What are the different Jewish festivals in the Bible?
Answered from the commentary of William Kelly, Arno Clemens Gaebelein, H. Forbes Witherby and 5 others
The different Jewish festivals in the Bible include the Sabbath, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles or Ingathering. The Sabbath was weekly, while the other seven set feasts were annual. The Passover and Unleavened Bread may be counted together or separately, so the annual feasts may be numbered as seven either way.
Passover and Unleavened Bread recalled Israel’s deliverance from Egypt; the Feast of Firstfruits marked the beginning of the harvest, and Pentecost or Weeks followed fifty days later. The three great feasts when all Israel’s males were to go up were Passover, Pentecost or Weeks, and Tabernacles. Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles were the autumn feasts. Dedication and Purim are also named as yearly Jewish feasts: Dedication commemorated the temple’s rededication, and Purim remembered the Jews’ deliverance from Haman’s plot.
Verses: Leviticus 23:1, Leviticus 23:2, Leviticus 23:3, Leviticus 23:4, Leviticus 23:5, Leviticus 23:6, Leviticus 23:7, Leviticus 23:8, Leviticus 23:9, Leviticus 23:10, Leviticus 23:11, Leviticus 23:12, Leviticus 23:13, Leviticus 23:14, Leviticus 23:15, Leviticus 23:16, Leviticus 23:17, Leviticus 23:18, Leviticus 23:19, Leviticus 23:20, Leviticus 23:21, Leviticus 23:22, Leviticus 23:23, Leviticus 23:24, Leviticus 23:25, Leviticus 23:26, Leviticus 23:27, Leviticus 23:28, Leviticus 23:29, Leviticus 23:30, Leviticus 23:31, Leviticus 23:32, Leviticus 23:33, Leviticus 23:34, Leviticus 23:35, Leviticus 23:36, Leviticus 23:37, Leviticus 23:38, Leviticus 23:39, Leviticus 23:40, Leviticus 23:41, Leviticus 23:42, Leviticus 23:43, Numbers 28:16, Numbers 28:17, Numbers 28:18, Numbers 28:19, Numbers 28:20, Numbers 28:21, Numbers 28:22, Numbers 28:23, Numbers 28:24, Numbers 28:25, Numbers 28:26, Numbers 28:27, Numbers 28:28, Numbers 28:29, Numbers 28:30, Numbers 28:31, Numbers 29:1, Numbers 29:2, Numbers 29:3, Numbers 29:4, Numbers 29:5, Numbers 29:6, Numbers 29:7, Numbers 29:8, Numbers 29:9, Numbers 29:10, Numbers 29:11, Numbers 29:12, Numbers 29:13, Numbers 29:14, Numbers 29:15, Numbers 29:16, Numbers 29:17, Numbers 29:18, Numbers 29:19, Numbers 29:20, Numbers 29:21, Numbers 29:22, Numbers 29:23, Numbers 29:24, Numbers 29:25, Numbers 29:26, Numbers 29:27, Numbers 29:28, Numbers 29:29, Numbers 29:30, Numbers 29:31, Numbers 29:32, Numbers 29:33, Numbers 29:34, Numbers 29:35, Numbers 29:36, Numbers 29:37, Numbers 29:38, Deuteronomy 16:1, Deuteronomy 16:2, Deuteronomy 16:3, Deuteronomy 16:4, Deuteronomy 16:5, Deuteronomy 16:6, Deuteronomy 16:7, Deuteronomy 16:8, Deuteronomy 16:9, Deuteronomy 16:10, Deuteronomy 16:11, Deuteronomy 16:12, Deuteronomy 16:13, Deuteronomy 16:14, Deuteronomy 16:15, Deuteronomy 16:16, Deuteronomy 16:17, Exodus 12:1, Exodus 12:2, Exodus 12:3, Exodus 12:4, Exodus 12:5, Exodus 12:6, Exodus 12:7, Exodus 12:8, Exodus 12:9, Exodus 12:10, Exodus 12:11, Exodus 12:12, Exodus 12:13, Exodus 12:14, Exodus 12:15, Exodus 12:16, Exodus 12:17, Exodus 12:18, Exodus 12:19, Exodus 12:20, Exodus 23:14, Exodus 23:15, Exodus 23:16, Exodus 23:17, Exodus 34:18, Exodus 34:19, Exodus 34:20, Exodus 34:21, Exodus 34:22, Exodus 34:23, Esther 9:20, Esther 9:21, Esther 9:22, Esther 9:23, Esther 9:24, Esther 9:25, Esther 9:26, Esther 9:27, Esther 9:28, Esther 9:29, Esther 9:30, Esther 9:31, Esther 9:32, John 10:22, John 10:23, Colossians 2:16, Colossians 2:17
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
The Sabbath The Passover The Feast of Unleavened Bread The Wave Sheaf and the Wave Loaves The Wave Loaves, or Feast of Weeks The Feast of Trumpets The Day of Atonement The Feast of Tabernacles
The Sabbath (23:1-3) 2. The feast of Passover and feast of unleavened bread (23:4-8) 3. The firstfruits (23:9-14) 4. The feast of weeks (23:15-22) 5. The blowing of trumpets (23:23-25) 6. The day of atonement (23:26-32) 7. The feast of tabernacles (23:33-44)
These seven Feasts of the Lord were celebrated as follows: The Passover 14th day of 1st month The Feast of Unleavened Bread 15th - 21st day of 1st month The Feast of Firstfruits (Harvest time) 3rd month The Feast of Pentecost, fifty days later 5th month The Feast of Trumpets 1st day of 7th month The Great Day of Atonement 10th day of 7th month The Feast of Tabernacles 15th day of 7th month
Other feasts there were, such as the Sabbath constantly, the new moons, and the great day of atonement; but these three, the Passover, Pentecost or Feast of Weeks, and the Tabernacles, were solemn feasts in this way, that they were the gathering times of the people who all had to go up to keep them.
There were three great feasts among the Jews, three very important ones to which all the males had to go up, all gathering round God. The passover, to which they all went, though it had not so much the character of rejoicing, and the feast of weeks, and the feast of ingathering. The passover had not so much the character of rejoicing; it was rather God in His character of Judge passing over them. So the unleavened bread that followed the passover was called the "bread of affliction." God is the God of holiness, so He must have holiness. So after the passover each person went to his own tent; there was no rejoicing, or anything of that sort.
Strictly speaking, there are eight feasts in this chapter, beginning with the feast of the Sabbath and ending with the feast of Tabernacles. It will be noticed that the feast of the Sabbath is weekly, but the other seven recurred annually. It is evident that the Sabbath fills a place by itself, as it is the only feast spoken of in the first declaration "the set feasts of Jehovah." v. 2, N. Tr. A footnote by J.N.D. tells us that "set feasts" mean "fixed times (for drawing near to God)." Another thought underlying this word is appointment. This indeed gives us a clue as to the meaning of this sacred calendar outlined in this chapter. We have the statement "set feasts" repeated again in v. 4, thus severing the Sabbath from the rest of the feasts and putting it in a class by itself. The reason for this has often been noted, viz. we have presented in the first feast the great end in view of all these feasts. The Psalms are often like this, the subject being stated at the opening of the Psalm, and the rest of the Psalm taken up with the theme of how that objective was reached. The Sabbath is the great end in view of all the ways of God in time. In order to enlighten us as to how that end will be brought about, we have the detailed instruction of this interesting chapter. So we turn to it.
These seven are called 'the set feasts.' Num. 29:39; 1 Chr. 23:31; 2 Chr. 31:3; Neh. 10:33. Also 'holy convocations,' when the people assembled together to offer the various offerings, and thus be reminded of their association with the living God, to whom they owed all their blessings. To ensure this at least thrice in the year, it was enjoined that all the males should appear before the Lord three times in the year, and they must not appear empty. These times were at the Feast of Unleavened Bread (no doubt including the Passover); the Feast of Weeks, or of Harvest; and the Feast of Tabernacles, or 'of Ingathering.' Ex. 23:14-17; Deut. 16:16. See PASSOVER, etc.
There are two other Feasts mentioned as yearly which were not apparently ordered of God. The 25th of Chisleu, the Feast of Dedication, instituted by Judas Maccabeus when the temple was re-dedicated after being defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes, B.C. 165. John 10:22. The other, the Feast of Purim, on the 14th and 15th of Adar, when the Jews were delivered from the threatened destruction plotted by Haman. Esther 9:21, 26.
"These are the set feasts of Jehovah" (Lev. 23:4, N.T.)
The feasts of Jehovah are given full in Leviticus 23, and again the chief ones in Deuteronomy 16.
Also the Sabbath was observed weekly, all the other feasts were yearly.
Verses
- Leviticus 23:1–431And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, [Concerning] the set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim as holy convocations — these are my set feasts. 3Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, a holy convocation; no manner of work shall ye do it is the sabbath to Jehovah in all your dwellings. 4These are the set feasts of Jehovah, holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons 5In the first month, on the fourteenth of the month, between the two evenings, is the passover to Jehovah. 6And on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast of unleavened bread to Jehovah; seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread. 7On the first day ye shall have a holy convocation no manner of servile work shall ye do. 8And ye shall present to Jehovah an offering by fire seven days; on the seventh day is a holy convocation no manner of servile work shall ye do. 9And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 10Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them, When ye come into the land that I give unto you, and ye reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest. 11And he shall wave the sheaf before Jehovah, to be accepted for you; on the next day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf, a he-lamb without blemish, a yearling, for a burnt-offering to Jehovah; 13and the oblation thereof two tenths of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering by fire to Jehovah for a sweet odour; and the drink-offering thereof, of wine, a fourth part of a hin. 14And ye shall not eat bread, or roast corn, or green ears, until the same day that ye have brought the offering of your God [it is] an everlasting statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 15And ye shall count from the morning after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave-offering, seven weeks; they shall be complete; 16even unto the morning after the seventh sabbath shall ye count fifty days; and ye shall present a new oblation to Jehovah. 17Out of your dwellings shall ye bring two wave-loaves, of two tenths of fine flour; with leaven shall they be baken; [as] first-fruits to Jehovah. 18And ye shall present with the bread seven he-lambs without blemish, yearlings, and one young bullock, and two rams they shall be a burnt-offering to Jehovah with their oblation, and their drink-offerings, an offering by fire of a sweet odour to Jehovah. 19And ye shall sacrifice one buck of the goats for a sin-offering, and two he-lambs, yearlings, for a sacrifice of peace-offering. 20And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first-fruits as a wave-offering before Jehovah, with the two he-lambs; they shall be holy to Jehovah, for the priest. 21And ye shall make proclamation on that same day — a holy convocation shall it be unto you no manner of servile work shall ye do [it is] an everlasting statute in all your dwellings throughout your generations. 22And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not in thy harvest entirely reap the corners of thy field, and the gleaning of thy harvest shalt thou not gather thou shalt leave them unto the poor and to the stranger I am Jehovah your God. 23And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 24Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first of the month, shall ye have a rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25No manner of servile work shall ye do; and ye shall present an offering by fire to Jehovah. 26And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 27Also on the tenth of this seventh month is the day of the atonement a holy convocation shall it be unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and present an offering by fire to Jehovah. 28And ye shall do no manner of work on that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Jehovah your God. 29For every soul that is not afflicted on that same day, shall be cut off from among his peoples. 30And every soul that doeth any manner of work on that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31No manner of work shall ye do [it is] an everlasting statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32A sabbath of rest shall it be unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls. On the ninth of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. 33And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 34Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of booths seven days to Jehovah. 35On the first day there shall be a holy convocation no manner of servile work shall ye do. 36Seven days ye shall present an offering by fire to Jehovah; on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall present an offering by fire to Jehovah it is a solemn assembly; no manner of servile work shall ye do. 37These are the set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim as holy convocations, to present an offering by fire to Jehovah, a burnt-offering, and an oblation, a sacrifice, and drink-offerings, everything upon its day; 38besides the sabbaths of Jehovah, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your voluntary offerings, which ye give to Jehovah. 39But on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the produce of the land, ye shall celebrate the feast of Jehovah seven days on the first day there shall be rest, and on the eighth day there shall be rest. 40And ye shall take on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, palm branches and the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before Jehovah your God seven days. 41And ye shall celebrate it as a feast to Jehovah seven days in the year [it is] an everlasting statute throughout your generations; in the seventh month shall ye celebrate it. 42In booths shall ye dwell seven days; all born in Israel shall dwell in booths; 43that your generations may know that I caused the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt I am Jehovah your God.