Old Testament Background Information on the Feast of Pentecost
The Old Testament Feast of Pentecost was one of the three annual harvest celebrations of the ancient Israelites (along with the presentation of the first grain sheaf and the Feast of Ingathering, or Tabernacles, during the grape harvest in the fall). Grain in Israel is harvested in the spring, and on Pentecost the Israelites were expected to bring to the Lord the “firstfruits of the wheat harvest” (Ex 34:22). Pentecost was also one of the three great festivals for which every Israelite was to assemble in Jerusalem (Ex 23:17; Ex 34:23; Dt 16:16, 17). Other names for Pentecost were the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Harvest, and the Day of First Fruits; the Old Testament references are Exodus 23:16; Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 23:15–22; Numbers 28:26–31; and Deuteronomy 16:9–12.
It isn’t altogether accurate to say that the Old Testament Pentecost was celebrated 50 days after the Passover. Actually, Pentecost was celebrated on the fiftieth day after the presentation of the first sheaf of grain (Lev 23:15). The presentation of the grain sheaf was part of the Festival of Unleavened Bread and apparently was carried out on the Sunday after the Passover (Lev 23:11). Pentecost, then, was the fiftieth day from the first Sunday after the Passover.
The typology of Pentecost and the other spring festivals for the life of Jesus is noteworthy. On a day when Israelites were looking for a Passover lamb, Jesus rode into Jerusalem. On the day when the Israelites were concerned about slaughtering and eating their Passover lambs, Jesus hung on the cross as our “Passover lamb” (1 Co 5:7). On the day when the Israelites brought the first sheaf of the grain harvest (the Sunday after Passover), Jesus arose from the dead as “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Co 15:20). And on the day when the Israelites brought the firstfruits of their grain harvest to the Lord (Pentecost), the first ingathering of souls into the church took place. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Ro 11:33)
Wendland, E. H., & Trapp, J. A. (1986). Sermon Studies on the Epistles (ILCW series A) (pp. 215–216). Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Publishing House.