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Question

How does God distinguish the seventh-day Sabbath from the ceremonial sabbaths when they are first introduced? Investigate Leviticus 23 where both appear: the weekly Sabbath stated first (v.3) as a distinct category, then the seven annual feasts (v.4-36), and v.37-38 explicitly separating them: "These are the feasts of the LORD... BESIDE the sabbaths of the LORD." Examine Hebrew vocabulary: shabbath vs shabbathon, moed vs shabbath, "sabbaths of the LORD" vs "feast sabbaths." Study Leviticus 23 structure. Investigate Leviticus 25 land sabbaths. Also Numbers 28-29 where offerings are listed separately. Examine Genesis 1:14. Does the Bible itself distinguish the weekly Sabbath from the annual ceremonial sabbaths?

Topics

SABBATH

  • Signifying a period of rest GEN 2:2,3; LEV 23; 25; 26:34,35
  • Preparations for the EXO 16:22; MAT 27:62; MRK 15:42; LUK 23:54; JHN 19:31
  • Religious usages on the GEN 2:3; MRK 6:2; LUK 4:16,31; 6:6; 13:10; ACT 13:14
  • Sacrifices on the NUM 28:9,10; EZK 46:4,5
  • UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO GEN 2:2,3; EXO 16:5,23-30; 20:8-11; 23:12; 31:13-17; 34:21; 35:2,3; LEV 16:29-31; 19:3,30; 23:1-3,27-32; 24:8; 26:2,34,35; NUM 15:32-36; 28:9,10; DEU 5:12-15; 2KI 4:23; 1CH 9:32; 2CH 36:21; NEH 9:13,14; 10:31; 13:15-22; PSA 92:1-15; 118:24; ISA 1:13; 56:2,4-7; 58:13,14; 66:23; JER 17:21,22,24-27; LAM 1:7; 2:6; EZK 20:12,13,16,20,21,24; 22:8; 23:38; 44:24; 46:1,3; HOS 2:11; AMO 8:5; MAT 12:1-8,10-12; 24:20; MRK 2:27,28; 6:2; 16:1; LUK 4:16,31; 6:1-10; 13:10-17; 14:1-6; 23:54,56; JHN 5:5-14; 7:21-24; 9:1-34; 19:31; ACT 13:14,27,42,44; 15:21; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4; COL 2:16; HEB 4:4,9
  • OBSERVANCE OF
  • By Moses NUM 15:32-34
  • By Nehemiah NEH 13:15,21
  • By the women preparing to embalm the corpse of Jesus LUK 23:56
  • By Paul ACT 13:14
  • By the disciples ACT 16:13
  • By John REV 1:10
  • VIOLATIONS OF
  • INSTANCES OF
  • Gathering manna EXO 16:27
  • Gathering sticks NUM 15:32
  • Men of Tyre NEH 13:16
  • The inhabitants of Jerusalem JER 17:21-23

FEASTS

  • Ancient customs at
  • Men alone present at GEN 40:20; 43:32,34; 1SA 9:22; EST 1:8,9; MRK 6:21; LUK 14:24
  • Men and women attend EXO 32:6; with 32:2,3; DAN 5:1-3
  • Riddles propounded at JDG 14:12
  • Marriage feasts provided by the bridegroom JDG 14:10,17
  • Guests arranged according to age GEN 43:33
  • Rank 1SA 9:22; LUK 14:8-10
  • Reclined on couches AMO 6:4,7; LUK 7:38; JHN 13:25
  • Served in one dish MAT 26:23
  • Were presided over by a master of ceremonies JHN 2:8,9
  • Host served GEN 18:8
  • Wine served at EST 5:6; 7:7
  • Music at ISA 5:12; AMO 6:4,5; LUK 15:25
  • Dancing at MAT 14:6; LUK 15:25
  • Given by kings 1SA 20:5; 25:36; 2SA 9:10; 1KI 2:7; 4:22; 18:19; EST 1:3-8; DAN 5:1-4
  • Drunkenness at 1SA 25:36; EST 1:10; DAN 5:1-4
  • Covenants ratified by GEN 26:28-30
  • Celebrations by: Birthdays GEN 40:20; MRK 6:21; Coronations 1KI 1:25; 1CH 12:38-40; National deliverances EST 8:17; 9:17-19
  • FIGURATIVE MAT 22:1-14; LUK 14:16-24; REV 19:9,17
  • ANNUAL FESTIVALS
  • (Instituted by Moses)
  • Designated as SOLEMN FEASTS NUM 15:3; 2CH 8:13; LAM 2:6; EZK 46:9
  • SET FEASTS NUM 29:39; EZR 3:5
  • APPOINTED FEASTS ISA 1:14
  • HOLY CONVOCATIONS LEV 23:4
  • First and last days were SABBATIC LEV 23:39,40; NUM 28:18-25; 29:12,35; NEH 8:1-18
  • Kept with rejoicing LEV 23:40; DEU 16:11-14; 2CH 30:21-26; EZR 6:22; NEH 8:9-12,17; PSA 42:4; 122:4; ISA 30:29; ZEC 8:19
  • Divine protection given during EXO 34:24
  • The three principal were: PASSOVER, PENTECOST, TABERNACLES
  • All males were required to attend EXO 23:17; 34:23; DEU 16:16; PSA 42:4; 122:4; EZK 36:38; LUK 2:44; JHN 4:45; 7
  • Aliens (non-Jews) were permitted to attend JHN 12:20; ACT 2:1-11
  • Attended by women 1SA 1:3,9; LUK 2:41
  • Observed: By Jesus MAT 26:17-20; LUK 2:41,42; 22:15; JHN 2:13,23; 5:1; 7:10; 10:22; By Paul ACT 18:21; 19:21; 20:6,16; 24:11,17
  • For full treatment of annual feasts: See PASSOVER, PENTECOST, PURIM, TABERNACLES, TRUMPETS

TABERNACLES, FEAST OF

  • Also called FEAST OF INGATHERING
  • Instituted EXO 23:16; 34:22; LEV 23:34-43
  • Design of LEV 23:42,43
  • The law read in connection with, every seventh year DEU 31:10-12; NEH 8:18
  • Observance of, after the captivity EZR 3:4; NEH 8:14-18
  • By Jesus JHN 7:2,14
  • Observance of, omitted NEH 8:17
  • Penalty for not observing ZEC 14:16-19
  • Jeroboam institutes an idolatrous feast to correspond to, in the eighth month 1KI 12:32,33; 1CH 27:11

PASSOVER

  • Institution of EXO 12:3-49; 23:15-18; 34:18; LEV 23:4-8; NUM 9:2-5,13,14; 28:16-25; DEU 16:1-8,16; PSA 81:3,5
  • Design of EXO 12:21-28
  • Special Passover, for those who were unclean, or on a journey, to be held in the second month NUM 9:6-12; 2CH 30:2-4
  • The lamb killed by Levites, for those who were ceremonially unclean 2CH 30:17; 35:3-11; EZR 6:20
  • Strangers authorized to celebrate EXO 12:48,49; NUM 9:14
  • Observed at the place designated by God DEU 16:5-7
  • Observed with unleavened bread EXO 12:8,15-20; 13:3,6; 23:15; LEV 23:6; NUM 9:11; 28:17; DEU 16:3,4; MRK 14:12; LUK 22:7; ACT 12:3; 1CO 5:8
  • Penalty for neglecting to observe NUM 9:13
  • Re-instituted by Ezekiel EZK 45:21-24
  • Observation of, renewed: By the Israelites upon entering Canaan JOS 5:10,11; By Hezekiah 2CH 30:1; By Josiah 2KI 23:22,23; 2CH 35:1,18; After the return from Babylonian captivity EZR 6:19,20
  • Observed by Jesus MAT 26:17-20; LUK 22:15; JHN 2:13,23; 13
  • Jesus crucified at the time of MAT 26:2; MRK 14:1,2; JHN 18:28
  • The lamb of, a type of Christ 1CO 5:7
  • Christ called "our Passover," 1CO 5:7
  • See FEASTS

PENTECOST

  • Called: FEAST OF WEEKS EXO 34:22; DEU 16:10; FEAST OF HARVEST EXO 23:16; DAY OF FIRST FRUITS NUM 28:26; DAY OF PENTECOST ACT 2:1; 20:16; 1CO 16:8
  • Institution of EXO 23:16; 34:22; LEV 23:15-21; NUM 28:26-31; DEU 16:9-12,16
  • Holy Spirit given to the apostles on the first day of ACT 2
  • See FEASTS

SABBATIC YEAR

  • (A rest that reoccurs every seventh year)
  • Called YEAR OF RELEASE DEU 15:9; 31:10
  • Ordinances concerning EXO 23:9-11; LEV 25
  • Israelite bondservants set free in EXO 21:2; DEU 15:12; JER 34:14
  • Creditors required to release debtors in DEU 15:1-6,12-18; NEH 10:31
  • Ordinances concerning instruction in the law during DEU 31:10-13; NEH 8:18
  • Punishment to follow violation of the ordinances concerning LEV 26:34,35; with 26:32-41; JER 34:12-22
  • See JUBILEE

JUBILEE

  • Called THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD ISA 61:2
  • Called THE YEAR OF LIBERTY EZK 46:17
  • LAWS CONCERNING LEV 25:8-55; 27:17-24; NUM 36:4

HOLIDAY

  • (For rest)
  • See SABBATH
  • One year in seven LEV 25:2-7
  • See JUBILEE

DAILY OFFERING

  • Sacrificial EXO 29:38-42; 30:7-9; NUM 28:3-8; EZR 3:4-6; EZK 46:13-15; DAN 9:21,26,27; 11:31; ACT 3:1
  • See OFFERINGS
  • FIGURATIVE JHN 1:29,36; 1PE 1:19

FESTIVALS

  • See FEASTS

Nave's "DAY" entry notes:

  • "Sabbath day's journey, about two-thousand paces ACT 1:12"
  • "The seventh of the week ordained as a day of rest -- See SABBATH"
  • "The first day of the week called the Lord's day REV 1:10"

Nave's "TOKEN" entry notes:

  • "The Sabbath day EXO 31:13,17" -- The Sabbath is listed as a sign/token

Nave's "SEVEN" entry notes:

  • "Week consists of GEN 2:3; EXO 20:11; DEU 5:13,14"
  • "Holy convocations in the seventh month LEV 23:24-44; NUM 29; EZK 45:25"
  • "Seven times, the period between the jubilees LEV 25:8"

Nave's "ETHANIM" entry (the seventh month):

  • Feast of Trumpets in LEV 23:23-25
  • Day of Atonement, on the tenth day of LEV 23:26-32
  • Feast of Tabernacles in LEV 23:33-43
  • Jubilee proclaimed on the tenth day of LEV 25:9