TIME GIVEN TO RELIGION. The children of Israel were redeemed by the Lord (Ex., 15:1-19), hence they belonged to Him. It is interesting to note that the law required them to give a large amount of their time to His service.

      (1) To the Passover. Counting out one day for the Sabbath, they were required to give six days to the feast of the passover and unleavened bread each year; in a period of six years, thirty-six days; in a period of forty-two years, two hundred and fifty-two days (Lev., 23:4-8).

      (2). To the Feast of the Weeks. They were required to give one day to this feast each year; in a period of six years, six days; in [41] a period of forty-two years, forty-two days (Lev., 23:15-21).

      (3). To the Feast of Tabernacles. Counting out one day for the Sabbath, they were required to give six days to this feast each year; in a period of six years, thirty-six days; in a period of forty-two years, two hundred and fifty-two days (Lev., 23:34-42).

      (4). To the Sabbath. They were required to give fifty-one days to the Sabbath each year; in a period of six years, three hundred and six days; in a period of forty-two years, two thousand one hundred and forty-two days (Lev., 23:3).

      (5). To the Day of Atonement. They were required to give one day to the atonement each year; in a period of six years, six days; in a period of forty-two years, forty-two days (Lev., 23:26-32).

      (6). To the Feast of New Moons. Counting out one day for the feast of trumpets, they were required to give eleven days to this feast each year; in a period of six years, sixty-six days; in a period of forty-two years, four hundred and sixty-two days (Num., 28:11-15; 29:1-5; Amos, 8:5).

      (7). In a period of seven years. (a) Sabbaths, three hundred and six days (Lev., 23:3); (b) feast of passover and unleavened bread, counting out one day each year for the Sabbath, thirty-six days (Lev., 23:4-8); (c) feast of Pentecost, six days (Lev., 23:15-21); (d) feast of Trumpets, six days (Lev., 23:23-25); (e) Atonement, six days (Lev., 23:26-32); (f) feast of Tabernacles, counting out one day each year for the Sabbath, thirty-six days (Lev., 23:34-42); (g) the first of every month, counting out one day each year for the feast of trumpets, sixty-six days (Num., 28:11-15; Amos, 8:5); (h) the seventh [42] year, three hundred and sixty days (Lev., 25:1-7). 306 + 36 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 36 + 66 + 360 = 822. They therefore gave eight hundred and twenty-two days to their religion in seven years.

      (8). In a period of forty-nine years. (a) Sabbaths, two thousand one hundred and forty-two days (Lev., 23:3); (b) feast of Passover and unleavened bread, counting out one day each year for the Sabbath, two hundred and fifty-two days (Lev., 23:4-8); (c) feast of Pentecost, forty-two days (Lev., 23:15-21); (d) feast of Trumpets, forty-two days (Lev., 23:23-25); (e) Atonement, forty-two days (Lev., 23:26-32); (f) feast of Tabernacles, counting out one day each year for the Sabbath, two hundred and fifty-two days (Lev., 23:34-42); (g) the first of every month, counting out one day each year for the feast of Trumpets, four hundred and sixty-two days (Num., 28:11-15; Amos, 8:5); (h) the seventh year, two thousand five hundred and twenty days (Lev., 25:1-7). 2,142 + 252 + 42 + 42 + 42 + 252 + 462 + 2,520 = 5,754. They therefore gave five thousand seven hundred and fifty-four days to their religion in forty-nine years.

      (9). In a period of fifty years. (a) Sabbaths, two thousand one hundred and forty-two days (Lev., 23:3); (b) feast of Passover and unleavened bread, counting out one day each year for the Sabbath, two hundred and fifty-two days (Lev., 23:4-8); (c) feast of Pentecost, forty-two days (Lev., 23:15-21); (d) feast of Trumpets, forty-two days (Lev., 23:23-25); (e) Atonement, forty-two days (Lev., 23:26-32); (f) feast of Tabernacles, counting out one day each year for the Sabbath, two hundred and fifty-two days [43] (Lev., 23:34-42); (g) the first of every month, counting out one day each year for the feast of Trumpets, four hundred and sixty-two days (Num., 28:11-15; Amos, 8:5); (h) the Seventh year, two thousand five hundred and twenty days (Lev., 25:1-7). (i) the Jubilee, three hundred and sixty days (Lev., 25:8-17). 2,142 + 252 + 42 + 42 + 42 + 252 + 462 + 2,520 + 360 = 6,114. They therefore gave six thousand one hundred and fourteen days to their religion in fifty years.

[CBC 41-44]