feast of Firstfruits

When is Firstfruits The Wave Offering?

Update to this article:

I found scripture explaining that the term ‘Firstfruits’ in the context of this article is wrong. The day described here is actually the Wave of the Sheaf. 

The actual ‘Firstfruits’ is a holy assembly on the day after the seven-week count, also called Shavu’oth, Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks.

Therefore, most places in this article where you read Firstfruits, it is meant Shavu’oth/Feast of Weeks/Pentecost. I have gone through the text of the article and did a strikethrough of Firstfruits where it is used wrong.

Supporting Scripture:
Many verses describe an offering of your Firstfruits. This is any Firstfruits, any part of the year. The operative part of the concept is the first of the increase of your belongings.

Then there is a Day of Firstfruits.
Num_28:26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto YAHUAH after your weeks be out, ye shall have a holy assembly; ye shall do no servile work:

The day in Leviticus is called “that day when ye wave the sheaf,” and the specific offerings of that day are described, but nowhere is it called a ‘holy assembly.’

It becomes much clearer in Jubilees:

AND in the fifth year of the fourth week of this jubilee, in the third month, in the middle of the month, Avram celebrated the Feast of the Firstfruits of the grain harvest. YOVHELIYM (JUBILEES) 15:1 את CEPHER

And she bore a son in the third month, and in the middle of the month, at the time of which YAHUAH had spoken to Avraham, on the Feast of the Firstfruits of the harvest, Yitschaq was born. YOVHELIYM (JUBILEES) 16:13 את CEPHER

AND it came to pass in the first week (first 7 years) in the forty fourth jubilee, in the second year, that is, the year in which Avraham died, that Yitschaq and Yishma’el came from the Well of the Oath to celebrate the Feast of Shavu’oth that is, the Feast of the Firstfruits of the harvest to Avraham, their father, and Avraham rejoiced because his two sons had come. YOVHELIYM (JUBILEES) 22:1 את CEPHER

For it is the Feast of Shavu’oth and the Feast of Firstfruits of the wheat harvest: this feast is twofold and of a double nature: according to what is written and engraven concerning it, celebrate it. YOVHELIYM (JUBILEES) 6:21 את CEPHER

But why is it so easy to understand this so wrong?

In my case, I put it down to headings in the Bible that are inserts of man and not part of Scripture.
It is not in all Bibles, but it is in E-sword. I checked my Afrikaans Bible and the Cepher, and it is not in them. However, I use E-sword a lot for reviewing and studying Scripture and many Bible translations, and it is a standard feature in E-Sword for ALL Bibles.

This article argues that The Wave Offering is NOT the 16th day of the first month, as the popular belief is. Rather, it IS on the 23rd day of the first month.Here is why.

Unleavened Bread
This is probably my strongest argument for a 23rd-day Firstfruits Wave Offer.If Firstfruits the Wave Offer were on the 16th day, it is on the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. No leaven may be eaten, only unleavened bread.But look at what may/may not be eaten as a prescript of Firstfruit The wave Offer! Lev 23:14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched grain, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought את eth-an offering unto your ELOHIYM: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.Nothing about leaven is being said! On the second day of Unleavened Bread? And you may not eat bread on the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread? I think not!
Touch Me not!
(Update: I have been shown that this statement may not be accurate. It is about the 8 days later. But I leave it here, you can decide.)

Joh 20:17 YAHUSHA said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my YAH, and your YAH.

This YAHUSHA said to Mary Magdalene. She was not allowed to touch Him. Why? Was the Firstfruit not ready yet? Yahusha said He must first ascend to His Father. Later, Thomas the disciple, was encouraged to touch Him? Did Yahusha ascend to Father and returned, as our ripen Firstfruit?

Joh 20:26 And after eight days…

Joh 20:27 Then said he to Ta’om, Reach hither your finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Ta’om answered and said unto him, My ADONAI and my ELOHIYM.

We count from Firstfruit The Waving of the Sheaf to the Feast of Weeks.

All the confusion is from 1 text.

(NKJV)
Exo 19:1  In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 

From this translation.

(NIV) 
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.

Well, what has that to do with when Firstfruits The Wave Offer is? Wave of the Sheaf is clearly stated.

Lev 23:11  He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath, the priest shall wave it.

Which Shabbath?
The popular interpretation of this verse is that it is the Shabbath after Passover. The High Shabbath. The day following this Shabbath is the day YAHUASHA was raised from the grave. The 16th day.  And YAHUSHA is widely known as the (our) Firstfruit.

So, why is that so important?
Two feast days are reckoned on the calendar on account of this day.
A very important Feast day and holy assembly are reckoned on the calendar on account of this day.
1. The Feast of Firstfruit.
1. Shavuot, Firstfruits, The Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost. 
So, if we get this wrong, we are putting a holy day on the wrong day. We are warned.
Isa 5:20  Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 

When we look at Leviticus 23, where the feasts are listed, we see that the feast of Firstfruits waving of the sheaf is listed AFTER the feast of Unleavened Bread.  The feast of Unleavened Bread ends on the 21st day and is followed by a Shabbath on the 22nd day.

Therefore, if Lev 23:11 is referring to this Shabbath on the 22nd day, Firstfruits waving of the sheaf fall on the 23rd day and not the 16th day as reasoned above.

Pentecost is reckoned by counting seven complete weeks from Firstfruits the waving of the sheaf, landing on the seventh Shabbath after Firstfruits waving of the sheaf.  The following day is Pentecost.

Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Shabbath, from the day that ye brought את eth-the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Shabbathoth (Sabbaths) shall be complete:
Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh Shabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto YAHUAH.

So we are instructed to count seven complete weeks. A complete week is seven days and does not include the worship days of the New Moon, the transition period from one month to the other. We are then given a checksum of 50 days. (Number that day the 50th day.) Let’s do the math.
7×7 = 49+1 = 50.
Do you think it is a coincidence that seven weeks of seven days, plus one day, is 50 days?
(Some say you have to count the seven weeks and then add 50 days.) 

However, the point is that if you count from the wrong day, you cannot arrive at the correct result.

The next logical step is to plot the dates on the calendar and see where they land.

You can click on the image to enlarge it.

First, we plot from Wave of the Sheaf being on the 16th day of the first month. We land on the 9th day of the third month when we do that.

Then, we plot from Wave of the Sheaf being on the 23rd day of the first month. When we do that, we land on the 16th day of the third month.

Feast day calendar
View on PC with large screen and click on image to open.

And here we arrive now at the crucially important date of Ex19:1 at the beginning of this post. From this, so many assumptions are made by commentaries about the Exodus. The claim is that it took 47 days for Israel to reach mount, Sinai. Of course, based on that they arrived here on the first day of the third month. But is this correct?

Let us look again at what Ex19:1 tells us.

All the confusion is from 1 text.

(NKJV)
Exo 19:1  In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 

From this translation.

(NIV) 
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.

Do you see where the confusion comes in? Is the verse talking about the first day of the month or the same day they left Egypt?

Let us look at this verse more closely.

Exodus 19:1
(Afrikaans OV)  In die derde maand ná die uittog van die kinders van Israel uit Egipteland, op dieselfde dag, het hulle in die woestyn Sinai gekom—
(AMP)  In the third month after the children of Israel had left the land of Egypt, the very same day, they came into the Wilderness of Sinai.
(AMP+)  In the third month after the children of Israel had left the land of Egypt, the very same day, they came into the Wilderness of Sinai.
(AMPC)  IN THE third month after the Israelites left the land of Egypt, the same day, they came into the Wilderness of Sinai.
(AMPC+)  IN THE third month after the Israelites left the land of Egypt, the same day, they came into the Wilderness of Sinai.
(ESV)  On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
(ESV+)  On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
(KJV)  In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
(KJV+)  In the thirdH7992 month,H2320 when the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 were gone forthH3318 out of the landH4480 H776 of Egypt,H4714 the sameH2088 dayH3117 cameH935 they into the wildernessH4057 of Sinai.H5514
(LITV)  In the third month of the going out of the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt, on this day they came to the wilderness of Sinai.
(NAS77)  In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
(NASB)  In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
(NASB+)  R1In the thirdH7992 monthH2320 after the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 had goneH3318 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714, N1on that very dayH3117 they cameH935 into the wildernessH4057b of R2SinaiH5514.
(NIrV)  Exactly three months after the people of Israel left Egypt, they came to the Desert of Sinai.
(NIV)  On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.
(NKJV)  In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.

Scripture has no problem calling the first day of the month plain and straightforward (as shown below) simple and clear.

Gen 8:5)  In the tenth month, on the first day of the month,
(Exo 12:18)  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month
(Exo 40:17)  And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month,
(Lev 23:24)’In the seventh month, on the first day of the month,
(Lev 23:39)  ‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month,
(Num 1:1)  Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month,
(Num 9:5) the fourteenth day of the first month,
(Num 29:1)  ‘And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month,
(Num 33:3)  They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover, the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians.
(Num 33:38)  on the first day of the fifth month.
(Deu 1:3) in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month,
(Jos 4:19)  on the tenth day of the first month,
(2Ch 29:17)  on the first day of the first month,
(2Ch 35:1)  on the fourteenth day of the first month.
(Est 3:12)  on the thirteenth day of the first month,
(Eze 29:17) in the first month, on the first day of the month,
(Eze 30:20) in the first month, on the seventh day of the month,
(Eze 31:1)  in the third month, on the first day of the month,
(Eze 32:1)  in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month,
(Eze 45:18)  “In the first month, on the first day of the month,
(Eze 45:21)  “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month,
(Hag 1:1)  in the sixth month, on the first day of the month,

We now have two options for reading this. The New Moon day, the first day, OR the same day Israel left Egypt, the 14th/15th day.

My question, why mention ‘the day Israel left Egypt’, if it has no bearing on that day and that it is meant the first day of the month? Scripture has no problem in calling the first day of the month just that, (as shown in the first 22 passages shown) plain and straightforward. Why now bringing another term into the equation?

(KJV+)  In the thirdH7992 month, H2320 when the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 were gone forthH3318 out of the landH4480 H776 of Egypt,H4714 the sameH2088 dayH3117 cameH935 they into the wildernessH4057 of Sinai.H5514
H2088 (the same)
זֶה
zeh
zeh
A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that: – he, X hence, X here, it (-self), X now, X of him, the one . . . the other, X than the other, (X out of) the (self) same, such (an one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side . . . on that side, X thus, very, which. Compare H2063, H2090, H2097, H2098.
H3117 (day)
יוֹם
yôm
From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literally (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figuratively (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverbially): – age, + always, + chronicles, continually (-ance), daily, ([birth-], each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever (-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (. . . live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year (-ly), + younger.

The third new moon, on its own, does not say the first day or new moon day.
Therefore, there is no justification for the NIV translation. There is no mention of day in the original script. It simply says – third new moon.
(NIV)  On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.

H7992 (Third)
שְׁלִישִׁי
shelı̂yshı̂y
Ordinal from H7969; third; feminine a third (part); by extension a third (day, year or time); specifically a third story cell): – third (part, rank, time), three (years old).

H2320(Month)
חֹדֶשׁ
chôdesh
From H2318; the new moon; by implication a month: – month (-ly), new moon.

I, therefore, believe the translators that translate the verse as ‘the first day of the first month’ is wrong, and that it is saying ‘on the same day that Israel left Egypt’, which is the 14th day, that night of the 14th.

I am therefore not going to pay attention to a 9th day, Pentecost, because it is simply wrong. A wrong translation, counting from the wrong day.

What else do I have to prove what I am saying?

Be ready on the third day.

When we read further in Exodus 19, we get to the part, where Yahuah told Moses, that he has three days to prepare, before YAHUAH will speak to them from the mountain.

Exo 19:9 And YAHUAH said unto Mosheh, Lo, I come unto you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever. And Mosheh told את eth-the words of the people unto EL-YAHUAH.
Exo 19:10 And YAHUAH said unto Mosheh, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes,
Exo 19:11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day YAHUAH will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Ciynai.
On the calendar it looks like this:
Israel arrives on the 14th day, of the third month.
day 14, day 15, day 16.
The sixteenth day of the third month is the third day.

If we count the seven weeks from the 23rd day as Firstfruits Wave of the Sheaf, Pentecost falls on the 16th day of the third month. We also see that Yahuah spoke from the mountain on the 16th day of the third month. At Pentecost, we shaw the Ruach come on the people in the form of fiery tongues.

Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Jubilees

YOVHELIYM (JUBILEES) 1:1-2 את CEPHER
AND it came to pass in the first year of the exodus of the children of Yashar’el out of Mitsrayim, in the third month, on the sixteenth day of the month, that ELOHIYM spoke to Mosheh, saying: Come up to me on the Mount, and I will give you two sapphire stones of the Torah and of the commandment, which I have written, that you may teach them. 

(But Jubilees gets discounted as not accurate because it is not part of the canon. Even though the contrary has been shown above, how coincidental is it that Jubilees concur?)

Unleavened Bread

In closing, I want to repeat what I started with:

This is probably my strongest argument for a 23rd-day Firstfruits Wave Offer.

If Firstfruits Wave of the Sheaf were on the 16th day, it is on the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. No leaven may be eaten, only unleavened bread.

But look at what may/may not be eaten as a prescript of Firstfruit Wave of the Sheaf!
Lev 23:14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched grain, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought את eth-an offering unto your ELOHIYM: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Nothing about leaven is being said! On the second day of Unleavened Bread?
And you may not eat bread on the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
I think not!

The Shabua Count to Fifty.

Since I wrote this post, another study, title mentioned above, came to my attention. The study is presented in PowerPoint and I cannot duplicate it here. I, therefore, made a video copy of it and uploaded it to YouTube. In order to follow it, you must pause on every page to read a page at a time.

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