23 Again the Lord spoke to Moses , saying , 24 "Speak to the sons of Israel , saying , ' In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest , a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation . 25 'You shall not do any laborious work , but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord .' " 26 The Lord spoke to Moses , saying , 27 "On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement ; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord . 28 "You shall not do any work on this same day , for it is a day of atonement , to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God . 29 "If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day , he shall be cut off from his people . 30 "As for any person who does any work on this same day , that person I will destroy from among his people . 31 "You shall do no e work at all . It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places . 32 "It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls ; on the ninth of the month at evening , from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 23:23-32
Commentary on Leviticus 23:23-32
(Read Leviticus 23:23-32)
the blowing of trumpets represented the preaching of the gospel, by which men are called to repent of sin, and to accept the salvation of Christ, which was signified by the day of atonement. Also it invited to rejoice in God, and become strangers and pilgrims on earth, which was denoted by the feast of Tabernacles, observed in the same month. At the beginning of the year, they were called by this sound of trumpet to shake off spiritual drowsiness, to search and try their ways, and to amend them. The day of atonement was the ninth day after this; thus they were awakened to prepare for that day, by sincere and serious repentance, that it might indeed be to them a day of atonement. The humbling of our souls for sin, and the making our peace with God, is work that requires the whole man, and the closest application of mind. On that day God spake peace to his people, and to his saints; therefore they must lay aside all their wordly business, that they might the more clearly hear that voice of joy and gladness.