Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto
them
Speak to them to gather together, and then say unto them what
follows, they all being obliged to keep the feasts, and observe
the solemnities hereafter directed to; though it may be the heads
of the tribes and the elders of the people were summoned
together, and the following things were delivered to them, and by
them to the people: [concerning] the feasts of the Lord,
which ye shall proclaim [to be]
holy convocations, [even] these [are] my
feasts;
appointed and ordered by God, and to be kept to the honour of his
name; these are the general names for the particular holy times
and seasons after appointed; they are in general called "feasts",
though one of them, the day of atonement, was, strictly speaking,
a fast; yet being a cessation from all work, and opposed to
working days, days of labour and business, it is comprehended in
this general title: nor is it unusual with other nations to call
a fast a feast; so Aelianus F8 relates of the Tarentines,
that having been besieged by the Romans, and delivered from them,
in memory of their sufferings appointed a feast which was called
a fast: the word used has the signification of stated, fixed,
appointed times and seasons, and of convening or meeting together
at such times, and that for the performance of solemn worship and
service, which is true of them all; for there are certain times
of the week and month fixed for them, and when the people in
bodies assembled together, and in a solemn manner worshipped the
Lord; and these are called "convocations", because the people
were called together at those times by the priests, and that with
the sound of a trumpet, ( Numbers 10:2
Numbers
10:3 Numbers
10:8-10 ) ; and "holy", because separated from other days,
and set apart for holy services: the words may be rendered, as
they are by many F9: "the solemnities of the Lord, which
ye shall proclaim holy convocations, these are my solemnities";
times for holy, religious, and solemn service, of his appointment
and for his glory: Aben Ezra seems to understand all this of the
sabbath only, which is next mentioned, expressed in the plural
number, because, as he observes, there are many sabbaths in a
year; and indeed the general title of the rest of the feasts is
afterwards given, ( Leviticus
23:4 ) .