These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations ,.... What follow besides the sabbath mentioned: which ye shall proclaim in their seasons ; the proper times of the year, the day or days, and month in which they are to be observed; these were to be proclaimed by the priests with the sound of trumpet, namely, what follow, for they are put together, which had been before for the most part singly delivered. read more
In the fourteenth day of the first month ,.... The month Nisan, the same with Abib, the month in which the children of Israel came out of Egypt, for which reason it was made the first month in the year, answering to part of our March and part of April; and for the same reason was the passover kept at this time, as follows: at even is the Lord's passover ; that is, that was the time for the keeping the passover, even "between the two evenings", as it may be rendered; from the sixth... read more
And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord ,.... Which was the day the children of Israel went out of Egypt with their dough and leaven, having not time to leaven it; in remembrance of which this feast was appointed: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread ; see Exodus 12:15 . read more
In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation ,.... That is, on the first of the seven days of the feast of unleavened bread, even the fifteenth day of the month Nisan; this was separated from the other days of the festival, and more particularly devoted to religions exercises, see Exodus 12:16 , ye shall do no servile work therein ; such as agriculture, or any manufacture or mechanical business, which they and their servants were at other times employed in; but they might bake... read more
But ye shall offer an offering made by, fire unto the Lord seven days ,.... A burnt offering was to be offered unto the Lord on everyone of the seven days, which were two young bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs; besides a meat offering, and a goat for a sin offering, Numbers 28:19 , in the seventh day is an holy convocation, ye shall do no servile work therein ; as on the first day, that was on account of the Israelites going out of Egypt; and this is said, on account of Pharaoh... 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
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
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 23:4-14
Here again the feasts are called the feasts of the Lord, because he appointed them. Jeroboam's feast, which he devised of his own heart (1 Kgs. 12:33), was an affront to God, and a reproach upon the people. These feasts were to be proclaimed in their seasons (Lev. 23:4), and the seasons God chose for them were in March, May and September (according to our present computation), not in winter, because travelling would then be uncomfortable, when the days were short, and the ways foul; not in the... read more