23:1-3
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Le 23:1-27:34
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
God’s holy days
(Le 23:1-3)
There were three main feasts, or festivals, of the Israelite religious year: Passover-Unleavened Bread and Pentecost-Harvest Firstfruits at the beginning of the year, and Tabernacles-Ingathering half way through the year.
On these three occasions all the men of Israel were to assemble at the central place of worship (Exod 23:14-17).
People participated in these feasts with a mixture of solemnity and joy. They were humbled before God, yet thankful to him for his merciful salvation and never-failing provision (Le 23:1-2).
Before God gave his people the details of these festivals, he reminded them that the most basic of all their special religious days was the weekly Sabbath of holy rest.
In the excitement of the annual festivals, the people were not to forget their regular weekly obligations (Le 23:3).