Counting of the Omer

During the seven weeks from Passover to Shavuot (Pentecost), Jewish people would do what is called the counting of the omer. Which was used for helping them to determine when it was exactly 50 days after Passover.

An omer is a measure of grain, which was brought into the temple on the second day of Passover as an offering. Then it was to be counted for seven weeks. On the 50th day, they would bring in the offering of the first fruit into the temple. They would use the grain as a way of measuring the seven weeks until Shavuot. For them it was a joyous time because they were looking forward to what was up and coming. Think of this in the same manner as a child does before their birthday.

At some unknown point in history there was a rabbi and 24,000 of his students that all died of a terrible plague during the time of the omer. Since then, the omer is not celebrated anymore, but observed more as a time of mourning rather than a time of happiness and celebration.

During the counting of the omer there were also some other events that took place at another time within history. After the death of Yeshua (hebrew for Jesus) we the see the following:
  • Day one of the omer: Yeshua was seen by Mary Magdalene and some of the other disciples (John 20:1-20)
  • Day eight of the omer: Yeshua appeared to Thomas and the disciples again (John 20:26)
  • Day forty of the omer: Yeshua had appeared to disciples during these forty days and then ascended into heaven (Acts 1:1-9)
  • Day fifty of the omer: the Holy Spirit fell on 120 people as tongues of fire in the upper room (Acts 1:15-2:4)
Until next time... Shalom!

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