In Leviticus 23, after YHWH declared the Sabbath as essential for existence and the underlying framework of His appointed meeting times, He proclaimed His annual feasts, including Passover, along with seven holy assemblies (Leviticus 23). Before delving into the specifics of each feast, the following is an overview.

Passover is a domestic ceremony at the twilight of Abib 14 (all YHWH’s feasts began at sunset before daylight¹). Because each Israelite family was to participate in Passover’s everlasting ordinance according to its designated service at home, it is not considered a public assembly. The foundation of Passover laid the groundwork for the following seven annual Sabbaths. 

The first commanded holy assembly took place on the following evening, Abib 15, the start of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, commemorating the very night YHWH brought Israel out of Egypt. Celebrated each year by eating unleavened bread without the souring of yeast fermentation, this night of YHWH’s deliverance was to be remembered every Sabbath and kept alive in every Israelite’s heart each day of their lives. Israel ate unsoured bread for seven days, remembering their slavery and their seven-day and night escape to freedom under YHWH’s hand.

The final seventh day of Unleavened Bread, Abib 21, marked the second commanded holy assembly. On this day, YHWH completed His deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and Israel escaped on dry land while Pharaoh and His army drowned in Yam Suph. For Israel, the sea crossing symbolized their cleansing through baptism and a new beginning–as a new nation on a journey with YHWH to His holy mountain.

Once Israel entered Canaan, they were to count seven weeks (49 days) starting from the day after the weekly Sabbath within the seven Days of Unleavened Bread. The count began on the first day of the weeks when the priests offered the wavesheaf offering, the first cut of grain that started the harvest (not a holy convocation). The days continued to be counted until the spring harvest’s end, when Israel brought their firstfruits offerings of barley and wheat before YHWH. After counting from the wavesheaf to seven weeks, Israel celebrated the third holy assembly on the fiftieth day, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) in early summer.

The seventh month housed the four fall holy assemblies, starting with the Feast of Trumpets. Blowing trumpets announced the new moon of the Sabbath month. YHWH’s fourth feast on Tishri 1 is a memorial, reflecting on the trumpets blowing as Israel’s King descended upon Mount Sinai, and looking forward to His final return.

Ten days later, on Tishri 10, was the Day of Atonements, a day dedicated to humbling the self under YHWH’s sovereignty. Israel relied on His atoning sacrifice to remain in His presence. YHWH’s fifth Feast is a holy assembly–a Sabbath of sabbaths–when repentant Israel puts autonomy aside and becomes without corruption.

Tishri 15 marked the start of YHWH’s sixth festival, the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles, with only the first day designated as a holy assembly. As the feast began at sunset, the water-drawing ceremony played a crucial role in celebrating the month of continuously flowing streams under the giant temple lampstands, while the choir sang praises to their King. With YHWH tabernacling in Israel, the Feast of Tabernacles reenacted the wilderness journey described in Numbers, from Mount Sinai to the land of God’s dwelling. 

The seventh holy assembly is the Eighth Day, the day after the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles. In Israel’s liturgy, much is written about a seven-day consecration period, and on the eighth day, the individual/people begin active duty or reinstatement, marking a new beginning.

Takeaway:
Besides YHWH’s weekly Sabbaths, YHWH instructed Israel to observe Passover and His seven holy assemblies at their appointed times as days dedicated to worship Him. These holydays span from the exile of Genesis to the inheritance of Deuteronomy in the land, fulfilling the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Fun Factors:
Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, “The appointed feasts of YHWH which you proclaim holy convocations, these, they are My appointed feasts” (Lev. 23:2), verse sum is 4334, 37² + 38² + 39² or 2 × 11 × 197, the 1^st, 5^th, and 45^th prime numbers. Adding the numbers of primes, 1 + 5 + 45 = 51, or 3 × 17, saying the certainty (3) of YHWH’s victory (17). The number 4334 is reminiscent of the 434-letter sum of dalet, symbolic of a doorway (see Blog 5 and Blog 6).

“The appointed feasts of YHWH which you proclaim holy convocations” = 2560, 48² + 16²; 48² = 2304 or 8² x 6²; 256 = 16², 2 x 5 x 6 = 60, a time measurement.  The number 2560 minus 60 is 2500, or 50², indicating that the feasts represent the fullness of time (60) of the jubilee (50), which signifies humanity restored to the land of Eden. Leviticus 23:37a’s 31 letters in 8 words, “These are the appointed times of YHWH that you will proclaim them holy convocations,” also carries a similar numeric signature, totaling a letter sum of 2596, which is 50² + (8 x 12). Likewise, Leviticus 23:4’s 37 letters in 9 words are marked with a total of 2728, 8 x 11 x 31.  When 2728 is squared, it yields 7441984, which, when separated as 744 and 1984, then added, equals 2728.  The number 744 is factored as 8 x 31 x 3, and 1984 can be factored as 8² x 31. The numbers convey the sureness (3) of God’s (31) festivals (8) of light (11) restoration plan (50), His dwelling (16) in time (60).

Lev. 23:2cd: “These, they are My appointed feasts” = 211, the 47^th prime number and 7^th centered decagonal number. Lev. 23:2b: “The appointed feasts of YHWH” = 156, 12 × 13.

“They are My appointed feasts” = 175, the age of Abraham, 7 × 5².