Notable Jewish Festivals

While reading the Bible, we often come across traditional Jewish festivals. In the books of the Law, in addition to the service in the tabernacle (including matters related to the tabernacle, priests, and sacrifices), God also established seven festivals for His people, referred to as “the feasts of the Lord” (Leviticus 23:1, 4).

God established these festivals not for people to have a good time or to provide an opportunity for unrestrained revelry. They are called “the feasts of the Lord” because they carry a profound meaning from God—the seven festivals prefigure God’s plan of redemption. When God’s people observe these festivals, He reveals His will and promises to them through these occasions, and His people, in turn, are kept within His promises by celebrating them.

 * Passover: It begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month, called Abib (or Nisan) (Deuteronomy 16:1). This coincides with the full moon before modern-day Easter. At twilight, the whole assembly of Israel was to slaughter a lamb, and each family was to take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of their houses as a sign. They were not to leave their house until morning. Historically, Passover commemorates God leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 13:3).

 * Feast of Unleavened Bread: It begins on the fifteenth day of the first month, and the Israelites are to observe it for seven days. During these seven days, no leaven is to be found anywhere in Israel, and they must eat unleavened bread. In the Bible, leaven represents sin.

 * Feast of Firstfruits: On the day after the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Israelites were to present the first sheaf of their harvest to God. Only after offering this first harvest were they permitted to eat from the produce of the land.

 * Pentecost: Also known as the Feast of Harvest, this was the day for harvesting the first ripe wheat (Exodus 34:22). The Israelites were to bake bread from the first wheat and present it to God as a wave offering. They were also to offer a new grain offering, burnt offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and drink offerings (Leviticus 23:16-19), among others.

* Feast of Trumpets: This is the first of a group of three festivals. It is held on the first day of the seventh month. On this day, the Israelites were to sound trumpets as a memorial. A sacred assembly was to be held, and all work was to cease. They were to offer a ram, a lamb, and a bull as a burnt offering to God, along with a grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil. They were also to offer a male goat as a sin offering.

 * Day of Atonement: This takes place on the tenth day of the seventh month. It is the most sacred day for the Israelites and a day for them to humble themselves. The high priest entered the Most Holy Place only on this day once a year (Leviticus 16:1-34). He was to put on sacred garments (Exodus 28:1-43) and “make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the Tent of Meeting, and for the altar. He must also make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly” (Leviticus 16:33). The high priest was to make atonement for all the sins of the Israelites once a year (Leviticus 16:34). He was also to send a goat into the wilderness to a solitary place, which was “for Azazel” (Leviticus 16:26).

 * Feast of Tabernacles: This is the last festival of the year. While the Feast of Unleavened Bread lasts for seven days, this festival lasts for eight days, with the Israelites offering sacrifices on the eighth day as well (Numbers 29:35). It is a joyful festival. After they had gathered the produce of the land (which is why it is also called the Feast of Ingathering), they would make shelters with branches and live in them for seven days.