The Feast of First Fruits/Weeks/Pentecost

Passover came in the "first month". The first month, (by Hebrew reckoning of the religious year), is the moon that sees the barley ripen or become "Abib". And so we have the month of Abib, based on an agricultural reckoning of the month.

Leveticus {23:10} Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

Leviticus {6:9} Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This [is] the law of the burnt offering: It [is] the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.

Romans {6:6} Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him,] that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

1 Corinthians {15:20} But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. {15:21} For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. {15:22} For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. {15:23} But everyman in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

{2:1} And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. {2:2} And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. {2:3} And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. {2:4} And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

End Class 3

THE LUNAR CALENDAR AND THE DETERMINING THE MOON OF PASSOVER. AGRICULTURAL CONFIRMATION OF THE MONTH OF ABIB FOR PASSOVER. AND ASTRONOMICAL RECKONING OF THE MONTH OF NISAN. ABIB AND NISAN ARE THE SAME MONTH, THE FIRST MONTH OF THE RELIGIOUS YEAR.

The name "Pesach" (PAY-sahch, with a "ch" as in the Scottish "loch") comes from the Hebrew root Pei-Samekh-Cheit, meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. rootPei-Samekh-CheitG-d

Chametz includes anything made from the five major grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt) that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water.

The process of cleaning the home of all chametz in preparation for Pesach is an enormous task. To do it right, you must prepare for several weeks and spend several days scrubbing everything down, going over the edges of your stove and fridge with a toothpick and a Q-Tip, covering all surfaces that come in contact with food with foil or shelf-liner, etc., etc., etc. After the cleaning is completed, the morning before the seder, a formal search of the house for chametz is undertaken, and any remaining chametz is burned.

The day before Pesach is the Fast of the Firstborn, a minor fast for all firstborn males, commemorating the fact that the firstborn Jewish males in Egypt were not killed during the final plague. Firstbornminor fast

On the first night of Pesach (first two nights for traditional Jews outside Israel), we have a special family meal filled with ritual to remind us of the significance of the holiday. This meal is called a seder, from a Hebrew root word meaning "order," because there is a specific set of information that must be discussed in a specific order. It is the same root from which we derive the word "siddur", (prayer book).two nightsIsraelroot

Pesach lasts for seven days (eight days outside of Israel). The first and last days of the holiday (first two and last two outside of Israel) are days on which no work is permitted. See Extra Day of Holidays for more information. Work is permitted on the intermediate days. These intermediate days on which work is permitted are referred to as Chol Ha-Mo'ed, as are the intermediate days of Sukkot.workExtra Day of HolidaysSukkot

Occasionally, Pesach begins on a motzaei Shabbat, that is, on Saturday night after the sabbath has concluded. This occurs in 5768 (2008). This complicates the process of preparing for Pesach, because many of the preparations normally undertaken on the day before Pesach cannot be performed on Shabbat. Shabbat

The text of the Pesach seder is written in a book called the haggadah. The haggadah tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt and explains some of the practices and symbols of the holiday.

Hebrew rhyme: Kaddesh, Urechatz, – Karpas, Yachatz, Maggid, Rachtzah, – Motzi, Matzah, Maror, Korekh, – Shulchan Orekh, Tzafun, Barekh, – Hallel, Nirtzah

There are a wide variety of Haggadahs available for every political and religious point of view: traditional haggadahs, liberal haggadahs, mystical haggadahs, feminist haggadahs, and others. I have even seen what might be described as an atheist haggadah: one that does not mention the role of G-d in the Exodus.G-d

Note: Pronunciations are intended to reflect the way these terms are most commonly pronounced by Jews in the United States, and may not be strictly technically correct. Term Meaning Pronunciation Pesach Passover PAY-sahkh or PEH-sahkh Matzah Unleavened bread MAHTZ-uh Chametz Leavened things KHUH-mitz Seder Home ritual performed on the first two nights of Pesach SAY-d'r Haggadah The book read during the seder huh-GAH-duh

Pesach will occur on the following days of the Gregorian calendar: Jewish Year 5770: sunset March 29, nightfall April 6, 2010 Jewish Year 5771: sunset April 18, nightfall April 26, 2011 Jewish Year 5772: sunset April 6, nightfall April 14, 2012 Jewish Year 5773: sunset March 25, nightfall April 2, 2013 Jewish Year 5774: sunset April 14, nightfall April 22, 2014

The 1st day of the first month (Abib/Nisan) was the first day of the Jewish religious year. It would begin at the new moon of our March / April and coincides with the latter rains (Joel 2:23). Each month began with a new moon. (Num 10:10, 28:11, 1 Sam 20:5, Psa 81:3, Isa 66:23, Ezek 46:3, Amos 8:5, Col. 2:16.) The 1st day of Tishri, in the Fall, customarily begins the new civil year.

1. The seventh day (Saturday) Sabbath - (Shabbat) Lev 23:3, Num 28:9-10, Exo 20,8-11, Deut 5:12-15 A convocation day. No servile work done. This is the only feast day mentioned that occurs more than once a year. Because it occurs on a weekly basis, it is separate and distinct from the yearly religious calendar (Lev. 23:37-38), the feasts of which all are a shadow or type of some event that would be their fulfillment, or antitype. The seventh day sabbath is a memorial to creation and the creator, established at creation. It was not a day that originated with the Jews, it preceded them, although it was celebrated as a feast day. When one of the feast days fell on the seventh day Sabbath, it was referred to as a high Sabbath day (John 19:31). In addition to the observance of the new moon, which begins a month, the following Sabbaths and festival days are found in the Bible.

2. Passover (Erev Pesah or Ta'anit Bechorim) The 14th day of the 1st month (Abib / Nisan) Exo 12, Exo 13:6-8, Lev 23:5, Deut 16:3-8, Num 28:16 Note: this was not a convocation day (no public gatherings) In addition to the observance of the new moon, which begins a month, the following Sabbaths and festival days are found in the Bible.

3. Feast of Unleavened Bread (Pesah) - a week long observance. First day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread - 15th day of the 1st month (Abib/Nisan) Lev 23:7, Num 28:17, A convocation / Sabbath day. First born dedicated to the Lord's service. Travel to the Sanctuary in Jerusalem required of all men (Exo 23:14,17, Exo 34:22, Deut 16:16).

In addition to the observance of the new moon, which begins a month, the following Sabbaths and festival days are found in the Bible. The Day of First Fruits (The Omer) The 16th day of the 1st month (Abib / Nisan) Exo 34:25-26, Lev 23:10-14, - Late Passover Num 9:10-11 Not a convocation day. No restriction on servile work. Barley harvest - Firstfruits presented to the Lord (Lev 23:10-11)

In Jewish Tradition, the period called the Omer begins on 16 Nisan and extends for the count of 50 days to Pentecost or Shavuot Manna ceased to fall on this day (Josh 5:12)

7th and last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Yom Tov) The 21st day of 1st month (Abib / Nisan) Exo 12:18, 13:6, Lev 23:8, Num 28:25 A convocation / Sabbath day. No servile work. Traditional celebration of the crossing of the Red Sea.

4. Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot) Exo 34:22, Lev 23:15-21, Acts 2:1, Acts 20:16, 1 Cor 16:8 Occurs 50 days after the day of first fruits / barley sheaf waving (16 Nisan), on or about the 6th day of the third month (Sivan). A convocation / Sabbath day. No servile work done. Travel to the Sanctuary in Jerusalem required of all men (Exo 23:14,17, Exo 34:22, Deut 16:16). Wheat harvest - Firstfruits presented to the Lord (Lev 23:17, 20)

Also called Feast of Weeks (Ex 34:22), the day of First Fruits (Exo 23:16, Num 28:26) Feast of the Harvest (Ex 23:16) and in the New Testament - Pentecost (Acts 2:1) A festival that celebrated the first fruits of the wheat harvest with the offering of two wave loaves of leavened bread (Lev 23:17, 20).

5. Trumpets (Rosh Ha-shanah) The 1st day of the 7th month (Ethanim / Tishri) Lev 23:24, Num 29:1 A convocation / Sabbath day. Not called a feast day. No servile work done. The first day of the Jewish civil year.

6. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) The 10th day of the 7th month (Ethanim / Tishri) Lev 23:27, Num 29:7, Lev 16 A convocation / Sabbath day. No servile work done. Not called a feast day, but a day to "afflict your soul" which involved fasting that day (Joel 1:14-15, Acts 27:9).

7. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) - An eight day feast of ingathering. The first day was the 15th day of the 7th month (Ethanim / Tishri) Exo 34:22, Lev 23:34-36, 39-43, Num 29:12 A convocation / Sabbath day. No servile work done. Travel to the Sanctuary in Jerusalem required of all men (Exo 23:14,17, Exo 34:22, Deut 16:16). Fruit Harvest - Firstfruits presented to the Lord (Exo 23:19)

The 7th day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Festival of Willows (Hoshana Rabbah) 21st day of the seventh month. Considered by Jewish custom to be the final day of judgment. A ritual of beating willow branches on the ground is practiced, which is thought to symbolize the casting away of sin.

The 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Shemini Atzeret) 22nd day of the seventh month. Lev 23:36,39, Num 29:35 A convocation / Sabbath day. No servile work done. The final day of Tabernacles was also a Sabbath, a day of solemn assembly. At this time of year the former or early rains fell (late October / November), when the fields were plowed and sown.

Biblical Leap Years The Biblical year begins with the first New Moon after the barley in Israel reaches the stage in its ripeness called Abib. The period between one year and the next is either 12 or 13 lunar months. Because of this, it is important to check the state of the Barley crops at the end of the 12th month. If the barley is Abib at this time, then the following New Moon is Hodesh Ha-Aviv ("New Moon of the Abib"). If the barley is still immature, we must wait another month and then check the barley again at the end of the 13th month.