Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost

Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost

 

Introduction

Next in a series of Harvests & Celebrations studies is Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost. The details concerning the Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost will provide a more meaningful understanding of the historical events and spiritual fulfillment surrounding the wheat harvest.

Signs of the Time

After counting the 50 days of Omer from "the morrow after the sabbath" of the feast of unleavened bread, the firstfruits of the wheat harvest were ready to be selected, bound, and taken to the high priest as a new wave offering to God.

Deuteronomy 16:9 KJV - "Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn."

Leviticus 23:16 KJV - "Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD."

Numbers 28:26 KJV - "Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:"

According to the Hebrew calendar, 50 days from Nisan 16 is Sivan 6; the third month in the ecclesiastical year. According to the Gregorian calendar, this day would fall between May and June. Recall that if Nisan 16 was a sabbath, some communities would start counting the days of Omer on Nisan 17 and Shavuot would fall on Sivan 7. Also recall how communication challenges lead to celebrating holy days for multiple days in order to not miss the correct day, per God's commandment. Likewise, the potential of miscounting the days of Omer has been a contributing factor in the reason why Shavuot is celebrated for two days.

Historical Names & References

This holy day is known to many by different names. Most notably, the Hebrew name for this holy day is Shavuot and in the Greek, Pentecost. (Read Verses)

Feast of Harvest

Exodus 23:16 KJV - "And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field."

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Feast of Weeks

Exodus 34:22 KJV - "And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end."

Deuteronomy 16:10, 16 KJV - "10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: ... 16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:"

2 Chronicles 8:13 KJV - "Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles."

Day of Firstfruits

Numbers 28:26 KJV - "Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:"

(Day of) Pentecost

Acts 2:1 KJV - "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."

Acts 20:16 KJV - "For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost."

1 Corinthians 16:8 KJV - "But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost."

• “Shavuot” (lit. “Weeks”)

• “Chag HaShavuot” (lit. “Festival/Feast of (the) Weeks”)

• “Feast of Weeks” (Exodus 34:22, Deuteronomy 16:10,16, 2 Chronicles 8:13)

• “Chag HaBikkurim” (lit. “Festival/Feast of (the) Firstfruits”)

• “Feast of Firstfruits” (Alt. English rendering)

• “Chag Matan Torateinu” (lit. “Festival of the giving of our Torah”)

• “Chag HaKatzir” (lit. "Festival of (the) reaping"; Exodus 23:16)

• “Feast of Harvest” (Exodus 23:16)

• “Yom HaBikkurim” (lit. "Day of (the) firstfruits"; Numbers 28:26)

• “Day of Firstfruits” (Numbers 28:26)

• “Bikkurim” (lit. “Firstfruits”)

• (Day of) “Pentecost” (lit. “The Fiftieth”) (Acts 2:1, 20:16, 1st Corinthians 16:8) 

A few historical accounts that take place during the time of wheat harvest include: Genesis 30:14, Judges 15:1, Ruth 2:23, 1st Samuel 6:13, 12:17. (View Verses)

Genesis 30:14 KJV - "And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes."

Judges 15:1 KJV - "But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in."

Ruth 2:23 KJV - "So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law."

1 Samuel 6:13 KJV - "And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it."

1 Samuel 12:17 KJV - "Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king."

Ancient Ordinance

God commanded his people to keep the feast and to bring with them a freewill offering.

Exodus 23:15-16 KJV - "15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) 16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field."

Exodus 34:22 KJV - "And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end."

Deuteronomy 16:10, 16 KJV - "10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: ... 16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:"

The firstfruits of wheat, specifically two loaves of wheat, were to be brought as a wave/heave offering to the Lord. All other firstfruits of the land, as they became ripe, crops and animals alike, were to be brought for offerings as well. After the offering, the rest of the wheat crop could be harvested.

Exodus 23:19 KJV - "The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk." (Repeated in Exodus 34:26)

Leviticus 23:17-20 KJV - "17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD. 18 And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD. 19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest."

Numbers 15:19-21 KJV - "19 Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD. 20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it. 21 Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations."

Numbers 28:27-31 KJV - "27 But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year; 28 And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram, 29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; 30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. 31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings."

(Similarly, God compared the manner of offering tithes to the offering of grains.  View) 

Numbers 18:26-30 KJV - "26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. 27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress. 28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest. 29 Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it. 30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress."

Shavuot was to be proclaimed as a restful holy convocation.

Leviticus 23:21 KJV - "And 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."

Numbers 28:26 KJV - "Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:"

Shavuot was made to be a day of rejoicing before the Lord; this was for everyone including the stranger.

Deuteronomy 16:11-12 KJV - "11 And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there. 12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes."

God gave the specific procedures for carrying out the offerings of firstfruits.

Deuteronomy 26:1-10 KJV - "1 And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein; 2 That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there. 3 And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us. 4 And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God. 5 And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous: 6 And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage: 7 And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression: 8 And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: 9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey. 10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:"

Historical Observance

An Ancient Hebrew Custom

Upon selecting the first ripe fruits, a ribbon would be tied to the fruit to mark it chosen and the person would say, “This shall be among the bikkurim." Everyone would gather their firstfruits that they had marked ready to bring for an offering. Those who lead the procession to Jerusalem would sleep through the night in the open center of town in order to ensure they remained ritually pure. It is said that at the break of day, the leader would say, "Arise, let us ascend to Zion, the house of YHWH our God." Once near Jerusalem, the horns of the first bull offerings were made to appear gold and an olive leaf wreath was placed on its head. The horns of the later arriving bull offerings were made silver. The firstfruits were decorated and carried in baskets on the shoulder or the head.  (Baskets specifically, per Deuteronomy 26:2) Baskets were sometimes made of gold or silver. The procession continued to Jerusalem with the sound of a flute until they reached the Temple. They would sing psalms and greet one another as they entered the city. Young children were brought to the temple as a fulfillment of Deuteronomy 16:16. While carrying the baskets, they would refer to Deuteronomy 26:3 by saying, “a wayfaring Aramæan was my father." The basket would then be held out low and the priest would place his hand under the basket and swing it upward several times and repeat their saying. The basket was then placed to the side of the altar and the man that carried the basket would bow in worship to God before leaving; in congruence with Deuteronomy 26:10. There were seven tiered baskets that held a variety of Firstfruits. Starting from the bottom basket, there was barley, and then wheat, olives, dates, pomegranates, figs, and the top basket would hold a dove. Doves were used for burnt offerings. The two loaves of bread were carried to the altar with the sounds of trumpets and flutes. The loaves and the lambs were then waved from the east side of the altar. Once the lamb was killed it was waved a second time. At the end of the ceremony, the priests would eat of the bread loaves; recalling the entrance into Egypt, the bringing forth from slavery through God’s mighty hand, and the being led into the Promised Land; in congruence with Deuteronomy 26:5-9. (see Mishnah Bikkurim 3)

Post Temple Observance

Shavuot was chiefly associated with the temple offerings. Since the destruction of the temple,  offerings and sacrifices ceased; resulting in the observance of the spiritual aspect that God manifested to his people. Shavuot symbolically recognized the marriage covenant made between God and his people; thus the commemoration of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

The Giving of the Law

While scripture is not specifically clear on the date the law was given by God, it is known to have been given within the first half of the third month; being on or around the day of Shavuot. Exodus 19:1-2 tells of the Israelites arriving and camping before the mount in the wilderness of Sinai in the third month.

Exodus 19:1-2 KJV - "1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount."

By the third day, God came down in a thick cloud upon the mount. Moses was called up to the top of the mount and God spoke the ten commandments.

Exodus 19:11, 16, 20 KJV - "11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.... 20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up."

Exodus 20:1 KJV - "And God spake all these words, saying," (See Exodus 20:2-17)

Exodus 20:2-17 KJV - "2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

​Exodus 20:18-19, 21-22 KJV - "18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. ... 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was."22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven." 

The people were too fearful to hear from God directly, thus in Exodus chapters 21-23 God speaks the judgments to Moses alone. Moses then returns and after building an altar the next morning, he rehearsed the law and commandments before all the people. Moses was then called back up into the mount to receive the law and commandments that God had written on tables of stone.

Exodus 24:3-4, 7, 12 KJV - "3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do. 4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. ... 7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. ... 12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

These laws and commandments are repeated and expounded on in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The five books from Genesis to Deuteronomy are collectively referred to as the "Torah", which means "law", "instruction", or "teaching").

Modern Observance

Modern Day Jewish Practice

As a general overview, in Israel and around the world, Shavuot continues to be a day of thanksgiving for all that God has provided. It is traditional to decorate with flowers and green plant life. Many read poetry on Shavuot. Since the holiday recalls the giving of the Torah, reading the Torah is the main focus aside from the celebration meal. It is customary to stay up all night reading the Torah since the people overslept at Mount Sinai. There is a desire to display eagerness to receiving and hearing the Torah. Alternatively, in many traditions, observers may stay up until midnight. Since this holy day is correlated with a wedding, it has been viewed as a wedding anniversary; with its observance being likened unto preparing for a wedding. The commandments and laws are read, the book of Ruth is read for a variety of reasons: such as the belief that King David was born and died on Shavuot and that Ruth is an ascendant. Another reason is that it pertains to a time of harvest. Other choice scriptures are read as well. Aside from the reading of the Torah, there is a feast celebration meal. Unlike Passover, the meal lacks several ceremonial steps. It is traditional during every holiday to light candles before the meal, say the candle lighting blessing, and say a blessing over the meal. It is also traditional on Shavuot to eat a lot of dairy products. There are many reasons for this: one being that the promise land flows with milk and honey. Some may reference Song of Solomon 4:11, “…honey and milk are under thy tongue…”

Modern Day Christian Practice

For Christians, this holiday is known as Pentecost. Many Christians recognize the day rather than make a celebration out of it. If there is a celebration it may include decorations of doves or flames that represent the Holy Spirit. There may also be a hosted meal or a potluck and the book of Acts may be read from.

Christians commemorate the receiving of the Holy Spirit and recall the historical account of Pentecost in the first century.

Acts 2:1-4, 33 KJV - "1 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 Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ... 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."

Acts 5:32 KJV - "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."

Acts 10:45 KJV - "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Romans 5:5 KJV - "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Ephesians 1:13 KJV - "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

1 Thessalonians 4:8 KJV - "He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit."

1 Corinthians 2:12 KJV - "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."

1 Peter 1:12 KJV - "Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into."

Christians may read or reflect on how the Holy Spirit was promised by Christ. 

John 7:39 KJV - "(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

(See also Mark 1:8, Luke 24:49, John 1:33, 14:16-18, 26, 15:26, 16:7, Acts 1:5, 8, 11:16)

Mark 1:8 KJV - "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."

Luke 24:49 KJV - "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

John 1:33 KJV - "And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."

John 14:16-18, 26 KJV - "16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. ... 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

John 15:26 KJV - "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"

John 16:7 KJV - "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

Acts 1:5, 8 KJV - "5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. ... 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Acts 2:38 KJV - "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Acts 11:16 KJV - "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost."

Christians may also read or reflect on the receiving of the law that was promised by God to one day be written in the hearts of his people.

Romans 2:14-15 KJV - "14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)"

(See also Hebrews 8:10, 10:16, John 14:17, Acts 1:2, 2:38, Romans 5:5, 1st Corinthians 6:19, 2nd Corinthians 3:2,  Titus 3:5)

Hebrews 8:10 KJV - "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:"

Hebrews 10:16 KJV - "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;"

John 14:17 KJV - "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

Acts 1:2 KJV - "Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:"

Romans 5:5 KJV - "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV - "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 KJV - "2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."

Titus 3:5 KJV - "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

Christians may also recall the many who were filled with the Holy Ghost who asked.

Luke 11:13 KJV - "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

(Luke 1:41, 67, John 20:22, Acts 2:4, 4:8, 4:31, 6:3, 5, 7:55, 8:15, 17-18, 9:17-18, 10:38, 47-48, 15:8, 11:15, 24, 13:9, 52, 19:6, 1st Thessalonians 1:6)

Luke 1:41, 67 KJV - "41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: ... 67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,"

John 20:22 KJV - "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:"

Acts 2:4 KJV - "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Acts 4:8, 31 KJV - "8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, ... 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

Acts 6:3, 5 KJV - "3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ... 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:"

Acts 7:55 KJV - "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,"

Acts 8:15, 17-18 KJV - "15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: ... 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,"

Acts 9:17-18 KJV - "17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."

Acts 10:38, 47 KJV - "38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. ... 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 

Acts 15:8 KJV - "And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;"

Acts 11:15, 24 KJV - "15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. ... 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord."

Acts 13:9, 52 KJV - "9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, ... 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost."

Acts 19:6 KJV - "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."

1 Thessalonians 1:6 KJV - "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:"

Shavuot Fulfillment

Some proclaim that Shavuot/Pentecost was fulfilled in every aspect. There are others that differ due to the fact that the Bible does not give the exact day that the law was given on Mount Sinai. Here are the correlations between the two events commemorated on this day.

1. Shavuot (Hebrew)/Pentecost (Greek) Observed

Leviticus 23:16 KJV - "Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD."

Numbers 28:26 KJV - "Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:"

Acts 2:1KJV - "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 20:16 KJV - "For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost."

2. Given The Torah Then The Holy Spirit

Exodus 19:1 KJV - "In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

Exodus 24:3 KJV - "And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.

Acts 2:1, 3-4 KJV - "1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ... 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 Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

3. The LORD Descended with Sound, Fire, & Speech

Exodus 19:18-19 KJV - "And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice."

Exodus 24:17 KJV - "And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel."

Acts 2:1-4 KJV - "1 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 Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

4. Law Written In Stone Then Heart

Exodus 31:18 KJV - "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God."

Jeremiah 31:33 KJV - "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Acts 1:2 KJV - "Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:"

2 Corinthians 3:3 KJV - "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."

The old covenant that was given to God’s people on Mt. Sinai needed to be made new, was prophesied to be made new, and was remade new. This will be covered in "Covenant Fulfillment."

5. Exhorted to Consecrate: 3000 Die Then 3000 Saved

Exodus 32:28-29 KJV - "28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. 29 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day."

Acts 2:40-41 KJV - "40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

Conclusion

In likeness to Passover and the barley harvest, Shavuot was fulfilled by Christ when he sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, along with the covenant that God made with his people. The wheat harvest however, has yet to be completed.