~Celebrating The Feast of Unleavened Bread~
*The Feast of Unleavened Bread immediately follows The Feast of Passover, and is the second of the "Spring Feasts".
[NOTE--As I began to search the internet for information on the feasts of YHWH, I quickly became OVERWHELMED. And I REMAIN overwhelmed every time I try to gather information. There is just SO MUCH information and SO MANY websites available... it would be IMPOSSIBLE to read it all. Therefore, I have decided to stick with the Scripture and by-pass most of the traditions and rituals this year. As time goes on, I may add a little 'more' to our celebration from year to year-- but we will be celebrating it very simple and basic this year. The traditions and rituals are nice and can be very inspiring, but I don't think they are necessary requirements from YHWH.]
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a Memorial Feast, of the haste in which YHWH brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
"...seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life." Deuteronomy 16:3
*The date set for the Feast of Unleavened Bread is the evening following the Passover, which would be the 15th of Abib~ and lasts for 7 days... the date on the Gregorian calendar (this year) is April 7th-21st.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is to be on the 15th of the first month... and last 7 days.
{"In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even [Passover], ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even." Exodus 12:18}
{"And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto YHWH: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread."
Leviticus 23:6}
{"And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten." Numbers 28:17}
The first and last day should be a "sabbath"... no work should be done.
{"And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall obsereve the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by ordinance for ever." Exodus 12:16-17}
{In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHWH seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein." Leviticus 23:7-8}
{"In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:...And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work." Numbers 28:18,}
{"And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall obsereve the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by ordinance for ever." Exodus 12:16-17}
{In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHWH seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein." Leviticus 23:7-8}
{"In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:...And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work." Numbers 28:18,}
There should no leaven be eaten or found in your home.
{"Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened , even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread." Exodus 12:15,19}
{"Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seveneth day shall be a feast to YHWH. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters." Exodus 13:6-7}
{"And there shall no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days;...Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to YHWH thy Elohiym: thou shalt do no work therein." Deuteronomy 16:4,8}
{"Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened , even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread." Exodus 12:15,19}
{"Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seveneth day shall be a feast to YHWH. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters." Exodus 13:6-7}
{"And there shall no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days;...Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to YHWH thy Elohiym: thou shalt do no work therein." Deuteronomy 16:4,8}
The last day should be a feast unto YHWH.
{"Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to YHWH." Exodus 13:6}
{"Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to YHWH." Exodus 13:6}
"And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that YHWH's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath YHWH brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year." Exodus 13:9-10
How do we celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
Leviticus 23:8 says to offer an offering made by fire unto YHWH seven days, and Numbers 28:19-24 gives a detailed description of offerings to be made unto YHWH seven days... but (once again) since we no longer have animal sacrifices, a temple or Levitical priesthood; and since we don't live in that land (nor are "all" of His nation living in one place together)... I don't see how we could (or should) carry out this part of the feast (literally). The best that I can understand, is that we should thoroughly clean our homes and property of all leaven, and eat NO leaven for these seven days following the Passover meal-- in which we also eat no leaven. We should do NO work on the first day and the seventh day, except for preparing the meals (Exodus 12:16), and having a feast on the evening of the seventh day. I think it should be focused on the great deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt, and all activites and conversations around meal times should be a re-enforcement of what these Memorial Feasts are all about :) "And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and as frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand YHWH brought us out of Egypt." Exodus 13:16
Preparing for the Feast of Unleavened Bread~
Preparing for the Feast of Unleavened Bread should begin before the Feast of Passover, since it immediately follows Passover. The home and property must be thoroughly cleaned (rid of) all leaven. You should plan 8 days of meals that contain NO LEAVEN, and make sure you have everything you need for them. You must also be prepared for the "no work days" during these feasts... no work on the Passover and no work on the first and last days of the feast of Unleavened Bread (of course you can prepare during the feast for the last day, if you need to). You also have a feast meal to plan for on the last day. *Whew!* A LOT to prepare for! I'd say the sooner you start-- the better! :D