These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations ,.... What follow besides the sabbath mentioned: which ye shall proclaim in their seasons ; the proper times of the year, the day or days, and month in which they are to be observed; these were to be proclaimed by the priests with the sound of trumpet, namely, what follow, for they are put together, which had been before for the most part singly delivered. read more
In the fourteenth day of the first month ,.... The month Nisan, the same with Abib, the month in which the children of Israel came out of Egypt, for which reason it was made the first month in the year, answering to part of our March and part of April; and for the same reason was the passover kept at this time, as follows: at even is the Lord's passover ; that is, that was the time for the keeping the passover, even "between the two evenings", as it may be rendered; from the sixth... read more
And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord ,.... Which was the day the children of Israel went out of Egypt with their dough and leaven, having not time to leaven it; in remembrance of which this feast was appointed: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread ; see Exodus 12:15 . read more
In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation ,.... That is, on the first of the seven days of the feast of unleavened bread, even the fifteenth day of the month Nisan; this was separated from the other days of the festival, and more particularly devoted to religions exercises, see Exodus 12:16 , ye shall do no servile work therein ; such as agriculture, or any manufacture or mechanical business, which they and their servants were at other times employed in; but they might bake... read more
But ye shall offer an offering made by, fire unto the Lord seven days ,.... A burnt offering was to be offered unto the Lord on everyone of the seven days, which were two young bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs; besides a meat offering, and a goat for a sin offering, Numbers 28:19 , in the seventh day is an holy convocation, ye shall do no servile work therein ; as on the first day, that was on account of the Israelites going out of Egypt; and this is said, on account of Pharaoh... read more
And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... At the same time, for what follow are the other feasts and holy convocations before spoken of: saying ; as follows. read more
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them ,.... What is next observed, it being incumbent on them to do what is enjoined: when ye be come into the land which I give unto you : the land of Canaan, which God had given by promise to their fathers and to them, and which they were now going to inherit: as yet they were in a wilderness, where there were no sowing nor reaping, nor any harvest; so that the following law, though now given, could not take place till they came into the... read more
And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord ,.... Or the omer of barley; this was done by the priest in the tabernacle and temple, where was the presence of God, and that before the handful of it was put upon the altar; which agitation or waving was, as Gersom says, towards the cast; it was moved to and fro, backwards and forwards, upwards and downwards, to make an acknowledgment to the Lord of heaven and earth, that the fruits of the earth and the plentiful harvest were of him, and to give... read more
And ye shall offer that day, when ye wave the sheaf ,.... Besides the daily sacrifice of the morning and evening, and the additional offerings made on everyone of the seven days of the feast of unleavened bread: an he lamb without blemish of the first year, for a burnt offering unto the Lord ; typical of the perfect and immaculate Lamb of God, whose sufferings are fitly signified by a burnt offering; and which were endured at the time he became the firstfruits of his people, and... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 23:4-14
Here again the feasts are called the feasts of the Lord, because he appointed them. Jeroboam's feast, which he devised of his own heart (1 Kgs. 12:33), was an affront to God, and a reproach upon the people. These feasts were to be proclaimed in their seasons (Lev. 23:4), and the seasons God chose for them were in March, May and September (according to our present computation), not in winter, because travelling would then be uncomfortable, when the days were short, and the ways foul; not in the... read more