On Occasion
Also called the Festival of Tabernacles, or the Festival of Ingathering. It was held on Ethanim 15-21. It celebrated the harvest at the end of the agricultural year for Israel and was a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving for Jehovah’s blessings on their crops. During the days of the festival, people lived in booths, or rooflike shelters, to remind them of the Exodus from Egypt. It was one of the three festivals that males were required to go to Jerusalem to observe.—Le 23:34; Ezr 3:4.
What is Festival of Booths?
From the Greek word aʹbys·sos, meaning “exceedingly deep” or “unfathomable, boundless.” It is used in the Christian Greek Scriptures to refer to a place or condition of confinement. It includes the grave but is not limited to it.—Lu 8:31; Ro 10:7; Re 20:3.
What is Abyss?
After the Babylonian exile, the new name for Abib, the first month of the Jewish sacred calendar and the seventh month of the secular calendar. It ran from mid-March to mid-April. (Ne 2:1)—See App. B15.
What is Nisan?
A variety of grasshoppers that migrate in great swarms. They were considered clean for food in the Mosaic Law. Large swarms that consume everything in their path, causing massive destruction, were regarded as a plague.—Ex 10:14; Mt 3:4.
What is Locusts?
A song of praise to God. They were set to music and sung by worshippers, including in public worship of Jehovah God at his temple in Jerusalem.—Lu 20:42; Ac 13:33; Jas 5:13.
What is Psalm?
The first of the three major annual festivals of the Israelites. It began on Nisan 15, the day after Passover, and continued for seven days. Only unleavened bread could be eaten, in remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt.—Ex 23:15; Mr 14:1.
What is Festival of Unleavened Bread?
A group of Greek cities, originally made up of ten cities (from Greek deʹka, meaning “ten,” and poʹlis, “city”). It was also the name for the region east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, where most of these cities were located. They were centers of Hellenistic culture and trade. Jesus passed through this region, but there is no record of his having visited any of the cities. (Mt 4:25; Mr 5:20)—See App. A7 and B10.
What is Decapolis?
The original name of the first month of the Jewish sacred calendar and the seventh month of the secular calendar. It means “Green Ears (of Grain)” and ran from mid-March to mid-April. After the Jews’ return from Babylon, it was called Nisan. (De 16:1)—See App. B15.
What is Abib?
A substance added to dough or to liquids to cause fermentation; especially a portion of fermented dough preserved from a previous batch. Often used in the Bible as a symbol of sin and corruption, it is also used to indicate hidden, pervasive growth.—Ex 12:20; Mt 13:33; Ga 5:9.
What is Leaven?
A composition, lyrical or musical, expressing deep sorrow, such as the grief expressed because of the death of a friend or a loved one; a lamentation.—2Sa 1:17; Ps 7:Sup.
What is Dirge?
A literal meal consisting of unleavened bread and wine as symbols of Christ’s body and blood; a memorial of Jesus’ death. Since this is an observance that Christians are Scripturally required to keep, it is also appropriately termed “the Memorial.”—1Co 11:20, 23-26.
What is Lord's Evening Meal?
The name given to the city of Jebus after David conquered it and built his royal residence there. It is also called Zion. It is the southeastern part as well as the oldest part of Jerusalem.—2Sa 5:7; 1Ch 11:4, 5.
What is City of David?
After the Jews’ return from Babylon, the name of the ninth month of the Jewish sacred calendar and the third month of the secular calendar. It ran from mid-November to mid-December. (Ne 1:1; Zec 7:1)—See App. B15.
What is Chislev?
The husks that are separated from the edible portion of grain during threshing and winnowing. It is used in figures of speech as a symbol of something worthless and undesirable.—Ps 1:4; Mt 3:12.
What is Chaff?
The superscription of Psalms 120-134. Although there are various ideas on the meaning of the phrase, many believe that these 15 psalms were sung by joyful Israelite worshippers as they ‘ascended’ to Jerusalem, which was situated high in the mountains of Judah, in order to attend the three great annual festivals there.
What is Song of the Ascents?
The second of the three major festivals that all Jewish males were required to celebrate in Jerusalem. Its meaning “Fiftieth (Day),” is the name used in the Christian Greek Scriptures for what is called the Festival of Harvest or Festival of Weeks in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was celebrated on the 50th day counted from Nisan 16.—Ex 23:16; 34:22; Ac 2:1.
What is Pentecost?
A region north of Greece that gained prominence under Alexander the Great and remained independent until conquered by the Romans. It was a Roman province when the apostle Paul made his first visit to Europe. Paul visited the area three times. (Ac 16:9)—See App. B13.
The first day of each month of the Jewish calendar, which was observed as a day for gathering together, feasting, and offering special sacrifices. In later periods, the day became an important national festival, and people abstained from work.—Nu 10:10;2Ch 8:13; Col 2:16.
What is New Moon?
A hard, stonelike substance that is formed from the skeletons of tiny sea animals. It is found in the ocean in a variety of colors, including red, white, and black. They were especially plentiful in the Red Sea. In Bible times, red ones were highly prized and were made into beads and other ornaments.—Pr 8:11.
What is Coral?
The heading at the beginning of a psalm that identifies the writer, gives background information, provides musical instructions, or indicates the use or purpose of the psalm.—See Psalms 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 30, 38, 60, 92, 102.
What is Superscription?
The annual day of remembrance for the cleansing of the temple after its defilement by Antiochus Epiphanes. The celebration began on Chislev 25 and lasted for eight days.—Joh 10:22.
What is Festival of Dedication?
An ancient nation south of Egypt. It included the southernmost part of modern-day Egypt and the northern half of modern-day Sudan. The expression is sometimes used for the Hebrew “Cush.”—Es 1:1.
What is Ethiopia?
After the Babylonian exile, the name of the 5th month of the Jewish sacred calendar and the 11th month of the secular calendar. It ran from mid-July to mid-August. It is not mentioned by name in the Bible; it is simply referred to as “the fifth month.” (Nu 33:38; Ezr 7:9)—See App. B15.
What is Ab?
A semiprecious stone, a hard variety of agate, or a banded form of chalcedony. It has white layers alternating with black, brown, red, gray, or green layers. It was used in the special garments of the high priest.—Ex 28:9, 12; 1Ch 29:2; Job 28:16.
What is Onyx?
A technical term for music or recitation found in Psalms and Habakkuk. It may mean a pause in the singing or in the music, or in both, for the purpose of silent meditation or to make the sentiment just expressed stand out. The Greek Septuagint rendering is di·aʹpsal·ma, defined as “a musical interlude.”—Ps 3:4; Hab 3:3.
What is Selah?