📖 Biblical Definition
The four appointed feasts of the spring half of Israel's calendar (months 1-3, Nisan through Sivan): Passover (Pesach, Nisan 14), Unleavened Bread (Matzot, Nisan 15-21), Firstfruits (within Unleavened Bread), and Weeks/Pentecost (Shavuot, 50 days after Firstfruits). Christologically: Christ crucified at Passover, buried during Unleavened Bread, raised at Firstfruits, Spirit poured out at Weeks (Pentecost / Acts 2). The whole spring cycle was fulfilled in the events of Christ's first coming.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Spring feasts: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Weeks.
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The four appointed feasts of the spring half of Israel's calendar (Lev 23:4-22; Num 28:16-31): (1) Passover (Pesach, Nisan 14): commemorating the deliverance from Egypt; lamb sacrificed and blood applied. (2) Unleavened Bread (Matzot, Nisan 15-21): seven days of bread without leaven; pilgrimage feast. (3) Firstfruits (within Unleavened Bread): waving of the first sheaf of barley harvest before YHWH. (4) Weeks/Pentecost (Shavuot, 50 days after Firstfruits): wheat-harvest firstfruits with two leavened loaves. Christologically aligned: Christ crucified as Passover lamb (1 Cor 5:7), buried during Unleavened Bread, risen at Firstfruits (1 Cor 15:20-23 calls Him "the firstfruits of them that slept"), Spirit poured out 50 days later at Pentecost / Weeks (Acts 2). The whole spring cycle was fulfilled at Christ's first coming.
📖 Key Scripture
Leviticus 23:5-7 — "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread."
1 Corinthians 5:7 — "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."
1 Corinthians 15:20 — "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
The Christological precision of the spring feasts (Christ fulfilling each in order) is the gospel-richness modern reading misses.
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The spring feasts were fulfilled at Christ's first coming with extraordinary precision: Passover lamb crucified on the day Passover lambs were slaughtered; risen at Firstfruits as the firstfruits of resurrection; Spirit poured out at Weeks/Pentecost. The OT calendar was scheduling the gospel-history.
Recover the precision: each feast was a rehearsal for the actual event. Christ kept the schedule.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew moadim — appointed times.
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['Hebrew', 'H4150', 'moed', 'appointed time, feast']
['Hebrew', 'H6453', 'Pesach', 'Passover']
['Hebrew', 'H7620', 'Shavuot', 'Weeks']
Usage
"Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Weeks."
"Christ fulfilled each in order at first coming."
"OT calendar was scheduling the gospel."