“And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.”
Numbers 28:17 is a part of a larger passage that describes the various offerings and sacrifices to be made by the Israelites on specific days throughout the year. In this verse, the focus is on the Feast of Unleavened Bread:The Feast of Unleavened Bread was an important festival in the Hebrew calendar, closely associated with the Passover.
It lasted for seven days and was observed in the month of Nisan, which corresponds to March-April in the modern calendar. The feast began on the fifteenth day of the month, which was the day after the Passover.
During this feast, the Israelites were commanded to eat unleavened bread for the entire duration of the festival. The use of unleavened bread was symbolic and held significant meaning. Leaven, or yeast, was a symbol of corruption and impurity in Jewish culture. Eating unleavened bread during the Feast of Unleavened Bread:represented the removal of sin and the pursuit of holiness and purity before God.
This command to eat unleavened bread for seven days was a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites had to leave Egypt during the time of the Exodus. The Israelites did not have time to let their bread rise and had to eat unleavened bread during their journey through the wilderness.
Beyond its historical significance, the Feast of Unleavened Bread:also foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, leaven is often used as a metaphor for sin, while unleavened bread represents purity and righteousness. Jesus, who was without sin, became the ultimate Passover Lamb and the perfect sacrifice for the redemption of humanity.
As Christians, we can draw spiritual lessons from Numbers 28:17. The command to eat unleavened bread for seven days encourages us to examine our lives and remove any sinful or corrupting influences. It reminds us of our need for purity and holiness in our relationship with God. Just as the Israelites left Egypt behind, we are called to leave behind our old sinful ways and live according to God’s standards.
In summary is removed since it should not be converted into a header: Numbers 28:17 emphasizes the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread:a significant festival in the Hebrew calendar. It highlights the importance of eating unleavened bread for seven days and symbolizes the removal of sin and the pursuit of holiness. It also points forward to Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, who fulfilled the Passover and became the perfect sacrifice for our redemption.
