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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 23:1-3

Here is, I. A general account of the holy times which God appointed (Lev. 23:2), and it is only his appointment that can make time holy; for he is the Lord of time, and as soon as ever he had set its wheels a-going it was he that sanctified and blessed one day above the rest, Gen. 2:3. Man may by his appointment make a good day (Est. 9:19), but it is God's prerogative to make a holy day; nor is any thing sanctified but by the stamp of his institution. As all inherent holiness comes from his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 23:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... Much about the same time as before; and having delivered to him various laws concerning the holiness of the people of Israel, who were to serve him, and of the holiness of the priests, that were to minister in holy things to him, and of the purity and perfections of their sacrifices, he here appoints various times and seasons, for the more special worship and service of him: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 23:2

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them ,.... Speak to them to gather together, and then say unto them what follows, they all being obliged to keep the feasts, and observe the solemnities hereafter directed to; though it may be the heads of the tribes and the elders of the people were summoned together, and the following things were delivered to them, and by them to the people: concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 23:3

Six days shall work be done ,.... Or may be done by men, any sort of lawful work and honest labour, for the sustenance of themselves and families: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest ; from all bodily labour and work of any kind; typical of rest by Christ and in him: an holy convocation ; when the people were called to holy exercises, to pray and praise, and hear the word, and offer sacrifice: ye shall do no work therein ; not any at all, see Exodus 31:15 , it is... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 23:3

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 23:1-3

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 23:1-3

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 23:1-5

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 23:1-44

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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