Êxodo 34
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Êxodo 34
Guzik - First mentioned in Exodus 12:14–20, this feast spoke of the purity God desired among Israel before Him, when all leaven—a symbol of sin—was put away and Israel walked in a symbolic purity. at the appointed time in the month of Abib - See the structure of the Jewish calendar Abib or Nisan (the Chaldee name), is our March-April, you are to celebrate your deliverance and freedom. Bush calls Abib "the month of green corn." Abib (024)(abib) means "young ear of grain," ripe, but soft. Thus, it became a designation of a specific time of the year, the time of the first harvest. Others say it means barley especially when it is just rips and still soft and allows the grains to be eaten rubbed or roasted. In Lev 2:14 it was used as an offering to the LORD. Abib is the month of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and first-fruits which are still observed yearly to remind the Israelites of their deliverance from Egypt. Abib - 9x in 6v - Abib(6), ear(1), fresh heads(1), fresh heads of grain(1). Ex 9:31; Ex 13:4; Ex 23:15; Ex 34:18; Lev. 2:14; Dt. 16:1 Deuteronomy 16:1 “Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. For - Term of explanation. Explains why they are to celebrate the Passover/Unleavened bread, in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt - It would serve as an annual reminder to the nation of the greatness of their deliverance by Jehovah. THOUGHT - How often to you go back to that glorious day or time when the Spirit of the living God swept into your heart and gave you new life in Christ Jesus by grace through faith (when you "came out of Egypt")? I wonder what it would do to our daily walk if we periodically the greatness of the time when "He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Col 1:13-14+) Would it not make us more zealous and motivated to walk blamelessly, being diligent to keep God's precepts enabled by His Holy Spirit? Just thinking! Read the opening lines of the great psalm.... Psalm 119:1+ Aleph. How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart. 3 They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways. 4 You have ordained Your precepts, That we should keep them diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes! The specific symbolism of the passover required the absence of leaven, which symbolizes a corrupting influence. Leaven is associated with fermentation which is a process of decay (thus representative of God's curse on the earth) and is also connected with the production of the toxic substance, alcohol. The Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the evening of Passover (vv. 6, 18) and lasted for seven days. On the first day, homes were to be completely cleared of leaven (yeast, a symbol of corruption and evil; cf. Lev. 2:11; 1 Cor. 5:7-8), and a holy assembly was to be called (v. 16). The week was concluded with another convocation (see also Lev. 23:6-8). cut off (v. 19) by execution or banishment Related Resources: The Feast of Unleavened Bread What are the different Jewish festivals in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org How do the elements of the Passover Seder point to Christ? Exodus 34:19 "The first offspring from every womb belongs to Me, and all your male livestock, the first offspring from cattle and sheep. NET Exodus 34:19 "Every firstborn of the womb belongs to me, even every firstborn of your cattle that is a male, whether ox or sheep. NLT Exodus 34:19 "The firstborn of every animal belongs to me, including the firstborn males from your herds of cattle and your flocks of sheep and goats. ESV Exodus 34:19 All that open the womb are mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. NIV Exodus 34:19 "The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. KJV Exodus 34:19 All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male. LXE Exodus 34:19 The males are mine, everything that opens the womb; every first-born of oxen, and every first-born of sheep. ASV Exodus 34:19 All that openeth the womb is mine; and all thy cattle that is male, the firstlings of cow and sheep. CSB Exodus 34:19 "The firstborn male from every womb belongs to Me, including all your male livestock, the firstborn of cattle or sheep. NKJ Exodus 34:19 "All that open the womb are Mine, and every male firstborn among your livestock, whether ox or sheep. NRS Exodus 34:19 All that first opens the womb is mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. YLT Exodus 34:19 'All opening a womb are Mine, and every firstling of thy cattle born a male, ox or sheep; from every womb: Ex 13:2,12 Ex 22:29 Nu 18:15-17 Eze 44:30 Lu 2:23 Exodus 34 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FIRSTBORN DEVOTED TO YAHWEH The first offspring from every womb belongs to Me, and all your male livestock, the first offspring from cattle and sheep This passage clearly parallels Ex 13:2 for in both passages Jehovah claims the firstborn as belonging to Him. As the NET explains "The remarkable thing about this is that Yahweh did not keep the firstborn that was dedicated to him, but allowed the child to be redeemed by his father (ED: FOR A PRICE - SEE Nu 18:15, 16). It was an acknowledgment that the life of the child belonged to God as the one redeemed from death, and that the child represented the family. Thus, the observance referred to the dedication of all the redeemed to God." The word offspring is more literally "every opener of a womb." (see word study below). Stuart - Redemption laws represent God’s kindness to his people. By rights he owned everything that was born first among any group, whether animal or human, just as the firstfruits of what was grown were also his. But although he did insist on receiving the first of all that was harvested from crops, he did not in fact want his people to give away to him every person or animal that was born first. Some of these were best kept by their families or their owners. So although they technically belonged to God and ought in theory simply to be given to him, he would allow them to be “repurchased” from him by a payment, and he would receive the payment in lieu of the animal or person. Such was the basic idea behind redemption laws, as indicated by the language of v. 19. Offspring (06363)(peter) means that which separates or first opens. Peter is derived from pātar meaning to free, to release. The semantic relationship is transparent, as it is the firstborn who opens or frees the womb. Peter, which simply means "something which opens," is coupled with the noun rechem, "womb," in more than half of its occurrences, giving the understanding of "firstborn. Peter is used exclusively in ritual contexts. The bulk of the occurrences are found in regard to the institution of the Passover. Here the noun is used as a generic for human and domestic livestock firstborn" (Gilbrant) Peter - 10x in 8v - first issue(2), first offspring(8). Ex 13:2; Ex 13:12; Ex 13:13; Ex 13:15; Ex 34:19; Ex 34:20; Nu 3:12; Nu 18:15 Exodus 34:20 "You shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed. NET Exodus 34:20 Now the firstling of a donkey you may redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. "No one will appear before me empty-handed. NLT Exodus 34:20 A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the LORD by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son."No one may appear before me without an offering. ESV Exodus 34:20 The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed. NIV Exodus 34:20 Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem all your firstborn sons. "No one is to appear before me empty-handed. KJV Exodus 34:20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty. LXE Exodus 34:20 And the first-born of an ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep, and if thou wilt not redeem it thou shalt pay a price: every first-born of thy sons shalt thou redeem: thou shalt not appear before me empty. ASV Exodus 34:20 And the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck. All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty. CSB Exodus 34:20 You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one is to appear before Me empty-handed. NKJ Exodus 34:20 "But the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you will not redeem him, then you shall break his neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed. NRS Exodus 34:20 The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty-handed. YLT Exodus 34:20 and the firstling of an ass thou dost ransom with a lamb; and if thou dost not ransom, then thou hast beheaded it; every first-born of thy sons thou dost ransom, and they do not appear before Me empty. first offspring from a donkey: Ex 13:10 Nu 18:15 all the firstborn of your sons: Ex 13:15 Nu 3:45-51 none shall appear before Me empty-handed.: Ex 23:15 De 16:16 1Sa 9:7,8 2Sa 24:24 Exodus 34 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FIRSTBORN OF ANIMALS AND MEN TO BE REDEEMED You shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. Note that firstborn females were exempted. The text probably makes mention of a donkey because they were the main means of transport for the Hebrews, and because of their value God mercifully allowed them to be redeemed with a lamb. What's going on with the poor donkey? This was alluded to above. When the firstborn of a beast was given to (devoted, sanctified) the LORD, it was sacrificed. The problem with the firstborn of a donkey is that this animal was considered unclean and could not be used as a sacrifice. However since donkeys were valuable animals used for many chores, the law allowed one to redeem his donkey with a lamb (again we see in essence the blood of a lamb paying the price to set the donkey free, all of these blood sacrifices of course -- and this one clearly a substitutionary sacrifice -- pointed to God's future Lamb for only His blood offered as a substitute could effect redemption of men from slavery to Sin and Satan.) If the donkey was not redeemed it had to be killed. Currid adds that "Since man is depriving God of his due, then man is denied use of the animal (DONKEY). Breaking the donkey’s neck instead of killing it with a knife or by some other means is probably in order to divorce it from any sacrificial act or intent." You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. You shall redeem means they were to buy them back at a prices, which we later see was fixed at five shekels per male (see Nu 18:16, cf Nu 3:46-47). Can you see the dual effect of this law? While the firstborn of Israelites in deliverance from Egypt was redeemed with the blood of a lamb, the firstborn thereafter were to be redeemed and this would serve as a reminder pointing back to Yahweh's deliverance of Israel from bondage in Egypt but also a "shadow" pointing forward to Yahweh's future deliverance by the blood of the Lamb, God's only begotten Son! THOUGHT - They needed this reminder. But look in the mirror dear believer, for the person you see also needs reminders. WE ALL TEND TO FORGET THE GREAT ACTS OF GOD IN OUR LIFE! Indeed, this is part of the power of celebrating the Lord's Supper, for it serves as a reminder of the blood of the ultimate Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29+). The next time you celebrate communion, think about your mercy filled deliverance out of this fallen, passing (1 Jn 2:17+) world ("Egypt") which you have experienced by exertion the strong arm of Jehovah (actually two strong arms, each nailed to an old rugged cross!) And then strive (by the power of the Spirit) to live the succeeding days without the corrupting effects of the leaven of sin in your life (motivated by love for the Lamb and the great deliverance God wrought for you on Calvary)! Hobbs adds that "These rites were meant to be more than symbols, more than memorials. They were to be vivid visual aids by which the older generation could instruct the younger in the ways of God. Man’s memory is all too short, at best. Man needs reminders, especially in following faithfully a God unseen. Therefore the monuments left along God’s mighty road of deliverance were to be teaching instruments perpetuating the life of God in the continuing life of Israel for all time to come. In this sense these rites were to be flames of remembrance, keeping God alive in the hearts of his people." Paul makes the statement "do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (WHY?) For (term of explanation) you have been bought with a price: (AKA "REDEEMED") therefore glorify God in your body." (1 Cor 6:19-20+, Titus 2:14+ = His own possession, 1 Peter 2:9+ = A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION,). And now we as firstborn (all believers are in a sense "firstborn" - see Heb 12:23+) and should daily present our bodies (heart, soul, mind, strength - Mk 12:30) our bodies as living and holy sacrifices, acceptable (pleasing) to God (AND DON'T CRAWL OFF THE ALTAR DURING THE DAY!) (Ro 12:1+) Redeem (06299) see note on padah. This same verb is used again in a description of Israel's deliverance from Egypt in Dt 7:8 "because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed (padah; Lxx = lutroo) you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." And again in Deut 13:5 Moses has a similar description = "the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed (padah; Lxx = lutroo) you from the house of slavery." And none shall appear before Me empty-handed. - See identical words in Ex 23:15+ NLT = "No one may appear before me without an offering." Before Me is literally "My face." Since each feast was celebrated at a harvest, the commandment not to come empty-handed was easy to fulfill. Currid - The term is used in Ex 3:21–22 of the Hebrews leaving Egypt with articles of clothing, silver and gold. They did not leave ‘empty-handed’. Guzik - God gave this command in the context of daily work (Six days you shall work) and festival observance (you shall observe the feast.…). The idea is that everyone should have some work and something to give unto the Lord.. It is simply appropriate for the creature to honor the Creator by giving unto Him. It is even more appropriate for the redeemed to honor their Redeemer this way. Stuart - The command “No one is to appear before me empty-handed” restates a principal of worship, verbatim from Ex 23:15+: believers show their loyalty to God by coming to worship him with a gift rather than with nothing to offer. In the New Covenant the gift is typically monetary, but in the Old it was something that could be eaten, according to the prescriptions of the covenant law, because all worship involved eating a covenant renewal meal, the ingredients of which were provided by the worshipers to be prepared and then shared with the priests and with God. At the times of the three annual festivals (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles) as well as any other times, the worshiper was responsible not merely to “show up” for worship but to “put up” evidence of covenant loyalty to God. Leviticus 1–7 details the nature of the various types of sacrificial offerings that were to correspond to worship needs. Deut 16:16-17 is a good parallel commentary on this passage - “Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. 17 “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you. THOUGHT - These passages are a foreshadowing of things to come. One day every believer will appear BEFORE HIS FACE at the Bema Seat or Judgment Seat of Christ. Paul writes "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ." (2 Cor 5:10) The question is this -- will you appear before Him empty-handed (or relatively empty-handed)? Have you realized the brevity of time and the length of eternity so that you are motivated (enabled by His Spirit) to redeem the precious moments He has allocated to each of us? Perhaps it's time to consider doing what we do to our computer when it is not working as it should -- perhaps you need a "life reboot!" Perhaps you need to ask, where is my heart, on earth or in heaven, remembering that our true citizenship is in heaven? Are you storing up for yourself treasure in heaven where moth will not destroy and thief will not break in to steal, remembering that where you treasure is, there is your heart? How sad to end this short life and walk into eternity before Him empty-handed! Ken Hemphill speaks to this same thought -- "The famous adage goes, “Only two things are certain—death and taxes!” But I promise you, one thing is more certain than that—the King is coming in glory. The early church lived in the daily anticipation and expectation of this. They would often use the greeting Maranatha! that means “Our Lord Come!” (cp. 1 Cor. 16:22). Yes, he is coming! Can you see him? “One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. His head and hair were white like wool—white as snow, His eyes like a fiery flame, His feet like fine bronze fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters” (Rev. 1:13-15). We can almost make out the glorious features of his face as we imagine ourselves gathered in the throng that is comprised of “every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them” (Rev. 5:13), gathered to worship and adore the King of kings. I, for one, do not want to miss that victory celebration. Beyond that, I do not want to show up empty-handed. I want to lay the gifts of ministry at his feet in loving adoration. I desire to celebrate with those who have joined this great company because of the investments I was privileged to make on Earth for the advancement of his kingdom. I want to live today in such a manner that the culmination of my life and ministry is this great kingdom victory celebration." (Making Change - A Transformational Guide to Christian Money Management). Exodus 34:21 "You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest. NET Exodus 34:21 "On six days you may labor, but on the seventh day you must rest; even at the time of plowing and of harvest you are to rest. NLT Exodus 34:21 "You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest. ESV Exodus 34:21 "Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. NIV Exodus 34:21 "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. KJV Exodus 34:21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest. LXE Exodus 34:21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: there shall be rest in seed-time and harvest. ASV Exodus 34:21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in plowing time and in harvest thou shalt rest. CSB Exodus 34:21 "You are to labor six days but you must rest on the seventh day; you must even rest during plowing and harvesting times. NKJ Exodus 34:21 "Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. NRS Exodus 34:21 Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in plowing time and in harvest time you shall rest. YLT Exodus 34:21 'Six days thou dost work, and on the seventh day thou dost rest; in ploughing-time and in harvest thou dost rest. Six : Ex 20:9-11 Ex 23:12 35:2 De 5:12-15 Lu 13:14 23:56 even: Ge 45:6 De 21:4 1Sa 8:12 Isa 30:24 Exodus 34 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HOW TO KEEP THE SABBATH HOLY Related Passages: Exodus 20:9-11 “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 11 “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 23:12 “Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves. You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest - This was a far-reaching command in an agricultural community as these were the the two busiest times of the agricultural calendar. NLT = "You have six days each week for your ordinary work." In order to keep the seventh day as a day of rest, one was to do everything necessary to fully complete their work the other six days. They were not to leave some of the work to be finished up on the Sabbath. This was not a new concept, for Israel had already been taught that for 6 days they were to gather manna, but were to rest and not gather manna on the seventh day (Ex 16:22-30+). Bush - 21. In earing-time and in harvest shalt thou rest. That is, in the busiest seasons of the year, the seasons of ploughing and sowing and harvesting. They were not to consider the urgency of business as affording a sufficient excuse for neglecting the religious observance of the day. Christians are no longer under the command to keep the Sabbath. Paul addressed the keeping of "days" in two of his letters... Colossians 2:16-17+ Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day– 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. COMMENT - Christians are not bound to observe days and months and seasons and years. The rest we enter into as Christians is something to experience every day, not just one day a week—the rest of knowing we don’t have to work to save ourselves, but our salvation is accomplished in Jesus (Hebrews 4:9–10).. The Sabbath commanded here and observed by Israel was a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ (Colossians 2:16–17). In the New Covenant the idea isn’t that there is no Sabbath, but that every day is a day of Sabbath rest in the finished work of God. Since the shadow of the Sabbath is fulfilled in Jesus, we are free to keep any particular day—or no day—as a Sabbath after the custom of ancient Israel. Yet we dare not ignore the importance of a day of rest—God has built us so that we need one. Like a car that needs regular maintenance, we need regular rest—or we will not wear well. Some people are like high mileage cars that haven’t been maintained well, and it shows. (Enduring Word Commentary - Exodus 20) Galatians 4:9-11+ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. Related Resources: See more commentary notes on the Sabbath - Exodus 16:23-29, Exodus 23:12, Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 31:14-16, Exodus 35:2-3 What is the Sabbath day? How can we enter into God’s rest? What does it mean that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath? What does it mean to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy? Why does Exodus 35:2 require the death penalty for working on the Sabbath? Does God require Sabbath-keeping of Christians? Exodus 34:22 "You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year. NET Exodus 34:22 "You must observe the Feast of Weeks– the firstfruits of the harvest of wheat– and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year. NLT Exodus 34:22 "You must celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the first crop of the wheat harvest, and celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season. ESV Exodus 34:22 You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's end. NIV Exodus 34:22 "Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year. KJV Exodus 34:22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. LXE Exodus 34:22 And thou shalt keep to me the feast of weeks, the beginning of wheat-harvest; and the feast of ingathering in the middle of the year. ASV Exodus 34:22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, even of the first-fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. CSB Exodus 34:22 "Observe the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the agricultural year. NKJ Exodus 34:22 "And you shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's end. NRS Exodus 34:22 You shall observe the festival of weeks, the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the festival of ingathering at the turn of the year. YLT Exodus 34:22 'And a feast of weeks thou dost observe for thyself; first-fruits of wheat-harvest; and the feast of in-gathering, at the revolution of the year. feast of weeks : Ex 23:16 Nu 28:16-31 29:12-39 De 16:10-15 Joh 7:2 Ac 2:1 Exodus 34 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE FEASTS OF HARVEST AND INGATHERING You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks - And in fact in a sense this was a prophetic statement fulfilled on Acts 2:1!!! Other ref to "feast of weeks" = Ex 34:22, Nu 28:26, Dt 16:10,16:16, 2Chr 8:13 that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year - The Feast of the Ingathering IS also referred to as the Feast of Booths (Lev 23:34, Dt 16:13, 16), the Feast of Tabernacles, (Lev 23:34KJV), the Festival of Temporary Shelters (Lev 23:34NET), or the Feast of Sukkot (Succoth means "booths"). The time phrase end of the year is not the end of the normal Jewish calendar but refers to the end of the agricultural year as this festival marked the time of the final ingathering of the grape harvest. Bush - The feast of ingathering. Called also the ‘Feast of Tabernacles,’ Lev. 23:34. Deut. 16:13. This was the festival of gratitude for the fruitage and vintage, commencing on the evening of the fourteenth day of the seventh month, or October, called here ‘the end of the year.’ It continued seven whole days until the twenty-first, and then received the addition of the eighth day, which had probably in ancient times been the wine-press feast of the Israelites. During these eight days the Israelites dwelt in booths, formed of green branches interwoven together, which in the warm region of Palestine answered extremely well, as in October the weather is usually dry.—It may be remarked in regard to all these festivals, that the original term by which the appointment is expressed is תחג tahag, from חגג hagag, which signifies to go round in a circle, and thence in its religious application to move round in circular dances. As this was no doubt in early ages one of the leading features of their religious festivals, the term came in process of time to signify in a general way the celebration of a religious feast or solemnity. The idea, however, is prominent that these were to be seasons of joy and rejoicing; that a sanctified hilarity was to be regarded as a part of the duty connected with these festive seasons. The fact affords us an abundant indication of the Mosaic system from the charge of sullen gloom and cheerless austerity in its rites and services. Related Resource: What are the different Jewish festivals in the Bible? Calendar of Convocations in the Law of Moses - Barrick (detailed chart) Question: "What is the Feast of Weeks?" Answer: Described in Leviticus 23, The Feast of Weeks is the second of the three “solemn feasts” that all Jewish males were required to travel to Jerusalem to attend (Exodus 23:14–17; 34:22–23; Deuteronomy 16:16). This important feast gets its name from the fact that it starts seven full weeks, or exactly 50 days, after the Feast of Firstfruits. Since it takes place exactly 50 days after the previous feast, this feast is also known as “Pentecost” (Acts 2:1), which means “fifty.” Each of three “solemn feasts”—Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles—required that all able-bodied Jewish males travel to Jerusalem to attend the feast and offer sacrifices. All three of these feasts required that “firstfruit” offerings be made at the temple as a way of expressing thanksgiving for God’s provision. The Feast of Firstfruits celebrated at the time of the Passover included the first fruits of the barley harvest. The Feast of Weeks was in celebration of the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Tabernacles involved offerings of the first fruits of the olive and grape harvests. Since the Feast of Weeks was one of the “harvest feasts,” the Jews were commanded to “present an offering of new grain to the Lord” (Leviticus 23:16). This offering was to be “two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah” which were made “of fine flour . . . baked with leaven.” The offerings were to be made of the first fruits of that harvest (Leviticus 23:17). Along with the “wave offerings” they were also to offer seven first-year lambs that were without blemish along with one young bull and two rams. Additional offerings are also prescribed in Leviticus and the other passages that outline how this feast was to be observed. Another important requirement of this feast is that, when the Jews harvested their fields, they were required to leave the corners of the field untouched and not gather “any gleanings” from the harvest as a way of providing for the poor and strangers (Leviticus 23:22). To the Jews, this time of celebration is known as Shavuot, which is the Hebrew word meaning “weeks.” This is one of three separate names that are used in Scripture to refer to this important Jewish feast. Each name emphasizes an important aspect of the feast as well as its religious and cultural significance to both Jews and Christians. Besides being called the Feast of Weeks in Leviticus 23, this special feast celebration is called the “Day of the Firstfruits” in Numbers 28:26 and the “Feast of Harvest” in Exodus 23:16. The Feast of Weeks takes place exactly 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits. It normally occurs in late spring, either the last part of May or the beginning of June. Unlike other feasts that began on a specific day of the Hebrew calendar, this one is calculated as being “fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:15–16; Deuteronomy 16:9–10). Like other Jewish feasts, the Feast of Weeks is important in that it foreshadows the coming Messiah and His ministry. Each and every one of the seven Jewish Feasts signifies an important aspect of God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified as the “Passover Lamb” and rose from the grave at the Feast of Firstfruits. Following His resurrection, Jesus spent the next 40 days teaching His disciples before ascending to heaven (Acts 1). Fifty days after His resurrection and after ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as promised (John 14:16–17) to indwell the disciples and empower them for ministry. The promised Holy Spirit arrived on the Day of Pentecost, which is another name for the Feast of Weeks. The spiritual significances of the Feast of Weeks are many. Some see the two loaves of leavened bread that were to be a wave offering as foreshadowing the time when the Messiah would make both Jew and Gentile to be one in Him (Ephesians 2:14–15). This is also the only feast where leavened bread is used. Leaven in Scripture is often used symbolically of sin, and the leavened bread used in the Feast of Weeks is thought to be representative of the fact that there is still sin within the church (body of Christ) and will be until Christ returns again. On the Day of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks, the “firstfruits” of the church were gathered by Christ as some 3,000 people heard Peter present the gospel after the Holy Spirit had empowered and indwelt the disciples as promised. With the promised indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the first fruits of God’s spiritual harvest under the New Covenant began. Today that harvest continues as people continue to be saved, but there is also another coming harvest whereby God will again turn His attention back to Israel so that “all of Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). (Source: Gotquestions) Question: "What is the Feast of Tabernacles / Booths / Sukkot?" (FEAST OF INGATHERING) Answer: The Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Booths and Sukkot, is the seventh and last feast that the Lord commanded Israel to observe and one of the three feasts that Jews were to observe each year by going to “appear before the Lord your God in the place which He shall choose” (Deuteronomy 16:16). The importance of the Feast of Tabernacles can be seen in how many places it is mentioned in Scripture. In the Bible we see many important events that took place at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. For one thing, it was at this time that Solomon’s Temple was dedicated to the Lord (1 Kings 8:2). It was also at the Feast of Tabernacles that the Israelites, who had returned to rebuild the temple, gathered together to hear Ezra proclaim the Word of God to them (Nehemiah 8). Ezra’s preaching resulted in a great revival as the Israelites confessed their sins and repented of them. It was also during this Feast that Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37–39). The Feast of Tabernacles takes place on the 15th of the Hebrew month Tishri. This was the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar and usually occurs in late September to mid-October. The feast begins five days after the Day of Atonement and at the time the fall harvest had just been completed. It was a time of joyous celebration as the Israelites celebrated God’s continued provision for them in the current harvest and remembered His provision and protection during the 40 years in the wilderness. As one of the three feasts that all “native born” male Jews were commanded to participate in, the Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned multiple times in Scripture, sometimes called the Feast of the Ingathering, the Feast to the Lord, or the Feast of Booths (Exodus 23:16; Deuteronomy 16:13). As one of the pilgrim feasts (when Jewish males were commanded to go to Jerusalem), it was also the time when they brought their tithes and offerings to the Temple (Deuteronomy 16:16). With the influx of people coming to Jerusalem at that time, we can only imagine what the scene must have been like. Thousands upon thousands of people coming together to remember and celebrate God’s deliverance and His provision, all living in temporary shelters or booths as part of the requirements of the feast. During the eight-day period, so many sacrifices were made that it required all twenty-four divisions of priests to be present to assist in the sacrificial duties. We find God’s instructions for celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in Leviticus 23, given at a point in history right after God had delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt. The feast was to be celebrated each year on “the fifteenth day of this seventh month” and was to run for seven days (Leviticus 23:34). Like all feasts, it begins with a “holy convocation” or Sabbath day when the Israelites were to stop working to set aside the day for worshiping God. On each day of the feast they were to offer an “offering made by fire to the Lord” and then after seven days of feasting, again the eighth day was to be “a holy convocation” when they were to cease from work and offer another sacrifice to God (Leviticus 23). Lasting eight days, the Feast of Tabernacles begins and ends with a Sabbath day of rest. During the eight days of the feast, the Israelites would dwell in booths or tabernacles that were made from the branches of trees (Leviticus 23:40–42). The Feast of Tabernacles, like all the feasts, was instituted by God as a way of reminding Israelites in every generation of their deliverance by God from Egypt. Of course, the feasts are also significant in that they foreshadow the work and actions of the coming Messiah. Much of Jesus’ public ministry took place in conjunction with the Holy Feasts set forth by God. The three pilgrim feasts where all Jewish males were commanded to “appear before the Lord in the place he chooses” are each very important in regards to the life of Christ and His work of redemption. We know with certainty that the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are symbolic of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. Likewise, we know that Pentecost, which marked the beginning of the Feast of Weeks, was the time of Jesus’ bodily ascension. And most scholars would agree that the Feast of Tabernacles is symbolic of Christ’s Second Coming when He will establish His earthly kingdom. There are also some who believe that it was likely during the Feast of Tabernacles that Jesus was born. While we celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25, most scholars acknowledge that this tradition was begun in the fourth century AD by the Roman Catholic Church and that the exact day of Jesus’ birth is unknown. Some of the evidence that Jesus might have been born earlier in the year during the Feast of the Tabernacles includes the fact that it would be unlikely for shepherds to still be in the field with their sheep in December, which is in the middle of the winter, but it would have been likely they were in the fields tending sheep at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. The strong possibility that Jesus was born at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles is also seen in the words John wrote in John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The word John chose to speak of Jesus “dwelling” among us is the word tabernacle, which simply means to “dwell in a tent.” Some believe it is very likely that John intentionally used this word to associate the first coming of Christ with the Feast of Tabernacles. Christ came in the flesh to dwell among us for a temporary time when He was born in the manger, and He is coming again to dwell among us as Lord of Lords. While it cannot be established with certainty that Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles, some believe there is a strong possibility the Feast of Tabernacles not only looks forward to His second coming but also reflects back on His first coming. The Feast of Tabernacles begins and ends with a special Sabbath day of rest. During the days of the feast all native Israelites were “to dwell in booths” to remind them that God delivered them out of the “land of Egypt” and to look forward to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would deliver His people from the bondage of sin. This feast, like all of the feasts of Israel, consistently reminded the Jews and should remind Christians as well that God has promised to deliver His people from the bondage of sin and deliver them from their enemies. Part of God’s deliverance for the Israelites was His provision and protection of them for the 40 years they wandered in the wilderness, cut off from the Promised Land. The same holds true for Christians today. God protects us and provides for us as we go through life in the wilderness of this world. While our hearts long for the Promised Land (heaven) and to be in the presence of God, He preserves us in this world as we await the world to come and the redemption that will come when Jesus Christ returns again to “tabernacle” or dwell among us in bodily form. (Source: Gotquestions.org) Exodus 34:23 "Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. NET Exodus 34:23 At three times in the year all your men must appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. NLT Exodus 34:23 Three times each year every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the LORD, the God of Israel. ESV Exodus 34:23 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel. NIV Exodus 34:23 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD, the God of Israel. KJV Exodus 34:23 Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. LXE Exodus 34:23 Three times in the year shall every male of thine appear before the Lord the God of Israel. ASV Exodus 34:23 Three times in the year shall all thy males appear before the Lord Jehovah, the God of Israel. CSB Exodus 34:23 Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. NKJ Exodus 34:23 "Three times in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the LORD God of Israel. NRS Exodus 34:23 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel. YLT Exodus 34:23 'Three times in a year do all thy males appear before the Lord Jehovah, God of Israel; Three : Ex 23:14,17 De 16:16 Ps 84:7 God : Ge 32:28 33:20 Exodus 34 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THREE REQUIRED FEASTS FOR MALES Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel - " “Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, (1) at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and (2) at the Feast of Weeks and (3) at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed." (Dt 16:16) This regulation would have helped maintain the unity of the covenant people.
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Guzik - Since leaven was a symbol of sin and corruption, atoning blood could never be offered with leavened bread. Nor is the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover to be left over until morning - It was not to be stored so you could eat some later. This instruction is in keeping with that given for the first Passover - "‘And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire." (Ex 12:10+) Another reason none of the sacrifice was to be left over until morning would be to curtail a temptation to use the evening's leftover portion as their morning sacrifice. After all this would help preserve the numbers of their herds! In the related instruction in Ex 23:18+ God calls this "My sacrifice" and "My feast," so clearly to leave some over would be to in a sense dispossess God of what was rightly (and wholly) His! It is not good to steal from God!!! A secondary reason to not leave any of the sacrifice (Ex 23:18 - "the fat of My feast") overnight, is that it might spoil and become offensive and clearly would be unacceptable to the LORD. Stuart adds that "Canaanites and other pagan peoples did not necessarily burn all the animal fat as a divine offering at the time of cooking animals on their altars: thus the temptation of the Israelites to imitate their neighbors instead of following God’s decrees and the need specifically to obviate such an approach." Exodus 34:26 "You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." NET Exodus 34:26 "The first of the firstfruits of your soil you must bring to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk." NLT Exodus 34:26 "As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to the house of the LORD your God."You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk." ESV Exodus 34:26 The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." NIV Exodus 34:26 "Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk." KJV Exodus 34:26 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk. LXE Exodus 34:26 The first-fruits of thy land shalt thou put into the house of the Lord thy God: thou shalt not boil a lamb in his mother's milk. ASV Exodus 34:26 The first of the first-fruits of thy ground thou shalt bring unto the house of Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother's milk. CSB Exodus 34:26 "Bring the best firstfruits of your land to the house of the LORD your God. "You must not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." NKJ Exodus 34:26 "The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." NRS Exodus 34:26 The best of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk. YLT Exodus 34:26 the first of the first-fruits of the land thou dost bring into the house of Jehovah thy God; thou dost not boil a kid in its mother's milk.' first : Ex 23:19 De 26:2,10 Pr 3:9,10 Mt 6:33 1Co 15:20 Jas 1:18 boil: Ex 23:19 De 14:21 Exodus 34 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BRING YAHWEH THE BEST! Related Passage: Exodus 23:19+ “You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God. “You are not to boil a young goat in the milk of its mother. Deut 14:21 “You shall not eat anything which dies of itself. You may give it to the alien who is in your town, so that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner, for you are a holy people to the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God - NLT = "As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to the house of the LORD your God." Giving God the first and the best honored Him as the Good Provider of all good things (James 1:17+). They were not to attempt to short change the LORD! Any first fruits they had were because of His rains and His allowing and energizing them to grow. How foolish we are when we think we have a right to hold back anything from the hand of the LORD, because He already in a sense holds it in His omnipotent hand! Guzik - When Israel came into Canaan, they had a special responsibility to make a firstfruit offering to God, in addition to their regular firstfruit offering (Exodus 23:16). Giving God the first and the best honored Him as the Good Provider of all things. Stuart - “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God” moves the topic from possible abuse of animal offerings to possible abuse of crop offerings. With crop tithes and offerings, there was presumably less likelihood of the temptation to offer some and leave some for a later point or for one’s personal use at or around the tabernacle. Instead, the danger was that Israelites would be tempted not to bring the proper portion at all (if it were a tithe) or the proper quality (if it were either a tithe or any other grain/oil/wine offering). One could not leave at home a portion of a live lamb. The whole thing was brought to the tabernacle alive for slaughter there. But one could leave at home whatever portion of one’s soil produce one wished—and perhaps in the absence of nosy neighbors one could hope that no one would be aware that the portion brought to the tabernacle was smaller and of poorer quality than it should have been compared to the portion retained at home for the family to enjoy. Such a practice would be comparable to the practice of denying God his portion of an animal sacrifice at the time the rest of the cooked animal was shared between the priests and worshipers. It would be cheating God, failing to honor him properly as the Lord of his people who deserved their best, not their leftovers. Accordingly, both the first and the best of one’s harvest was due to God—from any of the various harvests that the festivals followed. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk. The interpretation of this verse is uncertain. Some possibilities are mentioned below. The mode of cooking alluded to in this passage, is not unknown among the Orientals, one traveler writing "We alighted at the tent of the sheikh, or chief, by whom we were well received, and invited to take shelter with him for the night. Immediately after our halting a meal was prepared for us; the principal dish of which was a young kid seethed in milk." (Buckingham) John
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Guzik - This strange-sounding command was actually a command to not imitate a common pagan fertility ritual. “It was a custom of the ancient heathens, when they had gathered in all their fruits, to take a kid and boil it in the milk of its dam; and then, in a magical way, to go about and besprinkle with it all their trees and fields, gardens and orchards; thinking by these means to make them fruitful, that they might bring forth more abundantly in the following year.” (Cudworth cited in Clarke) But because of strange rabbinical interpretations, today this command is the reason why an observant Jew cannot eat a kosher cheeseburger. Observant Jews today will not eat milk and meat at the same meal (or even on the same plates with the same utensils cooked in the same pots), because the rabbis insisted that the meat in the hamburger may have come from the calf of the cow that gave the milk for the cheese, and the cheese and the meat would “boil” together in one’s stomach, and be a violation of this command.. This law also speaks of keeping distance between a mother and the death of her offspring.
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Guzik comments that "a life lived with God affects physical appearance, especially the face. The peace, joy, love, and goodness of God should be evident on the face of the one who follows Jesus." THOUGHT - Ponder this passage and how it might apply to your life dear disciple. As