God wanted his people to have special days where work was set aside the time was spent remembering him. So, he gave them special holidays. In the Bible, these holidays are referred to as "feasts" or "festivals." This didn’t necessarily mean that there was a lot of food or that they had a big party, although some of the holidays included those. Usually the holiday was designed to be a special reminder of what God had done to help Israel in the past.
FEASTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
Except for private celebrations, such as weddings or birthdays, Israel’s feasts or festivals were participated in by the whole nation. Often the feast commemorated a particular event or celebrated an ideal important to the nation. The people were to talk to one another about God and what he expected of his people, and also to use that opportunity to tell their children the story of what God had done. The people did not have books they could read, so children listened to stories in order to learn about God. The holidays gave the people the opportunity to tell the great stories of God’s faithfulness to them. Israel’s celebrations constantly reminded them of their relationship with God.
The feasts of ancient Israel were joyous celebrations. Usually their feasts commemorated specific times when God had reached out in power to intervene for his people or times when he had provided for them during great difficulty or danger. Each time the entire nation celebrated together in this way, they were drawn together spiritually and this was a great source of strength to the nation.
OLD TESTAMENT FESTIVALS
General Festivals
The Israelites had a lot of celebrations-which might come as a surprise when you think about how hard the people had to work just to survive. Yet perhaps these celebrations were a welcome break from the hard work.
A wedding was one of the most obvious occasions for celebration. Often an entire town might be invited (Genesis 29:22). Some wedding celebrations would go on for a week (Judges 14:17). A person’s birthday was another occasion for celebration. Birthdays were often very festive occasions, even more so where a royal person was involved (Genesis 40:20). Other celebrations mentioned in the Bible include feasts for servants when a king so desired (1 Kings 3:15), a huge festival when Solomon dedicated the Temple (8:65), feasts held by kings and queens to mark certain occasions or to show good will to others (Esther 1:3; 2:18; 5:4, 14; 7:2, 7; Daniel 5:1). Even the shearing of the first sheep was an occasion for a feast (Deuteronomy 18:4).
Festivals Celebrated Before the Exile (Preexilic)
God gave these festivals to Israel and commanded that they be celebrated (Leviticus 23:1-2). These festivals focused on God. They were designed to remind the people of what God had done for them in the past and help them realize that continued blessing and protection from him depended upon their obedience to his will.
Sabbath
First in the list of celebrations found in Leviticus 23:1 is the command that the people observe the Sabbath. This is the seventh day on which God rested from his work of creation (Genesis 2:3). Of Moses’ Ten Commandments, the fourth command is to remember the Sabbath day "by keeping it holy" (Exodus 20:8-11). That meant that the people were not to work on that day. This reminded them that God had rested from creating (31:17) and that he had delivered his people from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:12-15).
The celebration of the weekly Sabbath was a sign of a special relationship between God and the Israelites. During the 24-hour period of the Sabbath (from sunset to sunset), even small tasks like making a fire (Exodus 35:3) or gathering wood (Numbers 15:32-33) were prohibited. Those breaking the Sabbath laws could be given the death penalty. People were not supposed to travel long distances on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:29). After the Tabernacle and Temple were built, the Sabbath was observed there with special offerings (Numbers 28:9-10), and the bread of the Presence was replaced with fresh loaves (Leviticus 24:5-8). Although the laws regarding the Sabbath were strict, God truly wanted his people to rest and to remember his love and care for them. God promised that observing the Sabbath would bring blessings to both individuals and the whole land. God wanted his people to trust completely in him. The day of rest forced them not to work that extra day and gave them opportunity to focus on God.
Festival of the New Moon
The Festival of the New Moon was celebrated every month. Unlike the pagan celebrations that focused on the moon itself, the Festival of the New Moon came at a time when the moon itself was "new" and not visible. Thus the people were not tempted to worship the moon, but to remember God and his provision for them. This celebration was especially appropriate for the Israelites, who were mostly farmers, because they paid attention to signs in the sky and they could tell when the moon was new. God prescribed special offerings for this festival, more than those required for the weekly Sabbath. During the Festival of the New Moon, God required a burnt sacrifice, a grain offering, and a drink offering (Numbers 28:11-15). In addition, a male goat was sacrificed to God as a sin offering, and trumpet blasts were sounded as those offerings were given to help the people focus on God (10:10).
The new moon festival was popular throughout Israel’s history. When kings reigned in Israel, the Levites were required to assist the High Priests on the Sabbaths and at the new moon festival (1 Chronicles 23:29-31). It is possible that the prophets, who were called to speak to the nation prior to the exile, may well have given their messages at the large gatherings of people for the new moon festival (see, for example, 2 Kings 4:23). Not everyone enjoyed these monthly festivals, however. In fact, the prophet Amos complained about the greedy Israelites who felt that such observances interfered with the business of making a living (Amos 8:5).
While the people were in exile in Babylonia, they were not allowed to observe this festival (Hosea 2:11). Under Ezra and Nehemiah, the new moon festival was restored. In Isaiah 66:22-23, this festival was related to Israel’s final destiny. The festival was also an accepted part of the workings of the Temple in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 45:17).
The purpose of the Festival of the New Moon was to enhance the nation’s unity by reminding the Israelites that God’s covenant promises with their ancestors were permanent. It was a monthly reminder of the loving nature and provision of a God who would carry out his promises with complete faithfulness.
Festival of Trumpets
The Festival of Trumpets was celebrated on the first day of the seventh new moon. This month (called Tishri) was especially holy. There were certain regulations that made this festival different from all the other new moon festivals. The trumpets were blown on the first day of this festival (Leviticus 23:24) as the animal and cereal (grain) sacrifices were offered. From Numbers 29:2-6, it appears that the offerings required for the Festival of Trumpets were more than on the Sabbaths, but less than on the monthly new moon festivals. The Festival of Trumpets was to be observed as a day of solemn rest and holy gathering together. The trumpets were sounded as a triumphant memorial to God’s great provision for his people through the covenant he had made with them through Moses on Mount Sinai.
Why was this special festival observed in the seventh month? One of the reasons has to do with the number seven, a number considered to be sacred. In addition, two other very important festivals-the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and the Feast of Tabernacles (also called Booths or Shelters)-occurred during this time.
The Day of Atonement was celebrated on the ninth day after the Festival of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:26-32). The people did no work on this day and they were supposed to fast (go without eating) for the entire day. This was a special day, the only day, when the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle or Temple and make atonement for the sins of the entire nation.
The Sabbatical Year
Another festival closely connected with the Sabbath was what is called the Sabbatical Year. As the Sabbath occurred every seventh day, so the Sabbatical Year was to occur every seventh year. During this year, no one was to plant any crops and whatever sprouted naturally was to go to the poor and needy (Exodus 23:11). As God’s people needed rest from daily work in order to regain their energy and spiritual vitality through worship, so the ground needed to rest and recuperate from the strain of constant planting and harvesting. This Sabbatical Year reminded the Israelites that the land on which they lived and been given to them by God in fulfillment of his promise to their forefathers (Deuteronomy 8:7-10).
In order to keep the Israelites from experiencing any shortages or other hardships, God promised that in the year immediately preceding the Sabbatical Year, the land would produce enough for the following three years (Leviticus 25:21). God had made a similar promise during the nation’s wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. God provided manna for them to eat every day, but on the sixth day he provided twice as much manna-enough for that day and the next (Exodus 16:5). During the Sabbatical Year, God’s absolute claim over the land was reaffirmed (Leviticus 25:23), giving the people the opportunity to express their faith in God’s ability to provide for them.
The Sabbatical Year was also a year of freedom for slaves and debtors. Men and women who had become slaves were given personal liberty (Exodus 21:2-6), and all debts were canceled (Deuteronomy 15:1-6). This freed the nation’s people from being caught in a cycle of debt or poverty for life. There was always the opportunity to begin again.
The Sabbatical Year seems to have been a regular part of Israelite life before the exile, although the prophet Jeremiah noted some abuses of it (Jeremiah 34:8-22). Jeremiah took that opportunity to instruct the people in the details of the Sabbatical Year as God had planned it. He also warned the disobedient Judeans that because they had disobeyed God’s commands in refusing to let their slaves go free, they would have their own freedom taken away in a far more serious and painful manner. This occurred when the nation was destroyed and the people taken into exile in Babylonia. This lesson was not lost upon those who later returned from exile. Under the leadership of Nehemiah, the Jews vowed to observe the Sabbatical Year (Nehemiah 10:31).
The Year of Jubilee
Still another feast based on the principle of the Sabbath was the Year of Jubilee. This was also called the Pentecostal Year (Leviticus 25:8-55; 27:17-24). As the Sabbath occurred every seven days, and the Sabbatical Year every seven years, the Year of Jubilee occurred after every cycle of seven Sabbatical Years-thus, it was every fiftieth year. The Year of Jubilee began on the Day of Atonement (explained below) in the fiftieth year and was proclaimed throughout the land with trumpet blasts (25:9).
The activities that took place during the Year of Jubilee were similar to those prescribed for the Sabbatical Year. A special feature was that land that had been sold anytime during the preceding 49 years was returned to its original owners. This procedure that sometimes involved exchanging of money. To prevent abuse of this process, God required his people to deal honestly with one another in fear of him, the real owner of all the land (25:14-17). As with the Sabbatical Year, God promised to provide for his people during this year so that no one would suffer hardship. It was during the Year of Jubilee that those who were slaves in Hebrew households were given their liberty, so that everyone in the land would begin the new cycle of years as free persons under God.
Seasonal Festivals
Three annual festivals followed each season of the year. These festivals were important occasions for commemorating God’s power and his provision for the nation. These three festivals were prescribed in Exodus 23:14-17 and Deuteronomy 16:16 and consisted of (1) Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, (2) the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and (3) the Festival of Booths (Tabernacles, Shelters). For these festivals, all the males of Israel were commanded to make pilgrimage to the sanctuary for the celebration (Exodus 12:14).
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are written up as separate festivals, but since one always followed immediately after the other, they naturally blended. The holiday began with Passover and was followed by the weeklong Festival of Unleavened Bread.
Passover is probably the most important holiday for the Israelites because it commemorated one of God’s most powerful interventions in the nation’s history. The Passover marked the time when God brought a final plague upon Egypt. In this plague, God destroyed the firstborn of the Egyptians but spared (passed over) those Israelites who had followed the command to place the blood of a lamb on their doorposts (Exodus 12:11-30). The result of this plague was Israel’s freedom from slavery in Egypt. God commanded that the day be observed as holiday (23:14-15).
In the Hebrew calendar, the Passover festival came on the fourteenth day of the first month of their year (called Abib in Deuteronomy 16, but Nisan after the exile, according to Nehemiah 2). On this special holiday, the Jews would eat a special meal similar to the one their ancestors ate as they prepared to flee Egypt. This included a lamb (for the people had eaten lamb and used the lamb’s blood on their doorposts as Moses had instructed them) and certain herbs.
This was followed by a seven-day period during which nothing leavened (that is, nothing containing yeast) was to be eaten. This is known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:5-8). Why no yeast? The reason behind removing all yeast from their homes was similar to the reason why the Israelites were never to eat blood. Blood gave life to the creature and yeast "gave life" to the dough. Both were to be kept separate as offerings to God. The first and seventh days of this festival included a holy assembly of the people, and the only work permitted was the preparation of food (Exodus 12:16).
This festival opened the seven-week period of grain harvest (Deuteronomy 16:9) and celebrated God’s continued provision for his people. During the festival, special burnt sacrifices were offered, followed with a sheaf of newly-harvested barley at the Feast of Firstfruits. This was celebrated on the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:9-14).
By New Testament times, the festivals of Passover and Unleavened Bread were well-attended celebrations (Luke 22:1; Acts 12:3). The great celebration was a reminder to the people of God’s miraculous intervention on their behalf and of his constant presence with them.
The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
This second great festival, Pentecost (Weeks, Harvest) lasted one day and was observed on the fiftieth day (seven weeks) after the end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Deuteronomy 16:9-12). Pentecost marked the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest.
On this special day, two wheat-flour loaves, seven lambs, two rams, and a bull were sacrificed to the Lord (Leviticus 23:15-20). People could also present freewill offerings to God in thanksgiving for his blessings to them. Because this was a harvest festival, it was a constant reminder to the nation that they depended entirely upon God for their material prosperity. During this time, the very first part of the harvest, called the firstfruits, was to be given back to God in gratitude (Exodus 23:16). In Deuteronomy 26:1, specific instructions were given for how the people were to present their firstfruits. This involved a confession of faith that recalled the nation’s history, God’s deliverance, and his provision of a land to supply their needs.
The Festival of Booths (Tabernacles, Shelters)
This festival was the third great occasion that all Hebrew males were required to observe every year (Leviticus 23:33-43). This festival began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Tishri) shortly after the observance of the Day of Atonement, which fell on the tenth day. The Festival of Booths lasted for one week and involved a pilgrimage. It fell at the end of the year (Exodus 34:22) when all the work of farming had been completed.
On the first and eighth days of the festival, no one was to do any work, and burnt offerings were given to the Lord. During the other days, the people were to gather palm fronds and tree branches to construct rough shelters in which they would live during the week of the festival. This served as a vivid reminder to the people of how God had protected and guided them when they had lived in portable, temporary structures in the wilderness.
The people publicly recited the covenant between them and God as given to them by Moses. This was meant to keep fresh in their minds the obligations as well as the blessings of their special relationship with God.
From the context, it seems that the feast to which Hannah and her family went in 1 Samuel 1 was the Festival of Booths (see also Judges 21:19). It seems that the observance of this celebration lapsed during the times of the kings. However, a particularly significant observance of the Festival of Booths took place in the time of Ezra after the exiles joyously returned from Babylon (Nehemiah 8:13-18). The prophet Zechariah saw a vision in which all nations were coming to Jerusalem to observe the Festival of Booths. He warned that those who did not continue this tradition could expect hardship and food shortages (Zechariah 14:16-19).
Festivals Celebrated After the Exile (Postexilic)
There are a few minor festivals that were created in the period after the Jews returned from exile in Babylon. Some of these festivals had their origin in specific historical events.
Festival of Purim
The Festival of Purim, also known as the Festival of Lots, was a joyful time occurring on the fourteenth day of the twelfth month (Adar). It celebrated the way in which Esther and Mordecai were used by God to deliver his people from extermination by Haman (Esther 9:21-28). Haman had plotted to crush all the Jews in the Persian empire on the day and month that would be determined by casting lots. The plan backfired, however, and the Jews were saved.
The festival was called "purim" because that was the ancient word for casting lots (Esther 9:26). Observance of this festival reminded the Hebrews of God’s ability to save them, even when those in leadership plotted against them. Their deliverance at this time would prove to be a great comfort on other occasions when the Jews faced severe persecution. Traditionally, the scroll of Esther was read aloud in the synagogues on the evening before the festival. There would be a great outcry, especially among the children present, whenever the names of the hated Haman or his sons were mentioned.
Festival of the Dedication of the Temple (Festival of Lights)
Another joyous festival was the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple, familiar to modern readers as Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights. This festival lasted for eight days. The event that prompted this festival occurred in 164 BC. when Judas Maccabeus reconsecrated the Temple after it had been defiled by the evil Antiochus IV Epiphanes (the story is told in the apocryphal books of 1 and 2 Maccabees). The celebrations began on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month (Kislev) and were marked at night by blazing lights and lanterns. The stories of the Maccabees’ brave fighting were recounted and the feast was a time of praising God for once again marvelously delivering the Jews from their enemies.
NEW TESTAMENT FESTIVALS
In Jesus’ day, people went to the synagogue for worship on the Sabbath, and Jesus did likewise (Luke 4:16). At that time, the Sabbath was observed rigorously. In addition to the Old Testament laws that God had given regarding observing the Sabbath, the Pharisees had added many more, which regulated nearly every kind of activity. Because the Sabbath had become more of a burden on the people than a day of rest, Jesus came and challenged the Pharisees about their laws. He even came into conflict with them when he broke some of their laws (Matthew 12:1-4).
In the early church, worship occurred on "the first day of the week" (that is, on Sunday) to commemorate Christ’s resurrection. But, the early Christians initially participated in Jewish ceremonies (Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8). For example, it was during the Jewish Feast of Pentecost, after Christ’s resurrection and ascension, that the Spirit was poured out (Acts 2:1-4). This fulfilled the prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28-32) and began the history of the Christian church.
In addition, the Passover and accompanying Feast of Unleavened Bread were of great importance in the life of Christ (John 12:1-26). These occasions were very popular in New Testament times. It was on the Passover, for example, that Pilate had instituted the custom of letting the populace choose one prisoner to be set free (Mark 15:6). Jesus participated actively in the Passover rituals (Luke 2:42; John 2:13; 6:4). The Last Supper with his disciples occurred just prior to the Passover (13:1), when Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus to the Pharisees (Luke 22:4-6). The breaking of bread and the drinking of wine at the Passover celebration were used by Jesus to picture his coming death (Mark 14:22-25). In fact, Jesus instructed his disciples to continue the ritual of eating bread and drinking wine in order to always remember his death on their behalf. The Apostle Paul gave instructions to the church to continue this ritual (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).
Some scholars have suggested that Christ was actually hanging on the cross when the Passover lamb was being slaughtered for the ritual meal that every Jewish family would eat. If correct, that would graphically represent Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
The Bible records that Jesus was present at the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:10). Water was carried in procession from the pool of Siloam as an offering to God, and the ceremony most likely prompted Jesus’ words about living water and eternal life (7:37-39). On at least one occasion, Jesus was in Jerusalem during the Festival of the Dedication of the Temple (Festival of Lights or Hanukkah) as noted in 10:22.
Jesus was entertained occasionally at private feasts (Luke 5:29) and once helped out when the wine ran out at a wedding celebration (John 2:8-10). He was critical of the Pharisees for taking the most important seats at feasts (Matthew 23:6) and taught that festivals ought to benefit the poor (Luke 14:13).
SYMBOLISM OF THE FEASTS
The early church picked up many aspects of these Hebrew feasts and interpreted them in a symbolic manner. For example, the Apostle Paul considered the earliest Hebrew Christians to be like the firstfruits of Israel (Romans 11:16). In 8:23, the Holy Spirit is regarded as only a token of what was to come for believers. It is called the “firstfruit” of the Spirit. Christians themselves were described in James 1:18 as being like firstfruits-“his choice possession.” The resurrection of Jesus was considered by Paul to be the “first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Thinking of some of the Old Testament festivals, Paul wrote of Sabbaths, new moon ceremonies, and holy days as being "only shadows of the real thing." The Passover was used figuratively to emphasize that Christ, our Passover Lamb, had been sacrificed for us. Believers were urged to keep the feast with the new unleavened bread of purity and truth, and not with the old yeast bread of wickedness and evil (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
FESTIVALS
The Israelites enjoyed one Sabbath day of rest each week. In addition, there were nineteen national holidays.
Passover
The Passover lasted one day. It celebrated when God spared the lives of Israel’s firstborn sons in Egypt and freed the Hebrews from slavery. This celebration reminded the Hebrews of God’s deliverance.
Read about it in Exodus 12:1-30, Leviticus 23:5, and Deuteronomy 16:1-8.
Unleavened Bread
The Festival of Unleavened Bread lasted for seven days. It celebrated the Exodus from Egypt. This weeklong celebration reminded the people they were leaving the old life and entering a new way of living.
Read about it in Exodus 12:17-20, Leviticus 23:6-8, and Deuteronomy 16:1-8.
Firstfruits
The Festival of Firstfruits lasted for one day. It celebrated the first crops of the barley harvest. The festival reminded the people of how God provided for them.
Read about it in Leviticus 23:9-14.
Harvest
The Festival of the Harvest lasted for one day. It celebrated the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. With this festival the people showed joy and thanksgiving over the bountiful harvest.
Read about it in Leviticus 23:15-22 and Deuteronomy 16:9-12.
Trumpets
The Festival of Trumpets lasted for one day. It was a sacred assembly held on the beginning of the seventh month. The celebration allowed the people to express joy and thanksgiving to God.
Read about it in Leviticus 23:23-25.
The Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement was celebrated for one day. It demonstrated the removal of sin from the people and the nation. This signified the people’s restored fellowship with God.
Read about it in Leviticus 23:26-32.
The Festival of Shelters
The Festival of Shelters lasted for seven days. This weeklong celebration reminded the people of God’s protection and guidance in the desert. This festival renewed Israel’s commitment to God and inspired trust in his continued guidance and protection.
Read about it in Leviticus 23:33-43 and Deuteronomy 16:13-15.
OFFERINGS
There were the five key offerings celebrated by the Israelites. They made these offerings in order to have forgiveness and to restore their fellowship with God. The death o
Who?
Who celebrated feasts and festivals? God gave these joyous festivals especially to his people, Israel. Some of these celebrations are still celebrated by Jewish people today (such as Passover and Hanukkah).
What?
What did the people do during these festivals? Most of the time, the people rested, thought about the reason for the holiday, and told their children of God’s great love. Often there were special ceremonies, offerings, and other rituals accompanying these festivals (with instructions for many found in the Bible).
When?
When were these festivals held? Some, such as the Sabbath, were a part of every week. Others were monthly (such as the New Moon Festival), others were seasonal (coinciding with the harvest), others only once a year (such as Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread).
Where?
Where were they held? Some celebrations were held at home or in one’s town (such as weddings and birthdays). For others, people went to the the local synagogue. For the three seasonal festivals, people (especially the men) were required to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Why?
Why did they have these festivals? These festivals were a reminder to the people of God’s gracious love toward them. The time was set aside as reminder of an event in the past when God had miraculously intervened to protect them (such as the Passover).
Babylon
Barley
Blessing
Blood
Bread
Bread of the Presence
Burnt Sacrifice
Casting lots
Covenant
Creation
Death penalty
Debts and Debtors
Disciples
Drink Offering
Egypt
Exile
Exodus
Fasting
Firstfruits
Freewill Offering
Goats
High Priest
Holiness
Israelites
Kings and Queens
Last Supper
Leaven
Levites
Manna
Maccabees
Most Holy Place
Mount Sinai
Obedience
Offerings and Sacrifices
Persian Empire
Pharisees
Plague
Pool of Siloam
Poor and Rich
Promise
Prophets
Resurrection
Slavery
Tabernacle
Temple
Ten Commandments
Travel
Trumpets
Wedding
Wilderness Wanderings
Wine
Amos
Antiocus IV
Esther
Ezekiel
Ezra
Hannah
Jeremiah
Joel
Judas Iscariot
Judas Maccabeus
Judeans
Mordecai
Moses
Nehemiah
Pilate
Solomon
Zechariah
FUN FACTS
Jesus’ Favorite Feasts
The Wedding Reception at Cana (John 2:1-12)
He turned whining into wining.
The Bash at the Zacchaeus Place (Luke 19:1-10)
Before his tax returns, Zack threw a great party.
Dropping in on Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
Martha slaved over the meal, but Mary got her just desserts. The host was pharasaical, but the pedicure was heaven-scent. The last supper before the cross was one to remember.
Breakfast at Galilee (John 21:1-14)
Besides everything else, he can broil fish too!
The Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9)
Do you have your invitation?