The Bible describes several festivals that were celebrated by the ancient Israelites as part of their religious observance. These festivals were set forth by God in the Torah as times for the people to gather for worship, celebration, and remembrance of God’s mighty acts. Here is an overview of the major Jewish festivals found in the Bible:
Passover
Passover, also known as Pesach, commemorates God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. As described in Exodus 12, God sent ten plagues upon Egypt to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelite slaves go free. The tenth and worst plague was the death of the firstborn sons, but God instructed the Israelites to kill a lamb and spread its blood on their doorposts so the “angel of death” would pass over their homes. This began the Exodus from Egypt led by Moses.
Passover lasts for seven or eight days, usually in March or April. The main observances include eating matzah (unleavened bread) instead of leavened bread for the duration of the festival, holding a ritual meal called a Seder on the first night, and avoiding all leavened food and products (Exodus 12:14-20, Leviticus 23:5-8, Numbers 28:16-25, Deuteronomy 16:1-8).
Unleavened Bread
The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on the day after Passover and lasts for seven days. As mentioned, it commemorates the Exodus from Egypt when the Israelites left in haste without waiting for their bread to rise. Leavened bread and products are prohibited, only matzah is eaten. Special offerings are also made in the Temple. This festival is described in Exodus 12:14-20, Leviticus 23:6-8, Numbers 28:17-25, and Deuteronomy 16:3-4, 16:8.
Firstfruits
The Feast of Firstfruits takes place on the Sunday after Passover and is a time to offer the first portion of the barley harvest to God. It thanks God for the harvest and looks forward to the fuller harvest yet to come. This day is symbolic of God delivering Israel out of slavery just as the firstfruits are the promise of a greater harvest. It is described in Leviticus 23:9-14.
Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost)
The Feast of Weeks, also called the Feast of Harvest, occurs 50 days after Passover. This is where the Greek term “Pentecost” comes from, meaning 50 days. This was a harvest festival where the first fruits of the wheat harvest were offered to God in gratitude. It later came to commemorate God giving the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. Special offerings were given and it became customary to stay up all night studying the Torah (Exodus 23:16, Exodus 34:22, Numbers 28:26-31, Deuteronomy 16:9-12).
Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)
The Feast of Trumpets occurs on the first day of the seventh month (Tishri). Trumpets are blown to mark the beginning of the High Holy Days. It was to be a Sabbath day of rest commemorated with trumpet blasts and sacrifices (Leviticus 23:23-25, Numbers 29:1-6). It came to be known as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
The Day of Atonement falls on the 10th day of the seventh month. This was the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar, a day of fasting and repentance for sins. Special sacrifices were made and the high priest entered the Most Holy Place of the Temple to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant to atone for the people’s sins (Leviticus 16, Leviticus 23:26-32).
Booths (Sukkot)
The Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, begins on the 15th day of the seventh month and lasts for seven days. The people lived in temporary booths or huts to remember God’s deliverance and provision during the 40 years of wilderness wanderings after the Exodus. It coincides with the fall harvest and offerings of thanks are given to God. It is a joyful festival commanded in Leviticus 23:33-43 and Deuteronomy 16:13-15.
Dedication (Hanukkah)
The Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah, is not prescribed in the Law of Moses but became an important festival commemorating the re-dedication of the Temple in 164 BC after its desecration by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The legendary miracle of the oil lamp that burned for eight days is the basis for the modern celebration (John 10:22).
Purim
The festival of Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jews from extermination in Persia, as told in the book of Esther. It is celebrated with feasting, joy, sending food to one another, and giving charity to the poor (Esther 9:20-22).
In addition to specific festivals, the Sabbath day (Saturday) was to be set apart every week for rest and worship (Exodus 20:8-11). The Israelites also celebrated the beginning of each month with special burnt and sin offerings (Numbers 28:11-15).
This covers the major festivals described in the Old Testament that God instituted for the Israelites to participate in. They provided occasion for remembrance, celebration, worship, sacrifice, and looking ahead to God’s future redemption. For modern Jews, these festivals continue to play an important role in religious and cultural observance, now centered around the home and synagogue rather than the Temple. Christians see the symbolism of Christ in many of the festivals and celebrations.