Ec – Hag Shavu’ot (Weeks) Leviticus 23: 17-22

Hag Shavu’ot (Weeks)
Leviticus 23: 17-22

Hag Shavu’ot DIG: What is the purpose of this feast? How would this festival help to maintain a correct relationship with God? What insights do you glean from this festival? Why is leavened bread used in this feast? What do the Jews associate this festival with?

REFLECT: Three thousand Jews who were saved on the first Shavu’ot. Do you know when you were saved? How do you feel when you realize that Yeshua was the first fruit of the more to come? Who do you know that you could introduce Yeshua to, so that they can be saved?

Hag Shavu’ot was fulfilled by the birth of the Church.

During the centuries, the first “First Fruits” (in other words Ea – Resheet) became less important to Isra’el, especially as the Jewish people were denied access to the Land and the Temple. But the second “First Fruits” is called Shavu’ot because the text in Leviticus instructs us to count off seven weeks (literally seven Sabbaths); thus, it is named Weeks, since it occurs seven weeks after the offering of the first fruits of the barley harvest on Resheet.⁴⁴⁵ Greek-speaking Jews and many Christians called this day Pentecost (which means “fiftieth”), because it occurs fifty days after the seventh week (23:16). The count actually began on Resheet, and once it reached the fiftieth day, the Feast of Weeks would be observed.

Because Shavu’ot marks the last of the first cycle of festivals, it became known as the “The Closing Festival,” and was considered a Sabbath day. It celebrated the latter first fruits of the wheat harvest, whereas the Festival of First Fruits celebrated the early first fruits of the barley harvest. Although its origins are to be found in an ancient grain harvest festival, Shavu’ot has long been identified with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. Shavu’ot is designated as a time of thanksgiving for the spring harvest, which increases the hopefulness for the abundant fall harvest, celebrated by the festival of Booths (see Eg – Sukkot). Giving thanks for the present provision leads to faith for future addition. What a wonderful God we have! He provides all our needs through His riches in glory in Messiah (Philippians 4:19).

Hag means pilgrimage, and whenever this term is used to characterize a festival, it refers to an actual pilgrimage, either to a nearby or to a faraway site. The duty to undertake a pilgrimage is known in a number of other religions, most notably in Islam, where the Arabic term hajatun, is similar to the Hebrew hag, and designates a holy pilgrimage (see a video presentation of Hag Shavu’ot by clicking here).

This means that any festival called hag could not be fully celebrated at one’s home, but required one’s presence at the Temple in Jerusalem. In earlier times, before the Temple was built, the pilgrimage might have brought a family to a nearby altar, but subsequently Deuteronomy 12 ordained that all sacrificial offerings were to be brought to one, central Tabernacle/Temple, which necessitated a much longer pilgrimage for most Israelites (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Ct – The Place to Worship ADONAI).⁴⁴⁶ Three times a year, every able-bodied Jewish man (families were also welcomed if they could make the trip) was to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the three pilgrimage feasts of Hag ha’Matzot, Hag Shavu’ot, and Hag Sukkot (see the commentary on Exodus Eh – Three Times a Year Celebrate a Festival to Me). Consequently, Shavu’ot was the Tower of Babel reversed.

The Biblical Practice: This was a one-day festival. On this occasion two wheat loaves were to be placed on a single sheet and waved before God. It was waved, but not actually offered on the bronze altar (Leviticus 2:12). The loaves were to have leaven in them. This was unusual because this was the only feast where leaven was permitted as an offering. Leaven, when it is used in the Bible symbolically, is always a symbol of sin. The reason God permitted leaven to be used on this occasion was because those that this offering represented were sinners.

Normally, offerings brought to the LORD required unleavened bread (Lev 2:4-5 and 7:12; Num 6:15) because leaven pictures sin, and God cannot tolerate sin. However, on Shavu’ot, Moshe wrote: You must bring bread from your homes for waving – two loaves made with one gallon of fine flower, baked with leaven – as first fruits (of the fall wheat harvest) for ADONAI (23:17). This was the one time of the year when leavened bread was brought to Ha’Shem, though none of it was burned on the bronze altar. The bread was leavened by placing in the dough a lump of leaven from bread of the preceding barley harvest, thus reemphasizing the close connection between the barley and wheat harvests, and the festivals associated with them.⁴⁴⁷

The Jewish Observance: Traditional Jewish observance of Shavu’ot is multifaceted and has evolved somewhat from biblical times. As recorded in the Torah, during the Second Temple period, Shavu’ot consisted of being a harvest festival for farmers. Various first fruits were brought as an offering: barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olive oil and honey. The farmers would parade to the Temple with these firstfruits and then offer them up in a special ceremony. People would follow them blowing flutes and other musical instruments. It was quite an elaborate observance as the farmers brought their firstfruits to the Temple.

Part of the wheat offering was baked into two loaves of leavened bread, a striking contrast to the matzah offered a few weeks before. These two loaves were brought to the Temple on a single sheet, and waved in every direction before the bronze altar twice. This act was a public statement of God’s provision for all His people.

The first time was before the slaughter of two sheep. The second time after the slaughter of the two sheep they were waved with the breast and thigh of the sheep. Then the two loaves were eaten by the priests. One loaf was eaten by the high priest and the second loaf was divided among the other priests. It was eaten either on the very same day that it was waved or that night sometime before midnight. The rabbis asked the question, “Why was it necessary to have two loaves?” The answer they came up with is because Shavu’ot is the season for the fruit of the tree and therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Bring Me two loaves on Shavu’ot so that the fruit of your trees may be blessed.” That was the rabbinic reason for the two loaves.

Since the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the modern Jewish observance of Shavu’ot has changed. It is still a time to remember God’s faithfulness; however, an additional, fascinating thing has evolved. Since the Israelites came to Mount Sinai in the third month after Passover (Exodus 19:1), the rabbis teach that Shavu’ot was the day that Moses received the Torah or the Oral Law (see my commentary on The Life of Christ Ei – The Oral Law). Therefore, modern observance includes celebrating the giving of the Torah. Messianic congregations, however, do not include the celebration of the Oral Law.

There were eight other observances during the Second Temple period that have carried over to today.

1. There was no fasting. If the Feast of Weeks occurred on the Sabbath, the slaughter of the sacrifices were deferred until the following day, so it was not to be a day of fasting.

2. There was a tradition of three days of consecration (see my commentary on Exodus Df – Go to the People and Consecrate Them) that the Israelites underwent before receiving the Torah. Because of Jewish tradition, today many Jews observe three days of consecration in order to make themselves worthy of celebrating Shavu’ot. Another special custom, Tikun Leil Shavu’ot (preparing for the arrival of Shavu’ot), developed from the Jewish people’s love for the Torah. Traditional Jews stay up the first night of this holy day studying the Torah. Many synagogues customarily hold confirmation services for teenagers during this season to recognize their culminating childhood studies of the Torah.

3. Certain scriptures are read especially on Shavu’ot. From the Torah of Moses, Exodus 19:1 through 20:17 (the giving of the Torah); Numbers 28:26-31 and Deuteronomy 5:19-30, 9:9-19, 10:1-5, 10, is read on the first day. Deuteronomy 15:19 through 16:17 is read on the second day along with the prophets Ezeki’el 1:1-28 (the prophet’s vision of God’s Sh’khinah glory) and Habakkuk 2:20 through 3:19 are read.

4. The book of Ruth is traditionally read because her story takes place at harvest time as Shavu’ot does (see the commentary on Ruth Ah – The Book of Ruth and Shavu’ot). Moreover, Ruth was a convert to the Torah and the Torah was given on Shavu’ot. The rabbis teach that just as Ruth suffered deprivation when she accepted the Torah, so we suffer deprivation when we accept the Torah. Furthermore, according to Jewish tradition, King David, who was a descendant of Ruth (see Ruth Bd – Coda: The Genealogy of David), was born and died on Shavu’ot.

5. There are two special liturgies that are used during the synagogue service. The first is the singing of the Akdamut, which is an Aramaic hymn (composed about 1030 AD) that is a reference to the Ten Commandments and has as its theme God’s love for Isra’el and Isra’el’s faithfulness to the Torah of Moses. It is sung on the first day of the Feast of Weeks. The second is the Tikun Leil Shavu’ot, which means the service on the night of Shavu’ot. This is an anthology of the first and last verses of every book in the TaNaKh and also the entire book of Ruth. The main emphasis of this second song is the indivisibility of the Torah and the Oral Law (see above) according to rabbinic teaching.

6. There is a special emphasis on eating milk products on Shavu’ot in order to remember that the Promised Land that Ha’Shem gave to Isra’el was supposed to be a land flowing with milk and honey. Also, according to Jewish tradition, on that day of the giving of the Torah, only dairy products were eaten. So, cheese is eaten because it is a product of the land reminding the Jews that it is a land of milk and honey. Cheese blintzes’, a special form of Jewish crepes filled with cheese, are also served to remind the Jews of the two tablets of the Ten Words (see Deuteronomy Bk – The Ten Words) brought down from Mount Sinai by Moses.

7. A second kind of special food is Challah, which is egg bread that has a yellow color because of the heavy use of the yoke of the eggs. Often two loaves of Challah are used to represent the two loaves that were once offered in the Temple compound. This bread is eaten every Friday night on the Jewish Shabbat, but on the Sabbath the bread is braided. However, on Shavu’ot the bread is not fixed in the braided form, it is fixed with a design of a ladder. The reason is that the rabbis teach that the Challah for the Feast of Shavu’ot should be different from the Challah that is used for the Sabbath. Furthermore, the rabbis teach that the ladder is used to remind the Jews that Moses used a ladder to climb up to heaven to receive the Torah.

8. A third type of food is kreplach, which is a form of Jewish ravioli but without the tomato sauce and it is fixed in a triangle rather than a square. It has three sides to represent the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to represent the three divisions of the TaNaKh: the Torah (Ta), the “Neviim,” or the Prophets (Na), and the Ketuvim (Kh), or the Sacred Writings.⁴⁴⁸

The Messianic significance: The Festival of Shavu’ot was fulfilled by the birth of the Church (see my commentary on Acts Al – The Ruach ha’Kodesh Comes at Shavu’ot). There were three thousand Jews who were saved on that day, but the Gentiles were not saved until later (see Acts Bg – Peter Goes to the House of Cornelius). Therefore, in a very special way, those Jewish believers were the first fruits in fulfillment of Shavu’ot. James, in his book specifically written to Jewish believers (James 1:1), said: God chose to give us (spiritual) birth through (the preaching of the Gospel) the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created (James 1:18). With all the spiritual meaning behind the holy day of Shavu’ot, believers in Yeshua can find great blessing in celebrating it. Much of the traditional Jewish observance can be followed. Yet, as believers add a Messianic perspective to this feast, it becomes even more meaningful.

The practical celebration of Shavu’ot begins when the Feast of First Fruits ends. On the day before the start of Shavu’ot, a number of preparations should be made for the observance. The dinner table is set with the best linens and dishes. You may want to decorate the house with greenery or fresh flowers, as a reminder of the harvest aspect of the day. As the sun is setting on Erev Shavu’ot (evening of Shavu’ot), the family and friends gather around the festive table. The yom tov (holiday) candles are lit by the woman of the house. After the traditional blessings and prayer, blessings are first chanted over the cup of wine or kosher grape juice (kiddush): Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, borei peri ha-gafen (Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine). Then the challah bread is blessed and shared by all: Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min haaretz (Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth). On the first night of the holy day we add: Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, she-he-khiyany v’kiya-manu v’higi-yanu lazman hazeh (Bless are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us and brought us into this season).

Next, the holiday dinner is served, which should include dairy dishes to help commemorate the milk, that is the Word of God, which becomes a special joy to believers in Yeshua because His Ruach Ha’Kodesh enables us to follow His instructions. Many Messianic congregations hold Erev Shavu’ot services and morning services the next day. Corporate worship and fellowship are consistent with the intent of Shavu’ot. After the evening service, some ambitious believers might want to have their own Tikun Leil Shavu’ot (preparing for the arrival of Shavu’ot). This is the tradition of staying up late to study Torah. A Messianic group of believers might focus on the five books of Moses and the blessings of the Ruach ha’Kodesh. Whatever customs are incorporated, the holy day of Shavu’ot can be a true blessing for those who have the Spirit of God within them.⁴⁴⁹

The Feast of Passover was fulfilled by the death of Messiah, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was fulfilled by the sinlessness of His sacrifice, the Feast of First Fruits was fulfilled by the resurrection of Messiah life, and Shavu’ot was fulfilled by the birth of the Church.

A Practical Guide for Believers in Messiah: With all the spiritual meaning behind the holy day of Shavu’ot, believers in Yeshua can find great blessing in celebrating. Much of the traditional Jewish observance can be followed. Yet, as believers add Messianic perspective to this feast, it becomes more meaningful.

The practical celebration of Shavu’ot begins when the festival of First Fruits ends. On the day before the start of Shavu’ot, a number of preparations should be made for the observance. The dinner table is set with the best linens and dishes. You may want to decorate the house with greenery or fresh flowers, a reminder of the harvest aspect of the day. As the sun is setting on Erev Shavu’ot (the evening of Shavu’ot), the family and friends gather around the festive table. The holiday candles are lit and the following blessings are recited: Barukh atah Adonai Elohenu melekh ha-0lam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvohtav l’hayot or l’goyeem v’natan-lanu Yeshua m’shee-khaynu ha-or la-olam. Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by Your commandments and commanded us to be a light unto the nations and has given us Yeshua, our Messiah, the Light of the World.

On the first night of the holy day we add: Barukh atah Adonai Elohenu melekh ha-olam, she-he-khiyanu v’kiya-manu v’higi-yanu lazman hazeh. Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, who has given us life, sustained us and brought us to this season.

The blessings over the wine, grape juice and challah are chanted to traditional melodies. Next, the holiday dinner is served, which should include dairy dishes to help commemorate the milk, that is the Word of God. God’s Word becomes a special joy to believers in Yeshua because His Holy Spirit enables believers to follow His instructions.

Many Messianic congregations hold Erev Shavuot services and morning services the next day. Corporate worship and fellowship are consistent with the intent of Shavu’ot. After the evening service, some ambitious believers might want to have their own Tikun Leil Shavu’ot (preparing for the night of Shavu’ot). As we learned earlier, this is the tradition of staying up late to study Torah. A Messianic group of believers might focus on the five books of Moses and the blessings of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh. Whatever customs are incorporated, the holy day of Shavu’ot can be a true blessing for those who have the Ruach Ha’Kodesh within them.⁴⁵⁰

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for Your wisdom in planning festivals so we can remember how wonderful You are and how everything You do is done in perfect sequence and timing.

Praise You for Your giving of the Ruach ha’Kodesh within me to always be there to help and guide me (Hebrews 13:5c). Yeshua answered and said to him: If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him (John 14:23). Though life is often hard now, we love to worship and praise you, knowing that our trials will soon be over and eternity will be filled with peace and joy and life in heaven praising you forever! For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18) In the Name of the One who sits at Your right hand. Amen