Números 28

Números 28

Morris - The weekly day of rest, commemorating God's completed work of creation (Exodus 20:8-11), was even more sacred than the seven annual feasts. No "servile" work could be done in the latter (Leviticus 23:8,21,25,35,36), but no work at all could be performed on the sabbath. Also, no work could be performed on the great day of atonement (Leviticus 23:28). (Defender's Study Bible) Related Resources: What is the Sabbath day? from "Got Questions?" How is Jesus our Sabbath Rest? Does God require Sabbath-keeping of Christians? What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? The Topic Concordance Sabbath American Church Dictionary Sabbath American Tract Society Sabbath Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Sabbath Baker Evangelical Dictionary Sabbath Easton's Bible Dictionary Sabbath Fausset Bible Dictionary Sabbath Holman Bible Dictionary Sabbath Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Sabbath Day's Journey Sabbath Hastings' Dictionary of the NT Sabbath Sabbath Numbers 28:10 'This is the burnt offering of every sabbath in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering. the burnt: Eze 46:4,5 the continual: Nu 28:23 29:6,11,16,19,22,25,31,34,38,39 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries OFFERINGS "DOUBLED" ON THE SABBATH This is the burnt offering (see 'olah) of every sabbath in addition to the continual burnt offering (see 'olah) and its drink offering - Pfeiffer on in addition to - The offerings were cumulative, the Sabbath offering being added to the daily offering, and so on with the rest throughout these two chapters. (Ibid) Burnt offering (05930) see note on 'olah Drink offering (libation)(05262) see note on necek ILLUSTRATION - Our great-grandparents called it the Holy Sabbath; our grandparents called it the Sabbath; our parents called it Sunday; we call it the weekend. We have forgotten to observe the Sabbath, and we are paying the price. Sleep scientists” are warning that people are not getting enough rest, and our health and safety are suffering as a result. William Dement, founder and director of the Stanford University Sleep Research Center, estimates that people sleep about one-and-a-half hours less per night than the average from a century ago. The consequences? One report found that driver fatigue was involved in over half of all American vehicle accidents. Larger accidents, such as the Exxon Valdez disaster, have also been linked to sleep deprivation. In laboratory experiments, prolonged stress without rest apparently caused the immune systems of the rats to fail. Also, recent theories propose that the REM stage of sleep is necessary to learning and memory, meaning that less sleep affects our cognitive functions as well as our physical well-being. The need for rest should come as no surprise to Christians, for we know that our Creator made us that way! That’s why in the Law God made every seventh day a Sabbath, and every seventh year a Sabbath year. Numbers 28:11 'Then at the beginning of each of your months you shall present a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls and one ram, seven male lambs one year old without defect; the beginning: Nu 10:10 15:3-11 1Sa 20:5 2Ki 4:23 1Ch 23:31 2Ch 2:4 Ezr 3:5 Ne 10:33 Ps 40:6,8 81:3 Isa 1:13,14 66:23 Eze 45:17,18 46:1,6 Ho 2:11 Am 3:5 Ga 4:10 Col 2:6,16 two young: Nu 28:19 Heb 10:10-14 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Numbers 10:10 Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the LORD your God.” New Moon = Earliest Visible Crescent MONTHLY OFFERING "NEW MOON" Then at the beginning of each of your months - This time was the time of the earliest visible crescent of the moon (see depiction above) as the ancients had no Rolex calendar watches. Thus this monthly festival was called the New Moon Festival. Elwood McQuaid on New Moon - Exact timing for the rising of the new moon was established through an intricate system devised to insure accuracy. Eyewitnesses were essential to the process. Not one, but at least two or more were required to properly certify the event. To accommodate the process, the Sanhedrin sat in official session in the Hall of Hewn Stones at the Temple to receive and examine witnesses. In the event cloud cover obscured the heavens to Jerusalemites, injunctions against Sabbath travel were suspended to allow witnesses to convey the news as rapidly as possible. When witnesses had been properly examined and the council’s solemn deliberations completed, a proclamation was issued, “It is sanctified,” and the feast commenced. Trumpets and shofar were blown the day long. It is of interest to find that the use of horns from calves was forbidden, lest God be reminded of Israel’s sin with the golden calf. Rams’ horns were preferred because they memorialized Isaac’s sacrificial encounter at Moriah long years before. On this year, the horns would herald the arrival of Jehovah’s antitypical Isaac. Jews of the Diaspora would learn of the new moon’s appearance by way of a series of signal fires lighted on hilltops. These fires sent the news to those who lived in the hinterlands. The witnesses had seen, the Council had declared, the trumpets had sounded—let the celebration begin! Following the proclamation by the Sanhedrin, the eyewitnesses were honored in a banquet hall, Beth Yaazek, especially designed for the purpose, and Israel’s credible witnesses became temporary celebrities. (The Outpouring: Jesus in the Feasts of Israel) you shall present a burnt offering ('olah) to the LORD: two bulls and one ram, seven male lambs one year old without defect - Notice these sacrifices contrast with the daily offering of two lambs (plus two more on the Sabbath) by their increased number and variety, each animal sacrifice also accompanied by grain offerings (Nu 28:12-13) and drink offerings (Nu 28:14) HCSB Study Bible - At the beginning of each of your months additional burnt offerings of consecration were made, constituting a grand rite through which the nation paid homage to God as its Creator and Sustainer. Pfeiffer - Since the quantities of offerings is the point stressed, the directions for the blowing of silver trumpets (cf. Nu 10:10) are omitted, though stressed as part of the religious festival in the beginning of the seventh month (Nu 29:1). According to Nu 10:10, the trumpets were regularly blown at the new moons. The custom was possibly designed to have civil as well as religious significance for the people. (Ibid) Ronald Allen - As the land is the Lord’s gift to his people, so time is his gift to enjoy the land. Each month is a marker of his blessing, a time for special rejoicing. Later in Israel’s history, the New Moon festivals may have become opportunities for excess, for licentious behavior. In the Prophets there are times when God says to his erring people, “I hate your New Moons” (cf. Isa 1:14). There is always a latent danger in the most festive occasions to be forgetful of God’s intention for us to respond to his wonder. Compare contemporary celebrations of Christmas and Thanksgiving, times where few celebrants give much serious thought to God. (EBC) (Bold added) Burnt offering (05930) see note on 'olah Question: What was the significance of the new moon in Bible times? Answer: The significance of the new moon in Bible times is that it marked the beginning of a new month (the Hebrew calendar is lunar-based), and it was a time when the Israelites were to bring an offering to God. The beginning of the month was known not by astronomical calculations but by the testimony of messengers appointed to watch for the first visible appearance of the new moon. As soon as the first sliver was seen, the fact was announced throughout the whole country by signal fires on the mountaintops and the blowing of trumpets. The Hebrew word for “month” (hodesh) literally means “new moon.” In Numbers 28:11, the New Moon offering is commanded for the first time: “On the first of every month, present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.” Each of the animal sacrifices was to be accompanied by a grain offering and a drink offering (Nu 28:12–14). In addition to burnt offerings, a goat was to be sacrificed to the Lord as a sin offering (Nu 28:15). The New Moon festival marked the consecration to God of each new month in the year. New Moon festivals were marked by sacrifices, the blowing of trumpets over the sacrifices (Numbers 10:10), the suspension of all labor and trade (Nehemiah 10:31), and social or family feasts (1 Samuel 20:5). As with any religious ritual, there was a danger of observing the New Moon festivals without a true heart to follow God. Later in their history, the Israelites continued to observe the New Moon festivals outwardly, even after their hearts had turned cold toward God. They readily parted with their bulls and lambs and goats, but they would not give up their sins. They relied on the outward observations to cleanse them, even though there was still evil in their hearts. God had severe words for such hypocrisy: “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them” (Isaiah 1:13–14). Sin is hateful to God, and no amount of ritual or ceremony or sacrament can make up for a sinful heart. “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being” (Psalm 51:6ESV; see also Hosea 6:6). Observance of New Moon festivals and their sacrifices is no longer required. When the perfect Sacrifice, the spotless Lamb of God, appeared, He rendered the observation of these ordinances no longer necessary. All the righteous requirements of the Law were fulfilled by Him (Matthew 5:17), and His work on the cross means that no longer are sacrifices for sin required. Paul reminds us of this fact: “Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:16–17). GotQuestions.org Numbers 28:12 and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for the one ram; Nu 15:4-12 29:10 Eze 46:5-7 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NEW MOON OFFERING CONTINUED (1) and three-tenths of an ephah (5 quarts) of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths (3 quarts) of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for the one ram Grain offering (04503) see note on minchah Numbers 28:13 and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering for each lamb, for a burnt offering of a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD. for a burnt: Nu 28:2 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NEW MOON OFFERING CONTINUED (2) and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering for each lamb, for a burnt offering ('olah) of a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD Grain offering (04503) see note on minchah Burnt offering (05930) see note on 'olah Soothing (sweet) (05207) see nihoah, Aroma (07381) see reah (See foreshadowing of Jesus Christ). Offering by fire (0801) see note on ishsheh Numbers 28:14 'Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull and a third of a hin for the ram and a fourth of a hin for a lamb; this is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year. Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NEW MOON OFFERING CONTINUED (3) Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull and a third of a hin for the ram and a fourth of a hin for a lamb; this is the burnt offering ('olah) of each month throughout the months of the year Ronald Allen - “Later in Israel’s history, the New Moon festivals may have become opportunities for excess, for licentious behavior. In the Prophets there are times when God says to his erring people, ‘I hate your New Moons’ (cf. Isaiah 1:14).” (EBC) Burnt offering (05930) see note on 'olah Numbers 28:15 'And one male goat for a sin offering to the LORD; it shall be offered with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering. one kid: Nu 28:22 15:24 Lev 4:23 Lev 16:15 Ro 8:3 2Co 5:21 beside: Nu 28:3,10,11 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NEW MOON OFFERING CONTINUED (4) And one male goat for a sin offering to the LORD; it shall be offered with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering ('olah) - A male goat was used in the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:15+ “Then he shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering which is for the people, and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat." The male goat for a sin offering clearly pointed to Christ dying on the Cross bearing our sins (1 Peter 2:24-25+). Sin offering (02403) chattat/chattath means wrong, iniquity, sin. Chattat, like it's NT counterpart (hamartia), means to miss or fall short of the mark, which ultimately is the will and plan of God as revealed in Scripture. Sin is whatever misses the will of God for man doctrinally or morally. The result of chattat/chattah is that man misses the goal God has for him by failing to observe the requirements of holy living and thus falls short of spiritual wholeness. We are all sinners. We all miss the mark, and none of us are perfect nor will we ever be perfect in this life. This is why Christ had to die for our sin so we might have His righteousness (see 2Cor 5:21). Chattat can be an offense against man (1Sa 20:1 Ps 59:3, Ge 31:36 which also has word pesha') but more often represents an offense against God, and is found mainly in the historical and prophetical literature. It is interesting that even pagan Pharaoh recognized his sin against Jehovah and against Moses (Ex 10:16 where sinned = verb chata, 02398), and ask Moses to intercede with God to "remove this death from me." (Ex 10:17) We get a word picture of the meaning of miss the mark by the use of the related verb chata' (02398) in Judges 20:16 where we read that "Out of all these people 700 choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss (Lxx = examartano [ex + hamartano] means to miss one's aim, to err, to sin.)." The Hebrew verb chata is used 221v in in OT and is translated "sin" 55x and "sinned" 87x (First use = Ge 20:6, 9). In a different context, chata is used in Pr 19:2 to describe a man in a hurry who “misses his way” (Pr 19:2ESV) Burnt offering (05930) see note on 'olah Drink offering (libation)(05262) see note on necek Male goat in Nu 28-29 - Num. 28:15; Num. 28:22; Num. 28:30; Num. 29:5; Num. 29:11; Num. 29:16; Num. 29:19; Num. 29:22; Num. 29:25; Num. 29:28; Num. 29:31; Num. 29:34; Num. 29:38 Sin offering in Nu 28-29 - Num. 28:15; Num. 28:22; Num. 29:5; Num. 29:11; Num. 29:16; Num. 29:19; Num. 29:22; Num. 29:25; Num. 29:28; Num. 29:31; Num. 29:34; Num. 29:38; Drink offering in Nu 28-29 - Num. 28:7; Num. 28:8; Num. 28:9; Num. 28:10; Num. 28:15; Num. 28:24; Num. 29:16; Num. 29:22; Num. 29:25; Num. 29:28; Num. 29:34; Num. 29:38; Continual burnt offering in Nu 28-29 - Num. 28:3; Num. 28:6; Num. 28:10; Num. 28:15; Num. 28:23; Num. 28:24; Num. 28:31; Num. 29:6; Num. 29:11; Num. 29:16; Num. 29:19; Num. 29:22; Num. 29:25; Num. 29:28; Num. 29:31; Num. 29:34; Num. 29:38; Numbers 28:16 'Then on the fourteenth day of the first month shall be the LORD'S Passover. Nu 9:3-5 Ex 12:2-11,18,43-49 Lev 23:5-8 De 16:1-8 Eze 45:21-24 Mt 26:2,17 Lu 22:7,8 Ac 12:3,4 1Co 5:7,8 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Calendar of Jewish Feasts (Source: Rose Guide to the Tabernacle Excellent Teaching Resource) Related Passages: Numbers 9:3-5+ “On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall observe it at its appointed time; you shall observe it according to all its statutes and according to all its ordinances.” 4So Moses told the sons of Israel to observe the Passover. 5They observed the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did. The Spring Feasts consisted of… 1) Passover (Pesach) (See Study of NT word for Passover (3957) pascha) 2) Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) 3) Firstfruits (HaBikkurim) 4) Pentecost (Shavuot) The Fall Feasts consisted of… 5) Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) 6) Atonement (Yom Kippur) 7) Tabernacles (Sukkot) These seven (the number of "completion") annual holidays are honored by Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed Jewish communities the world over. The second group of Fall Feasts are separated from the Spring Feasts by a four-month period. The first four feasts foreshadow truths concerning this present Gospel age. The last three foreshadow blessings in store for Israel. The first four are historic; the last three, prophetic. Blood of Blemish Free Lamb THE LORD'S PASSOVER The Passover is discussed in Numbers 28:16-25 and the focus is on the priest's role rather than on the role of individual families which was the focus in Exodus 12. Then on the fourteenth day of the first month shall be the LORD'S Passover - See commentary on Passover in Exodus 12:2-11. I Pfeiffer - No offering is specified for the Passover, because these instructions are for offerings by the priests. The Passover lamb ceremony was a family affair (Ex 12:3-14, 21, 22). (Ibid) Gilbrant - The directions here for the celebration of the Passover are not those given for the people’s celebration, but for the tabernacle ritual. The annual feasts as the people were to observe them are found in Ex 23:14-18; 34:18-23; Lev. 23:4-44; and Deut. 16:1-17. HCSB Study Bible - According to Ex 12:8+, the foundational Passover foods were the Passover lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. These helped the people remember the events that brought about the redemption of Israel from Egypt. Passover lambs were offered as communal sacrifices, with portions consumed by both the priests and the offerers in the presence of God in the Israelite camp, or later in Jerusalem after the temple was built. Unleavened bread was consumed in imitation of the original setting, which Deuteronomy calls the "bread of affliction." The bitter herbs were a reminder of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt. In this passage some elements are added to the celebration: Sabbath designation (meaning no work) for the first and final days of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, complete with a sacred assembly at the sanctuary; and additional sacrifices equivalent to those offered on the New Moon (two bulls, one ram, and seven lambs, each accompanied by their appropriate grain/oil and libation offerings). The sacrificial list was completed with the offering of a goat for a sin offering on behalf of the people. Related Resources: What is Passover? | GotQuestions.org How do the elements of the Passover Seder point to Christ? | GotQuestions.org Henry Morris describes the prophetic significance of the feasts… Many commentators, ancient and modern, have noted that these seven annual "feasts [or religious festivals] of Jehovah" not only had spiritual value to the Israelites who observed them, but also gave prophetic witness to God's great redemptive work. (1) Feast of the Passover (Leviticus 23:5) testifies of the shedding of the blood of the Lamb of God. "Christ our Passover… sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). (2) Feast of the Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8) speaks of the Lord's supper which would be instituted by Him on the night of the Passover and would serve to remind His followers to walk in communion with Him. "Therefore let us keep the feast,… with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:8). (3) Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9-14) foreshadows the coming resurrection and restoration. "Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming" (1 Corinthians 15:23). (4) Feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15-22) was fulfilled in the descent of the Holy Spirit on the first body of Christian believers after Christ's ascension, testifying to the world "that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). (5) Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23-25) is separated by a long period of time from the first four festivals and promises that someday "the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven… with the trump of God," when "the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible" (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:52). (6) Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-32) testifies of the certain judgments to come--on Israel, on the nations, on believers and on the lost--when complete separation between unforgiven sinners and perfected saints will be established forever (note the two goats in Leviticus 16, the chapter giving the details of this observance). (7) Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-43) speaks of the coming eternal rest in the Holy City when "the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people" (Revelation 21:3). (Defender's Study Bible) Table of Feasts of the LORD Source: Believer's Study Bible THE SEVEN GREAT FEASTS OF ISRAEL THESE FEASTS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED IN MESSIAH'S FIRST COMING THESE FEASTS WILL BE FULFILLED IN MESSIAH'S SECOND COMING SPRING FEASTS FALL FEASTS 1st Month = Nisan Festival of Passover (Pesach) 3rd Month = Sivan Feast of Pentecost I N T E R L U D E 7th Month = Tishri Festival of Booths (Tabernacles) (Sukkot) Passover Pesach Unleavened Bread First Fruits (Habikkurim) (Reshit Katzir) Feast of Weeks Festival of the Harvest of the First Fruits (Shavuot) (Picture) Feast of Trumpets Day of Atonement Feast of Booths Lamb's blood on Door Purging Leaven (Sin) Wave Offering (Promise of Harvest to come) (Usually Barley) Wave Offering of two loaves of leavened bread (promise of harvest to come) Trumpet Blown - A Holy Convocation Atonement shall be made to cleanse you Celebrates harvest, memorial of God's care in wilderness 1st Month, 14th Day 1st Month, 15th Day (1st & 8th are Sabbath) Day after Sabbath 50 Days after first fruits 7th Month, 1st Day (A Sabbath) 7th Month, 10th Day (A Sabbath) 7th Mo, 15th Day 7 Days; Convocation on 8th Day Lev 23:33-44 (1st & 8th are Sabbath) Christ our Passover has been sacrificed Clean out the old leaven… just as you are in fact unleavened Christ has been raised… the first fruits Promise of the Spirit, Mystery of Church - Jews and Gentiles in one body Regathering of Israel before final day of atonement Jeremiah 32:37-41+ Israel repents and looks to Christ in one day Zech 12:10+ Zech 13:1+ Zech 14:9+ All families come to Jerusalem for Feast of Booths Zech 14:16-19+ Acts 2:1-4, 5-47+ Eph 2:11-12+ Ezekiel 36:24+ Ezek 36:25-27+ Heb 9-10 Ro 11:25-29+ Ezekiel 36:28+ Numbers 28:17 'On the fifteenth day of this month shall be a feast, unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days. Ex 12:15-17 Ex 13:6 Lev 23:6 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 12:15-17+ ‘Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16‘On the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be prepared by you. 17‘You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a permanent ordinance. Exodus 13:6+ “For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. Leviticus 23:6+ ‘Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (Chag HaMatzot) On the fifteenth day of this month shall be a feast, unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days - This is the second of the Spring Feasts. Passover is the first but the feast of unleavened bread is intimately related to the feast of Passover. In fact these first two Spring Feasts were so closely related that Luke actually describes Passover and Unleavened bread as essentially synonymous writing "Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching." (Luke 22:1-2+) See chart of Feasts of the LORD. Pfeiffer The Feast of Unleavened Bread (maṣṣôt) was to be kept from the fifteenth to the twenty-first of the first month (Ex 12:15-17). The first and seventh days were to be sabbaths, when no “servile” work was to be done (Nu 28:18, 25). (Ibid) Feast (02282)(chaq/chag/hag/haq) means festival and usually refers to the various feasts on the Jewish calendar. “Holiday,” i.e. a day or season of religious joy. The term moed “appointed time,” is also used for “feast,” but is a broader term including Sabbaths, new moons, etc. "The use of this noun is limited mainly to the three pilgrim-feasts. Four times it is used for each of the three in a single context (Ex 23:15–16; 34:18–22; Deut 16:16; 2Chr 8:13). Otherwise the noun applies most often (twenty times) to the Feast of Booths (Ingathering), secondly (eleven times) to the Feast of Unleavened Bread (or Passover) and once to the Feast of Weeks (Deut 16:10)." (TWOT) Question: What is the significance of unleavened bread? Answer: The Bible tells us that the Israelites were to eat only unleavened bread every year during Passover as a commemoration of the Exodus from Egyptian bondage. Since the children of Israel left Egypt hastily, they did not have time for the bread to rise, so it was made on that very first Passover without leaven, also known as yeast. In describing this bread and why it was eaten, the Bible informs us of the following: "Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt" (Deuteronomy 16:3). Further commands regarding the eating of unleavened bread are found in Exodus 12:8; 29:2; and Numbers 9:11. To this day, in Jewish homes, the Passover celebration includes unleavened bread. According to the Hebrew lexicon, the term unleavened bread is derived from the word matzoh, which means "bread or cake without leaven." The lexicon also states that matzoh is in turn derived from a word which means "to drain out or suck." In referring to this second Hebrew word, the lexicon states, "In the sense of greedily devouring for sweetness." So it is quite possible that unleavened bread, while it may have been heavy and flat, may also have been sweet to the taste. In the Bible, leaven is almost always symbolic of sin. Like leaven that permeates the whole lump of dough, sin will spread in a person, a church, or a nation, eventually overwhelming and bringing its participants into its bondage and eventually to death (Galatians 5:9). Romans 6:23 tell us that “the wages of sin is death,” which is God’s judgment for sin, and this is the reason that Christ died—to provide a way out of this judgment for sin if man will repent of his sins, accept Christ as his Passover sacrifice, and have his heart changed so that he can conform his life to what God commands. GotQuestions.org EXCURSUS ON THE FEAST OF FIRSTFRUITS Bikkurim Offering of the first fruits, illustration from a Bible card Note that Numbers 28-29 has no specific mention of the Feast of Firstfruits (Also called by some sources "Day of Firstfruits" because it lasted only one day), which is on Nisan 16, the third day after Passover, the day Jesus rose from the dead (Mk 16:9+) as the perfect fulfillment of Firstfruits as discussed in more detail below under "Prophetic Significance". NOTE - Do not confuse the Feast of Firstfruits with the statement the day of the first fruits in Nu 28:26+ for this "day of the first fruits" is NOT the Feast of Firstfruits, but is related to the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. Are you confused? I am also a bit thrown off by the use of such similar phrases, but as explained below Nu 28:26 is the only place in Scripture where the phrase "day of the first fruits" is used. Now back to the actual Feast of Firstfruits, the third of the 4 Spring feasts, preceding the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. We see it described in Leviticus Leviticus 23:9-14+ Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 ‘He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD for you to be accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12‘ Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to the LORD. 13 ‘Its grain offering shall then be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire to the LORD for a soothing aroma, with its drink offering, a fourth of a hin of wine. 14 ‘Until this same day, until you have brought in the offering of your God, you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. The Feast Of Firstfruits was the third Spring Feast (three occurring in rapid succession - Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits. The Feast of Firstfruits was a feast for the Promised Land to be a celebration of the firstfruits of the barley harvest (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 2:12) as an act of dedicating the harvest to Him and a reminder to the sons of Israel that Yahweh was the Source of all prosperity (especially agriculturally) which they experienced. This feast took place on the first day of the week following Passover. On Passover, a marked sheaf of grain was bundled and left standing in the field. On the next day, the first day of Unleavened Bread, the sheaf was cut and prepared for the offering on the third day. On this third day, the priest waved the sheaf before the Lord. Counting the days (omer) then begins and continues until the day after the seventh Sabbath, the 50th day, which is called Shavuot or Pentecost To review —the first day was the feasts of Passover, the second Unleavened Bread, and the third Firstfruits—the priest waved the sheaf before the LORD. The counting of the days then began and continued up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, the 50th day, Shavuot or Pentecost which foreshadowed the giving of the Holy Spirit and the inauguration of the Church of Jesus, the Body of Christ. It is also fascinating to note that on this same day manna, which God provided for 40 years from heaven as food for the Israelites while in the wilderness, stopped on this day after they entered the Promised Land. Joshua records "The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land." (read context and not this day was 2 days after Passover = Josh 5:10-12). And also on this same day Queen Esther risked her life to save the Jewish people from annihilation (Esther 3:7-15+, Esther 5:1+, cf her words 3 days earlier in Est 4:16b+). Benjamin Galen adds the following notes on the Feast of Firstfruits: Since the temple was destroyed in AD 70, firstfruits are no longer offered on this day by Jewish people. Today, Jews use this holiday to begin the counting of the days, also known as the "counting of the omer" (an omer is a biblical measure of volume of grain). On the 33rd day of counting the omer, a minor rabbinical holiday also known by the Hebrew name Lag BaʿOmer, is celebrated. (Rose Guide to the Tabernacle) PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE - It is notable that Jewish people rarely celebrate the Feast of Firstfruits today. The feast of firstfruits was prophetic of the resurrection of Christ, which also had taken place on the first day of the week. Jesus was offered as a "burnt offering" on the Cross on Friday, followed by the Sabbath on Saturday and then the day after being Sunday, the actual day for performance of the Feast of Firstfruits. It is easy to see that the Feast of Firstfruits is what we today call by the pagan derived name "Easter Sunday." I prefer to call it by its Biblical name, Firstfruits and so like to surprise brethren with the greeting "Blessed Feast of Firstfruits" to you today! I find that very few believers are aware of this Biblical name for Easter. Not only is Firstfruits more appropriate name as we look back to the past Old Testament teachings, but also was we look to the future as foretold in the New Testament teachings, Paul writing "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the FIRST FRUITS of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the Firstfruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming," (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) So you see that because Christ was the first fruits in His resurrection, we now will also be first fruits when we are literally resurrected in the future (Jn 5:28-29). James 1:18+ adds that "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures." Related Resource: What was the firstfruits offering? Should Christians give a firstfruits offering today? Numbers 28:18 'On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. Ex 12:16 Lev 23:7-8 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (2) On the first day shall be a holy (qodesh - set apart from profane unto YHWH) convocation; you shall do no laborious work - Leviticus says "‘On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work. ‘But for seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.’” (Lev 23:7-8-commentary) Convocation (04744)(miqra') is an assembly of persons. Convocation is from Latin com = together and vocare = to call. Holy Convocation - 14x in 14v - Lev. 23:3; Lev. 23:7; Lev. 23:8; Lev. 23:21; Lev. 23:24; Lev. 23:27; Lev. 23:35; Lev. 23:36; Num. 28:18; Num. 28:25; Num. 28:26; Num. 29:1; Num. 29:7; Num. 29:12 CONVOCATION — a sacred assembly or calling together of the people of Israel for rest and worship (Lev. 23:2, 4, 37). Wherever the word “convocation” appears in the Bible, it is preceded by the word “holy”; hence, “holy convocation.” On the great feast days the people were called together by silver trumpets (Num. 10:2). These convocations included the weekly SABBATHS (Lev. 23:3), the PASSOVER and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:5–6), PENTECOST or Weeks (Lev. 23:15–21), the Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24), the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:24), and the great feast day, the annual DAY OF ATONEMENT (Lev. 23:27). (NNIBD) Convocation מִקְרָא (miqrāʾ). n. masc. convocation. A gathering of people who have been called for the purpose of celebrating a religious festival. This term primarily refers to an assembly of people for religious purposes. Most of its occurrences in the OT are found in the catalog of religious festivals including New Moon, Sabbath, Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Booths (e.g., Exod 12:16 "assembly"; Lev 23, and Num 28–29). Isaiah 1:13 ("assemblies") uses the term pejoratively to refer to a celebration of the New Moon and Sabbath—a gathering that displeased God. While the noun typically denotes a gathering for a particular religious festival, it can also refer to a more common gathering (e.g., Num 10:2; Isa 4:5). Furthermore, the term is used in Neh 8:8 to describe the Israelites who assembled to understand the “reading” (miqrāʾ)—that is, to hear Ezra’s explanation of the law of God. (Lexham Theological Wordbook) Related Resources: Girdlestone's Synonyms of the Old Testament Convocation Easton's Bible Dictionary Convocation International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Convocation McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Convocation, Question: What is a holy convocation? Answer: A convocation is a summoned assembly. The holy convocations commanded in the Mosaic Law were held on special religious days that required a gathering of God’s people. Some translations call the holy convocations in the Law “sacred assemblies.” Some examples of holy convocations in the Bible are Sabbaths (Leviticus 23:2–3); Pentecost (Leviticus 23:21); Passover (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:7); and the Feasts of Weeks, Tabernacles, and Trumpets (Numbers 28:26; 29:1; Leviticus 23:35–36; 23:24). The Feast of Unleavened Bread called for two holy convocations, one on the first day and the other on the seventh day (Ex 34:18). Every year on the tenth day of the seventh month was the Day of Atonement; Israel was commanded to fast on this day and to gather at the tabernacle or temple. This was called the “holy convocation” (Leviticus 23:27; Numbers 29:7ESV). Today, the word convocation used in religious contexts is often associated with the gathering of a synod, a council that meets for the purpose of deciding upon doctrines or the application of doctrines within an organization. A convocation can be an ecclesiastical meeting of importance, an academic meeting led by a university, a gathering of alumni at a college, a meeting of governing officials to fill a chancellorship or other high office, or simply a graduation ceremony. GotQuestions.org Numbers 28:19 'You shall present an offering by fire, a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls and one ram and seven male lambs one year old, having them without defect. two young: Eze 45:21-25 they shall: Nu 28:31 29:8 Lev 22:20 De 15:21 Mal 1:13,14 1Pe 1:19 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (3) You shall present an offering by fire, a burnt offering ('olah) to the LORD: two bulls and one ram and seven male lambs one year old, having them without defect. Offering by fire (0801) see note on ishsheh Burnt offering (05930) see note on 'olah Numbers 28:20 'For their grain offering, you shall offer fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for a bull and two-tenths for the ram. Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (4) 'For their grain offering, you shall offer fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah (5 quarts) for a bull and two-tenths (3 quarts) for the ram. with each bull, with the ram, Grain offering (04503) see note on minchah Numbers 28:21 'A tenth of an ephah you shall offer for each of the seven lambs; FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (5) A tenth of an ephah (2 quarts) you shall offer for each of the seven lambs; Numbers 28:22 and one male goat for a sin offering to make atonement for you. Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (6) and one male goat for a sin offering to make atonement for you - And one male goat for a sin offering to the LORD; it shall be offered with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering. Sin offering (02403) chattat/chattath Make atonement (03722)(kapar - click for more detailed discussion) means to make atonement, to make reconciliation (to reconcile), to purge, to make propitiation (to propitiate), to pacify, to cancel. There are two main ideas regarding the meaning of kapar - (1) Kapar means to cover over sin (2) A number of resources however favor the idea that kapar means to wipe away. These ideas are discussed more below. Numbers 28:23 'You shall present these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. Nu 28:3,10 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (7) You shall present these besides the burnt offering ('olah) of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. Burnt offering (05930) see note on 'olah Numbers 28:24 'After this manner you shall present daily, for seven days, the food of the offering by fire, of a soothing aroma to the LORD; it shall be presented with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering. Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (8) After this manner you shall present daily, for seven days, the food of the offering by fire, of a soothing aroma to the LORD; it shall be presented with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering ('olah) . Pfeiffer - In addition to the daily offerings, these special ones were to be offered each day of the feast. (Ibid) Offering by fire (0801) see note on ishsheh Soothing (sweet) (05207) see nihoah, Aroma (07381) see reah (See foreshadowing of Jesus Christ). Drink offering (libation)(05262) see note on necek Burnt offering (05930) see note on 'olah Numbers 28:25 'On the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. on the seventh: Ex 12:16 13:6 Lev 23:8 ye shall do: Nu 28:18,26 29:1,12,35 Lev 23:3,8,21,25,35,36 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FEAST OF ​​​​​​​UNLEAVENED BREAD (9) On the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work - See note for holy convocation. Holy Convocation - 14x in 14v - Lev. 23:3; Lev. 23:7; Lev. 23:8; Lev. 23:21; Lev. 23:24; Lev. 23:27; Lev. 23:35; Lev. 23:36; Num. 28:18; Num. 28:25; Num. 28:26; Num. 29:1; Num. 29:7; Num. 29:12 Numbers 28:26 'Also on the day of the first fruits, when you present a new grain offering to the LORD in your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. on the day of the first fruits: Ex 23:16 34:22 Lev 23:10,15-21 De 16:9-11 Ac 2:1-13 1Co 15:20 Jas 1:18 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Leviticus 23:10; 15-21+ “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.....15 ‘You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. 16 ‘You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD. 17 ‘You shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two-tenths of an ephah; they shall be of a fine flour, baked with leaven as first fruits to the LORD. 18 ‘Along with the bread you shall present seven one year old male lambs without defect, and a bull of the herd and two rams; they are to be a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD (See foreshadowing of Jesus Christ). 19 ‘You shall also offer one male goat for a sin offering and two male lambs one year old for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20 ‘The priest shall then wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering with two lambs before the LORD; they are to be holy to the LORD for the priest. 21 ‘On this same day you shall make a proclamation as well; you are to have a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work. It is to be a perpetual statute in all your dwelling places throughout your generations. FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS FEAST OF WEEKS FEAST OF HARVEST PENTECOST See chart of Feasts of the LORD. Also on the day of the first fruits - This exact phrase is found only here in Nu 28:26. As discussed this does NOT refer to the Feast of Firstfruits/Day of Firstfruits discussed above. It actually refs to beginning of the Feast of Weeks, and received this designation because it marked the time when people began to bring the first and best of their wheat harvest to the Lord. John Currid explains that "The designation ‘day of the first fruits’ is unique in the Old Testament; it seems to refer to the initial day of the Feast of Weeks (Ex 34:22), an event which commemorates the end of the wheat harvest in Israel. This celebration is enacted as law in Leviticus 23:15–21. The only real difference between these two accounts is the number of animals to be sacrificed; in the Leviticus passage it is one bull and two rams rather than the other way around. The reason for the change is unknown." Larry Walker, in the Holman Bible Dictionary in his note on Pentecost or Feast of Weeks says this is “Essentially a harvest celebration, the term ‘weeks’ was used of the period of grain harvest from the barley harvest to the wheat harvest, a period of about seven weeks. At this time, the Lord was credited as the Source of rain and fertility. It was called ‘day of firstfruits (Nu 28:26)’ because it marked the beginning of the time in which people were to bring offerings of firstfruits. It was celebrated as a Sabbath with rest from ordinary labors and the calling of a holy convocation. It was a feast of joy and thanksgiving for the completion of the harvest season.” This phrase day of the first fruits is confusing to me because it makes one think this phrase is a reference to the Feast of Firstfruits which some sources actually do actually designate "day of firstfruits" which really adds to the confusion. To help visualize the distinction, see the chart below adapted from the HCSB Study Bible. Notice that it lists two days entitled Day of Firstfruits, but they are separated by 50 days and only the first "day" is specifically designated a Spring feast, the Feast of Firstfruits. Feast of Unleavened Bread Nisan 15-21 Commemorates God's Deliverance of Israel out of Egypt. Includes a Day of Firstfruits for the barely harvest which is actually the third Spring feast also named "Feast of Firstfruits" which lasted only one day. Feast of Weeks or Pentecost Sivan 6 Ex 23:16, 34:22 Commemorates the giving of the law at Mount Sinai. Includes a Day of Firstfruits for the wheat harvest. When you present a new grain offering to the LORD in your Feast of Weeks - The second of the three annual festivals (all males were to attend) was Pentecost, also called the feast of weeks (Ex. 34:22; Dt. 16:10,16; 2 Chron. 8:13), the feast of harvest (Ex. 23:16), and the day of firstfruits (Nu 28:26; compare Ex. 23:16; Ex 34:22; Lev. 23:17). It was celebrated seven complete weeks, or fifty days, after Passover (Lev. 23:15,16; Deut. 16:9); therefore, it was given the name Pentecost. Essentially a harvest celebration, the term "weeks" was used of the period of grain harvest from the barley harvest to the wheat harvest, a period of about seven weeks. At this time, the Lord was credited as the source of rain and fertility (Jer. 5:24). t was called "day of firstfruits" (Num. 28:26) because it marked the beginning of the time in which people were to bring offerings of firstfruits. It was celebrated as a sabbath with rest from ordinary labors and the calling of a holy convocation (Lev. 23:21; Num. 28:26). It was a feast of joy and thanksgiving for the completion of the harvest season. The able-bodied men were to be present at the sanctuary, and a special sacrifice was offered (Lev. 23:15-22; Num. 28:26-31). According to Leviticus 23:10-11,16,17, two large loaves were waved before the Lord by the anointed priests. These were made of fine flour from the new wheat and baked with leaven. They were a "wave offering" for the people. They could not be eaten until after this ceremony (Lev. 23:14; Josh. 5:10-11), and none of this bread was placed on the altar because of the leaven content. Also two lambs were offered. The feast was concluded by the eating of communal meals to which the poor, the stranger, and the Levites were invited. (from Holman Bible Dictionary) Grain offering (04503) see note on minchah you shall have a holy (qodesh = set apart from profane unto YHWH) convocation; you shall do no laborious work - See note on holy convocation. Holy Convocation - 14x in 14v - Lev. 23:3; Lev. 23:7; Lev. 23:8; Lev. 23:21; Lev. 23:24; Lev. 23:27; Lev. 23:35; Lev. 23:36; Num. 28:18; Num. 28:25; Num. 28:26; Num. 29:1; Num. 29:7; Num. 29:12 Pfeiffer - Leviticus 23:16 gives the key to understanding these words. On the day following the seven sabbaths after the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Pentecost, Gr., “fiftieth day”), the people were to offer a cereal offering of the first fruits. The feast sacrifices to be presented at this time were the same as those offered at the time of unleavened bread. 29. A several tenth deal unto one lamb. A tenth of an ephah was to be offered along with each lamb. (See the same expression in vv. 13, 21). (Ibid) HCSB Study Bible - The first day of the Festival of Weeks (Hebrew shavuoth) was called the day of firstfruits. (ED: SEE ABOVE FOR HOW THIS LEADS TO CONFUSION WITH THE ACTUAL FEAST ON THE THIRD DAY AFTER PASSOVER, THE FEAST OF FIRSTFRUITS) It was considered a Sabbath, with burnt and sin offerings essentially the same as the New Moon sacrifices. The firstfruits offering of the new grain harvest was included in the ritual practices for the day when the seven weeks after the first sheaf (Lv 23:10) were completed. Sheaves of new barley and wheat were elevated and waved before the Lord in celebration of the gift of the harvest. These were in addition to the prescribed offering of two loaves of leavened bread (Lv 23:15-22; Dt 16:3) given in thanksgiving for the abundance of God's blessing. In the NT, the Festival of Weeks is called Pentecost, based on the Greek pentekoste (fiftieth), since the day is the fiftieth day after the first sheaf. Question: What is the Feast of Weeks? (See also chart of Feasts of the LORD.) 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 (Ex 23:14–17; 34:22–23; Deut 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). GotQuestions.org Numbers 28:27 'You shall offer a burnt offering for a soothing aroma to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs one year old; two young: Nu 28:11,19 Lev 23:18,19 Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries You shall offer a burnt offering ('olah) for a soothing aroma to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs one year old; Soothing (sweet) (05207) see nihoah, Aroma (07381) see reah (See foreshadowing of Jesus Christ). Burnt offering (05930) see note on 'olah Numbers 28:28 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram, Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah (5 quarts) for each bull, two-tenths (3 quarts) for the one ram Grain offering (04503) see note on minchah Numbers 28:29 a tenth for each of the seven lambs; Numbers 28 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries a tenth (2 quarts) for each of the seven lambs; Numbers 28:30 also one male goat to make atonement for you. Nu 28:15,22 15:24 2Co 5:21 Ga 3:13 1Pe 2:24 3:18 also one male goat to make atonement for you. Make atonement (03722)(kapar - click for more detailed discussion) means to make atonement, to make reconciliation (to reconcile), to purge, to make propitiation (to propitiate), to pacify, to cancel. There are two main ideas regarding the meaning of kapar - (1) Kapar means to cover over sin (2) A number of resources however favor the idea that kapar means to wipe away. These ideas are discussed more below.