Explanation: Leviticus 23 gives the laws concerning the seven main feasts in Israel: the Sabbath, the Passover & Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Firstfruits, the Feast of Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
     The First Feast, was the weekly Sabbath - held once every seven days, and about fifty-two times a year. No work was to be done on the Sabbath; and it was to be set apart for the LORD. Food for the Sabbath, as stated in Exodus 16:23-30, was to be prepared on the day prior (1-3).
     The Second Feast was the Passover and Unleavened Bread. It lasted seven days; and the first and seventh days were Sabbaths, upon which no work was to be done (4-8).
     The Third Feast was the Feast of Firstfruits. During this feast the people were to bring a sheaf of grain and offer it to the LORD the day after the Sabbath. Also, the worshiper was to offer a yearling lamb, a meal offering of flour, and a drink offering of wine (9-14).
     The Fourth Feast was Pentecost, which came fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits. It required a food offering of leavened bread plus seven lambs, one young bull, and two rams plus grain offerings, drink offerings, and food offerings. Also a male goat and two male lambs were to be offered along with the grain of the firstfruits. The day was to be a Sabbath of rest. Also, the Israelites were to remember the poor by not reaping the corners of their fields and by leaving gleanings for the poor and the stranger to gather (15-22).
     The Fifth Feast was the Feast of Trumpets. It was to be a Sabbath and required offerings, as specified in Numbers 29:1-6 -- specifically, burnt offerings of one young bull, one ram, and seven yearling male lambs plus grain offerings, and one male goat as a sin offering (23-25).
     The Sixth Feast is the Day of Atonement. It is a Sabbath and a day of mourning (26-32).
     The Seventh Feast is the Feast of Tabernacles. It is to be celebrated for seven days. Offerings (specified in Numbers 29:12-38, etc.) are to be made during the festival (33-36).
     During these Feasts the following offerings were to be made: "a sacrifice" (a sin offering, or perhaps the offerings generally); a burnt offering; a meat (grain) offering, "a sacrifice" (a sin offering, or perhaps a peace offering); and drink offerings. In addition, offerings of gifts, offerings to solemnize vows, and freewill offerings were to be given (37-38).
     The LORD then gives additional rules about the Feast of Tabernacles -- specifically the command to make temporary shelters from the branches of the palm tree and other trees, and to live in them for seven days to commemorate how they lived for a while after they came out of the land of Egypt (39-43).
     These were the feasts of the LORD (44).
     [ Sermons: William Still. J Ligon Duncan III. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: The three paintings above show various aspects of the feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23. The First Image depicts the kitchen, the food, and a feast. The Second Image depicts some of the foods that might have been prepared for a Jewish feast, with the exception of the rabbit on the lower right and perhaps some others. The Third Image depicts the manner in which the first Passover would have been celebrated -- standing, staff in hand, and prepared to depart quickly (Exodus 12:11). ]

     ⁴⁴ And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

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