This prompts the question: why does so much confusion surround it?
To address this situation, it is important to note that the expectation to observe Yahweh’s sacred days dates back to Adam and Eve.
Let’s consider a few relevant passages from Scriptures.
And eloahim said, Let there be luminaries in the open expanse of the heaven to divide between the daytime and the night and let them be for signs and for מועדים (moadim; APPOINTED TIMES) and for days and years; and let them be for illuminations in the open expanse of the heaven to give light on the land; and it was so. And eloahim made the two great luminaries: the great luminary for ruling the day and the smaller luminary for ruling the night, and the stars. And eloahim set them in the open expanse of the heaven to give light upon the land and to rule over the daytime and over the night, and to separate between the light and the darkness. (Gen. 1:14-18)
He (Yahweh) made the moon for the מועדים (moadim; appointed times), the sun knows where he enters in. (Psalm 104:19)
Yahweh’s Festival Days are clearly designated as the moadim, or appointed times, which supports the fact that these Festival Days were observed from the very beginning in the Garden of Eden.
Abraham Kept the Festival Days
At a minimum, the Scriptures indicate that Abraham, who lived long before the Torah of Moses was established, observed Yahweh’s Festival Days. Scriptures tell us:
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, MY חקות (khoquth; STATUTES), and my laws. (Gen. 26:5)
Since these are moadim (appointed times), the Festival Days also fall under the category of statutes or ordinances. Therefore, one might ask: What statutes did Abraham follow? Without a doubt, they included the Festival and Sacred Days of Yahweh!
Three Times in the Year
We will now refer to Yahweh’s command regarding his Festival Days:
Three times in the year you shall celebrate to me: This, the Khag (Festival) of Unleavened Bread you shall keep. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I have commanded you for the moad (appointed time) of the moon of Abib, because in it you came out of Egypt. And you shall not appear to my face unworthy. And the Khag of the Harvest (Pentecost), the first fruits of your labor of what you sow in the field. And the Khag of Ingathering (Tabernacles), when the year goes out, in your gathering of your work from the field. Three times in the year every one of your males shall appear to the face of sovereign Yahweh. (Exod. 23:14-17)
It is important to note that when Yahweh gives the instructions about the Festival of Unleavened Bread, He tells the Israelites that they came out of Egypt during the appointed time (moad) of the moon of Abib. This moad occurred on the 14th of Abib. The Israelites came out of Egypt after being released from their bondage on the night of Abib 14, as indicated in Scriptures:
And Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover (Abib 14): no foreigner shall eat of it.” (Exod. 12:43)
And ON THAT VERY DAY (Passover, Abib 14) Yahweh brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts. (Exod. 12:51)
Released From Bondage
Scriptures add further support and clarification for Abib 14 to be the day that the Israelites came out of Egypt when they were released from their bondage:
Say therefore to the people of Israel, “I am Yahweh, and I WILL BRING YOU OUT FROM UNDER THE BURDENS OF THE EGYPTIANS, and I WILL DELIVER YOU FROM THEIR BONDAGE, and I WILL REDEEM YOU with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.” (Exod. 6:6)
Yahweh said to Moses, “Consecrate to me all the first-born; whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.” And Moses said to the people, “REMEMBER THIS DAY, IN WHICH YOU CAME OUT FROM EGYPT, OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE, FOR BY STRENGTH OF HAND YAHWEH BROUGHT YOU OUT FROM THIS PLACE; NO LEAVENED BREAD SHALL BE EATEN. THIS DAY YOU ARE TO GO FORTH, in the month of Abib.” (Exod. 13:1-4)
There can be no doubt that “THIS DAY” when the Israelites came out from Egypt is Passover Day, Abib 14, as confirmed by Exod. 12:43-51.
Released at Night
Scriptures continue with the evidence for “THIS DAY” to be Abib 14:
And Pharaoh rose up in the night (Abib 14), he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where one was not dead. AND HE CALLED TO MOSES AND AARON BY NIGHT, and said, “RISE UP, GO FORTH FROM AMONG MY PEOPLE, both you and the people of Israel; AND GO, serve Yahweh, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, AND BE GONE; and bless me also!” (Exod. 12:30-32)
It was on Abib 14 after midnight and “BY NIGHT” that the Israelites were delivered from their bondage and were no longer slaves to Egypt! This is in full accord with all the statements in Scriptures declaring that Yahweh brought the Israelites out of the house of bondage and the land of Egypt “BY NIGHT” on “THIS DAY.”
We will now return to the issue of the Festival of Unleavened Bread mentioned in Exodus 23:14-17.
Why Not Mention Passover?
Why didn’t Yahweh command that Passover be recognized as the first Festival to be observed instead of Unleavened Bread? Some may highlight this point to argue that Passover Day, which falls on Abib 14, is not a High Sabbath or part of the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
The facts indicate that the term “Passover” was not used until the event of the Exodus. With the Exodus occurring in 1439 B.C.E., the instructions were introduced for the first time to kill a lamb on Abib 14 and apply its blood on the door frame.
In simple terms, there was no need to mention the term “Passover” because the event did not exist before the Exodus. Conversely, the Festival of Unleavened Bread has roots that trace back to the time of Adam and Eve.
Festival Days Neglected
Furthermore, it is essential to note that Yahweh needed to inform Moses and the Israelites about the beginning of the month of Abib. They were given specific instructions for Abib 10 and the days of Abib 14-20 (See Exod. 12:1-20).
Thus, Yahweh fully expected the Israelites to start observing the 7-day Festival of Unleavened Bread and His other Sacred Days, as outlined in Exod. 23:14-17, even though they had neglected these observances for approximately 400 years.
Passover and Unleavened Bread
In reality, Yahweh instituted the Passover event to coincide with the first day of the 7-day Festival of Unleavened Bread. The timing for both Passover and Unleavened Bread was remarkable and precise.
It is essential to note the explicit instructions regarding the consumption of unleavened bread and the observance of Passover on Abib 14:
And they shall eat the flesh IN THIS NIGHT (ABIB 14), roast with fire, and UNLEAVENED BREAD; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (Exod. 12:8)
Participants were required to eat the flesh along with UNLEAVENED BREAD!
All Leaven Removed
This is not all. All leaven was to be gone from the homes of the Israelites before the beginning of Abib 14, which commenced after sunset.
SEVEN DAYS you shall eat unleavened bread; ON THE FIRST DAY YOU CAUSE LEAVEN TO CEASE OUT OF YOUR HOUSES, for if any one eats what is leavened, FROM THE FIRST DAY UNTIL THE SEVENTH DAY, that person shall be cut off from Israel. (Exod. 12:15)
Carefully observe that leaven was to have ceased out of the houses FROM THE FIRST DAY UNTIL THE SEVENTH DAY.
Scriptural Confirmation
The fact that Passover Day, Abib 14, is the first day of the Festival of Unleavened bread is reflected and supported by Scriptures with the following:
In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall celebrate the Festival of the Passover, and for seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten. (Ezek. 45:21)
Now prior to the day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Yahushua, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” (Matt. 26:17)
It was now two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. (Mark 14:1)
And prior to the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” (Mark 14:12)
Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. (Luke 22:1)
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. (Luke 22:7)
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us. (1Cor. 5:7)
The Opposing View
The opponents of the 7-day Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread practice offer a rebuttal. They claim that Scriptures promote an 8-day scheme as purportedly found with the passages from the books of Leviticus and Numbers.
Lev. 23:6 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is Yahweh’s Passover.
Lev. 23:6 And ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY of the same month is the Khag (Festival) of Unleavened Bread to Yahweh. Seven days you must eat unleavened bread.
Lev. 23:7 On the first day you shall have a sacred convocation; you shall do no laborious work.
Lev. 23:8 But you shall present an offering by fire to Yahweh seven days; on the seventh day is a sacred convocation; you shall do no laborious work.
Num. 28:16 On the fourteenth day of the first month is Yahweh’s passover.
Num. 28:17 And ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY of this month is a Khag (Festival). Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
Num. 28:18 On the first day there shall be a sacred convocation: you shall do no laborious work.
Num. 28:25 And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.
The passages seem to suggest that the 7-day Festival of Unleavened Bread begins on Abib 15 and lasts until Abib 21. The Scriptures also clearly state that Abib 15 is considered a Khag or Festival Day.
This raises an important question: How does the information from these passages compare with that in the book of Ezekiel?
In the first month, in the FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, you shall have the PASSOVER, A חג (KHAG, FESTIVAL) OF SEVEN DAYS unleavened bread shall be eaten. (Ezek. 45:21)
Ezekiel clearly states that each day of the 7-day Passover and Unleavened Bread observance is considered a Khag or Festival day. This confirms that the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread spans from Abib 14 to 20.
How can one reconcile the seemingly conflicting statements in this passage from Ezekiel?
The answer becomes more apparent when we examine the passages from Ezekiel alongside those in Leviticus and Numbers in chronological order.
In the first month, in the FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, you shall have the PASSOVER, A חג (KHAG, FESTIVAL) OF SEVEN DAYS unleavened bread shall be eaten. (Ezek. 45:21)
And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread unto Yahweh. Seven days you must eat unleavened bread. (Leviticus 23:6)
Scriptures indicate that the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which falls on Abib 14, is also known by another name due to the unique circumstances of the Exodus, a one-time event. This name is “Passover.”
Consequently, the first day of the 7-day festival can be referred to as both the Festival of Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
The passage from Leviticus serves to remind readers that Abib 15 marks the second day of the 7-day festival of Unleavened Bread. It also emphasizes the importance of eating unleavened bread throughout the entire 7 days of the festival. According to the book of Ezekiel, the festival begins on Abib 14.
When all relevant passages are examined together, the Scriptures consistently affirm that the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread spans from Abib 14 to Abib 20, fulfilling the requirement to eat unleavened bread for the entire duration of 7 days.
Summation
When examining the Scriptures closely, it is clear that Yahweh has preserved precise dates and instructions for observing the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread.
Passover Day, which falls on Abib 14, marks the beginning of the 7-day Festival of Unleavened Bread, running from Abib 14 to Abib 20.
Additionally, both the first and last days of the Festival—Abib 14 and Abib 20—are designated as High Sabbaths, as outlined in Scriptures:
On the first day you shall hold a sacred convocation, and on the seventh day a sacred convocation; no work shall be done on those days; but what every one must eat, that only may be prepared by you. (Exod. 12:16)
Hopefully, this study has proven helpful for those genuinely seeking Yahweh’s truth of the matter.
Yahweh be with you.