◄ Leviticus 23:33 ►
And the LORD said to Moses,
Study Bible
And the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the divine origin of the instructions that follow. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, often rendered as Yahweh. This name signifies God's eternal presence and unchanging nature. In the context of Leviticus, it underscores the authority and holiness of the laws being given. The use of "LORD" reminds the reader that these are not merely human traditions but divine commands meant to guide the Israelites in their covenant relationship with God.

said
The Hebrew word used here is "אָמַר" (amar), which means to speak, declare, or command. This verb indicates a direct communication from God to Moses, highlighting the prophetic role of Moses as the mediator between God and the people of Israel. The act of God speaking is a recurring theme in the Pentateuch, emphasizing the importance of divine revelation in guiding the moral and spiritual life of the community.

to Moses
Moses is a central figure in the Old Testament, chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and to receive the Law on their behalf. His name, "מֹשֶׁה" (Moshe), is traditionally understood to mean "drawn out," reflecting his rescue from the Nile as a baby. Moses' role as a prophet and leader is crucial, as he serves as the intermediary through whom God communicates His will to the people. This phrase underscores the trust and responsibility placed upon Moses to faithfully convey God's instructions.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is giving instructions to His people through Moses.

2. Moses
The prophet and leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to deliver His laws and commandments to the people.

3. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are receiving these instructions as part of their covenant relationship with Him.

4. The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
Although not mentioned directly in this verse, it is the context of the surrounding passages. It is a significant Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' journey through the wilderness.

5. Mount Sinai
The place where Moses received the law from God, including the instructions for the feasts.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Instruction
God is the ultimate authority who provides guidance and instruction to His people. We should seek His wisdom and direction in our lives.

The Role of Moses as Mediator
Moses serves as a mediator between God and the Israelites, foreshadowing Christ as our ultimate mediator. We should be thankful for Jesus' role in reconciling us to God.

The Importance of Obedience
The Israelites were called to obey God's commands, including the observance of feasts. Obedience to God's Word is crucial for our spiritual growth and relationship with Him.

Celebration and Remembrance
The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of celebration and remembrance of God's provision. We should regularly take time to remember and celebrate God's faithfulness in our lives.

Community and Worship
The feasts were communal events, emphasizing the importance of gathering together in worship. We should prioritize fellowship and corporate worship in our faith journey.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the role of Moses as a mediator help us appreciate the work of Christ in the New Testament?

2. In what ways can we incorporate the principles of celebration and remembrance from the Feast of Tabernacles into our modern Christian practices?

3. How does the observance of biblical feasts like the Feast of Tabernacles enhance our understanding of God's character and His relationship with His people?

4. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate obedience to God's instructions in our daily lives?

5. How can we foster a sense of community and worship in our local church or small group, drawing inspiration from the communal aspects of the biblical feasts?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 23:16
This verse also discusses the Feast of Tabernacles, highlighting its importance as a time of ingathering and thanksgiving.

Deuteronomy 16:13-15
Provides further instructions on how the Feast of Tabernacles should be celebrated, emphasizing joy and gratitude.

John 7:2
References the Feast of Tabernacles in the New Testament, showing its continued observance during Jesus' time.

Zechariah 14:16-19
Prophecies about the nations celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in the future, indicating its eschatological significance.
Sermons
The Consecration of JoyAlexander MaclarenLeviticus 23:33
The FestivalsR.A. Redford Leviticus 23:1-44
Feasts of the LordW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 23:2-44
God's FestivalsHenry, MatthewLeviticus 23:2-44
God's Holy DaysHenry, MatthewLeviticus 23:2-44
Seven Feasts Mentioned in This ChapterD. C. Hughes, M. A.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Great FeastsJ. C. Gray.Leviticus 23:2-44
The Holy FestivalsJ. A. Seiss, . D. D.Leviticus 23:2-44
The HebdomadJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 23:23-44
Joy Before the LordW. Clarkson Leviticus 23:33-43
The Pilgrim Spirit as Illustrated in the Feast of TabernaclesR.M. Edgar Leviticus 23:33-43
The Feast of TabernaclesJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 23:33-44
The Feast of TabernaclesR.A. Redford Leviticus 23:33-44
People
Ephah, Israelites, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Saying, Spake, Speaketh, Spoke
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 23:23-36

     7435   sacrifice, in OT

Leviticus 23:26-36

     8629   worship, times

Leviticus 23:32-36

     8270   holiness, set apart

Leviticus 23:33-34

     7358   Feast of Tabernacles

Leviticus 23:33-36

     8642   celebration

Leviticus 23:33-43

     4208   land, divine responsibility
     4464   harvest
     8644   commemoration

Library
The Consecration of Joy
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 34. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. 35. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
IT was the last, the great day of the Feast,' and Jesus was once more in the Temple. We can scarcely doubt that it was the concluding day of the Feast, and not, as most modern writers suppose, its Octave, which, in Rabbinic language, was regarded as a festival by itself.' [3987] [3988] But such solemn interest attaches to the Feast, and this occurrence on its last day, that we must try to realise the scene. We have here the only Old Testament type yet unfilfilled; the only Jewish festival which has …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Chronology
45. The length of the public ministry of Jesus was one of the earliest questions which arose in the study of the four gospels. In the second and third centuries it was not uncommon to find the answer in the passage from Isaiah (lxi. 1, 2), which Jesus declared was fulfilled in himself. "The acceptable year of the Lord" was taken to indicate that the ministry covered little more than a year. The fact that the first three gospels mention but one Passover (that at the end), and but one journey to Jerusalem, …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell in You, He that Raised up Christ from the Dead Shall Also
Rom. viii. 11.--"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." It is true the soul is incomparably better than the body, and he is only worthy the name of a man and of a Christian who prefers this more excellent part, and employs his study and time about it, and regards his body only for the noble guest that lodges within it, and therefore it is one of the …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Jesus Living at Nazareth and visiting Jerusalem in his Twelfth Year.
(Nazareth and Jerusalem, a.d. 7 or 8.) ^C Luke II. 40-52. ^c 40 And the child grew [This verse contains the history of thirty years. It describes the growth of our Lord as a natural, human growth (compare Luke i. 80); for, though Jesus was truly divine, he was also perfectly man. To try to distinguish between the divine and human in Jesus, is to waste time upon an impracticable mystery which is too subtle for our dull and finite minds], and waxed strong [His life expanded like other human lives. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Healing Peter's Mother-In-Law and Many Others.
(at Capernaum.) ^A Matt. VIII. 14-17; ^B Mark I. 29-34; ^C Luke IV. 38-41. ^c 38 And he arose out of the synagogue [where he had just healed the demoniac], ^b 29 And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came { ^c entered} ^b into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [Peter and Andrew had dwelt at Bethsaida (John i. 44). They may have removed to Capernaum, or Bethsaida, being near by, may be here counted as a part, or suburb, of Capernaum. Its name does not contradict …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
(Jerusalem, April 9, a.d. 27.) Subdivision A. Jesus Cleanses the Temple. ^D John II. 13-25. ^d 13 And the passover of the Jews was at hand [We get our information as to the length of our Lord's ministry from John's Gospel. He groups his narrative around six Jewish festivals: 1, He here mentions the first passover; 2, another feast, which we take to have been also a passover (v. 1); 3, another passover (vi. 4); 4, the feast of tabernacles (vii. 2); 5, dedication (x. 22); 6, passover (xi. 55). This …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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