Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)

This feast was to take place exactly seven weeks and one day (the Hebrew word “Shavuot” means “weeks”), or fifty days (the Greek word “Pentecost” means “fifty”) after The Feast of Firstfruits.  It was also a harvest festival, when the Israelites were to present an offering of new grain in the temple.

"Safeguard the month of standing grain so that you will be able to keep the Passover to God your Lord, since it was in the month of standing grain that God your Lord brought you out of Egypt at night...Then count seven weeks for yourself. From the time that you first put the sickle to the standing grain, you must count seven weeks. You shall then celebrate the festival of Shavuot to God your Lord, presenting a hand-delivered offering according to the extent of the blessing that God your Lord has granted you...When you bring in the products of your threshing floor and wine vat, you shall celebrate the festival of Sukkot for seven days...Three times each year, all your males shall thus be seen in the presence of God your Lord in the place that He will choose: on the festival of matzahs, on the festival of Shavuot, and on the festival of Sukkot. You shall not appear before God empty-handed." (Deut 16)

In Israelite tradition it came to be believed that Moses received the Torah (Law) on Mount Sinai exactly fifty days after Firstfruits or, in other words, on Pentecost (based on Exodus 19:1).  Hence, the receiving of the Law is also celebrated on this day.

An extremely well know event occurred in New Testament times on the Day of Pentecost—the Holy Spirit fell on the first disciples with tongues of fire and other languages.  It took place 50 days after the resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus), who actually IS the “firstfuits” from the dead!

Today in Israel the Feast of Shavuot is celebrated by decorations with a harvest theme, and the reading of the account of the giving of the Law in Exodus 19-20.  The Book of Ruth is also read, as it is a book of harvest and redemption, ending with the genealogy of King David who-according to tradition-was born and died on Shavuot.

For Christians, Pentecost marks the “firstfuits” of the New Testament Covenant—the first believers in the church of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus, the Christ).  It also celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit so the Torah (Law) could be written, not on tablets of stone, but on our hearts.

Scriptural references: Lev 23:16, Ex 23:15-21, Acts Chapter 2