Now we are entering into the Festival called Festival of Shavuot (Shavuot means “weeks” in Hebrew), Festival of First Fruits, Festival of the Harvest, Festival of Weeks or Pentecost (Which means 50 in Greek). Shavuot is on June 6th and is a High Shabbat which means we are not allowed to work. We will be discussing who celebrated Shavuot, the importance of Shavuot and how do we celebrate it and how the Book of Ruth ties into this important day.
Jeremiah 5:24
“And they do not say in their heart, “Let us now revere YAHWEH our ELOHIM, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He guards for us the LAW: THE SHAVUOT (SHA-VOO-OAT) OF HARVEST.”
1 Samuel 12:17
“Is today not the WHEAT HARVEST? Let me call to YAHWEH, so that He sends thunder and rain…”
In order for us to have a harvest of wheat or plants we need rain; and we see from the scripture of Jeremiah that YAHWEH gives the rain in its season to guard the Law of Shavuot, yet the people still did not revere YAHWEH just as many do today. The world feels obligated that food will be automatically provided for them, but we see that is all of YAHWEH’s provision because He guards it as a Law and He loves us.
On April 18th, which is equivalent to the 26th day of the 1st month on the Hebrew calendar, was the Sunday AFTER the Feast of Unleavened Bread when we started the counting of the omer (sheaf). When the priest would wave the barley sheaf before YAHWEH to accept the future crops; which puts us at June 6th on the Gregorian calendar, which is the 15th day of the 3rd month on the Hebrew calendar.
Leviticus 23:15-16 says:
“And you shall count unto you from the morrow after the Shabbat, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Shabbat’s shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh Shabbat shall you number fifty days; and you shall offer a new grain offering unto YAHWEH.”
Exodus 23:16
“And the Festival of the Harvest, the first-fruits of your labors which you have sown in the field…”
Exodus 34:22
“And perform the Festival of Shavuot for yourself, of the first-fruits of wheat harvest…”
Let’s look at Scripture to see who celebrated Shavuot!
Modern day Christianity says that the Appointed Times of YAHWEH are for the Jews only and that Apostle Paul did away with the law. However you will see that Paul himself observed Shavuot as all the righteous men of scripture did.
Acts 20:16
“For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might lose no time in Asia, for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the DAY OF THE FESTIVAL OF SHAVUOT.”
Jubilees 6:15-21
“And He gave to Noah and his sons a sign that there should not be a flood on the earth again. He placed a rainbow in the cloud for a sign of the everlasting Covenant that there should not be a flood again on the earth to destroy it all the days of the earth. For this reason it is ordained and written on the tablets of the heavens, that they should celebrate the FESTIVAL OF SHAVUOT IN THIS MONTH (3rd month on Hebrew Calendar) ONCE A YEAR to RENEW the Covenant every year.” And this whole Festival was celebrated in the HEAVENS FROM the day of creation till the days of Noah: twenty-six Jubilees and five weeks of years. And Noah and his sons OBSERVED IT for seven Jubilees and one week of years, till the day of Noah’s death. And from the day of Noah’s death his sons forsook it until the days of Abraham, and they ate blood “But Abraham observed it, and Isaac, and Jacob, and his children observed it up to your days, and in your days the children of Yisra’el forgot it until you celebrated it anew on this mountain. And you shall command the children of Yisra’el to observe this Festival in all their generations for a Command unto them; one day in the year in this month (3rd month) they shall celebrate the Festival. For it is the Festival of SHAVUOT AND THE FEAST OF FIRST-FRUITS: This Feast is twofold and double nature: according to what is written and engraved concerning it, celebrate it.”
Numbers 28:26
“And on the day of FIRST FRUITS, when you bring a new grain offering to YAHWEH at your FESTIVAL OF SHAVUOT, you have a holy gathering, you do no work.”
Both Jubilees and Numbers shows that First-Fruits and Shavuot are connected and are the same feast. Especially, since we counted the 50 days starting on First-Fruits.
Jubilees 15:1
“And in the fifth year of the fourth week of this Jubilee, in the THIRD MONTH, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH (15th Day) Abram celebrated the Festival of the First-Fruits (Shavuot) of the grain harvest.”
There are only 30 days in a month on the Hebrew calendar; therefore, we know that the middle of the month is the 15th day. Our earliest indication of this is found if Genesis 7:24 which reads:
“And the waters were mighty on the earth, one hundred and fifty days.”
30 days X 5 months= 150 days
Jubilees 16:13
“And in the middle of the sixth month YAHWEH visited Sarah and did to her as He had spoken, and she conceived. And she bore a son in the THIRD MONTH, and in the MIDDLE OF THE MONTH (15th Day) at the time of which YAHWEH had spoken to Abraham, on the Festival of the First-Fruits (Shavuot) of the Harvest, Isaac was born.”
Jubilees 22:1
“And it came to be in the first week in the forty-fourth Jubilee, in the second year, that is, the year in which Abraham died, that Isaac and Ishmael came from Beersheba to celebrate the FEAST OF SHAVUOT-that is, THE FEAST OF THE FIRST-FRUITS of the harvest-to Abraham, their dad. And Abraham rejoiced because his two sons had come.”
Jubilees 44:1-8
“And Yisra’el (Jacob) took his journey from Haran from his house on the new month of the THIRD MONTH, and he went on the way of Beersheba, and he offered an offering to the ELOHIM of his dad Isaac on the seventh of this month. And Jacob remembered the dream that he had seen at Beyth El, and he feared to go down to Egypt. And while he was thinking of sending word to Joseph to come to him, and that he would not go down, he remained there seven days, if it came to be he should see a vision as to whether he should remain or go down. And he celebrated the HARVEST FESTIVAL OF THE FIRST-FRUITS with old grain, for in all the land of Canaan there was not a handful of seed, for scarcity of food was over all the beasts and cattle and birds, and also over man.”
Tobiyah 2:1 (Included in 1611 KJV Bibles)
“Now when I had come home again and my wife Hannah was restored to me with my son Tobi, at the FESTIVAL OF SHAVUOT-which is the holy Feast of the SEVEN WEEKS-there was a good dinner prepared for me, for which I sat down to eat.”
As we see in one of the books that was removed from the Bible, that Tobiyah celebrated Shavuot and if you notice he says “the holy feast of the seven weeks” and we know that we counted 50 days which is 7 completed Shabbats to arrive at the date of June 6th (15th day of the 3rd month). Tobiyah was a righteous man and he understood we should keep the Holy Days even while he was in exile in Nineveh. And followed the command according to how it is written in the Torah which says:
Leviticus 23:15-16
“And from the morrow after the Shabbat, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: SEVEN COMPLETED SHABBATS, then you shall bring a new grain offering to YAHWEH.” This aligns exactly with what Tobiyah did.
2 Maccabees 12:31-32
“They thanked them, desiring them to continue being friendly toward them. And so they came to Jersualem-The FESTIVAL OF SHAVUOT was approaching. And AFTER the Festival of Shavuot, they went out against Gorgias the governor of Edom, who came out with three thousand footmen and four hundred horsemen.
As we can see from all the scriptures above is that Noah and his sons, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Apostle Paul, Maccabees, and Tobiyah all observed Shavuot, The Festival of First-Fruits aka Pentecost. Further pointing to the fact that Noah and Abraham celebrated the Feast before there ever was a Jew.
And what is the importance of this day?
The importance of this day Is ELOHIM was telling Moses that He was taking His people to a fertile land that He was giving them and would like them to acknowledge this gift. Each spring, when the harvest of the year is available the people should bring their initial crops (first-fruits) to the temple so the priest can acknowledge them before ELOHIM. YAHWEH wants us to acknowledge that He has provided for us by bringing our best offering to Him; and it also shows our trust in Him by offering our best knowing that He will continue to provide and bless us. So when Shavuot comes 50 days later they would reap a harvest of barely/wheat.
How do we celebrate Shavuot?
There are many traditions and celebrations that surround Shavuot/Pentecost in modern day Judaism and Christianity, such as the giving of the Torah to Moses, reading the 10 commandments, and the eating of dairy products. However, what does scripture tell us about how we are to celebrate this day as followers of our Master YESHUA?
Shavuot/Pentecost is a NO work day. So remember that June 6th is a High Shabbat of no work.
Leviticus 23:21 says:
“And you shall proclaim on that same day, that it may be a holy gathering for yourselves, you do NO SERVILE WORK ON IT a Law forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.”
Deuteronomy 16:10-11 says:
“And you shall perform the Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost to YAHWEH your ELOHIM according to the voluntary offering from your hand, which you give as YAHWEH your ELOHIM blessed you: And you SHALL REJOICE before YAHWEH your ELOHIM, you and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite that is within your gates, and the stranger; and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which YAHWEH your ELOHIM has chosen to place His name there.”
YAHWEH our ELOHIM tells us to bring a free will/voluntary offering according to the blessing He has given us as a way to say thank you (such as donation to a shelter or the homeless while in diaspora) and He also commands EVERYONE to rejoice before Him on this day. We are not to be sorrowful or in a bad mood because YAHWEH clearly commands us to be joyous on this day.
Deuteronomy 16:12 says:
“And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt: and you shall observe and do these Laws”
Shavuot/Pentecost is the last Moedim/Appointed Time of the spring/summer and as you can see YAHWEH wants us to remember that He brought us up out of Egypt and on Shavuot we are to remember that we were slaves in Egypt. He wants us to remember this fact so that we do not backslide and forget His blessings. By having us remember that we were slaves keeps our focus on Him and His commandments so we do not become disobedient. Also the Book of Jubilees says to renew the Covenant from the flood:
Jubilees 6:16
“He placed His rainbow in the cloud for a sign of the everlasting Covenant that there should not be a flood again on the earth to destroy it all the days of the earth. For this reason it is ordained and written on the tablets of the heavens, that they should celebrate the FESTIVAL OF SHAVUOT in this month once a year, to RENEW THE COVENANT every year.”
Leviticus 23:17
“Bring from your dwellings for a wave offering two loaves of bread, of two-tenth parts of fine flour they are, BAKED WITH LEAVEN, first-fruits to YAHWEH.”
Shavuot is about giving thanks for the blessings of YAHWEH, giving a voluntary offering, rejoicing, renewing the Covenant, NO WORK, remembering that we were slaves in Egypt, baking two loaves of bread with leaven as first-fruits (the wave portion of the two loaves was for the priest) and the pouring out of the RUACH HA’KODESH (Holy Spirit.)
Giving of the RUACH HA’KODESH/Holy Spirit
Another important fact for this day is the promise that YESHUA gave before He ascended into heaven. YESHUA tells us in:
John 16:7
“But I say the truth to you. It is better for you that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you at all, but if I go, I shall send Him to you.”
It was important for YESHUA to ascend into heaven because He sent the RUACH HA’KODESH to dwell within us and verse 13 He tells us what the Holy Spirit will do:
“But when He comes, the Ruach (Spirit) of the Truth, He shall guide you into ALL TRUTH. For He shall not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears He shall speak, and He shall announce to you what is to come.”
The RUACH HA’KODESH will guide and us lead us into all truth; and show us how to obey the commandments just as Paul says in Romans 8 and Galatians 5. It is important to mention YESHUA’s promise of the Holy Spirit during the Festival of Shavuot because The Holy Spirit was poured out on His disciples on this very day.
Acts 2:1-4 says:
“And when the day of SHAVUOT/Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one purpose 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 RUACH HA’KODESH/Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The Book of Ruth is worth reading because it ties into Shavuot
Ruth 1:22 says:
“So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country, of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of the BARLEY HARVEST (SHAVUOT).”
Another interesting connection with the Book of Ruth and Shavuot is the command that YAHWEH gave concerning the land, He says in:
Leviticus 19:9-10
“And when you reap the harvest of your land, do not completely reap the corners of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. And do not glean your vineyard or gather every grape of your vineyard, leave them for the poor and the stranger. I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.”
Leviticus 23:22
“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not make clean riddance of the corners of your field when you reap, neither shall you gather any gleaning of the harvest: you shall leave them for the poor, and to the stranger: I am YAHWEH your ELOHIM.”
Deuteronomy 24:19-22
“When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, do not go back to get it. Let it be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow, so that YAHWEH your ELOHIM might bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, do not examine the branch behind you. Let it be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean behind you. Let it be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.”
YAHWEH made a specific command to not be greedy and clean the fields out when you reap the harvest because you are supposed to leave what is left for the poor, stranger, fatherless, and widow. The connection was made in Ruth, because Boaz did exactly as YAHWEH commanded:
Ruth 2:2-7 says:
“And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean heads of grain AFTER him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said unto her; Go, my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field AFTER the reapers; as it turned out, she came to the part of the field belonging to Bo’az, the near relative of Elimelek.”
As we see Boaz was obedient to YAHWEH’s command from the Torah and Ruth who was a widow benefited by being able to glean over his fields and also find favor in the sight of Boaz. And a side note is that Boaz and Ruth were blessed to be in the lineage of YESHUA:
1 Chronicles 2:11-15
“Nashon brought forth Salma, and Salma brought forth Boaz; Boaz brought Obed, and Obed brought forth Yishai (Jessie); and Jessie brought forth Eliyab his first-born, and Abinadab the second, and Shim’a the third, Nethan’el the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ostem the sixth, David the seventh.”
Let us prepare our hearts to get ready to rejoice before our Father YAHWEH and His Son YESHUA and enjoy the last Festival of the spring/summer before it picks back up again in the fall. As always please share this with those who need to hear this important message and may YAHWEH barak (bless) you in YESHUA’s Name!