×
Get the Cepher
See Inside! Shop Now Mobile App

Stephen Pidgeon's Blog

Blog: Blog
Back

The practice of the Feasts of Yahuah

 

Zakaryahu (Zechariah) 8:18-23

And the word of YAHUAH TSEVA’OT came unto me, saying, 19 Thus says YAHUAH TSEVA’OT; The fast (tsome) of the fourth month (Revi’iy), and the fast (tsome) of the fifth (Chamishiy), and the fast of the seventh (Shevi’iy, also Ethaniym), and the fastֺ of the tenth (Asiriy), shall be to the house of Yahudah joy (sason) and gladness (simchah), and cheerful feasts (moediym) (days); therefore love (ahav) the truth (emet) and peace (shalom).

The Hebrew actually has a more specific read, which is:

Thus says YAHUAH TSEVA’OTH: The fast of Revi’iy, the fast of Chamishiy, the fast of Shavi’iy, and the fast of Asiriy, shall be for the house of Yahudah joy and gladness, and the feast days, [shall be] truth, peace, and love.

This passage speaks volumes, because it infers that only the house of Yahudah will be keeping the fasts and the feast days. The fasts will bring joy and gladness, and the feasts will bring truth, peace, and love.  This begs Pilate’s question again, does it not? What is truth?    Before we consider this question, let us first consider the feasts (we have already discussed the fasts).

The rhythm of life is set forth in these feasts, and the understanding of prophecy begins with their practice.  To understand these days, note first that the day begins at sundown. Hence, the Sabbath, which is the seventh day (Sabbath in the common understanding) begins at sundown on Friday day evening.  The time following sundown, but before bedtime, is called the erev, so the evening of the beginning of Sabbath is called Erev Sabbath. 

Pesach or Passover, the first of these moediym (appointments) begins in our understanding at sundown on the 13th day of the month.  This evening would be called Erev Pesach, or the evening of Passover.  The following day during Passover, the lamb without blemish would be slaughtered in preparation for the solemn feast called an atsarah or chag which begins the feast of Matza.

Matza continues for seven days, and during the course of this chag, there is necessarily a regular Sabbath.  The day after the Sabbath during Matza is an appointed assembly called First Fruits or Bikoor, which celebrates the harvesting of the barley and the end of the season of eating stored food.  This is partly why the leaven is removed from the house as part of the cleaning out of the pantry, if you will, in preparation for a new growing season.

Seven weeks following the feast of Bikoor (First Fruits), or 50 days following the Sabbath within the Feast of Matza, we arrive at the center of the feasts called Shevua or Shevu’oth (in the plural).  You may know this as Pentecost. 

Ma’aseh (Acts) 2:1-3

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Ruach HaQodesh, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Ruach gave them utterance.

This is the day that the prophecy of Yahuchanon the Immerser was fulfilled, when he said “he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom you shall see the Ruach descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Ruach HaQodesh.” Yahuchanon (John) 1:33.

And of course, this brought to fruition the realization of the Brit Chadasha (the renewed covenant):

Ivriyiym (Hebrews) 8:8-10; Yermeyahu (Jeremiah) 31:31

For finding fault with them, he says, Behold, the days come, says YAHUAH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Yisra’el and with the house of Yahudah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, says YAHUAH 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisra’el after those days, says YAHUAH; I will put my Torah into their mind, and write it in their hearts: and I will be their Elohiym, and they shall be my people.

From Shevua, we proceed to the seventh month, on the first day of the month, which is Yom (the day) Teruah (of the Shofar blast).  As explained above, this is the day that is celebrated as Rosh Hashanah within Judaism.  The sounding of the shofar in a particular way (a blast of nine short notes called the teruah) is a warning to the whole of the house of Yisra’el that there are 10 days to prepare the heart for repentance before YAHUAH. 

Ten days later, on the 10th day of the seventh month, Yom (the day) Kippur (of Atonement) is honored.  The description of this appointed day affirms that in the Hebraic tradition, the day begins as sundown and continues to the following sundown.  The verse below begins with “on the tenth day of this seventh month, but finishes with the command that “in the ninth day of the month at even (evening – i.e., sundown), from even to even.”  With this passage you can readily see that a day is from sundown to sundown, even though it begins on the “ninth” and is counted as the “tenth.”

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:27-32

Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto YAHUAH. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before YAHUAH your Elohiym. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that does any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.

Finally, we arrive at Sukkah, or Sukk’oth (in the plural).  This solemn feast begins on the 15th day of the seventh month, and continues for seven days, through to the 21st.  However, it is part of the practice to celebrate on the eighth day (the 22nd of the month) the completion of the reading of the Torah which is called Simcha Torah, or the joy of the Torah.

Here is the command:

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:34-42

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto YAHUAH. 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 to YAHUAH: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation to you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire to YAHUAH: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. 37 These are the appointed times of YAHUAH, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to YAHUAH, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, everything upon his day: 38 Beside the Sabbaths of YAHUAH, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give to YAHUAH. 39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast to YAHUAH seven days: on the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath. 40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before YAHUAH your Elohiym seven days. 41 And ye shall keep it a feast to YAHUAH seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

Now, let us consider our question. What is truth?

Tehilliym (Psalm) 119:142

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And your Torah is truth.

Yahuchanon (John) 14:6

YAHUSHA said unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes unto the Father, but by me.

These two passages alone tells the believer that YAHUSHA is the Torah made flesh. But consider further:

Yahuchanon (John) 1:1-2, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with את eth ELOHIYM, and the Word was ELOHIYM. 2 The same was in the beginning with את eth ELOHIYM.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the YACHIYD of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Before we continue with our inquiry, let us also address the issue of grace as well.  Many people in the lawless, fallen, apostasistic church believe that grace is a license to sin, twisting the words of Sha’ul to justify their lawlessness, their rejection of Torah, and their denial of the truth. The Hebrew word for grace – and it has its origin in Hebrew, not Greek – is ןחֵ chen, which means graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty).  The word is derived from its root which is ןנַחָ chanan, which means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition) to show favor, to be  merciful, to have mercy on, or to have pity upon.  Nowhere in this usage can you find “license to sin.” Instead we find that Mashiach came full of mercy and the Torah.

The awakening to this truth is the restoration of the remnant and the beginning of the regathering of the house of Yisra’el in contemplation of the final Exodus accompanying the return of Mashiach.  What does that preparation look like, for those who do not know the Feasts (Moediym) and the truth (Torah)?

Zakaryahu (Zechariah) 8:20-23

Thus says YAHUAH TSEVA’OT; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray את eth-before YAHUAH, and to seek את eth-YAHUAH TSEVA’OT: I will go also. 22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek את eth-YAHUAH TSEVA’OT in Yerushalayim, and to pray את eth-before YAHUAH. 23 Thus says YAHUAH TSEVA’OT; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Yahudiy, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that ELOHIYM is with you.

Get new posts in your inbox

Copy Feed URL

Recent Posts

The myth of Romulus and Remus and the ties to ancient scripture

A recent review of the myth concerning Romulus and Remus evidenced a factual pattern that appeared to me to be a bit conspicuous and repetitive. As a “pattern recognition specialist” (thanks Ashton Lawson), I took a closer look. According to Brittany Garcia, in her post of 18 April 20... Read More

The Scarlet Thread

We begin with a discussion of the scarlet: And Yahuah spoke unto Mosheh, saying: 2 This shall be the Torah of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of lepro... Read More

A garment without a seam

  Now Yashar’el loved Yoceph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors. Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 37:3 וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אָהַב אֶת־יוֹסֵף מִכָּל־בָּנָיו כִּי־בֶן־זְקֻנִים הוּא לוֹ וְעָשָׂה לוֹ כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים׃ V’Yas... Read More

Strong's Concordance makes a case for the Sacred Names

Let us take a look at the name Yahuah, but more in depth at the name Yahusha. There is a well-known saying among the modern generations: "Haters gotta hate", and few manifest hatred as well as those who hate the Sacred Names. If you agree that there is in fact a name set forth in scripture f... Read More

Who are the ben’i Elohiym?

  Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying: Of a truth you are the Son of Elohiym. Mattithyahu (Matthew) 14:33 Here is this phrase we see the use of the Greek terms θεου υιος (Theos uios). The practice of the את ... Read More
Shop Now Explore Other Books

Chazon (Revelation) 1:8

I am the א (Aleph) and the ת (Tav), the beginning and the ending, says Yahuah Elohiym, which is, and which was, and which is to come, Yahuah Tseva’oth.

Read More

Baruch Sheniy (2 Baruch) 51:8-9

For they shall behold the world which is now invisible to them and they shall behold the time which is now hidden from them: And time shall no longer age them.

Read More

Ezra Reviy'iy (4 Ezra/2 Esdras) 2:35

Be ready to the reward of the Kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you forevermore.

Read More

Devariym (Deuteronomy) 11:26-28

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of Yahuah Elohaykem, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of Yahuah Elohaykem but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other elohiym, which ye have not known.

Read More

Shemoth (Exodus) 20:11

For in six days Yahuah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Yahuah blessed the day of Shabbath, and hallowed it.

Read More

Bere'shiyth (Genesis) 1:1

In the beginning Elohiym created את the heavens and את the earth.

Read More

Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 14:12

How are you fallen from heaven, O Heylel, son of the howling morning! how are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!

Read More

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 31:31

Behold, the days come, says Yahuah, that I will cut a Renewed Covenant with the house of Yashar’el, and with the house of Yahudah.

Read More

Besorah Yochanon (John) 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with את Elohiym, and Elohiym was the Word.

Read More

Besorah Yochanon (John) 3:16

For Elohiym so loved the world, that he gave his yachiyd, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Read More

Besorah Yochanon (John) 14:21

He that has my commandments, and guards them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Read More

Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:4

These are the feasts of Yahuah, even holy assemblies, which ye shall proclaim in their appointed times.

Read More

Besorah Mattithyahu (Matthew) 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Yahusha: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Read More

Besorah Mattithyahu (Matthew) 6:11-12

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our transgressions, as we forgive those who transgress against us.

Read More

Bemidbar (Numbers) 6:24-26

Yahuah bless you, and guard you: Yahuah make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: Yahuah lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Read More

Philippiym (Philippians) 2:10-11

That at the name of Yahusha every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Yahuah is Yahusha Ha’Mashiach, to the glory of Elohiym the Father.

Read More

Tehilliym (Psalms) 23:1-2

Yahuah is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.

Read More

Tehilliym (Psalms) 91:1-2

He who dwells in the secret place of El Elyon shall abide under the shadow of El Shaddai. I will say of Yahuah, He is my refuge and my fortress: my Elohiym; in him will I trust.

Read More

Chazon (Revelation) 13:18

Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding calculate the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is χξς .

Read More

Romaiym (Romans) 8:38-39

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of Yah, which is in Yahusha Ha'Mashiach our Adonai.

Read More

Qorintiym Ri'shon (I Corinthians) 13:13

And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Read More

Makkabiym Reviy'iy (4 Maccabees) 9:7-9

Make the attempt, then, O tyrant; and if you put us to death for our faith, think not that you harm us by torturing us. For we through this ill treatment and endurance shall bear off the rewards of virtue. But you, for the wicked and despotic slaughter of us, shall, from the divine vengeance, endure eternal torture by fire.

Read More

Daniy'el (Daniel) 12:1

And at that time shall Miyka’el stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the cepher.

Read More

Chanoch (Enoch) 105:14-15

A great destruction therefore shall come upon all the earth; a deluge, a great destruction shall take place in one year. This child, who is born to your son shall survive on the earth, and his three sons shall be saved with him. When all mankind who are on the earth shall die, he shall be safe.

Read More

Yo'el (Joel) 2:28

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Ruach upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

Read More