John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them , etc.] 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 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 10:2,3,8-10); and “holy”, because separated from other days, and set apart for holy services: the words may be rendered, as they are by many f799 : “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).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - In this chapter we have the institution of holy times; many of whic have been mentioned before. Though the yearly feasts were made mor remarkable by general attendance at the sanctuary, yet these must no be observed more than the sabbath. On that day they must withdraw from all business of the world. It is a sabbath of rest, typifying spiritual rest from sin, and rest in God. God's sabbaths are to be religiousl observed in every private house, by every family apart, as well as by families together, in holy assemblies. The sabbath of the Lord in ou dwellings will be their beauty, strength, and safety; it will sanctify build up, and glorify them.
Original Hebrew דבר1696 אל413 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 ואמרת559 אלהם413 מועדי4150 יהוה3068 אשׁר834 תקראו7121 אתם853 מקראי4744 קדשׁ6944 אלה428 הם1992 מועדי׃4150
