Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 23

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

spake. See note on Leviticus 5:14 .

Verse 2

children. Hebrew sons.

feasts of the LORD. This was their primal name; but in the day of Christ ' s rejection they had become "feasts of the Jews". John 5:1 ; John 2:13 ; John 6:4 ; John 11:55 .

proclaim. Cause to be [publicly] heard. Occurs outside the Pentateuch only in Nehemiah.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

convocation = a calling together, assembly.

Verse 3

sabbath of rest. See note on Exodus 16:23 .

Verse 4

These are the feasts: thus marking the sabbath offering as distinct.

feasts = Hebrew appointed seasons.

feasts of the LORD. This was their true character. But in our Lord ' s day they had degenerated into "feasts of the Jews" (John 2:13 ; John 5:1 ; John 6:4 ; John 11:55 ).

Verse 5

first month: called in Pentateuch "Abib" (Exodus 13:4 ; Exodus 23:15 ; Exodus 34:18 . Deuteronomy 16:1 ); and "Nisan" in later books (Nehemiah 2:1 .Esther 3:7; Esther 3:7 ) = about beginning of April.

at even: any time from sunset of one day till sunrise of the second day. Hebrew "between the evenings".

the LORD'S [Hebrew. Jehovah. s]

passover. This is the first of the Feasts; Tabernacles is the seventh. First, redemption; last, rest. Redemption is the title to rest.

Verse 6

unleavened. Note the exception in Leviticus 23:17 , and see note there.

Verse 7

servile = laborious.

Verse 8

offer = bring near. Hebrew. karab. App-43 .

offering. Hebrew. 'ishsheh. App-43 .

in. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and on (or in)".

Verse 10

When ye be come. See note on Leviticus 14:34 .

sheaf. The Antitype is Christ, the firstfruits. 1 Corinthians 15:23 .

Verse 11

wave. See note on Exodus 29:27 .

Verse 12

offer = prepare. Hebrew. 'asah. App-43 .

that day. All these offerings were without leaven. Compare Leviticus 23:17 . Leviticus 23:13 sweet savour = savour of satisfaction. See note on Genesis 8:21 .

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

Verse 14

offering. Hebrew. korban. See App-43 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

statute for ever. See Leviticus 23:21 ; Leviticus 3:17 ; Leviticus 6:18 , Leviticus 6:22 ; Leviticus 7:34 ; Leviticus 10:9 , Leviticus 10:15 ; Leviticus 24:8 , Leviticus 24:9 . Exodus 12:14 ; Exodus 29:28 ; Exodus 30:21 .Numbers 18:8 , Numbers 18:11 , Numbers 18:19 . Jeremiah 5:22 , &c.

Verse 15

seven sabbaths = seven weeks. Compare Luke 18:12 .Matthew 28:1 . Hence the name "feast of weeks" in Old Testament. Exodus 34:22 .Deuteronomy 16:10 , Deuteronomy 16:16 ; 2 Chronicles 8:13 .

Verse 16

fifty days. Hence the name Pentecost. Acts 2:1 ; Act 20:16 . 1 Corinthians 16:8 .

meat offering = meal offering. See note on Leviticus 2:1 .

Verse 17

with leaven. This great exception is made because the antitype is not Christ but human kind, and not without sin. "They that are Christ ' s", 1 Corinthians 15:23 . Compare Leviticus 23:6 and Leviticus 23:10 above.

Verse 19

sacrifice = prepare; same as "offer" in Leviticus 23:12 .

Verse 22

harvest. In the Antitype = "the end" or the remainder. 1 Corinthians 15:24 .

Verse 27

atonement. See note on Exodus 29:33 .

afflict = humble.

your souls = yourselves. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 29

soul = person. Hebrew. n ephesh. App-13 .

afflicted = humbled. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Adjunct), for the outward sign of it. App-6 .

cut off. See note on Leviticus 7:20 .

Verse 31

work. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, and "Vulgate, add "therefore".

Verse 32

celebrate your sabbath. See note on Exodus 16:23 .

Verse 34

tabernacles = booths. Hebrew. sukkoth = a lodge in a garden. Isaiah 1:8 , "cottage".

Verse 35

servile = laborious.

Verse 36

on. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and on".

Verse 37

These are the feasts of the LORD: viz. the above-mentioned festivals. See Structure (Leviticus 23:1 , p. 165).

Verse 38

sabbaths. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Adjunct), App-6 , for the sacrifices offered on the sabbath. See note on Leviticus 25:6 .

Verse 39

feast = festival.

Verse 40

before the LORD. Hebrew before the face of Jehovah ( App-4 ). Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 . = in the presence of.

Verse 41

in = throughout.

Verse 42

in booths. In Hebrew, the verse begins and ends with these words, for emphasis, by the Figure of speech Epanadiplosis. App-6 .

Verse 44

declared: according to verse Leviticus 23:2 .

feasts = appointed seasons.