A Sojourner's Quest

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as the pilgrimage festivals; and on all of them special sacrifices were offered, varying according to the character of the festival (Num. 28, 29).

3. The Feast of Pentecost. Other names for this are the Feast of Weeks, the Day of the Firstfruits, and the Feast of Harvests. It was celebrated on the sixth day of the month of Sivan (our June), seven weeks after the offering of the wave sheaf after the Passover. The name “Pentecost,” meaning “50th,” originated from the fact that there was an interval of 50 days between the two. The feast lasted a single day (Deut. 16:9-12), and marked the completion of the wheat harvest. The characteristic ritual of this feast was the offering and waving of two loaves of leavened bread, made from the ripe grain which had just been harvested. This was done by the priest in the name of the congregation. In addition to these wave offerings, the people were enjoined to give the Lord an offering of the first fruits of their produce. The amount of the offering was not designated. 4. The Feast of Trumpets, or New Moon. This was held on the first day of the seventh month, Tishri (our October), which began the civil year of the Jews. It corresponded to our New Year’s day, and on it, from morning to evening, horns and trumpets were blown. After the exile the day was observed by the public reading of the Law and by general rejoicing. 5. The Feast of the Day of Atonement. This was observed on the 10th day of Tishri. It was really less a feast than a fast, as the distinctive character and purpose of the day was to bring the collective sin of the whole year to remembrance, so that it might earnestly be dealt with and atoned for. On this day the high priest made confession of all the sins of the community, and entered on their behalf into the most holy place with the blood of reconciliation. It was a solemn occasion, when God’s people through godly sorrow and atonement for sin entered into the rest of God’s mercy and favor, so that as the partakers of His forgiveness they might rejoice before Him and carry out His commandments. 6. The Feast of Tabernacles, or Booths, or Ingathering. This was the last of the sacred festivals under the old covenant, in pre-exilic times. It began five days after the day of atonement (Lev. 23:34; Deut. 16:13),