Reference: Festivals, Religious
Easton
There were daily (Le 23), weekly, monthly, and yearly festivals, and great stress was laid on the regular observance of them in every particular (Nu 28:1-8; Ex 29:38-42; Le 6:8-23; Ex 30:7-9; 27:20).
(1.) The septenary festivals were,
(a) The weekly Sabbath (Le 23:1-3; Ex 19:3-25; 20:8-11; 31:12, etc.).
(b) The seventh new moon, or the feast of Trumpets (Nu 28:11-15; 29:1-6).
(c) The Sabbatical year (Ex 23:10-11; Le 25:2-7).
(d) The year of jubilee (Le 23-27; 25:1; 8-16; 27:16-25).
(2.) The great feasts were,
(a) The Passover. (b) The feast of Pentecost, or of weeks. (c) The feast of Tabernacles, or of ingathering.
On each of these occasions every male Israelite was commanded "to appear before the Lord" (De 27:7; Ne 8:9-12). The attendance of women was voluntary. (Comp. Lu 2:41; 1Sa 1:7; 2:19.) The promise that God would protect their homes (Ex 34:23-24) while all the males were absent in Jerusalem at these feasts was always fulfilled. "During the whole period between Moses and Christ we never read of an enemy invading the land at the time of the three festivals. The first instance on record is thirty-three years after they had withdrawn from themselves the divine protection by imbruing their hands in the Saviour's blood, when Cestius, the Roman general, slew fifty of the people of Lydda while all the rest had gone up to the feast of Tabernacles, A.D. 66."
These festivals, besides their religious purpose, had an important bearing on the maintenance among the people of the feeling of a national unity. The times fixed for their observance were arranged so as to interfere as little as possible with the industry of the people. The Passover was kept just before the harvest commenced, Pentecost at the conclusion of the corn harvest and before the vintage, the feast of Tabernacles after all the fruits of the ground had been gathered in.
(3.) The Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month (Le 16:1,34; 23:26-32; Nu 29:7-11). (See Atonement, Day of.)
Of the post-Exilian festivals reference is made to the feast of Dedication (Joh 10:22). This feast was appointed by Judas Maccabaeus in commemoration of the purification of the temple after it had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes. The "feast of Purim" (q.v.), Es 9:24-32, was also instituted after the Exile. (Cf. Joh 5:1.)
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Jehovah called Moses from the mountain. So Moses went up the mountain to God. Jehovah told him: This is what you must say to the descendants of Jacob. Tell the Israelites: You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to me. read more. If you will obey me and are faithful to the terms of my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, for all the earth is mine. You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words you must speak to the children of Israel.' Moses went down the mountain and called for the elders of the people. He repeated to them all the words that Jehovah had commanded him. All the people answered together: We will do everything Jehovah has said. So Moses brought their answer back to Jehovah. Jehovah said to Moses: I will come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you and will believe you from now on. Moses gave Jehovah the people's answer. Jehovah continued: Go to the people and tell them to spend today and tomorrow purifying themselves for worship. They must wash their clothes. They should be ready in three days. I will descend to Mount Sinai, where all of them can see me. Warn the people that they are forbidden to touch any part of the mountain. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death, with stones or arrows, and no one must touch the body of a person killed in this way. Even an animal that touches this mountain must be put to death. You may go up the mountain only after a signal is given on the trumpet. Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. He said to the people: Get ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman for sexual intercourse. On the morning of the third day there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain. A very loud trumpet sounded. It caused all the people in the camp to tremble. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was all in smoke because Jehovah descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace. The whole mountain quaked violently! The sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. Jehovah descended on the top of Mount Sinai. Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mountain. Moses climbed to the peak of Mount Sinai. Jehovah spoke to Moses: Go down and warn the people. They should not break through to gaze at Jehovah. Many of them would perish. Let the priests who come near to Jehovah consecrate (purify) themselves, or else Jehovah will destroy them. Moses said to Jehovah: The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai for you warned us. You said: 'Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.' Jehovah replied to him: You and Aaron come up to me. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to Jehovah, or he will destroy some of them. Moses returned to the people and told them.
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. You have six days to do all your work. read more. The seventh day is a Sabbath dedicated to Jehovah your God. Do not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them in six days. He rested on the seventh day. Therefore Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Plant your land and gather in what it produces for six years. Let your land rest the seventh year. Do not harvest anything that grows on it. The poor may eat what grows there. The wild animals may have what is left. Do the same with your vineyards and your olive trees.
Command the Israelites that the lighting must be provided by pure virgin olive oil so that the lamps will not go out.
Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two one year old lambs each day, continuously. Offer one lamb in the morning and offer the other lamb at twilight. read more. Make an offering of eight cups of flour mixed with one quart of virgin olive oil with the first lamb. Offer one quart of wine for a drink offering with the other lamb. You will offer the other lamb at twilight. Offer it with the same grain offering and the same drink offering as in the morning, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Jehovah. It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before Jehovah. That is where I will meet with you to speak to you.
Aaron must burn sweet incense on this altar every morning when he takes care of the lamps. When Aaron lights the lamps at dusk he must burn incense. An incense offering must burn (smoke) constantly in Jehovah's presence for generations to come. read more. Do not burn any unauthorized incense on this altar or any burnt offerings or grain offerings. Do not pour a wine offering on it.
Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of the Sovereign Jehovah, the God of Israel. I will force nations out of your way and will expand your country's borders. No one will want to take away your land while you are gone three times a year to Jehovah's festivals.
Jehovah continued to speak to Moses, Command Aaron and his sons: 'These are the instructions for the burnt offering that stays on the altar overnight while the altar fire is kept burning. read more. The priest must put on his linen clothes. This includes linen undergarments. Then he will remove the ashes left on the altar from the fire that consumed the burnt offering and will put them next to the altar. He will take off these clothes and put on some others. He will take the ashes to a clean place outside the camp. The fire must always be burning on the altar. It must never go out. The priest will burn wood on it every morning. He will lay the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offering. The fire must always be burning on the altar. It must never go out. This is the law of the grain offering: the sons of Aaron shall present it in the presence of Jehovah in front of the altar. One of them will lift up from it a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering. Using its oil and all the incense that is on the grain offering, and he will offer it up in smoke on the altar. It will be a soothing aroma and a memorial offering to Jehovah. Any thing left is for Aaron and his sons to eat. It will be eaten as unleavened cakes in a holy place. They must eat it in the court of the Tent of Meeting. It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their share from my offerings by fire. It is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering. Every male among the sons of Aaron may eat it. It is a long lasting ordinance throughout your generations, from the offerings by fire to Jehovah. Whoever touches them will become consecrated.' Jehovah continued to speak to Moses: This is the offering Aaron and his sons are to present to Jehovah on the day when he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening. Prepare it with oil on a griddle. Stir it well and bring it. Present the grain offering in baked pieces as a soothing aroma to Jehovah. The anointed priest who will be in his place among his sons will offer it. By a long lasting ordinance it shall be entirely offered up in smoke to Jehovah. Every grain offering made by a priest must be completely burned. It must not be eaten.
Jehovah spoke to Moses after Aaron's two sons came into Jehovah's presence and died.
These regulations are to be observed for a long lasting time to come. This ritual must be performed once a year to purify the people of Israel from all their sins. So Moses did as Jehovah commanded.
Jehovah spoke to Moses: Tell the Israelites: 'These are the appointed festivals with Jehovah. You must announce these as holy assemblies. read more. You may work for six days. But the seventh day is a day of worship (Sabbath), a day when you do not work, and a holy assembly. Do not do any work. It is Jehovah's day of worship wherever you live.
Jehovah spoke to Moses: The tenth day of this seventh month is a special day for the payment for sins. There will be a holy assembly. Humble yourselves, and bring Jehovah a sacrifice by fire. read more. Do not do any work that day. It is a special day for the payment for sins. It is a time when you pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah your God. Those who do not humble themselves on that day will be excluded from the people. I will destroy those who do any work on that day. Do not do any work! It is a long lasting law for generations to come wherever you live. It is a day of worship (sabbath), a day when you do not work. Humble yourselves starting on the evening of the ninth day of the month. From that evening to the next, observe the day of worship.
Give the following regulations to the people of Israel: 'When you enter the land that Jehovah is giving you, honor Jehovah by not cultivating the land every seventh year. Plant your fields, prune your vineyards, and gather your crops for six years. read more. But the seventh year is to be a sabbath year of complete rest for the land. It is a year dedicated to Jehovah. Do not plant your fields or prune your vineyards. Do not even harvest the grain that grows by itself without being planted. Do not gather the grapes from your unpruned vines. It is a year of complete rest for the land. Even though the land has not been cultivated during that year, it will provide food for you, your slaves, your hired men, the foreigners living with you, your domestic animals, and the wild animals in your fields. Everything that it produces may be eaten.
Jehovah commanded Moses: Instruct the Israelites to present to God at the appointed time the required food offerings that are pleasing to him. read more. These are the food offerings that are to be presented to Jehovah: for the daily burnt offering, two one-year-old male lambs without any defects. Offer the first lamb in the morning, and the second in the evening, each with a grain offering of two pounds of flour, mixed with two pints of the best olive oil. This is the daily offering that is completely burned. It was first offered at Mount Sinai as a food offering, an odor pleasing to Jehovah. As the wine offering with the first lamb, pour out at the altar two pints of wine. Offer the second lamb in the evening in the same way as the morning offering, together with its wine offering. It also is a food offering, an odor pleasing to Jehovah.
At the beginning of each of your months you shall present a burnt offering to Jehovah: two bulls and one ram, seven male lambs one year old without defect. With each bull there will be a grain offering of twenty-four cups of flour mixed with olive oil, with each ram a grain offering of sixteen cups of flour mixed with olive oil. read more. With each one-year-old lamb a grain offering of eight cups of flour mixed with olive oil. This is a burnt offering, a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Jehovah. The wine offering that goes with each bull will be two quarts of wine, with each ram one and one half quarts of wine, and with each lamb one quart of wine. This will be the monthly burnt offering for every month of the year. In addition to the daily burnt offering with its wine offering, one male goat must be offered to Jehovah as an offering for sin.
Gather for worship on the first day of the seventh month. Do not work. Trumpets will be blown on that day. Present a burnt offering to Jehovah. It is an odor pleasing to him: one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all without any defects. read more. Offer the proper grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil: six pounds of flour with the bull, four pounds with the ram, and two pounds with each lamb. Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. In this way perform the ritual of purification for the people. Offer these in addition to the monthly burnt offering with its grain offering, and the daily burnt offerings with their proper grain offerings and wine offerings. It is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to Jehovah. Call a holy assembly on the tenth day of the seventh month. Humble yourselves do no work. As a burnt offering, a soothing aroma, bring one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs, all of them without defects. Bring grain offerings of flour mixed with olive oil. Bring twenty-four cups for each bull, sixteen cups for each ram, and eight cups for each of the seven lambs. Also bring one male goat as an offering for sin in addition to the other offering for sin to make peace with Jehovah and the daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and wine offerings.
and sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before Jehovah your God.
Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha (Governor), and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were the teachers of the people, said to all the people: This day is holy to Jehovah your God. Let there be no sorrow or weeping. For all the people were weeping on hearing the words of the law. He said to them: Go away now, and take the fat for your food and the sweet for your drink, and send some to him for whom nothing is made ready. This day is holy to our Lord. Let there be no grief in your hearts. The joy of Jehovah is your strong place. read more. So the Levites made all the people quiet, saying: Be quiet, for the day is holy; and do not give way to grief. All the people went away to take food and drink, and to send food to others, and to be glad, because the words that were said to them had been clearly communicated.
Because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the hater of all the Jews, conspired for their destruction, attempting to get a decision by Pur that is, chance with a view to putting an end to them and cutting them off. But when the business was put before the king, he gave orders by letters that the evil design that he had made against the Jews was to be turned against him. That he and his sons were to be put to death by hanging. read more. So these days were named Purim, after the name of Pur. And so, because of the words of this letter, and of what they had seen in connection with this business, and what had come to them, The Jews made a rule and established a custom that all their descendents should observe two days every year as ordered in the letter, at the fixed time every year. Those days were to be kept in memory through every generation and every family, in every division of the kingdom and every town, that there might never be a time when these days of Purim would not be kept among the Jews, or when the memory of them would go from the minds of their descendents. Esther the queen, daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, sent a second letter giving the force of their authority to the order about the Purim. He sent letters to all the Jews in the hundred and twenty-seven divisions of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with true words of peace, Giving the force of law to these days of Purim at their fixed times, as they had been ordered by Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen. This was in keeping with the rules they had made for themselves and their descendents, in connection with their time of going without food and their cry for help. The order given by Esther gave the force of law to the rules about the Purim. It was recorded in the book.
Every year his parents went to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
After this the Jews had a Festival (holy day), and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
It was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem.