Exodus 23:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

These feasts serve as a reminder that Passover symbolizes the exodus from Egypt and the freedom obtained during that time; Pentecost represents the people entering the Promised Land, where, after sowing, they began to reap the initial fruits, contrasting their previous sustenance in the wilderness, which consisted of bread they had not planted or toiled for; and the Feast of Tabernacles commemorates their wandering in the desert, where they spent forty years dwelling in makeshift shelters. During this feast, God instructed that the faithful gather in the holy temple to reflect on divine blessings, fostering a spirit of unity and fellowship, and to encourage worshippers to avoid the allure of idolatrous practices, instead celebrating joyfully in the sanctuary of the Creator and Giver of all good gifts.

It is significant to note that ancient Jews regarded the month of new fruits as the inaugural month of their year, commencing from its new moon, a tradition still upheld in Judea today. Thus, they refer to the new moon of new fruits as the head or beginning of the entire year, from which they calculate time. Likewise, the year of rest and the seventh year also commenced with the new moon of new fruits, ensuring that no harvest would be forfeited during these periods (Leviticus 25:8).

After their liberation from Egypt, the start of the year was moved to the seventh month, known as Abib and ultimately Nisan (Exodus 34:18), which is recognized as the first month (Esther 3:7). This arrangement concerning festivals also ensured that the civil calendar began with this month, aligning with the ancient customs surrounding the month of new fruits.

The festivals during which the men were to assemble were as follows: First, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, corresponding to the Passover of the Lord celebrated on the full moon of Abib in commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt. The ceremonial practices related to this feast can be reviewed in Exodus chapters 12 and 13. The Feast of Unleavened Bread, lasting until the evening of the 21st of Abib, was accompanied by the offering of the first fruits to the Lord. The month of Abib signified both its name and its significance as the month of New Beginnings. Those participating in the Feast of Unleavened Bread were instructed (see Leviticus 23:15) to present a sheaf as the initial produce of the harvest, which alongside the lamb, grain offering, and wine formed the offering of the first fruits, permissible for consumption only after this sacrifice (Leviticus 23:5-15). Thus, the seven days of unleavened bread signified the conclusion of the agricultural year, allowing for the new harvest to be partaken of only subsequent to the offering of the initial fruits.

Second, following the presentation of the initial fruits, seven complete weeks were counted, culminating in the fiftieth day designated for the offering of leavened loaves baked from the flour of the fresh harvest. This interim from Passover to Pentecost likely encompassed the full harvest period, concluding before this feast, at which the men of Israel were again called to present offerings (Leviticus 23:17-18). Following the sacrifices, a sacred assembly referred to as the Adzeret was established. The precise meaning of this term is ambiguous, but it likely indicates a popular gathering intended to deliberate on societal matters and engage in essential discussions for the community. It is noteworthy that the term Pentecost emerged later in texts such as Tobit 2:1, 2 Maccabees 12:32, Acts 2:1, and 1 Corinthians 16:8. Within the Pentateuch, this feast is identified as the Feast of Harvest (as seen in verse 16 of this chapter) or the Feast of Weeks (Deuteronomy 16:10, Numbers 28:26).

Third, in the month of Tisri, on the first day of the month (the seventh from Abib, roughly coinciding with the October new moon), the people gathered for three days of holiness, concluding with a sacred assembly on the 22nd of the month. The labor was complete; the autumn season permitted the men of Israel to dedicate three weeks to the Lord and the needs of the community. A sacred assembly was held on Tisri's first day, signaled by the sounding of trumpets (Leviticus 23:24, 32). The tenth day was marked by the great Day of Atonement, during which purification rituals were performed for both the tabernacle and the people. The ceremonies detailed in Leviticus chapter 16 entailed the scapegoat, the high priest's entrance into the Holy of Holies, along with the offerings of the bull and goat, and the banishment of the goat into the wilderness. The Feast of Tabernacles commenced on the fifteenth day of Tisri, lasting seven days, during which the Israelites were to reside in temporary shelters made from branches of beautiful trees, palms, and willows, rejoicing in the presence of the Lord (Leviticus 23:39-40). The conclusion of this feast also included a "holy assembly," known as Adzeret, after which the people returned to their homes.