THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
What is the significance of the statement, ‘Ye shall not eat new ears before ye bring gifts unto your God’ (Lev. 23:14)? In Palestine, due to the hotter climate, produce ripens earlier; thus, it is commanded that no one should boil, roast, or consume new ears until the sheaf of them is presented to God. This offering is to occur on the day of Passover, and from that moment, seven weeks are to be counted, leading to the celebration of Pentecost. As instructed, ‘Count yourselves from the day of the Sabbath, from the day on which you bring the sheaves of separation, seven whole weeks’ (Leviticus 23:15). The feast of Pentecost serves as a reminder of the entry into the Promised Land. At this point, they began to sow and reap, whereas in the wilderness, they relied on manna from heaven.
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After teaching the manner of observing the Passover and Pentecost, the law outlines observances for the seventh month and commands the celebration of the Feast of Trumpets in the new month (Leviticus 23:24), which recalls the sound of trumpets at Mount Sinai when God gave the law to humanity. It is recorded, ‘The voice of the trumpet sounded greatly’ (Ex. 19:16).
On the tenth day of the seventh month, God mandates a fast, referring to this day as one of purification. He instructs, ‘Humble your souls, from the ninth day of the month from evening, even unto the tenth day of the month, even unto evening, sabbath your sabbaths’ (Lev. 23:32). ‘And every soul that shall not obey in that day, that soul shall be destroyed from among his people’ (Lev. 23:29). Contrarily, the Jews, seemingly defying the law, do not mourn on this day; instead, they engage in frivolity and indulgence, speaking of and doing inappropriate things.
On the fifteenth day, God commands the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34), not just until the seventh day as in other feasts, but extending it to include an eighth day as well. He declares, ‘And the day which is called holy shall be called holy unto you, and ye shall offer burnt offerings unto the Lord: the first day is, ye shall not do any work’ (Lev. 23:36). The term initial signifies the conclusion of the feasts. This Feast of Tabernacles recalls the Israelites' time in the wilderness, as the Lawgiver proclaimed, ‘As in the tabernacles I have gathered the children of Israel, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt’ (Lev. 23:43). Consequently, He commanded that homes be decorated with tree branches, including ‘agnovae’ (Lev. 23:40), symbolizing purity and the suppression of lust. This plant is believed to extinguish the desire for indulgence, both when consumed and when used in decoration. However, God did not establish these branches for medicinal use; rather, their very name serves to encourage mindfulness of purity.