Levítico 23
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Levítico 23
NJB (MT versing) Laws of Religious Festivals Feasts of the Lord The Sacred Calendar The Religious Festivals The Ritual for the Annual Feasts 23:1-2 23:1-2 23:1-2 23:1-4 23:1-2a 23:2b The Sabbath a. the Sabbath 23:3 23:3 23:3 23:3 Passover and Unleavened Bread 23:4-8 23:4-8 23:4-8 23:4 Passover and Unleavened Bread b. the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread 23:5-8 23:5-8 The Feast of First Fruits c. the first sheaf 23:9-14 23:9-14 23:9-14 23:9-14 23:9 23:10a 23:10b-14 The Feasts of Weeks The Harvest Festival d. the feast of weeks 23:15-21 23:15-21 23:15-21 23:15-21 23:15-20 23:21 23:22 23:22 23:22 23:22 23:22 The Feast of Trumpets The New Year Festival e. the first day of the seventh month 23:23-25 23:23-25 23:23-25 23:23-25 23:23 23:24a 23:24b-25 The Day of Atonement The Day of Atonement The Day of Atonement f. The Day of Expiation 23:26-32 23:26-32 23:26-32 23:26-32 23:26 23:27-32 The Feast of Tabernacles The Festival of Shelters The Feast of Shelters 23:33-36 23:33-38 23:33-36 23:33-36 23:33 23:34-36 Conclusion 23:37-38 23:37-38 23:37-38 23:37-38 Recapitulation on the Feast of Shelters 23:39-44 23:39-43 23:39-43 23:39-43 23:39-41a 23:41b-43 23:44 23:44 23:44 23:44 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS See SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL. See SPECIAL TOPIC: PENTECOST. See SPECIAL TOPIC: MOON WORSHIP.
Levítico 23:1-2
23:2 "The Lord's appointed times" YHWH set special times for His people to congregate at a central worship site and to commemorate His character and past acts on their behalf. They were ways to train the next generation of Israelites (i.e., Deut. 6:1-9; see full note online). Those special days are also called "holy convocations" (cf. Lev. 23:2,4,7,21,27,35). This name (i.e., "holy convocations") occurs only in this chapter, eleven times Exod. 12:16, twice Numbers 28:29, six times For a good discussion of "holy" see SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY and NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 877-887, esp. p. 880, (g). These special feasts (and one fast day) may be in view in Gen. 1:14, as the purpose of the great night light and sun. There are three annual feasts that must be attended by all males (i.e., those who live close enough, which reflects a later period) at the Tabernacle or later at the Temple in Jerusalem. There are several of these lists of feast days and they are difficult to coordinate because of different names brief texts historical developments use of two calendars (i.e., sacred and civil) by ancient Israel
Levítico 23:3
23:3 "but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest" This special weekly time of worship goes back to Gen. 2:1-2 Exod. 16:27-30; 20:8-11; 23:12; 31:12-16 Surprisingly it is discussed very little in this context (Lev. 23:3 only). Probably because the Sabbath guidelines and purpose were so well known. See Roland deVaux Ancient Israel, pp. 475-493. See SPECIAL TOPIC: SABBATH (OT) and NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1157-1161. Notice that some holy days had complete rest but others allowed some labor complete rest ‒ Lev. 23:3,7,28,30-32 limited labor (i.e. preparing for the feast, but not vocational work) ‒ Lev. 23:8,21,25,35,36 ▣ "in all your dwellings" The biblical material about Israel's feasts and special days developed over time. It is hard to know if the text is a later editorial addition or idiom. wilderness wandering period with Tabernacle (i.e., Exod. 12:20; Num. 35:29) early period after crossing the Jordan (i.e., Lev. 3:16-17; 7:26; 23:3,14,17,31) later period with Temple (i.e., Ezek. 6:6) still later to Jewish settlement outside of Palestine Maybe the best way to deal with a phrase like this is to translate it as a dynamic equivalent ‒ NIV, NEB, "wherever you live"; TEV, "no matter where you live."
Levítico 23:4-8
23:4-8 This is the discussion of the combined feasts of Passover (1 day; see SPECIAL TOPIC: PASSOVER; NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 642-644, vol. 4, pp. 1043-1045) Unleavened Bread (1 week; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL, I, D, 1, c) see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 484-493 23:5 "the first month" Remember Israel used a lunar calendar. See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE CALENDARS. ▣ "at twilight" This is literally "between the two evenings." The Israelites made a distinction between the setting of the sun and the appearance of the first star (cf. Exod. 12:6; Num. 9:3,5,11; Deut. 16:4,6). Note the same type imagery in Lev. 23:32. ▣ "Passover" The Feast of Passover (i.e., Exodus 12) is later combined with the Feast of Unleavened Bread (cf. Lev. 23:6) into one eight-day feast (cf. Deut. 16:1-8). 23:6 "feast" This Hebrew NOUN (BDB 290) means "festival gathering" (i.e., at the Tabernacle/Temple) or "pilgrim feast." This same root in Arabic denotes the annual Muslim pilgrimage (Hag) to Mecca. ▣ "for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread" This would have been grain from the previous year's harvest. 23:8 "you shall not do any laborious work" This phrase is repeated in Lev. 23:8,21,25,35,36. The Jewish Study Bible, p. 262, suggests that there is a total ban on work on the Sabbath (Lev. 23:3) or Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:28,30), but for the other feast days, preparations for the feast were allowed (cf. Exod. 12:16). People could not do their normal work activities.
Levítico 23:9-14
23:9-14 This is the discussion of the initial offering of first fruits. It is uncertain how Lev. 23:9-14 relates to 23:15-21. I think one occurred at the beginning of the barley harvest (i.e., Feast of Unleavened Bread; see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 490-493) and the next at the conclusion of the wheat harvest (i.e., Pentecost); see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 21, #2; 1272. 23:11-12 "wave" See notes at Lev. 7:30 and NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 64-65. 23:11 "for you to be accepted" This NOUN (BDB 953) is used several times in Leviticus (cf. Lev. 1:3; 19:5; 22:19,20,21,29; 23:11). It is hard to determine if the "acceptance" is of the appropriate sacrifice or the person offering the sacrifice (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 413). Either way, it shows the essence of Leviticus—how to make sinful Israelites acceptable for fellowship with a "holy" God. ▣ "on the day after the sabbath" This would refer to our "Sunday" (cf. Lev. 23:15). This is the day Jesus rose from the dead. The first fruit of the resurrection. See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE RESURRECTION. 23:12 "without defect" See SPECIAL TOPIC: WITHOUT BLEMISH. ▣ "a burnt offering" See notes at Leviticus 1. 23:13 "grain offering" See notes at Leviticus 2. ▣ "ephah. . .hin" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES. ▣ "a soothing aroma" See SPECIAL TOPIC: A SOOTHING AROMA. ▣ "libation" This was a liquid offering (cf. Lev. 23:13,18,37; NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 115, #3). ▣ "wine" See SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK. 23:14 This giving of the first fruits was a symbol of YHWH's ownership of all crops, as the Sabbath was a symbol of all property belonging to YHWH! We are stewards, not owners! See SPECIAL TOPIC: TITHES IN THE MOSAIC LEGISLATION and SPECIAL TOPIC: TITHING. The new crop could not be eaten until the appropriate offering (Lev. 23:13) to YHWH (Lev. 23:14). the wave offering of the first fruits a one year old lamb Grain offering drink offering (cf. Lev. 23:13,18,37) ▣ "perpetual statute" See the SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam) and SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION; also see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 349. These two words also appear in Lev. 23:21 and 41. The term 'olam has several connotations. Here, "age abiding," but the OT has been superceded. See SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO OT COVENANT PROMISES SEEM SO DIFFERENT FROM NT COVENANT PROMISES?
Levítico 23:15-21
23:15-21 This is the discussion of the festival at the end of the harvest season. See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL; Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 493-495. The offerings are similar to the ones at the beginning of the harvest (Lev. 23:13), but more extensive. two loaves of bread for each family/village (Lev. 23:17) seven one-year old lambs (Lev. 23:18) one bull (Lev. 23:18) for a burnt offering #2 and 3 with accompanying grain and drink offerings (cf. Lev. 23:13; see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 115) one male goat (Lev. 23:19) for a sin offering two one-year old lambs (Lev. 23:19) for a peace offering Numbers 28-29 deal much more specifically about the timing of these sacrifices. 23:15 "seven" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE. 23:16 "a new grain offering" This was distinct from the first fruit barley offering of Lev. 23:9-14. This was a grain offering from the new crop (i.e., wheat). 23:17 "baked with leaven" This shows that leaven was not always forbidden in sacrifices (cf. Lev. 7:13-14). It is not always a symbol of evil. Sometimes it is imagery for "penetration and permeation." See SPECIAL TOPIC: LEAVEN. 23:18 "without defect" See SPECIAL TOPIC: WITHOUT BLEMISH. ▣ "a burnt offering" See Leviticus 1. ▣ "a grain offering" See Leviticus 2. ▣ "a soothing aroma" See SPECIAL TOPIC: A SOOTHING AROMA. 23:19 "a sin offering" See Leviticus 4. ▣ "a peace offering" See Leviticus 3.
Levítico 23:22
23:22 This refers to "gleaning." See note at Lev. 19:9-10. The needy and the alien refer to those who have no land and must work for others for their sustenance. God (uniquely in the ANE) cares for the powerless and disenfranchised.
Levítico 23:23-25
23:23 The footnote in the JB, p. 161, suggests this verse is referring to a monthly lunar festival. See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL. 23:24-25 This refers to the "New Year" celebration called Rosh Hashanah (cf. Num. 10:9-10; 29:1-6; see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 502-506). It was held on the first day of the seventh month. The New Year's celebration has several problems. Israel's new year may have begun in the spring or autumn (possibly ancient Israel used two calendars, sacred and civil). This feast is not called "New Year" by Josephus or Philo. Nehemiah 8:1-12 does not mention a "new year" feast at all. In Leviticus 23 it is not called "New Year" feast, nor in Num. 29:1-6. It surely was meant to begin a period of preparation for the Day of Atonement on the tenth of the seventh month. Trumpets ‒ seventh month, first day Day of Atonement ‒ seventh month, tenth day Feast of Booths ‒ seventh month, fifteenth day 23:24 "blowing of trumpets" See parallel in Num. 29:1-6. See SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL.
Levítico 23:26-32
23:26-32 This annual fast day (i.e., "humble your souls") for unintentional sins of the people, the priest, and the Tabernacle, was discussed in detail in Leviticus 16 (see notes there; see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 507-510). 23:27 "you shall humble your souls" The VERB (BDB 776, KB 853) is used here and in Lev. 16:31 in connection to the national fast Day of Atonement. Israel was to contemplate her violation of YHWH's character and laws, probably by fasting, praying, hearing the law, and meditation. 23:29 "he shall be cut off from his people" See full note at Lev. 7:20. In Lev. 23:30 this phrase is parallel to "I will destroy from among his people." This implies a divine taking of life. 23:32 "ninth month" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE CALENDARS. ▣ "you shall keep your sabbath" This is a combination of the VERB (BDB 991, KB 1407) for "rest" and the NOUN (BDB 992) "sabboth" or "rest." The LXX has "you shall sabbatize on your sabbaths." REB, "you shall keep your sabbath rest."
Levítico 23:33-36
23:34-44 "the Feast of Booths" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL, I, D, 3 and NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 249-251, esp. p. 250, #3, c.
Levítico 23:37-38
23:37 "each day's matter on its own day" This may refer to the different sacrifices offered on each day (see Numbers 28-29, which focuses on these sacrifices). 23:38 TEV expresses the sense of the verse well: "These festivals are in addition to the regular Sabbaths, and these offerings are in addition to your regular gifts, your offerings as fulfillment of vows, and your freewill offerings that you give to the Lord."
Levítico 23:39-44
23:40 This verse is the origin of the title "Feast of Booths." The reason is explained in Lev. 23:43. It was a teaching tool to pass on Israel's faith to the next generation (cf. Exod. 12:26-27; 13:8,14; Deut. 6:1-2,7,20-25). ▣ "the foliage of beautiful trees" "the fruit of beautiful trees" "the fruit of majestic trees" "some of the best fruit of your trees" "choice fruit" "the product of hadar trees" "the fruit of citrus trees" "ripe fruit of tree" "fruits of goodly trees" The word "foliage" in NASB is literally "fruit" (BDB 826). But the harvest is past so there would be no fruit on the trees, yet they would still be "leafy." The word "beautiful" (BDB 214) can mean ornament splendor honor Here, it refers to either beautiful trees fruit trees Israel made booths/huts of the branches of various leafy trees and decorated them with fruit (cf. Neh. 8:15). ▣ Notice there are four trees mentioned. Why four is unknown. These tree/palm branches were waved before the Lord (rabbinical tradition) made into booths (cf. Lev. 23:42-43; Neh. 8:13-18) or carried as festival sheaves (Lev. 23:40) these fruitless branches were a way to signal the harvest was over and a new agricultural cycle would begin 23:43 "that your generations may know" The Hebrew VERB "know" (BDB 393, KB 390, Qal IMPERFECT) has several senses (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW), but here it denotes two things. Know YHWH in a personal way that affects the way one lives. Know YHWH's will by knowing His law. Both of these concepts are expressed by the VERB shema, which means "to hear so as to do" (cf. Deut. 6:4; see full note online). As with so many of Israel's feast days and cultus, living in "booths" was to provide an opportunity for the adults to share with the children about the exodus (i.e., Deuteronomy 6).