The Purpose of Israel’s Annual Feasts -- By: Timothy K. Hui
Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 147:586 (Apr 1990)
Article: The Purpose of Israel’s Annual Feasts
Author: Timothy K. Hui
BSac 147:586 (Apr 90) p. 143
The Purpose of Israel’s Annual Feasts
Attorney and Counselor
Thompson & Knight, Dallas, Texas
The feasts of the Lord were days of high importance for Israel.1 They punctuated her calendar with seasons of joyous celebration, sharing in agricultural abundance, and reprieve from the daily routine.2 But they were also religious events.3 Their importance is evidenced by the fact that three passages in the Mosaic legislation describe the feasts: Leviticus 23; Numbers 28–29; and Deuteronomy 16.
What was the significance of these annual religious festivals? Hulbert suggests that their significance was primarily eschatological and that they “were types which prophesied God’s redemptive program in Israel.”4 However, as Chafer points out, for a type to be valid, it must have “continuity of truth” in both testaments.5 So for
BSac 147:586 (Apr 90) p. 144
the annual cycle of feasts to have the eschatological significance that Hulbert proposes, it must first speak commemoratively to Israel of her past redemption before it can speak typologically of her future redemption. Hulbert recognizes this, but he gives little attention to the historical function.6 Both are needed, and the historical significance must be considered first. Stated in another way, before an Old Testament event can have a forward-looking typological function, its historical and retrospective significance must be seen.
How Do the Feast Passages Differ?
The three passages that describe the feasts differ in their emphases. Deuteronomy 16 stresses the pilgrimages to the feasts, Numbers 28–29 emphasizes the offerings, and Leviticus 23 focuses on the feasts themselves. Why are these emphases given?
Deuteronomy 16
In Deuteronomy 16 the pilgrimage (חַג) occupies a prominent place.7 That chapter mentions only the three pilgrimage-feasts, during which attendance before the Lord for all male Israelites was required.8 “These annual feasts would ke...
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