the title of this book from the first word in i...

Constable: Leviticus (Outline) Outline "At first sight the book of Leviticus might appear to be a haphazard, even repetitious arrangement of en...

Constable: Leviticus Leviticus Bibliography Aharoni, Yohanan, and Michael Avi-Yonah. The Macmillan Bible Atlas. Revised ed. New York...

Haydock: Leviticus (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION. The Book is called Leviticus : because it treats of the offices, ministries, rites and ceremonies of the Priests and Levites. The H...

Gill: Leviticus (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS This book is commonly called by the Jews Vajikra, from the first word with which it begins, and sometimes תורת כהנ...

Gill: Leviticus 23 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 23 In this chapter an account is given of the several holy days, times, and seasons, appointed by God, under the general ...

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