A Study of Leviticus 23…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 1 of 8
A Study of Leviticus 23
I.
Outline.
1.
Introduction to Festivals (Leviticus 23.1-2).
2.
Sabbath (3).
3.
Passover and Unleavened Bread (4-8)
4.
Firstfruits (9-14).
5.
Feast of Weeks (15-22).
6.
Feast of Trumpets (23-25).
7.
Day of Atonement (26-32).
8.
Feast of Tabernacles (33-44).
-- Rooker, M. F. (2000). Vol. 3A: Leviticus. The New American Commentary (281).
II.
Summary.
This chapter is the most comprehensive legal discussion regarding the institution of the Israelite
feasts in the Bible. Along with Numbers 28–29, this segment records necessary information about the
time sacrifices were offered throughout the year. Other portions of Scripture that address the
celebration of feasts include Exodus 23.12–17; 34.21–24; and Deuteronomy 16.1–17. The Feasts of
Purim and Hanukkah are not addressed in this chapter since these feasts celebrate events that
occurred after Moses’ time.
--M.F. Rooker
III.
Chronology.
BIBLE PERIOD: The Period of the Wilderness Wandering.
If you are not familiar with the 15 Bible Periods, please click here: http://bit.ly/Rvd8gW
IV.
The Jewish Festivals...
1. Sabbath (Leviticus 23.3)... “What was to be observed on the Sabbath is expressed in Leviticus 23
in the simplest terms. This contrasts with the Sabbath law in the Ten Commandments, where it is
the longest of the ten laws. In Exodus 20:8–11 the Israelite is motivated to obey the Sabbath
because in doing so he imitates God, who worked six days in creating the world and rested on the
seventh. In Deuteronomy 5:12–15 the motivation for keeping the Sabbath is to provide rest,
especially for those working as servants. The Israelites were motivated to allow workers to rest by
remembering that they too were once servants, yet God delivered them with an outstretched arm
(Deuteronomy 5:15). The extreme importance attached to Sabbath observance is found in the
Book of Ezekiel, where the prophet places the blame for the exile of the Southern Kingdom in
part on the Israelites’ failure to keep the Sabbath (Ezekiel 22:8, 26, 31). Although Christians
today are not commanded to keep the Sabbath (Romans 14:5–6; Colossians 2:16–17), the
principle of resting one day in seven should be followed because God is ultimately in control of
man’s time. The Sabbath, together with circumcision and the dietary laws, uniquely functioned as
signs separating Israel from the other nations (Exodus 31:13–17) and contributed to their national
identity. During the intertestamental period Antiochus Epiphanes sought to destroy the Israelites’
identity by prohibiting circumcision and Sabbath Day observance (1 Macc 1:41–53; 2 Macc 6:6)”
[M.F. Rooker, p. 284].
2. Passover (6)... “The first of the three great annual festivals of the Israelites, celebrated in the
month Nisan, (March-April) from the 14th to the 21st. (Strictly speaking the Passover only
applied to the Paschal Supper, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread followed, which was celebrated
to the 21st). (For the corresponding dates in our month, see the Jewish Calendar, at the end of this
volume). The following are the principal passages, in the Pentateuch, relating to the Passover :
Exodus 12:1-51; 13:3-10; 23:14-19; 34:18-26; Leviticus 23:4-14; Numbers 9:1-14; 28:16-25;
Created by: David Lemmons
Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.org
A Study of Leviticus 23…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 2 of 8
Deuteronomy 16:1-6. Why instituted. -- This feast was instituted by God, to commemorate the
deliverance of the Israelites, from Egyptian bondage, and the sparing of their firstborn, when the
destroying angel smote the first-born of the Egyptians. The deliverance from Egypt was regarded,
as the starting-point of the Hebrew nation. The Israelites were, then, raised from the condition of
bondmen under a foreign tyrant, to that of a free people owing allegiance to no one, but Jehovah.
The prophet, in a later age, spoke of the event as a creation and a redemption of the nation. God
declares himself to be "the Creator of Israel." The Exodus was, thus, looked upon as the birth of
the nation; the Passover was its annual birthday feast. It was the yearly memorial, of the
dedication of the people to him, who had saved their first-born from the destroyer, in order that
they might be made holy to himself.” [Smith’s Bible Dictionary]. ||||| “It was primarily a
commemorative ordinance, reminding the children of Israel of their deliverance out of Egypt; but
it was, no doubt, also a type of the great deliverance wrought by the Messiah for all his people
from the doom of death on account of sin, and from the bondage of sin itself, a worse than
Egyptian bondage (1 Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29; 19:32-36; 1 Peter 1:19; Galatians 4:4, 5). The
appearance of Jerusalem on the occasion of the Passover in the time of our Lord is thus fittingly
described: “The city itself and the neighbourhood became more and more crowded as the feast
approached, the narrow streets and dark arched bazaars showing the same throng of men of all
nations as when Jesus had first visited Jerusalem as a boy. Even the temple offered a strange sight
at this season, for in parts of the outer courts a wide space was covered with pens for sheep, goats,
and cattle to be used for offerings. Sellers shouted the merits of their beasts, sheep bleated, oxen
lowed. Sellers of doves also had a place set apart for them. Potters offered a choice from huge
stacks of clay dishes and ovens for roasting and eating the Passover lamb. Booths for wine, oil,
salt, and all else needed for sacrifices invited customers. Persons going to and from the city
shortened their journey by crossing the temple grounds, often carrying burdens... Stalls to change
foreign money into the shekel of the temple, which alone could be paid to the priests, were
numerous, the whole confusion making the sanctuary like a noisy market” (Geikie's Life of
Christ)” [Easton’s Bible Dictionary].
3. Feast of Unleavened Bread (8)... “The seven days of unleavened bread were intended to be a
week-long reminder of the conditions which prevailed in Egypt at the time of deliverance. No
work of a gainful purpose was permitted on the first or the seventh days. “No building or pulling
down edifices, weaving, threshing, winnowing, grinding, etc.”—while needful work could be
done such as killing beasts, kneading dough, baking bread, boiling, roasting, etc. The violators
were not stoned but received forty stripes. The offerings on each of these days in addition to the
daily sacrifices were: two young bulls, a ram, seven lambs of the first year, along with a meat or
meal offering to accompany these burnt offerings, and a goat for a sin offering. Cf. Numbers
28:19-23. During this festive occasion each worshipper was also expected to bring offerings of
his own. Cf. Exodus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16; 27:7. These offerings were to be given as peace
offerings. Cf. Leviticus 3:1-5; 7:16-18, 29-34” [Don DeWelt, Leviticus, Bible Study Textbook
Series, Joplin, MO, College Press, 1975, e-Sword].
4. Feast of First Fruits (9-14)... “The next festive event in the Israelite calendar was the Feast of
Firstfruits, which began the day after the Sabbath in the week of Unleavened Bread. On this day
the Israelite presented a sheaf of the first grain of barley (23:9–11). The presentation of the first
sheaf was representative of the entire crop, acknowledging that the yield came from the hand of
God. God was to be honored with the firstfruits from the harvest to acknowledge that he
graciously bestows blessings on the human race. The Israelite also presented sacrifices to the
Lord on this day: a burnt offering, a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed
with oil, and a drink offering of wine (23:12–13). Only after this offering was made could an
Israelite partake of the new grain crop (23:14). Further discussion of the offering of the firstfruits
may be found in p 287 Lev 2:14–16 and Deut 26:1–11. The offering of the first of the harvest to
God was a way of reckoning the fact that the land belonged to God, and it was a token of his
abundant blessing (Lev 20:24)” [Mark Rooker, pp., 286-87].
Created by: David Lemmons
Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.org
A Study of Leviticus 23…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 3 of 8
5. Feast of Weeks/Pentecost (15-22)... “‘The feast of weeks’ (a week of weeks between Passover
and Pentecost), ‘the day of firstfruits.’ The sixth day of Sivan, lasting only one day; but the Jews
in foreign countries have added a second day. Each of the two loaves was the tenth of an ephah
(about three quarts and a half) of finest wheat flour. Waved Before Jehovah with a peace offering
of the two lambs of the first year, and given to the priests. Seven lambs of the first year were
sacrificed, one bullock and two rams as a burnt offering with meat and drink offering, and a kid
sin offering. Each brought a free will offering. The Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow were
invited. As the Passover was a family gathering, Pentecost was a social feast. The people were
reminded of their Egyptian bondage and of their duty to obey the law” [Fausset’s Bible
Dictionary].
6. Day of Atonement (26-32)... “Israel’s ‘Day of Atonement’ was set by God to be the tenth day of
the seventh month. It too was established to be a day of ‘holy convocation.’ On this day, the
people were to ‘afflict their souls.’ This means observe a fast, as indicated by Psalm 35.13 and
Isaiah 58.3, 5. This was the only fast enjoined in the Mosaic Law. The Jews understood the
command to afflict your souls as a command to abstain from food, drink, bathing, perfuming,
sandals, and intercourse ... Unlike the days when no service work was permitted, on the Day of
Atonement, no work was permitted at all. Anyone working on the Day of Atonement, God
would destroy. Those who would not fast were to be put to death” [Tommy Hicks, Studies in
Leviticus, Devin Dean, Editor, 2005 Annual Denton Lectures, p., 328].
7. Feast of Tabernacles (33-43)... “The third of the great annual festivals of the Jews (Leviticus
23:33-43). It is also called the ‘feast of ingathering’ (Exodus 23:16; Deuteronomy 16:13). It was
celebrated immediately after the harvest, in the month Tisri, and the celebration lasted for eight
days (Leviticus 23:33-43). During that period the people left their homes and lived in booths
formed of the branches of trees. The sacrifices offered at this time are mentioned in Numbers
29:13-38. It was at the time of this feast that Solomon's temple was dedicated (1 Kings 8:2).
Mention is made of it after the return from the Captivity. This feast was designed: (1.) to be a
memorial of the wilderness wanderings, when the people dwelt in booths (Leviticus 23:43), and
(2.) to be a harvest thanksgiving (Nehemiah 8:9-18). The Jews, at a later time, introduced two
appendages to the original festival, viz., (1.) that of drawing water from the Pool of Siloam, and
pouring it upon the altar (John 7:2, 37), as a memorial of the water from the rock in Horeb; and
(2.) of lighting the lamps at night, a memorial of the pillar of fire by night during their
wanderings” [Easton’s Bible Dictionary].
V.
Questions.
True or False
01.
_____ Number of days Israel was to dwell in booths was six.
02.
_____ Counting Sabbaths was necessary for one of the festivals.
03.
_____ The 14th day of the 1st month was Passover time.
04.
_____ Besides offering an offering by fire, on the Day of Atonement, God’s people were
required to afflict their souls.
05.
_____ At the feast of trumpets, all males were required to blow on a trumpet.
I Found it in Verse(s)
06.
_____ Eating unleavened bread seven days.
07.
_____ The Lord caused the children of Israel to dwell in booths when He brought them out of
the land of Egypt.
Created by: David Lemmons
Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.org
A Study of Leviticus 23…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 4 of 8
08.
_____ Don’t eat parched/roasted corn.
09.
_____ Something about corners of the fields.
10.
_____ Something about “no service work.”
Short Answer
11.
Three adjectives describing trees in chapter 23: (1) ____________; (2) __________; and (3)
___________.
12.
The seventh _________ is the _____________ of __________.
13.
At the Festival of Firstfruits, they were to bring a ___________ of the firstfruits of their
_____________.
14.
The Burnt Offering at Pentecost was to be: (1) ___________ lambs; (2) one ___________
bullock; and (3) two __________.
15.
_________ ________ from ___________ his ____________ was to be the fate of the person
who did not afflict himself on the Day of Atonement.
Each Question is worth 7 Points
My Score is: ________
Answers will be found on next week’s handout
ANSWERS to Leviticus 22 Questions… 01—True (32-33); 02—False (7); 03—False (23); 04—
False (11); 05—False (19-21); 06—6; 07—31; 08—14; 09—24; 10—15, which the offer unto the
Lord; 11—kill, young, one, day (28); 12—cut, off, presence (3); 13—birth (27); 14—that, dieth,
itself (8); 15—perfect, blemish (18-21).
Created by: David Lemmons
Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.org
A Study of Leviticus 23…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 5 of 8
VI.
Seek-A-Word Puzzle. The words may be backwards, diagonal, upside down, etc. See if you can
find them all. The more you use the words of the Bible, the greater blessed you will be! You might
be surprised at how much this little exercise will help you retain important truths. THANK YOU for
the good effort you are putting forth in Bible study. –DRL
AFFLICT
EVEN
GENERATIONS
LORD
PROCLAIM
SEVENTH
WAVE
Created by: David Lemmons
BREAD
FEAST
HOLY
MADE
SABBATH
SOUL
WHEN
CHILDREN
FIRE
ISRAEL
MONTH
SAME
SPAKE
WORK
CONVOCATION
FIRST
LAMB
MOSES
SERVILE
SPEAK
DWELL
GATHER
LAND
OFFER
SEVEN
THEREIN
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A Study of Leviticus 23…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 6 of 8
VII.
Crossword Puzzle.
Leviticus 23 (KJV)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
ACROSS
03) After leaving Egypt, God’s people
lived in them.
06) God said do not make a clean ____ of
the corners when harvesting.
09) The Lord’s Passover is this day.
11) 2 lambs of the first year were to be
offered as ____ offerings.
12) The Meat Offering is fine flour ____
with oil.
13) It shall be a statute forever
throughout your...
14) Describes trees.
Created by: David Lemmons
DOWN
01) Used 11 times with convocation(s)
02) There is an instruction not to eat
green ones.
04) Number of days work should be
done.
05) 2 Wave Loaves were to be brought
out of their...
07) For one of the feasts they were to
eat this bread 7 days.
08) Modifies assembly.
10) The Feast of Tabernacles was a
time to ____.
Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.org
A Study of Leviticus 23…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 7 of 8
Name
Passover (1 day)
JEWISH FEASTS & FESTIVALS
Month/Date
Reference
Nisan 14 (Mar/April)
Feast of Unleavened Bread
Nisan 15-21 (Mar/April)
(7 days)
Ex 12.2-20; Lev
23.5
Lev 23.6-8
Feast of
Weeks/Harvest/Pentecost
(1 day)
Sivan 6 (May/June)
7 Weeks after
Passover
Ex 23.16; 34.22;
Lev 23.15-21
Feast of Trumpets or
Rosh Hashanah (1 day)
Tishri 1 (Sep/Oct)
Lev 23.23-25; Num
29.1-6
Day of Atonement or
Yom Kippur (1 day)
Tishri 10 (Sep/Oct)
Lev 23.23-25; Ex
30.10
Feast of
Booths/Tabernacles or
Sukkot (7 days)
Tishri 15-21 (Sep/Oct)
Lev 23.33-43; Num
29.12-39; Deut
16.13
Feast of
Dedication/Festival of
Lights (8 days)
Kislev 25-30 (Nov/Oct)
AND Tebeth 1-2
(Dec/Jan)
John 10.22
Feast of Purim (1 day)
Adar 14 (Feb/Mar)
Esther 9
Significance
Commemorates God’s
deliverance of Israel
out of Egypt
Commemorates God’s
deliverance out of
Egypt. Includes a Day
of Firstfruits for the
barley harvest
Commemorates the
giving of the Law at
Mount Sinai. Includes a
Day of Firstfruits for the
wheat harvest
Day of blowing of the
trumpets to signal the
beginning of the civil
new year
On this day the High
Priest makes
atonement for the
nation’s sin. Also a day
of fasting
Commemorates the 40
years of wilderness
wandering
Commemorates the
purification of the
temple by Judas
Maccabaeus in 164
B.C.
Commemorates the
deliverance of the
Jewish People in the
days of Esther
--Information in this chart is from: Tyndale Handbook of Bible Charts and Maps, AND Holman Book of
Biblical Charts, Maps, and Reconstructions
Created by: David Lemmons
Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.org
A Study of Leviticus 23…………..………………………………………………………………………….Page 8 of 8
The Jewish Calendar: Civil & Sacred
Name
Tishri
Heshvan
Kislev
Tebeth
Shebat
Adar
Nisan
Iyar
Sivan
Tammuz
Ab
Elul
Corresponds
With...
Sep/Oct
Oct/Nov
Nov/Dec
Dec/Jan
Jan/Feb
Feb/Mar
Mar/Apr
Apr/May
May/June
June/July
July/Aug
Aug/Sep
Number of
Days
30
29 or 30
29 or 30
29
30
29 or 30
30
30
30
29
30
29
Civil
Sacred
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
NOTE: The Jews used two kinds of calendars: (1) Civil—official calendar of kings, childbirth, and
contracts. (2) Sacred—from which festivals were computed. Hebrew months were alternately 30 or 29
days long. Their year, shorter than ours, had 354 days. Therefore, about every three years (7 times in
19 years) an extra 29-day-month, VEADAR, was added between Adar and Nisan.
--The information on this edited chart was taken from: The Open Bible [Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson, Inc., 1975], p. 850
--Information on this chart is from: Tommy Hicks, Studies in Leviticus, edited by Devin Dean, the Annual
Denton Lectures of 2005.
Created by: David Lemmons
Available Online at: http://maplehillchurchofchrist.org