Feasts of Israel

English Feast
Name

Hebrew Feast Name

English
Date

Hebrew
Date

Meaning /
Significance

Passover¹

Pesuch

Mar/Apr

14^th of Nisan
(1^st month)
(Abib)

Duration
1 day

This commemorates the night the LORD "passed over" the blood sprinkled house of Israelites, sparing their first born, but killing the firstborn Egyptians and their livestock.

• Christ was crucified on the Passover when the Passover lambs were being offered.
• This pictures Christ's death on the cross as our Passover (Jn.19:36 cf Ex.12:46).
• Isaac asked, "Where is the Lamb" (Ge.22:7); John the Baptist, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" (Jn.1:29); Paul calls Christ, "Christ, our passover" (1Co.5:7); the host of Heaven says, "Worthy is the Lamb!" (Re.5:12).

Unleavened Bread

Mar/Apr

15^th - 21^st of Nisan
(1^st month)
(Abib)

Duration
7 days

This was eaten with the Passover lamb for 7 days following the Passover. It is called the "bread of affliction" (De.16:3), and is to be eaten with bitter herbs (Nu.9:11). This is to remind Israel of the bitterness of bondage, and how they came out of Egypt at night in haste --not having time to leaven their dough (Ex.12:31-34). The lamb was to be roasted with fire and completely consumed.

• Christ was buried on the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
• The Christian putting sin out of his life (2Co.7:1), and feeding on Christ (1Co.5:6-8).
• The blood of the lamb was sufficient to save from death, but they had to feed on the lamb to get strength for their pilgrim journey.
• The lamb was to be roasted with fire, which speaks of Christ's suffering.
• The lamb was completely consumed which speaks of Christ's not seeing corruption in His body (Ps.16:10).

First Fruits

Mar/Apr

17^th of Nisan
(1^st month)
(Abib)
(Sunday)

Duration
1 day

This feast is always on Sunday following the Passover. It is the start of the Barley harvest when the firstfruits of the harvest were waved before the LORD. This was for Israel when they entered Canaan for they could not celebrate it in the wilderness.

• Christ was raised on the Feast of Firstfruits.
• This pictures the resurrection of Christ (1Co.15:20-21"the firstfruits").
• The entire "resurrection harvest" belongs to God.
• Since we belong (being purchased) to God, we should wholly offer ourselves to Him.

Weeks or
Pentecost (LXX)

Harvest (Ex.23:16)

Hag Ha Shavuot

May/Jun

6^th of Sivan
(Sunday)

Duration
1 day

This feast is always on Sunday which is 50 (gr., penthkosth" "Pentecost") days after the Feast of Firstfruits. It is the first day of the Wheat harvest when the firstfruits are waved before the LORD. It was called "weeks" because 7 weeks elapsed.

• 50 days later. This is a celebration of God's rich provision for His people.
• Paul determined to go to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost (Ac.20:16).
• Paul determined to stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a door was open to minister (1Co.16:8).

GAP of Time

Trumpets

Yom Teruah or
Rosh Ha Shana

Sep/Oct

1^st of Tishri
(7^th month)

Duration
1 day

This feast is a day to cease all customary work. Also a series of trumpets are to be played, and make an offer by fire unto the LORD. Israel, as a nation was guided by trumpets (Nu.10:12). They would blow the trumpets to assemble together, and for war.

• This pictures the re-gathering of Israel in the future when God's trumpets shall call them from the ends of the earth (Is.27:12-13; Mt.24:29-31).
• The application for the church: We await the "trump" to meet the LORD in the air (1Co.15:51-53).
• After we are taken from this earth, God will blow the trumpet and declare war on the nations.

Atonement

Yom Kippur

Sep/Oct

10^th of Tishri
(7^th month)

Duration
1 day

The High-Priest laid his hands on the head of a "scapegoat" (Le.16:8) and confessed over him the sins of the people. The goat was then led away to a solitary place.

• Christ atoned for our sin (Ro.3:24; 2Co.5:18; Ga.3:13; Ti.2:14; He.9:28; 1Pe.1:19; 2:24; 3:18; 1Jn. 2:2; Re.1:5).
• Re-gathered Israel will "look upon Him Whom they have pierced" (Ze.12:10-13:1).
• The "scapegoat" (Le.16:8), which was led away, pictures the bearing of Israel's sin, and taking them away.

Tabernacles
(Booths)

Ingathering
(Le.23:16; 34:22)

Sukkot

Sep/Oct

15^th of Tishri
(7^th month)

Duration
7 days

This feast lasted for 7 days where Israel rejoiced before the LORD for being delivered from Egypt. During the 7 days Israel is to dwell in booths made of palm branches and willows to remember that they lived in temporary, portable dwellings in route to the promised land. Here God protected and provided for Israel in the wilderness. This feast follows the harvest (Le.23:34, 39) which teaches us that God will gather all the "harvest" before Christ returns to establish His kingdom.

• This pictures the future millennial kingdom God promised to the nation of Israel (Ze.14:16-21).
• As God provided for Israel in the past, He will provide for them in the future.

Feast Chronology

Tom Elseroad
September 26, 1999

Feast of Passover

Pictures Christ's death and resurrection.

Feast of Unleavened Bread

Feast of First Fruits

Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) {50 days later}

Pictures the coming of the Holy Spirit

GAP of Time

Feast of Trumpets

Pictures the re-gathering of Israel

Feast of Atonement

Pictures Israel's cleansing as she sees and receives her Messiah

Feast of Tabernacles

Pictures Israel at rest in the promised kingdom.