The Three Annual Festivals

¹⁴ “Three times^(A) a year you are to celebrate a festival to me.

¹⁵ “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread;^(B) for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv,^(C) for in that month you came out of Egypt.

“No one is to appear before me empty-handed.^(D)

¹⁶ “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest^(E) with the firstfruits^(F) of the crops you sow in your field.

“Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering^(G) at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.^(H)

¹⁷ “Three times^(I) a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord.

²⁴ I will drive out nations^(A) before you and enlarge your territory,^(B) and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the Lord your God.

The Passover^(A)

16 Observe the month of Aviv^(B) and celebrate the Passover^(C) of the Lord your God, because in the month of Aviv he brought you out of Egypt by night. ² Sacrifice as the Passover to the Lord your God an animal from your flock or herd at the place the Lord will choose as a dwelling for his Name.^{(D) 3} Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction,^(E) because you left Egypt in haste^(F)—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.^{(G) 4} Let no yeast be found in your possession in all your land for seven days. Do not let any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening^(H) of the first day remain until morning.^(I)

⁵ You must not sacrifice the Passover in any town the Lord your God gives you ⁶ except in the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name. There you must sacrifice the Passover in the evening, when the sun goes down, on the anniversary^[a](J) of your departure from Egypt. ⁷ Roast^(K) it and eat it at the place the Lord your God will choose. Then in the morning return to your tents. ⁸ For six days eat unleavened bread and on the seventh day hold an assembly^(L) to the Lord your God and do no work.^(M)

The Festival of Weeks^(N)

⁹ Count off seven weeks^(O) from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain.^{(P) 10} Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the Lord your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you. ¹¹ And rejoice^(Q) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name^(R)—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites^(S) in your towns, and the foreigners,^(T) the fatherless and the widows living among you.^{(U) 12} Remember that you were slaves in Egypt,^(V) and follow carefully these decrees.

¹⁶ Three times a year all your men must appear^(A) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread,^(B) the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles.^(C) No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed:^{(D) 17} Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.

¹³ But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people^(A) for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

¹⁴ “‘A foreigner^(B) residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”

¹⁸ On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.^{(A) 19} Present to the Lord a food offering^(B) consisting of a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(C) 20} With each bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah^(D) of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths;^{(E) 21} and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{(F) 22} Include one male goat as a sin offering^(G) to make atonement for you.^{(H) 23} Offer these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering. ²⁴ In this way present the food offering every day for seven days as an aroma pleasing to the Lord;^(I) it is to be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. ²⁵ On the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

The Festival of Weeks^(J)

²⁶ “‘On the day of firstfruits,^(K) when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Festival of Weeks,^(L) hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.^{(M) 27} Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(N) 28} With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths;^{(O) 29} and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{(P) 30} Include one male goat^(Q) to make atonement for you. ³¹ Offer these together with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering^(R) and its grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect.

The Festival of Trumpets^(A)

29 “‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.^(B) It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. ² As an aroma pleasing to the Lord,^(C) offer a burnt offering^(D) of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old,^(E) all without defect.^{(F) 3} With the bull offer a grain offering^(G) of three-tenths of an ephah^[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; with the ram, two-tenths^[b]; ⁴ and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{[c](H) 5} Include one male goat^(I) as a sin offering^[d] to make atonement for you. ⁶ These are in addition to the monthly^(J) and daily burnt offerings^(K) with their grain offerings^(L) and drink offerings^(M) as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma.^(N)

The Day of Atonement^(O)

⁷ “‘On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves^[e](P) and do no work.^{(Q) 8} Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(R) 9} With the bull offer a grain offering^(S) of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths;^{(T) 10} and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{(U) 11} Include one male goat^(V) as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering^(W) with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.^(X)

The Festival of Tabernacles^(Y)

¹² “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh^(Z) month,^(AA) hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days. ¹³ Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord^(AB) a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(AC) 14} With each of the thirteen bulls offer a grain offering^(AD) of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; ¹⁵ and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth.^{(AE) 16} Include one male goat as a sin offering,^(AF) in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.^(AG)

¹⁷ “‘On the second day^(AH) offer twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(AI) 18} With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings^(AJ) and drink offerings^(AK) according to the number specified.^{(AL) 19} Include one male goat as a sin offering,^(AM) in addition to the regular burnt offering^(AN) with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.^(AO)

²⁰ “‘On the third day offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(AP) 21} With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified.^{(AQ) 22} Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

²³ “‘On the fourth day offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ²⁴ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ²⁵ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

²⁶ “‘On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ²⁷ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ²⁸ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

²⁹ “‘On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ³⁰ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ³¹ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

³² “‘On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ³³ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ³⁴ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

³⁵ “‘On the eighth day hold a closing special assembly^(AR) and do no regular work. ³⁶ Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord^(AS) a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old,^(AT) all without defect. ³⁷ With the bull, the ram and the lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ³⁸ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

The Day of Atonement^(A)

16 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord.^{(B) 2} The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses^(C) into the Most Holy Place^(D) behind the curtain^(E) in front of the atonement cover^(F) on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear^(G) in the cloud^(H) over the atonement cover.

³ “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place:^(I) He must first bring a young bull^(J) for a sin offering^[a] and a ram for a burnt offering.^{(K) 4} He is to put on the sacred linen tunic,^(L) with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban.^(M) These are sacred garments;^(N) so he must bathe himself with water^(O) before he puts them on.^{(P) 5} From the Israelite community^(Q) he is to take two male goats^(R) for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

⁶ “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household.^{(S) 7} Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁸ He is to cast lots^(T) for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.^{[b](U) 9} Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. ¹⁰ But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement^(V) by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.

¹¹ “Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household,^(W) and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. ¹² He is to take a censer full of burning coals^(X) from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense^(Y) and take them behind the curtain. ¹³ He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover^(Z) above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die.^{(AA) 14} He is to take some of the bull’s blood^(AB) and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.^(AC)

¹⁵ “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people^(AD) and take its blood behind the curtain^(AE) and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle^(AF) it on the atonement cover and in front of it. ¹⁶ In this way he will make atonement^(AG) for the Most Holy Place^(AH) because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting,^(AI) which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. ¹⁷ No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.

¹⁸ “Then he shall come out to the altar^(AJ) that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar.^{(AK) 19} He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.^(AL)

²⁰ “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat.^{(AM) 21} He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat^(AN) and confess^(AO) over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. ²² The goat will carry on itself all their sins^(AP) to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.

²³ “Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments^(AQ) he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there.^{(AR) 24} He shall bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area^(AS) and put on his regular garments.^(AT) Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people,^(AU) to make atonement for himself and for the people.^{(AV) 25} He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.

²⁶ “The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat^(AW) must wash his clothes^(AX) and bathe himself with water;^(AY) afterward he may come into the camp. ²⁷ The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp;^(AZ) their hides, flesh and intestines are to be burned up. ²⁸ The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp.^(BA)

²⁹ “This is to be a lasting ordinance^(BB) for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month^(BC) you must deny yourselves^[c](BD) and not do any work^(BE)—whether native-born^(BF) or a foreigner residing among you— ³⁰ because on this day atonement will be made^(BG) for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.^{(BH) 31} It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves;^(BI) it is a lasting ordinance.^{(BJ) 32} The priest who is anointed and ordained^(BK) to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments^{(BL) 33} and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community.^(BM)

³⁴ “This is to be a lasting ordinance^(BN) for you: Atonement is to be made once a year^(BO) for all the sins of the Israelites.”

And it was done, as the Lord commanded Moses.