extend beyond this relatively short stretch of desert and continue on into the Nile Delta and down the Nile valley of Egypt as far as Thebes.

The distinctive feature of this region is the amount of rainfall it receives, in comparison with the arid regions bordering it, and its irrigation by the waters of the Euphrates, Tigris, Orontes, Jordan and other rivers. Wheat, barley, grapes, olives, figs, oranges, lemons and pomegranates thrive throughout the Fertile Crescent.

Historians acknowledge that this area was the center of civilization from Abraham’s time all the way down to the period in which Greece entered its “Golden Age.” What knowledge men have of ancient secular history prior to the first millennium B.C.E., and for some time within it, comes primarily from this area. Research has demonstrated that the farther one withdraws from the Fertile Crescent the more the evidences of ancient civilization fade out. As archaeologist W. F. Albright says: “Archeological research has thus established beyond doubt that there is no focus of civilization in the earth that can begin to compete in antiquity and activity with the basin of the Eastern Mediterranean and the region immediately to the east of it—Breasted’s Fertile Crescent.”—From the Stone Age to Christianity, 1940 ed., p. 6.

Along the Fertile Crescent were to be found such cities as Ur, Babylon, Nineveh, Haran, Damascus and Jerusalem. Here sprang up the powerful Assyrian and Babylonian states, which, thereafter, engaged in warring competition with Egypt for the domination of the intervening area and its trade routes. These rival powers lay at opposite ends of the Fertile Crescent and the forbidding wastelands of the Arabian Desert and the Sinai Peninsula lay across the most direct route between them. Thus Palestine, forming a narrow elongated bridge of land that connected the Euphrates valley with the entrance to Egypt, was the route traversed not only by commercial caravans but also by the military forces from both Asia and Africa, and later, from Europe.

The majority of the events recorded in the Bible had their setting within the Fertile Crescent. Probably during the second century after the Flood, the Plain of Shinar was the scene of the abortive effort at building the Tower of Babel, frustrated by divine action. (Gen. 11:5-9) Some three centuries later Abraham left Ur of the Chaldeans, at the far SE corner of the Fertile Crescent, and set out for Canaan. Rather than attempt a crossing by camel caravan directly through the inhospitable desert, he followed the regular route leading N up to Haran, an important junction point, then headed S through Syria and into Palestine, eventually crossing into Egypt at the other end of the Fertile Crescent.

FESTIVAL

[Heb., hhagh, from the verb denoting circularity of motion or form; to celebrate a periodic festival or feast, to dance around in circles; to celebrate a feast of such things; dances; moh·ʽedhʹ, a set time or place of assembly].

Festivals formed an integral part of the true worship of God, being prescribed by Jehovah for his chosen people Israel by the hand of Moses.

The festivals, and similar special days, might be outlined as follows:

I. Preexilic

A. Annual

1. Passover Abib (Nisan) 14

2. Unfermented Cakes, Abib (Nisan) 15-21

3. Harvest, Weeks, or Pentecost, Sivan 6

4. New Year, Festival of Trumpets, Ethanim (Tishri) 1

5. Day of Atonement, Ethanim (Tishri) 10

6. Booths, Ethanim (Tishri) 15-21, with a sabbath on the twenty-second

B. Periodic

1. Weekly Sabbath

2. New Moon

3. Sabbath Year (every seventh year)

4. Jubilee Year (every fiftieth year)

II. Postexilic

A. Festival of Dedication, Chislev 25

B. Festival of Purim, Adar 14, 15

(Nisan corresponds to parts of March and April of the Gregorian calendar, Ethanim [Tishri] to September-October, Chislev to November-December, and Adar to February-March.)

THE THREE GREAT FESTIVALS

The three primary festivals, sometimes called “pilgrimage festivals” because of the assembling of all males at Jerusalem, occurred at appointed times and were designated by the Hebrew word moh·ʽedhʹ, “seasonal festivals.” (Lev. 23:2, 4) But the word often used when referring exclusively to the three great festivals is hhagh, which connotes, not only a periodic occurrence, but also a time of great rejoicing. These three great festivals are:

(1) The Festival of Unfermented Cakes (Ex. 23:15). This festival began the day after the Passover and ran from Abib (or Nisan) fifteenth through the twenty-first. Passover was on Nisan 14 and was really a day of observance to itself, but, since it was so closely connected in time with the Festival of Unfermented Cakes, the two were often spoken of together as the Passover.—Matt. 26:17; Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7.

(2) The Festival of Harvest or Weeks or (as called later) Pentecost, celebrated on the fiftieth day from Nisan 16, that is, on Sivan 6.—Ex. 23:16a; 34:22a.

(3) The Festival of Ingathering (or Tabernacles or Booths). This took place in the seventh month, Ethanim (or Tishri) fifteenth through the twenty-first, with a solemn assembly on the twenty-second.—Lev. 23:34-36.

The time, place and way they were to be conducted were all fixed by Jehovah. As the expression “seasonal festivals of Jehovah” implies, they were associated with various seasons of the sacred calendar year, the early spring, the late spring and the fall. How significant this was, because at these times the firstfruits of the field and vineyards brought great joy and happiness to the inhabitants of Palestine, and recognition was thereby given to Jehovah as the generous Provider of all good things!

OBSERVANCES COMMON TO THE THREE FESTIVALS

The Law covenant required that all males appear “before Jehovah your God in the place that he will choose” every year, during each of the three great annual festivals. (Deut. 16:16) The place eventually chosen for a festival center was Jerusalem. No specific penalty for individual nonattendance was stated, with the exception of the Passover, failure to attend it bringing the penalty of death. (Num. 9:9-13) Nonetheless, neglect of any of God’s laws, including his festivals and sabbaths, would bring national judgment and distress. (Deut. 28:58-62) The Passover itself had to be observed on Nisan 14 or, in certain circumstances, one month later.

Although women were not under obligation, as were the males, to make the annual festival journeys, yet there are such examples of festival attendance as Hannah the mother of Samuel (1 Sam. 1:7) and Mary the mother of Jesus. (Luke 2:41) Israelite women who loved Jehovah attended such festivals whenever possible. In fact, not only did Jesus’ parents attend regularly, but it is indicated that their relatives and acquaintances went along with them.—Luke 2:44.

Jehovah promised, “Nobody will desire your land while you are going up to see the face of Jehovah your God three times in the year.” (Ex. 34:24) Even though no men were left to guard the cities and the land, it proved true that no foreign nation ever came up to take the land of the Jews during their festivals prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. However, in 50 C.E., which was after the rejection of Christ by