The seventh day is the Sabbath - This, because the first and greatest solemnity, is first mentioned. He who kept not this, in the most religious manner, was not capable of keeping any of the others. The religious observance of the Sabbath stands at the very threshold of all religion. See Clarke's note on Genesis 2:3 . read more
The Lord's passover - See this largely explained in the notes on Exodus 12:21-27 ; (note). read more
Verse 4 4.These are the feasts of the Lord. The other festivals which Moses here enumerates have an affinity to the Sabbath. In the first place the Passover is put, the mystery of which I have annexed, not without reason, to the First Commandment, for its institution was there explained, inasmuch as it acted as a restraint on the people from falling away to strange gods. In that rite they were initiated to the service of God, that they might abandon all the superstitions of the Gentiles, and... read more
The offering of rest: the sabbath. cf. Genesis 2:2 , Genesis 2:3 ; Exodus 16:22 ; Exodus 20:8-11 ; Mark 2:23-28 ; Revelation 1:10 . In the sacrificial worship we come across what is essentially different as an offering from the sacrifice of an animal or of any palpable possession, and yet is a real sacrifice all the while—we mean that of time. The sabbath, as an offering of rest, has consequently a very high place among the Jews. As Ewald has remarked, it is the only... read more
The sabbath. This is here classed amongst the "feasts of the Lord." The greater number of these were first observed after the settlement of the Israelites in Canaan; but the Passover was an exception, which was held at the time of the Exodus, forty years earlier. The sabbath also was an exception. We have to consider— I. THE OBLIGATION OF THE SABBATH . 1 . It is not altogether a Mosaic institution. 2 . It was incorporated in the Sinai code. 3 . The Levitical... read more
PART IV . HOLY DAYS AND SEASONS : WEEKLY , MONTHLY , ANNUAL , SEPTENNIAL , AND EVERY HALF - CENTURY . Every religion must have its round of holy days and seasons: 1 . To give occasion for manifesting joyous thankfulness to the Giver of all good things. 2 . To keep alive the memory of past events around which religious associations cling. 3 . To impress upon the hearts of the worshippers those sacred mysteries which are regarded as essential... read more
The festivals. Leviticus 23:1-3 , the sabbath. The three features of it are: the convocation; the rest from all work; the sabbath of the Lord in their dwellings. I. THE PUBLIC WORSHIP of God is the main reason for the sabbath. "Holy convocation.'' Necessity that one day should be appointed. Importance of preserving that day of worship from distraction and disturbance. Influence of public worship on the general interests of religion, and therefore on the individual,... read more
Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations , even these are my feasts . The translation should rather be, The appointed times which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are my appointed times. The appointed times ( mo'adin ) include the great fast as well as the festivals, and the weekly and monthly as well as the annual holy days. The primary purpose with which the following enumeration of holy days is introduced, is to give a... read more
The seventh day is the sabbath of rest. This is a very strong expression, literally, the sabbath of sabbatism, which doubles the force of the single word. Ye shall do no work therein. The sabbath and the Day of Atonement were the only days in which no work might be done, whereas on the other festivals it was only no servile work that might be done. It is not to be observed solely where the tabernacle is pitched or the temple is built, but in every town and village of Canaan— in all your... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 23:2
These are my feasts - The original word מועד moad is properly applied to any solemn anniversary, by which great and important ecclesiastical, political, or providential facts were recorded; see Clarke on Genesis 1:14 ; (note). Anniversaries of this kind were observed in all nations; and some of them, in consequence of scrupulously regular observation, became chronological epochs of the greatest importance in history: the Olympiads, for example. read more