* the feasts.
God appointed several festivals among the Jews. The Passover
was celebrated on the 14th, or rather 15th day of the first
month in the ecclesiastical year, which was the seventh of the
civil year, and lasted seven days. The Pentecost was
celebrated on the fiftieth day after the passover, in memory
of the law's being given to Moses on Mount Sinai, fifty days,
or seven weeks after the departure out of Egypt. The word is
derived from the Greek word [Pentekoste,] which signifies the
fiftieth. The Hebrews call it the feast of weeks, Ex 34:22.
The feast of trumpets, celebrated on the first day of the
civil year, when a trumpet was sounded, to proclaim its
commencement, which was in the month {Tisri,} answering to our
September, Le 23:24, 25. The new moons, or first days of
every month, were, in some sort, a consequence of the feast of
trumpets. God ordained that, by giving him the first-fruits
of every month they should acknowledge him as the Lord of all
their time, and own his providence, by which all times and
seasons are ordered. The feast of expiation or atonement was
kept on the 10th day of {Tisri} or September: the Hebrews call
it Kippur, i.e., pardon or expiation, because it was
instituted for the expiation of their sins. The feast of
tents or tabernacles was so called, because the Israelites
kept it under green tents or arbours, in memory of their
dwelling in their passage through the wilderness. It was
celebrated on the 15th day of {Tisri,} and continued eight
days: the first and last days are the most solemn. Besides
the feasts mentioned by Moses, we find the feast of {lots,} or
{Purim,} which was celebrated among the Jews of Shushan on the
14th of {Adar,} which answers to our February. The feast of
the dedication of the temple, or rather, of the restoration of
the temple, which had been profaned by Antiochus Epiphanes,
which is thought to be the feast mentioned in the gospel Joh
10:22, was celebrated in the winter. {Mo(8364)im,} properly means
assemblies, convened at an appointed time and place.
4,37 Ex 23:14-17 Isa 1:13,14 33:20 La 1:4 Ho 2:11 Na 1:15
Joh 5:1 Col 2:1
* proclaim
Ex 32:5 Nu 10:2,3,10 2Ki 10:20 2Ch 30:5 Ps 81:3 Joe 1:14 2:15
Jon 3:5-9
|