CONVOCATION, HOLY (מִקְרָא־קֹ֔דֶשׁ; LXX κλητή ἁγιά). A sacred assembly of Israel. Usually the term מִקְרָא, H5246, “calling together” is coupled with קֹ֫דֶשׁ, H7731, “holy.” It is first mentioned in Exodus 12:16 when we are told that the first and seventh days of the Passover feast are holy convocations. On those days no work was to be done. Only the preparation of food was allowed.

In Leviticus 23, the set feasts called holy convocations are listed. They are like Sabbath days (Lev 23:2, 3).

In addition to the Passover, these days are included as holy convocations: In the seventh month, the first day, the tenth day (Day of Atonement), and the fifteenth day (the Feast of the Tabernacles). All are called holy days of convocation (vv. 21, 24, 27, 35, 36). Offerings were to be made on these days: burnt offerings, meal offerings and drink offerings. Cf. Numbers 28:8, 25, 26.

These feast days were undoubtedly meant to be a foretaste of the great day of rest for all of God’s people. These days point to a day of hope when God’s children will sit down with Him in His kingdom.