The “Appointed Times”

The Appointed Times of YHVH are better known by most in English as the ‘Festivals’. The Hebrew word used is “Moiadim”, which is more like ‘a sacred appointment’. Some of the Appointed Times, like Tabernacles are actually festivals; joyful gatherings filled with praise and rejoicing, others like “Yom Kippur”, are serious and solemn days of fasting and prayer, the very opposite of what we regard the meaning of ‘festival’ to represent.

The following are instructed by YHVH in the Word:

  • 1st of Aviv- Rosh Hashanah (the head of the year)
  • 10th of Aviv- take the spotless lamb into the home
  • 14th of Aviv- Pesach
  • 14th-22nd of Aviv- Ha’Matzot (the time of unleavened bread)
  • During the Matza week above- Biccurim (First Fruits)
  • From Biccurim, the counting of the Omer, 50 days, or seven weeks or seven Shabbats plus one day  to;
  • 1st day of the week in the 1st or 2nd week of Sivan: Shavuot
  • 1st of Ethanim (7th month) – Yom Teruah (the day of Trumpets)
  • 10th of Ethanim – Yom Kippur (the day of Atonement)
  • 15th-21st of Ethanim-  Sukkot ( the festival of Tabernacles)
  • 22nd of Ethanim – Shemini Atzeret ( the day of Solemn Assembly)

Of these appointed times or Moadim, there are eight separate days which are regarded as most significant, and repeated many times throughout the Scriptures. Seven of these eight days are the only commanded extra Shabbats, in addition to the weekly Shabbat. Biccurim we include with this list, although it is not ordered to be a ‘shabbat’, it is sort of like the eighth sacred day, beyond the perfection of seven. It represents the eternity after this life.

  • Pessach / Passover in Egypt / the death of Yahshuah
  • Last day of Ha’Matzot / leaving in haste from bondage, the manna / Yahshuah’s burial / bitterness out of our lives
  • Biccurim / first fruits in the promised land / resurrection of Yeshuah
  • Shavuot / giving of the Torah, after seven Shabbats / giving of the Holy Spirit
  • Yom Teruah / ??? / the return of the Messiah
  • Yom Kippur / the scape goat (Azazel) and sacrificial goat / the forgiveness of sins ( as “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” )
  • Sukkoth / remembrance of dwelling in booths in the desert / the birth of Yeshuah / the wedding feast at His return
  • The last day of Sukkoth; Shemini Atzeret / the eight day of Sukkoth, speaks of the eternal, after the perfection of seven.

There are other important dates too, that are included in this calendar, (these are not by the command of YHVH):

  • 1st week of the Second month -  Yom Ha’atzmaut / Israeli Independence Day
  • 17th of Tammuz (4th month) -  Traditional Jewish Fast Day
  • 9th of Av (5th month) – Traditional Jewish Fast Day (Day of Woe)
  • 22nd or 23rd Tishri (7th month)- Simchat Torah ( rejoicing in the Torah)
  • 25th of Kislev (9th month) till the 2nd of Tevet (10th month) – Chanukah (from the book of Maccabees)
  • 10th of Tevet (10th month) -  Traditional Jewish Fast Day
  • 11th Adar (12th month) – The Fast of Ester (From the book of Ester in the Scriptures)
  • 14th-15th of Adar (12th month) – Purim (From the book of Ester in the Scriptures)

May these notes here summarise and clarify that which is further detailed in the calendar page notes. This we hope will provide a wholesome background for your understanding when you listen to in-depth teachings about each of these special days. We are just trying to show you here how they all string together. Note the pattern between the 1st and 7th months; the 1st day, the 10th day, the special week starting from the full moon.