Shavuos in Temple Times

 

THE FESTIVAL OF SHAVUOT

Although a one-day festival, Shavuot really begins with the conclusion of the first day of Passover, some fifty days earlier. On that second day of the Passover festival, the new barley crop was first harvested and offered in the Holy Temple. On Shavuot the wheat harvest was celebrated by the harvesting and bringing of the new wheat crop to the Holy Temple, where it was prepared and used in the baking of the two special Shavuot loaves. Likewise, pilgrims brought the firstfruits from their own fields and orchards, of the seven fruits of the land of Israel mentioned in Deuteronomy: Figs, grapes, dates, pomegranates, olives, wheat and barley. Despite being at the height of the growing season, when the physical demands upon farmers was great, the pilgrims joyfully gathered their firstfruit offerings, and set out for Jerusalem and the Holy Temple.

The festival of Shavuot commemorates the receiving of Torah by the entire nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, fifty days after exiting Egypt.

Moses ascended Mount Sinai alone, where he would receive the Torah. But the opening commandments were heard by all the children of Israel, directly from the "mouth" of G-d.

When the Holy Temple stands in Jerusalem, Shavuot takes on a different dimension that complements the commemoration of the receiving of Torah. The Day of the Firsfruits as it is also known, was marked largely by the offering of the season's firstfruits from all over the land of Israel, as a gesture of profound gratitude to the Holy One for all the abundance with which he has blessed His people - material, as well as spiritual.

"When a person goes down to his field and sees (for the first time) a ripe fig...

"When a person goes down to his field and sees (for the first time) a ripe fig or a ripe cluster of grapes..."

"When a person goes down to his field and sees (for the first time) a ripe fig or a ripe cluster of grapes, or a ripe pomegranate, he binds a reed-gress ribbon around it and says, 'These are the firstfruits...'"(Bikkurim 1:1)

In anticipation of the upcoming Shavuot festival, families begin gathering the firstfruits that they had previously marked with the reed-grass ribbon.

Gathering together in the village of the local Assembly Head, who will lead them, the pilgrims sleep out of doors, (so as not to become ritually impure), before starting out in the morning for Jerusalem.

Laden with firstfruits, both man and beast make their way to Jerusalem - and the Holy Temple.

After a journey as long as several days, (or even weeks), the pilgrims finally arrive within sight of Jerusalem.

The horns of an ox being brought as an offering were adorned with gold plating. Latecomers would adorn the horns of their animal offerings with silver.

Mount Sinai

The festival of Shavuot commemorates the receiving of Torah by the entire nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, fifty days after exiting Egypt.

Read about Shavuos in Temple Times, with its customs shown in magnificent artwork. Worth the experience. https://templeinstitute.org/shavuot/