7 Holy Convocations
The 7th day Sabbath is the first of all festivals; however, it is not the only Sabbath. There are 7 other Sabbaths that are proclaimed in Leviticus 23. They are sometimes referred to as Holy Convocations that comes from Leviticus 23:4.
4 These are the feasts of Yehovah, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
Just prior to this is when God equates a Holy Convocation to a Sabbath, Leviticus 23:3.
3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of Yehovah in all your dwellings.
Why these must be understood by the New Testament believers is, first of all, God commands us to observe these days as a Sabbath. Secondly, if one does not understand these days, they will be unable to discern when Yeshua died on the cross, was in the grave and when He rose in resurrection life. The reason being, the Holy Convocations are dependent upon a date as opposed to a day of the week. As such, it is possible to have two Sabbaths in a single 7 day period. As a matter of fact, often there are two Sabbaths in a row as it happened in the Resurrection of Yeshua.
The first two Holy Convocations are in Leviticus 23:6-8.
6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto Yehovah: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yehovah seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
They are the 1st and 7th days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 15th and 22nd of Aviv or Nisan, the 1st month of the Hebrew Calendar.
The 3rd holy convocation is Shavous or Pentecost, Leviticus 23:21.
21And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
Shavous is the 6th of Sivan, the 3rd month of the Hebrew Calendar.
The 4th holy convocation is Rosh Hashanah, Leviticus 23:24.
24Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year is the 1st of Tishri, the 7th month of the Hebrew Calendar.
The 5th holy convocation is Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, Leviticus 23:27.
27Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto Yehovah.
Yom Kippur is a day of national atonement. It is the 10th of Tishri.
The last two holy convocations are in Leviticus 23:34-36.
34Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto Yehovah. 35On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 36Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yehovah: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yehovah: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
The 6th holy convocation is the 1st day of Sukkoth, the Feast of Tabernacles. It is the 15th of Tishri.
The 7th holy convocation is the day immediately following the seven days of Sukkoth, the 22nd of Tishri. It is called Shemini Atsereth or the 8th Festival.
The 7 Holy Convocations in order are:
- 1st day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Aviv or Nisan 15
- 7th day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Aviv or Nisan 22
- Shavous or Pentecost, Sivan 6
- Rosh Hashanah or the New Year, Tishri 1
- Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, Tishri 10
- 1st day of Sukkoth or the Feast of Tabernacles, Tishri 15
- Shemini Atsereth, the 8th Festival, Tishri 22
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