Leviticus 23-26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 23

Hitherto the levitical law had been chiefly conversant about holy persons, holy things, and holy places; in this chapter we have the institution of holy times, many of which had been mentioned occasionally before, but here they are all put together, only the new moons are not mentioned. All the rest of the feasts of the Lord are, I. The weekly feast of the sabbath, Lev. 23:3. II. The yearly feasts, 1. The passover, and the feast of unleavened bread (Lev. 23:4-8), to which was annexed the... read more

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

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 23:15-22

Here is the institution of the feast of pentecost, or weeks, as it is called (Deut. 16:9), because it was observed fifty days, or seven weeks, after the passover. It is also called the feast of harvest, Exod. 23:16. For as the presenting of the sheaf of first-fruits was an introduction to the harvest, and gave them liberty to put in the sickle, so they solemnized the finishing of their corn-harvest at this feast. 1. Then they offered a handful of ears of barley, now they offered two loaves of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 23:23-32

Here is, I. The institution of the feast of trumpets, on the first day of the seventh month, Lev. 23:24, 25. That which was now the seventh month had been reckoned the first month, and the year of jubilee was still to begin with this month (Lev. 25:8), so that this was their new year's day. It was to be as their other yearly sabbaths, a day of holy rest?You shall do no servile work therein; and a day of holy work?You shall offer an offering to the Lord; concerning these particular directions... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 23:33-34

We have here, I. The institution of the feast of tabernacles, which was one of the three great feasts at which all the males were bound to attend, and celebrated with more expressions of joy than any of them. 1. As to the directions for regulating this feast, observe, (1.) It was to be observed on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Lev. 23:34), but five days after the day of atonement. We may suppose, though they were not all bound to attend on the day of atonement, as on the three great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 23

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 23 In this chapter an account is given of the several holy days, times, and seasons, appointed by God, under the general names of feasts and holy convocations; and first of the sabbath, Leviticus 23:1 ; then of the passover and feast of unleavened bread, Leviticus 23:5 ; to which is annexed the sheaf of the firstfruits, Leviticus 23:9 ; after that of the feast of weeks or pentecost, Leviticus 23:15 ; and of the feast of trumpets, Leviticus 23:23 ; and of... 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

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