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The Religious Calendar of Israel

Text: Leviticus 23
25 May 2015

THE RELIGIOUS CALENDAR OF ISRAEL

1. The Sabbath   (Leviticus 23:3)

2. The Passover   (Leviticus 23:5)

(14th Day of the first month in the religious calendar; Leviticus 23:5)

3. The Feast of the Unleavened Bread   (Leviticus 23:6-8)

(15th Day of the first month; This Feast was to be kept for 7 days; Leviticus 23:6-8)
a) Holy Convocation (1st day and last day)
b) No customary work
c) Offerings for the whole week

4. The Feast of Firstfruits   (Leviticus 23:9-14)

a) The beginning of the barley harvest
b) A sheaf of the harvest was presented to the Lord
c) The day after the Sabbath this was presented as a wave offering
d) Accompanied by the offering of a lamb as a burnt offering
e) A grain offering mixed with oil
f) A drink offering

5. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)   (Leviticus 23:15-22)

a) Fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits   (Leviticus 23:16)
b) End of the wheat harvest
c) A new grain offering (wheat)
d) Loaves baked with leaven
e) Burnt offering   (Leviticus 23:18)
i) Seven lambs of the first year
ii) One young bull
iii) Two rams
f) Drink offering   (Leviticus 23:18)
g) Sin offering (one kid of the goats)   (Leviticus 23:19)
h) Peace offering (two male lambs)   (Leviticus 23:19)
i) Holy convocation   (Leviticus 23:21)

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Portions of the Field must be left for the poor   (Leviticus 23:22)

2. The beneficiaries

a) The poor
b) The strangers

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE FEASTS OF THE LORD

1. National significance

a) Nation building
b) National religion

2. Individual significance

a) Acknowledgment of God
b) Worship of God
c) Rest from labour
d) Celebration

3. The poor

a) Appreciation
b) Encouragement