The concept of "The Setting of the Feast" in the Bible encompasses the preparation, observance, and significance of various feasts and festivals instituted by God for the Israelites, as well as those observed in the New Testament. These feasts serve as both commemorative and prophetic events, deeply rooted in the religious and cultural life of the people of God.

Old Testament Feasts

In the Old Testament, the feasts were divinely ordained and are primarily detailed in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These feasts were not only times of celebration but also served as reminders of God's covenant, His deliverance, and His provision.

1. Passover (Pesach): Instituted in Exodus 12, Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The feast involves the sacrifice of a lamb and the eating of unleavened bread. "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD. You are to celebrate it as a perpetual statute for the generations to come" (Exodus 12:14).

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Following Passover, this seven-day feast involves the removal of leaven from homes, symbolizing the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt and the call to holiness. "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you are to remove the leaven from your houses" (Exodus 12:15).

3. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost): Celebrated seven weeks after Passover, this feast marks the end of the grain harvest and commemorates the giving of the Law at Sinai. "You are to count off seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering" (Leviticus 23:15).

4. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): A day of rest and trumpet blasts, marking the beginning of the civil year and calling the people to repentance. "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts" (Leviticus 23:24).

5. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): A solemn day of fasting and repentance, where the high priest makes atonement for the sins of the people. "This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you must humble yourselves and not do any work" (Leviticus 16:29).

6. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): A week-long celebration of the harvest and a reminder of the Israelites' dwelling in tents during their wilderness journey. "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it continues for seven days" (Leviticus 23:34).

New Testament Feasts

In the New Testament, the feasts take on new significance in light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself observed these feasts, and they are often seen as foreshadowing His redemptive work.

1. Passover: Jesus' Last Supper with His disciples was a Passover meal, during which He instituted the Lord's Supper, signifying the new covenant in His blood. "And He said to them, 'I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering'" (Luke 22:15).

2. Pentecost: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost marks the birth of the Church and the fulfillment of the promise of the Spirit. "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place" (Acts 2:1).

Symbolism and Fulfillment

The feasts are rich in symbolism, pointing to the Messiah and His work of salvation. Passover foreshadows Christ as the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice brings deliverance from sin. The Feast of Unleavened Bread speaks to the purity and sinlessness of Christ. Pentecost signifies the harvest of souls and the empowerment of the Church through the Holy Spirit.

The setting of these feasts involves meticulous preparation and adherence to divine instructions, reflecting the holiness and orderliness of God. They serve as perpetual reminders of God's faithfulness, His provision, and His ultimate plan of redemption through Jesus Christ.