Shavuot
The festival of Shavuot is an appointed time and in the Bible it is recorded as the Lord’s appointed time in Leviticus 23, God instructing Moses He tells him, “these are my appointed times, the times of the LORD that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies” ~ Leviticus 23:2.
In Jewish life these are celebrated as Sabbaths in fulfillment of what God requested Moses and the children of Israel to do as a chosen people. Today, 26th May 2023 is a sabbath for Israel and the Jewish people. The amplified Bible version calls these festivals appointed seasons of the LORD or set feasts; Shavuot is known as the Feast of Weeks. This is based on the instruction given that they are to count seven weeks from Passover in fulfilment of the feast. This is a significant day for many reasons and I will discuss them below.
In the history of the agricultural way of life for the children of Israel this day is known to mark the end of the barley harvest which commenced at Passover. It also marks the beginning of the wheat harvest which then explains the Bible command regarding the day that they are to bring an offering of new grain to the LORD. Through the years rabbinic study and leadership has held that this was the moment when the children of Israel received the Torah through Moses on Mount Sinai in 1313 B.C meaning that this was seven weeks after the Passover. It is therefore not strange to have most pictorial representations of the feast including the Torah. Thirdly it is widely believed that this was the day that David the great king of Israel died in 837 B.C on 6th of Sivan.
The Hebrew date of Shavuot is highly dependent on Passover Hebrew date since we count 7 weeks from then, it will mostly fall into the Hebrew month of Sivan, the third month of the sacred calendar which follows the month of Iyar. In the new testament it is widely believed and accepted that this is the day that the Holy Spirit descended as a mighty rushing wind for the infilling of believers thus giving birth to Pentecost.
We wish you a festive and reflective time as you engage in this most significant appointed time of our LORD.
Chag Shavuot Sameach.
Photo Courtesy (Temple Israel)
Njeri. E. Yvonne.
