Leviticus 23:1-23
appointed times .......... appointed times <04150> [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 [Pentekoste,] which signifies the fiftieth. The Hebrews call it the feast of weeks, Ex 34:22. The feast of trumpets, celebrated on the first day of the civil year, when a trumpet was sounded, to proclaim its commencement, which was in the month {Tisri,} answering to our September, Le 23:24, 25. The new moons, or first days of every month, were, in some sort, a consequence of the feast of trumpets. God ordained that, by giving him the first-fruits of every month they should acknowledge him as the Lord of all their time, and own his providence, by which all times and seasons are ordered. The feast of expiation or atonement was kept on the 10th day of {Tisri} or September: the Hebrews call it Kippur, i.e., pardon or expiation, because it was instituted for the expiation of their sins. The feast of tents or tabernacles was so called, because the Israelites kept it under green tents or arbours, in memory of their dwelling in their passage through the wilderness. It was celebrated on the 15th day of {Tisri,} and continued eight days: the first and last days are the most solemn. Besides the feasts mentioned by Moses, we find the feast of {lots,} or {Purim,} which was celebrated among the Jews of Shushan on the 14th of {Adar,} which answers to our February. The feast of the dedication of the temple, or rather, of the restoration of the temple, which had been profaned by Antiochus Epiphanes, which is thought to be the feast mentioned in the gospel Joh 10:22, was celebrated in the winter. {MoÆ’dim,} properly means assemblies, convened at an appointed time and place.
proclaim <07121> [proclaim]
enter ..................... bring <0935> [When.]
gather <07114> [and shall.]
sheaf <06016> [sheaf. or, handful. Heb. omer. the first fruits.]
This offering was a public acknowledgement of the bounty and goodness of God for the kindly fruits of the earth. From the practice of the people of God, the heathen borrowed a similar one, founded on the same reason.
grain offering <04503> [the meat.]
drink offering <05262> [the drink.]
fourth <07243> [the fourth.]
eat <0398> [eat.]
statute <02708> [it shall be.]
two ....... wave offering ....... two <08147 08573> [two wave.]
yeast <02557> [leaven.]
first fruits <01061> [the first-fruits.]
seven .... lambs <07651 03532> [seven lambs.]
grain offering <04503> [with their.]
male .... a <0259 08163> [one kid.]
two ... lambs <03532 08147> [two lambs.]
wave ......... bread <05130 03899> [wave them.]
Lord ..... holy .... Lord <06944 03068> [holy to.]
On ....... proclaim <07121> [proclaim.]
statute <02708> [a statute.]
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.
