Tracking Time in Israel

Lesson 2

Tracking Time in Israel is a special lesson that provides essential background information about the calendaring system of ancient Israel. This information sheds light on the Jewish holy days and on many other parts of the Bible!

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Lesson 2 - Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn’t Leviticus 23 mention the 10th day of the first month as a key date for Passover?

Passover is always on the 14th day of the first month, per Leviticus 23:5. When we follow the history of Passover in the 12th chapter of Exodus, Moses makes a very strong and clear connection to the 10th day (Exodus 12:3), as the day the people were to bring in a lamb that would become their Passover sacrifice on the 14th day. Even though the 10th day is not mentioned in Leviticus 23, there is an inseparable connection between the 10th day and 14th day as key events for Passover. To be clear, the 10th day of the month is not one of the Appointed Times that are listed in the 23rd chapter of Leviticus.

What is leaven?

Leaven is another name for yeast. It is the agent that causes bread to rise. Bread that is baked without leaven is sometimes called flat bread.

What is the significance of unleavened bread?

According to Moses’ comment in Deuteronomy 16:3, unleavened bread is the bread of affliction. It does not represent sin in the context of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

What does leaven represent in the Bible?

It is sometimes said that leaven always represents sin in the Bible. But it is unwise to make such sweeping statements, since each case should be evaluated on its own. Jesus used leaven as a metaphor to describe the teaching and hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod (Matthew 16:6, 11, 12, Mark 8:15, and Luke 12:1), which are clearly allusions to sin.

On the other hand, He used leaven in a parable, to describe how the Kingdom of Heaven would spread throughout the world – like leaven in dough. Should we believe He is suggesting that the spreading aspect of the Kingdom is sin? At the Feast of Weeks (aka Pentecost), the worshippers were to bring two loaves of leavened bread to the priest as a wave offering. Should we believe that their offering represented some sort of sin that they were bringing before the Lord in this joyous feast? In both of these examples it is difficult to believe the leaven represents sin.

In all of the above passages, we should realize that leaven is being used figuratively, but in different ways. It can be used to represent good things or bad things, and it is up to us to determine the writer or speaker’s intended meaning in each case. As a general rule of interpretation, we cannot assume that the meaning of a figure of speech carries the same meaning from one passage to another. We must evaluate each passage in its own context and then determine the meaning of leaven, or of whichever figure of speech is being used.

Are Jewish people ever allowed to eat bread with leaven?

Yes, the Law of Moses only forbids eating leavened foods during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is from the 15th day of the first month (Abib) through the 21st day of the same month. Otherwise, the full array of leavened treats is on the menu for the Jewish community!

Why couldn’t Jewish people simply hide their leavened foods in a closet during the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

The Lord was very explicit in saying that leaven must not be found in their houses and territory (Exodus 12:15, 19, Exodus 13:7, Deuteronomy 16:4).

Did the Israelites bring the First Fruits offering during the year of the exodus from Egypt?

No, they did not. At the time of the exodus, the tabernacle had not been built and the priesthood had not been established by Moses, making it impossible for them to bring the First Fruits offering to the priest. Clearly, during the year of the exodus, the people would not have had fields from which they could have harvested a sheaf of barley to bring to the priest.

A careful look at Leviticus 23:10 tells us that they were to bring the First Fruits offering when they enter the land, so it was not required as they were leaving Egypt, as were the Passover sacrifice and eating the lamb with the unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The people were not able to raise crops for more than 40 years after the exodus.

What did the First Fruits offering commemorate in Leviticus 23:9-14?

Although it is not explicitly stated, it can be demonstrated from the Scriptures that the First Fruits Appointed Time was given as a commemoration of Israel’s miraculous passing through the sea, but more importantly, it was given as a shadow of the Messiah rising from the tomb some 1,500 years later.

Was the Feast of Weeks observed during the year of the exodus?

The Feast of Weeks was not observed until the people entered the Promised Land and harvested their fields more than 40 years after they departed Egypt. It can be understood that the instructions for offering the First Fruits “When you enter the land which I am going to give you…” (Leviticus 23:10), also applies to the Feast of Weeks in Leviticus 23:15.

What did the Feast of Weeks (aka. Pentecost) commemorate?

Although it is not explicitly stated, it can be demonstrated from the Scriptures that the Feast of Weeks commemorates the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Jewish tradition also regards Pentecost as the day on which the Lord gave His law to Moses. The greater event that it shadowed, however, was the giving of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Weeks some 1,500 years later (Acts 2:1-4). The Day of Trumpets (Yom Teruah)

What is a shofar?

A shofar is an ancient musical horn that is typically made from a ram’s horn.

Did the ancient Israelites use trumpets or shofars on the Day of Trumpets?

They used both. The Lord told Moses to make two trumpets of hammered silver (Numbers 10:2), which had multiple uses, but one of the uses was in the Appointed Times (Numbers 10:10 – solemn days).

Why did the day of Trumpets include shouting, as well as making other loud noises and sounds?

The Hebrew word that is translated as trumpets in many English Bibles is teruah, which actually means to make a loud noise or a signal. It can include trumpets and shofars. But it can also refer to shouting, such as shouting a command or a war-cry or battle-cry. Teruah can also be shout of joy for religious purposes or just a good shout for joy. We gain some special insights when we realize that the Day of Trumpets is not limited to trumpets, but it can also involve shouting, singing, and noisy symbols and drums.

What is a booth?

A booth, also translated as tabernacle, is a temporary dwelling or shelter. Since canvas and nylon tents were not readily available to the ancient Israelites during their departure from Egypt, they made structures of wood and other materials, and covered them with leafy branches for privacy and shelter from the sun. These temporary shelters were called booths. The Hebrew word is sukkot.

What is the difference between sukkah and sukkot?

Sukkah is the singular form of booth, where as sukkot is the plural form. Someone might say, “Our sukkah is one of many sukkot in our town.”