Governing Principles

There was a variety of principles which governed the feasts and festivals of the Old Testament. They each stress a different aspect of Israel's life and culture.

Sacred Number seven
The number seven was used again and again with some significance. The seventh day was the Sabbath day, the Seventh month was a sacred month, the seventh year was a Sabbatical year, the 7 X 7th year, or the year succeeding it was the year of Jubilee. Many of the feast were held in some combination of seven. There were also seven days of Holy Convocation in the whole year.

Changing of the Moon
Jewish Calendar
The Changing of the Moon played an important role in determining the dates of the yearly festivals. The Hebrew months were lunar and so the two major feasts of Passover and Tabernacles were started on the 15th day of the month and were celebrated at the Full Moon. Every New Moon was a festival, and in the seventh month the new Moon was a day of Holy Convocation. Watchmen were placed on the high places around Jerusalem to bring the news of its appearance to the Sanhedrin. Other cities were signalled by lighting fires, but the Samaritans tries to confuse the Israelites by lighting fires at different times.

Harvest
Harvesting Grain
Harvesting Olives
As Israel was an agricultural nation, the harvest played an important part in the celebrations of the feasts. The three great feasts of the year Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles all marked a different stage of the Harvest. Passover was the beginning of the harvest. Pentecost was the end of the harvest of the corn, and Tabernacles was the end of the harvest of fruit, oil and wine.

History
History held an important place in the life of Israel. The God of all history guided them providentially throughout their life. This is reflected in the festivals which were appointed by God. The three great festivals commemorated three great events in the history of Israel. The Redemption of Israel from Egypt, the Giving of the Law and the wanderings in the wilderness. Leviticus 23:43

Weekly
The Sabbath (Saturday) was instituted by God to remember God's seventh day of rest at creation Genesis 2:2 and also the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Deuteronomy 5:15 It was observed by rest and strict cessation from work from sunset until sunset. Leviticus 23:3 Making a fire or picking up sticks was punishable by death. No one could travel farther than two thousand cubits on this day. Numbers 35:2 An additional two lambs were required on this day for sacrifice. Numbers 28:9 It was not only a day of rest but also a day of holy assembly. It was of such importance that it was also included among the Ten Commandments.

Blowing the Trumpets
It was also called the New Moon feast. It later became known as Rosh Hashanah or New Year's Day. Leviticus 23:23 Trumpet blasts would proclaim the beginning of each month with the observance of the New Moon. There was to be an additional burnt offering of two bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old. The new moon of the seventh month ( New Year's Day) was a Sabbath and day of holy convocation and it was called the day of the blowing of the trumpets, ushering in the climax of religious observances. Leviticus 23:24,25

Passover and Unleavened Bread
It was first observed in Egypt as blood of the lamb was sprinkled on the door posts of the houses of Israel and God passed over the houses of the children of Israel when God smote the firstborn of the Egyptians. The Passover celebration annually reminded each family of their deliverance from Egypt. Exodus 12:27

The Passover was observed on the 14th day of Nisan (April) 7th month civil year when a one year old male lamb without blemish, was chosen, for each family or two small families in Israel. It was slain by the whole congregation during the evenings of the 14th of Nisan and its blood was sprinkled on the lintel and two sides of the doors of the house. It was roasted by a fire and no bone were to be broken. It was eaten standing up ready for a journey, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Any leftovers were to be burnt in the fire and no one was to leave their houses until morning. 

In later years other elements were added such as the reading of the Exodus of Israel, wine mixed with water were drunk at different stages of the feast Luke 22:26-27, the Hallel which was Psalm 113-118 was sung, and the feast was usually eaten reclining rather than standing, just to mention a few. Moses also permitted the Passover to be celebrated for some who could not make the regular time on the fourteenth day of the second month. This was called the Little Passover. Numbers 9:10

The Passover was the main event, followed by a week when only unleavened bread was eaten. On the 13th of Nisan, the father would search the entire house for any evidence of leavened bread.

Feast of Weeks
This was also known as the feast of Pentecost. Observed 50 days after the Passover on the 6th day of Sivan. This was traditionally the anniversary of the giving of the law on Mount Sinai and it took Israel about 50 days to reach Mount Sinai after being delivered from Egypt. The accompanying sacrifice included two loaves, seven lambs, one bullock and two rams. It was a family celebration. It was celebrated during the middle of wheat harvest and the end of the barley harvest and meant to give thanks for God's blessings. Exodus 23:16 Only one day could be spared during this critical time of harvest. 

Feast of Tabernacles
This was also sometimes called the feast of Booths. This is the final festival of the religious year held at the end of the harvest season of grapes between the 15th and 21st of Tishri. Every Israelite family would make a booth out of palm branches or willow tree and dwell in it for seven days as they brought in the grape harvest together. Exodus 23:16; 34:22 This was to remind them of their wilderness journey. There was rejoicing with family, servants, widows, orphans, Levites and strangers. Special sacrifices for this feast totalled seventy bulls. And every seven years at this time the law was read publicly.

Day of Atonement
Also known as Yom Kippur. This was celebrated on the 10th of October (7th month Tishri). Leviticus 16; Numbers 29 This was the most solemn observance of the Hebrew year. Atonement was made on this day for the sin of all Israel, even the priests. The High Priest would be kept awake all night until morning when he was dressed in white.

Aaron or the High Priest must offer a bullock for himself and his house.
Two goats are offered for the people. One goat is sacrificed as a sin offering, the other is sent into the wilderness to Azazel (go away) as a scapegoat. This symbolised the complete removal of the sins atoned for by the sacrifice.
Rams are offered for both priests and people.
Sacrifice is made for the tabernacle itself.
Even for the altar of incense(Holy Place)

This was the only day of which fasting was required. In Old Testament times the High priest would enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood on the corners of the Ark of the Covenant. There was no light for the High priest to see except for the light of the glory of God who resided on the Mercy Seat between the cherubim. This is the picture of what Jesus did for sinners. Hebrews 9:7-14; 13:11-12

Sabbatical Year
After the Israelites entered Canaan they were to leave the fields unseeded and the vineyards unpruned every 7 years. The cancellation of debts and the freeing of slaves every 7th year reminded the Israelites of their deliverance from Egypt. During this time the entire law was read in the hearing of the people. This is one example of Israel breaking the law of God as they had a history of breaking this regulation regularly. 2 Chronicles 36:21 The 70 years of exile were to make up for the unobserved Sabbath years. Nehemiah bound the Jews by covenant to keeping this regulation which it usually did. Nehemiah 10:31 Even Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar released the Jews from payment of tribute during the Sabbatical years. (Ant. 11:8:5)

Year of Jubilee
After 7 observances of the Sabbatical year came the year of jubilee. At the Day of Atonement of the 49th year the trumpets would mark the beginning of the jubilee year as a period of freedom in the land. Leviticus 25:8-10 Property returned to its original owner, Hebrew slaves were freed, and the land was left uncultivated during that year. Leviticus 25:29 However, the Israelites failed to enforce this law which might have been expected. There is no record in the Old Testament of Israel celebrating this observance although the prophets often speak of it.

Purim
It is also called Mordecai's Day. 2 Maccabees 15:36 It was started by Mordecai to celebrate the overthrow of Haman and his plot to kill the Jews. Esther 9:18-32 The name Purim comes from the Hebrew word for lots because lots were cast by Haman to see what day he would kill the Jews. A feast was celebrated on the 14th and 15th of Adar which was prepared for by means of a fast.

During the feast the whole book of Esther was read in the synagogues and all Israel was required to be present. The reading was accompanied by clapping of hands, stamping of feet and clamorous curses whenever Haman and the Jews' enemies were mentioned and blessings on Mordecai, Esther and others. The feast was celebrated with great joy, shown by distributing gifts. It was the Christmas of Jewish feasts.

Dedication or Festival of Lights
This is also known as the festival of lights. This was started in the days of Judas Maccabaeus to commemorate the dedication of the new altar of burnt-offering after it was profaned by Antiochus Epiphanes. The feast began on the 25yh of Chisleu, and lasted eight days. During this time there was no fasting or mourning allowed. It was kept like the feast of Tabernacles with great gladness and with the bearing of branches of palms and of other trees. The temple was also illuminated with candles and lamps from which it gets the name of festival of lights. Legend has it that when the Jews entered the Temple after its desecration to clean up the mess that there was only enough oil in the Golden lampstands to last one day but they lasted eight. Thus the feast lasts for eight days. The Jews tried to stone Jesus when He was walking in the Temple in Solomon's porch during this feast. John 10:22

Copyright © 1995 David Graves & Jane Graves, Electronic Christian Media