Chapter 23

2
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 Πεντηκοστη, which signifies the fiftieth. The Hebrews call it the feast of weeks, Exod 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, Lev 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 John 10:22, was celebrated in the winter. Moâdim, properly means assemblies, convened at an appointed time and place. Lev 23:4, Lev 23:37; Exod 23:14-17; Isa 1:13-14, Isa 33:20; Lam 1:4; Hos 2:11; Nah 1:15; John 5:1; Col 2:1

proclaim Exod 32:5; Num 10:2-3, Num 10:10; 2Kgs 10:20; 2Chr 30:5; Ps 81:3; Joel 1:14, Joel 2:15; Jonah 3:5-9


3
Lev 19:3; Exod 16:23, Exod 16:29, Exod 20:8-11, Exod 23:12, Exod 31:15, Exod 34:21, Exod 35:2-3; Deut 5:13; Isa 56:2, Isa 56:6, Isa 58:13; Luke 13:14, Luke 23:56; Acts 15:21; Rev 1:10


4
Lev 23:2, Lev 23:37; Exod 23:14


5
Exod 12:2-14, Exod 12:18, Exod 13:3-10, Exod 23:15; Num 9:2-7, Num 28:16; Deut 16:1-8; Josh 5:10; 2Chr 35:18-19; Matt 26:17; Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7; 1Cor 5:7-8


6
Exod 12:15-16, Exod 13:6-7, Exod 34:18; Num 28:17-18; Deut 16:8; Acts 12:3-4


7
Num 28:18-25


10
When Lev 14:34

and shall Lev 2:12-16; Exod 22:29, Exod 23:16, Exod 23:19, Exod 34:22, Exod 34:26; Num 15:2, Num 15:18-21, Num 28:26; Deut 16:9; Josh 3:15

sheaf or, handful, Heb. omer, the first fruits, This offering was a public acknowledgment 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. Prov 3:9-10; Ezek 44:30; Rom 11:16; 1Cor 15:20-23; Jas 1:18; Rev 14:4


11
Lev 9:21, Lev 10:14; Exod 29:24


12
Lev 1:10; Heb 10:10-12; 1Pet 1:19


13
the meat Lev 2:14-16, Lev 14:10; Num 15:3-12

the drink Exod 29:40-41, Exod 30:9; Num 28:10; Joel 1:9, Joel 1:13, Joel 2:14

the fourth Exod 30:24; Ezek 4:11, Ezek 45:24, Ezek 46:14


14
eat Lev 19:23-25, Lev 25:2-3; Gen 4:4-5; Josh 5:11-12

it shall be Lev 3:17, Lev 10:11; Deut 16:12; Neh 9:14; Ps 19:8


15
Lev 23:10-11, Lev 25:8; Exod 34:22; Deut 16:9-10


16
Acts 2:1


17
two wave Num 28:26

leaven Lev 7:13; Matt 13:33

the firstfruits Lev 23:10; Exod 22:29, Exod 23:16, Exod 23:19, Exod 34:22, Exod 34:26; Num 15:17, Num 15:19-21; Deut 26:1-2; Prov 3:9-10; Rom 8:23; 1Cor 15:20; Jas 1:18; Rev 14:4


18
seven lambs Lev 23:12-13; Num 28:27-31; Mal 1:13-14

with their Num 15:4-12


19
one kid Lev 4:23-28, Lev 16:15; Num 15:24, Num 28:30; Rom 8:3; 2Cor 5:21

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


20
wave them Lev 23:17, Lev 7:29-30; Exod 29:24; Luke 2:14; Eph 2:14

holy to Lev 7:31-34, Lev 8:29, Lev 10:14-15; Num 18:8-12; Deut 18:4; 1Cor 9:11


21
proclaim Lev 23:2, Lev 23:4; Exod 12:16; Deut 16:11; Isa 11:10

a statute Lev 23:14; Gen 17:7; Exod 12:17; Num 18:23


22
Lev 19:9-10; Deut 16:11-14, Deut 24:19-21; Ruth 2:3-7, Ruth 2:15, Ruth 2:16-23; Job 31:16-21; Ps 41:1-3, Ps 112:9; Prov 11:24-25; Isa 58:7-8, Isa 58:10; Luke 11:41; 2Cor 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.


24
In the seventh Num 10:10, Num 29:1-6; 1Chr 15:28; 2Chr 5:13; Ezra 3:6; Ps 81:1-4, Ps 98:6; Isa 27:13; 1Cor 15:52; 1Thess 4:16

a memorial Zichron terooâh, here rendered "a memorial of blowing the trumpets" properly signifies a memorial of triumph or shouting for joy. This festival is generally called the feast of trumpets; and, though the Scriptures have not expressly declared the reason of its celebration, yet, as it fell in the seventh month of the sacred year, which was the first of the civil year, that is, the month Tisri, answering to our September, the opinion very generally embraced by both Jews and Christians is, that it was a memorial of the creation of the world, at which "the sons of God shouted for joy," (Job 38:7); and which is supposed, not altogether without reason, to have been at this season of the year. The month Tisri was not only anciently, but still is, reckoned by the Jews the first month of the year; and the feast of tabernacles, kept in this month, was said to be, as it is correctly rendered in the margin, "at the revolution of the year," (Exod 34:22); importing, that at this season the year had revolved, and was beginning anew. So that this feast was the new year's day, on which the people rejoiced in a grateful remembrance of God's benefits, and implored his blessing for the future year. Lev 25:9


27
the tenth Lev 16:29-30, Lev 25:9; Num 29:7-11

afflict Lev 16:31; Num 29:7; Ezra 8:21; Ps 35:13; Isa 58:5; Dan 10:2-3; Zech 12:10; Acts 2:37-38; 2Cor 7:10-11; Jas 4:9

offer Lev 16:11, Lev 16:15, Lev 16:24


28
Lev 16:34; Isa 53:10; Dan 9:24; Zech 3:9; Rom 5:10-11; Heb 9:12, Heb 9:26; Heb 10:10, Heb 10:14; 1John 2:2, 1John 4:10, 1John 5:6


29
that shall Lev 23:27, Lev 23:32; Isa 22:12; Jer 31:9; Ezek 7:16

he shall be Gen 17:14


30
Lev 20:3, Lev 20:5-6; Gen 17:14; Jer 15:7; Ezek 14:9; Zeph 2:5; 1Cor 3:17


32
a sabbath Lev 16:31; Matt 11:28-30; Heb 4:3, Heb 4:11

afflict Lev 23:27; Ps 35:13, Ps 51:17, Ps 69:10-11, Ps 126:5-6; Isa 57:15, Isa 57:18-19, Isa 58:3-7; Isa 61:3; Matt 5:4; 1Cor 11:31

celebrate your sabbath Heb. rest


34
The fifteenth Exod 23:16, Exod 34:22; Num 29:12; Deut 16:13-15; Ezra 3:4; Neh 8:14; Zech 14:16-19; John 1:14, John 7:2; Heb 11:9, Heb 11:13

the feast of tabernacles This feast was celebrated in commemoration of the Israelites' dwelling in tents in the wilderness for forty years; and was kept with greater hilarity than any of the other festivals. Hence, in the Talmud, it is often called chag, the feast, by way of excellence; and by Philo, εορτων μεγιστην, the greatest of the feasts; it was therefore more noticed by the heathen than any other. It is probable that Cecrops borrowed from it the law which he made in Athens, "that the master of every family should after harvest make a feast for his servants, and eat together with them who had taken pains with him in tilling his grounds."


35
Lev 23:7-8, Lev 23:24-25


36
Seven Num 29:12-38

the eighth 2Chr 7:8-11; Neh 8:18; John 7:37

solemn Heb. day of restraint, Deut 16:8; Joel 1:14, Joel 2:15 *marg.


37
the feasts Lev 23:2, Lev 23:4; Deut 16:16-17

every thing Eccl 3:1


38
the sabbaths Lev 23:3, Lev 19:3; Gen 2:2-3; Exod 20:8-11

and beside Num 29:39; Deut 12:6; 1Chr 29:3-8; 2Chr 35:7-8; Ezra 2:68-69


39
when Lev 23:34; Exod 23:16; Deut 16:13

on the first Lev 23:24, Lev 23:36


40
the boughs Heb. fruit, Neh 8:15; Matt 21:8

of palm trees Ps 92:12; John 12:13; Rev 7:9

rejoice Deut 16:14-15; Isa 35:10, Isa 66:10; John 16:22; Rom 5:11; Phil 3:3, Phil 4:4; 1Pet 1:8


41
Num 29:12; Neh 8:18


42
Gen 33:17; Num 24:2, Num 24:5; Neh 8:14-17; Jer 35:10; 2Cor 5:1; Heb 11:13-16


43
Exod 13:14; Deut 31:10-13; Ps 78:5-6


44
Lev 23:1-2, Lev 21:24; Matt 18:20


‎