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.
Also on the tenth day of this seventh month,.... Tisri, the same as before, answering to part of our September, and part of October:
there shall be a day of atonement; for all the sins of the year past; see Leviticus 16:29,
it shall be an holy convocation unto you: when they should be called together for the exercise of holy duties:
and ye shall afflict your souls; their souls, by repentance, contrition, and humiliation for sin, and their bodies by fasting; and, as the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it,"by abstaining from eating and drinking, and the advantage of bathing and wiping, and the use of the bed and sandals;''hence called the fast, Acts 27:9; See Gill on Leviticus 16:29,
and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; a burnt offering, of which see Numbers 29:8.
And ye shall afflict your souls.--That is, fast. (See Leviticus 16:29.)
And offer an offering.--See Numbers 29:8-11.
there shall be a day of atonement; for all the sins of the year past; see Leviticus 16:29,
it shall be an holy convocation unto you: when they should be called together for the exercise of holy duties:
and ye shall afflict your souls; their souls, by repentance, contrition, and humiliation for sin, and their bodies by fasting; and, as the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it,"by abstaining from eating and drinking, and the advantage of bathing and wiping, and the use of the bed and sandals;''hence called the fast, Acts 27:9; See Gill on Leviticus 16:29,
and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; a burnt offering, of which see Numbers 29:8.