articlesforchristians

1) Chag Shavuot ‑ Festival of Weeks

• The Hebrew word sheva means 7, shavu’ah means week, and shavuot means weeks.
• It is also referred to as Bikkurei Ketzir Chittim (the first fruits of the wheat harvest). And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end.@ (Exodus 34:22). And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee: (Deuteronomy 16:10).

2) Chag Hakatzir- The festival of the Harvest

• Exodus 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of in gathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field.”

3) Yom HaBikkurim ‑ Day of the First‑Fruits

• This is not to be confused with the Festival of First Fruits. Also, in the day of the first fruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the Lord, after your weeks be out, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:” (Numbers 28:26).
• The Targum (a Jewish commentary) to Numbers 28:26, interprets the word “beshavu’oteichem” ‑ “your Festival of Weeks” ‑ “be’atzrateichon.” ABe’atzrateichon is also known as Atzeret.

4) Zeman Matan Torateinu

• In the Kiddush and Amidah prayers recited during Yom Tov, it is referred to as “zeman matan Torateinu” ‑ “the time of the giving of our Torah.”

5) Yom HaKahal- “The Day of Assembly”

• According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire anymore, that I die not.” Deuteronomy 18:16.

 Major Events that occurred during Shavuot

• Pentecost Acts 2:1
• The Day of the First fruits / Yom HaBikkurim Numbers 28:26
• The Day of the Congregation / Yom HaKahal Deuteronomy 18:16
• Feast of Harvest / Hag Hakatzir Exodus 23:16 
• Feast of Weeks / Hag Shavuot Exodus 34:22
• The Law was given at Sinai. Exodus 19:1‑11
• All males to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem.  Deuteronomy 16:16
• Jesus prays all night.  Luke 6:12
• Jesus keeps the feast. John 7:37
• The Holy Spirit comes! Acts 2:1
• The covenant made at Sinai will be “renewed”.  Jeremiah 31:31‑40

Customs

• Eat Milk and Honey (if possible)
  • Since the Bible, which gives nourishment to the spirit, is often liken to milk and honey, dairy foods are eaten on this day.
    • Psalms 19:7-10 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
    • 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
• Remember to Pray
  • Acts 2:2-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
• Decorate the house with flowers and fruits to remember the ancient practice of bringing first fruits to the Temple in Jerusalem.
• Learn/ remember the 10 commandments that were given on this day.
• Thank the LORD for the holiday as a revelation of Jesus at this time. This Blessing is…
  • “Blessed art You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has given us holidays, customs, and seasons of happiness, for the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Light of the world.”