An offering made by fire to Yahuah is to be done for seven      days (Leviticus 23:8). Principle per the Renewed (New)      Covenant tells us that our praises are the sacrificial offerings      (Hebrews 13:15, Philemon 2:17, Romans 12:1, Amos 4:5,       Jeremiah 33:11, Psalms 141:2, 116:17, 107:22, 54:6,       51:16-17). Therefore, prayer, praise and intercession is the      sacrifices of the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We are to bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of the spring harvest      before Yahuah and wave it on the day after the weekly Sabbath      (Leviticus 23:10-12). This day is the Day of Firstfruits. Our      burnt offering is our prayer, praise and intercession. You can't      tell from the immediate scriptures, but Day of Firstfruits is      the firstfruits of the barley harvest. A sheaf of barley is waved. Leviticus 23:14 appears to say that for the next 50 days,      including the Day of Firstfruits, we are not to eat bread,      parched corn or green ears. It could also refer to a one      day period from the end of Hag HaMatzah (Aviv 21) through      the next day that is Day of Firstfruits (Aviv 22). Jewish sources      however reveal that this is a commandment not to eat any      bread, parched corn or green ears made of the new spring      harvest gathered from the start of Aviv 1 through Aviv 22      until the sheaf of barley is waved and offered on Aviv 22.      This issue is being investigated. We are to count 50 days, including the Day of Firstfruits, to the      day after the 7th weekly Sabbath, which is Shavuot (Pentecost)      (Leviticus 23:15-16). The 50th day is Shavuot. We are to bring an offering of two      loaves of bread made with fine flour and baked with leaven.      The bread is to be waved as a wave offering before Yahuah      (Leviticus 23:16,17,20). You can't tell from the immediate      scriptures, but Shavuot is the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. On Shavuot, we are to have a holy convocation, a Sabbath,      and make offerings by fire which is our prayer, praise and      intercession (Leviticus 23:18,21).

Notice the scriptures deal mostly with the Holy days of Yom Habikkurim, the "counting of the omer," and Shavuot. For a more detailed study of the "counting of the omer" for the 50 days from Yom Habikkurim through Shavuot, please refer to the Ministry's Featured Bible Study titled, "Why the Sabbath is Determined by Sighting of the First Crescent Moon." The "counting of the omer" can only be understood in the context of the true Biblical calendar that is lunar based.

Let's continue to search the scriptures to find more passages related to Pesach. The next time we learn more of Pesach is in Numbers chapter nine. This set of commandments about Pesach in Numbers 9 is given in the second year after Israel came out of Egypt. The commandments in Exodus 12 were given the day of the exodus. The commandments in Leviticus 23 were given at Mount Sinai.  Like before we'll look at two translations. Those commandments already recognized will be underlined and new commandments will be in bold.
 

Numbers 9:1-23 (KJV): 9:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. 3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it. 4 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover. 5 And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel. 6 And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: 7 And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel? 8 And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. 9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. 11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. 14 And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land. 15 And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. 16 So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. 18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. 19 And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. 20 And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. 21 And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. 22 Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. 23 At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

Numbers 9:1-23 (NKJV): 9:1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: 2 "Let the children of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. 3 On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time. According to all its rites and ceremonies you shall keep it." 4 So Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover. 5 And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, at twilight, in the Wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did. 6 Now there were certain men who were defiled by a human corpse, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day; and they came before Moses and Aaron that day. 7 And those men said to him, "We became defiled by a human corpse. Why are we kept from presenting the offering of the LORD at its appointed time among the children of Israel?" 8 And Moses said to them, "Stand still, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you." 9 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the LORD's Passover. 11 On the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and ceases to keep the Passover, that same person shall be cut off from among his people, because he did not bring the offering of the LORD at its appointed time; that man shall bear his sin. 14 And if a stranger dwells among you, and would keep the LORD's Passover, he must do so according to the rite of the Passover and according to its ceremony; you shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger and the native of the land.' " 15 Now on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents. 18 At the command of the LORD the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the LORD they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. 19 Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not journey. 20 So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the LORD they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the LORD they would journey. 21 So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. 23 At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

Let's list the newly identified commandments:
 

If someone is made unclean because of a corpse he may keep      the Passover on the 14th at even in the second month, that is      the month of Iyar (Numbers 9:10). If someone is far away on a journey, he may keep the Passover      on the 14th at even in the second month, that is the month of      Iyar (Numbers 9:10). If someone is clean and not on a journey, and does not keep the      Passover, he will be cut of from his people Israel     (Numbers 9:13). A stranger may keep the Passover according to it's ordinances.      There is one ordinance for both the stranger and native      (Numbers 9:14).

We will continue to search the scriptures. The next time we find more commandments for Pesach is in Numbers 28:16-31. Let's take a look:
 

Numbers 28:16-31 (KJV): 16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. 17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: 19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish: 20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; 21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. 23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. 24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. 25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work. 26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: 27 But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year; 28 And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram, 29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; 30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. 31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.

Numbers 28:16-31 (NKJV): 16'On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD. 17 And on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast; unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days. 18 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. 19 And you shall present an offering made by fire as a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish. 20 Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah you shall offer for a bull, and two-tenths for a ram; 21 you shall offer one-tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs; 22 also one goat as a sin offering, to make atonement for you. 23 You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a regular burnt offering. 24 In this manner you shall offer the food of the offering made by fire daily for seven days, as a sweet aroma to the LORD; it shall be offered besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. 25 And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. 26'Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the LORD at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. 27 You shall present a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year, 28 with their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram, 29 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs; 30 also one kid of the goats, to make atonement for you. 31 Be sure they are without blemish. You shall present them with their drink offerings, besides the regular burnt offering with its grain offering.

 
There are no additional commandments to list for this last set of verses since they have already been established. Let's continue to search the scriptures again. The next time we read more commandments for Pesach is in Deuteronomy chapter 16. A little more detail is given for commandments already listed. These passages are highlighted in underlined italicized green. Let's read the verses:
 

Deuteronomy 16:1-22 (KJV): 16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. 2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there. 3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. 4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there anything of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning. 5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee: 6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. 7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents. 8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein. 9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn. 10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: 11 And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there. 12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes. 13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: 14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. 15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice. 16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee. 18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. 20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee. 22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.

Deuteronomy 16:1-22 (NKJV): 16:1 "Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to put His name. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 4 And no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall any of the meat which you sacrifice the first day at twilight remain overnight until morning. 5 You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you; 6 but at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at twilight, at the going down of the sun, at the time you came out of Egypt. 7 And you shall roast and eat it in the place which the LORD your God chooses, and in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents. 8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly to the LORD your God. You shall do no work on it. 9 "You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. 10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you. 11 You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. 12 And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes. 13 "You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. 14 And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates. 15 Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice. 16 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you. 18 "You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. 20 You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you. 21 "You shall not plant for yourself any tree, as a wooden image, near the altar which you build for yourself to the LORD your God. 22 You shall not set up a sacred pillar, which the LORD your God hates.

First, let's list the new commandments. Next let's discuss the additional detail that is revealed for commandments already given. Here is the new commandment:
 

The memorial Pesach lamb is to be sacrificed where Yahuah      chooses His name to abide. The Pesach lamb is not to be      killed in just any man's home or land. (Deuteronomy 16:2, 5-6).      Note that the place where Yahuah chooses to place His name      is in Jerusalem. It is my impression that it is a higher principle      to keep Pesach if we are not able to keep it in Jerusalem.      Therefore, we can exercise the principle of keeping Pesach      in our homes per Exodus 12.

 
Now let's discuss the additional detail highlighted in underlined italicized green that is revealed for commandments already given.

First we learn that the first month is named Abib (Deuteronomy 16:1). The requirement for not keeping leaven in the home is expanded to include the phrase, "in all your territory for seven days," (Deuteronomy 16:4). Does this mean that no leaven is to be found in the home and upon one's property? I'm impressed at this point it means no leaven is to be found on one's property. Therefore, I assume we are to discard leaven from the home and our land completely. However, this raises other issues. How about those families living a long distance from towns and other places of trade or commerce who have stores of food that may have leaven? Do they dispose of all their stored up food in "faith" or merely remove the leaven only from their homes?

The word "even" and "twilight" is explained to mean "at the going down of the sun," (Deuteronomy 16:6). I'm impressed at this point that the definition of the words "even," "twilight," "dusk," indicates the time of day that is late afternoon to early evening. The Pesach lamb is to be killed at "even" on the 14th of Abib. It has to be skinned, drained of blood and then roasted over a fire for about four to six hours and then eaten in haste on the night of the 15th of Abib. Because of these circumstances, I'm impressed that "even" is late afternoon to early evening in the context of the geographic location of Israel.

The Passover lamb is now to be roasted "in the place which the LORD your God chooses," and believers are to "in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents," (Deuteronomy 16:7). This verse appears to differ from the commandments in Exodus 12:3-6 that indicate we are to eat the Pesach lamb in our homes by family, or if the home is too small for the Pesach lamb, we are to invite our neighbor. This verse in Deuteronomy 16:7, in the context of Deuteronomy 16:2, 5-6 indicates a congregational event in Jerusalem, because Jerusalem is where Yahuah chose to place His name. After Pesach, Believers are to return to their tents (homes) in the morning. In either case, the principles appear consistent and complimentary. A congregation of the Body of Messiah is a type of family. The important point here is that the congregation spend the entire night together for Pesach and keep all the other ordinances related to this holy day.

ADD COMMENT ON DEUT 12:21

The scriptures now say "Six days you shall eat unleavened bread," (Deuteronomy 16:8). I'm addressing this because the language used appears to be inconsistent with the earlier verses showing us to eat unleavened bread for seven days. If we read carefully, the verse says, "Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly to the LORD your God." This is consistent with eating unleavened bread for seven days because the verse includes a seven day period. Also, the style of language used in this verse is the same as the style of language used when speaking about the Sabbath.  The style of language used is another testimony in establishing the Biblical Lunar Calendar because the seventh day of Hag HaMatzah is the 21st of Abib and is always a Sabbath.

We are given more detail on the "counting of the omer." The scriptures say "begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain," (Deuteronomy 16:9). This further illustrates the theme of the Day of Firstfruits being the day when the firstfruits of barley is reaped from the field using a sickle.

The offering for Shavuot or Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) is expressed as "with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand," (Deuteronomy 16:10). We need to understand what a freewill offering is and be sure to make the offering, in a spiritual sense, on Shavuot.

For Shavuot, it is added that we are to rejoice "...at the place where the LORD your god chooses to make his name abide," (Deuteronomy 16:11). This place, again, is Jerusalem, however, because many cannot be in Jerusalem, I'm impressed that this can mean we are to be lead of the Ruach HaKodesh in determining where we are to keep this holy day.

For Shavuot, it is added per Deuteronomy 16:11 that we are to include our sons, daughters, servants, Levites within our gates, strangers, the fatherless and widows and rejoice on this holy day. Therefore it is important to include these members where possible.

For Shavuot, it is added also that "you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt," (Deut 16:12). Be sure to keep this in mind and maybe read a scripture on Shavuot to remind ourselves about our ancestor's slavery in Egypt. Try and understand both the natural and spiritual meaning to what it means to be a "slave in Egypt."

We learn from Deuteronomy 16:16, 17 that Shavuot is known as the Feast of Weeks in addition to being called firstfruits. The name "Shavuot" actually comes from the word " weeks." In Hebrew, the word "weeks" is Strong's 7620, "Shaabu'ot." We also learn that Shavuot is one of three feasts where Israelite males are to appear before Yahuah. Each male is to appear with offerings, not empty-handed, and give according to his blessings.

At this time , we have completed a review of the Torah and commandments related to Pesach, Hag HaMatzah and Shavuot as they appear together in the context of the chapters. There are other places in the Torah where these Feasts are mentioned and those verses will be covered later.

At this time, let's develop a "to do" list for Pesach, Hag HaMatzah, and Shavuot so that we can keep these holy days according to the commandments and have all the necessary tasks accomplished in time. Let's start the list in chronological order.
 

Getting the Pesach Lamb: The first major deadline is Aviv 10, first evening or day. You will need a Pesach lamb. If you raise sheep or goats, this task will be easy. Just be sure the lambs are bred in the fall ( this is natural) and you should have one to two month old lambs ready by spring for Pesach. If you don't have acreage to raise lambs, then contact a farmer in your area several months early and purchase a lamb and bring it home on Aviv 10. You don't want to be late otherwise you will be in competition with others who may be keeping Pesach, Easter, or even Ramadan (Islam). Also, the farmers quickly arrange for the sale of their lambs. You want to make sure the farmer does not de-horn, castrate or cut-off the tail of the lamb. These are normal practices. If this happens then the lamb is blemished.  Pray to the Father to help you select the lamb. Be sure to have a small pen that has a rain cover over it and at least three sides for a shelter ready for the lamb. If the shelter and pen can hold a medium size dog, it should work. Of course, you'll need some hay. A bail of hay at a feed shop can cost anywhere from $4 to $7 dollars and weighs about 40 to 70 pounds. If you have a pick-up or van throw it in the back. If not, bring a white sheet to wrap the bail in and throw it in your car. This will keep the bits of grass from getting all over the place. You might as well get a bail since some of it can be used for bedding and it is inexpensive. If you live in an apartment or house without an adequate yard, you will need to rent a campsite. I recommend a private campground or state park. You may have to rent an enclosed trailer for a day or two for skinning and preparing the lamb. This trailer, if inexpensive can also serve as your "pen" for the lamb from Aviv 10 through 14. If it is too expensive, you'll have to settle for picking up the lamb on Aviv 14.   Preparing the Pesach Lamb: The next major deadline is Aviv 14, second evening. The biggest task of this day is that you kill the lamb, skin it and prepare it for roasting over an open fire. You will need some important tools to properly skin and prepare the lamb. You will also need firewood and spit to roast the lamb. Killing and Skinning: You will need one medium sized knife with approximately a 5" blade. It should be very sharp because it will be used to skin the lamb. You will need a very sharp curved knife to kill the lamb. The blade should be 10" to 12" long. This type of knife can be purchased at Cold Steel Special Projects (www.ltspecpro.com). This type of knife is important because when you draw the knife across the lamb's throat, the curve of the knife will exert pressure on the lambs neck, insuring a clean, deep cut. You do not want the lamb to suffer unnecessarily. To properly skin the lamb, you will need a pulley and gambrel and a place to hang the pulley. You can obtain this equipment from most hunting or farming supplies catalogs. I recommend Cabela's, claimed to be the "World's Foremost Outfitter of  Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Gear." Go to www.Cabelas.com or call 1-800-237-4444. The pulley will allow you to easily raise, lower and rotate the lamb as you are skinning. The gambrel hooks onto the pulley and then hooks onto the two hind legs of the lamb. Without this equipment you will find yourself struggling and sweating as you skin the lamb. It can become a dirty job instead of a clean and smooth task. You could even severely cut yourself. Allow yourself two and half hours to skin the lamb if this is your first time. Once you are experienced, it should take less than an hour. Be sure to have a bowl ready to catch the blood as the lamb hangs from the gambrel. Don't let the blood sit for long because it will thicken and it will make it difficult to dip the hyssop. Once you have enough blood, dip the hyssop and strike the the two side post and upper doorpost of the home where you are having your Pesach meal. For detailed instructions on skinning and preparing the lamb, see this section titled, "Skinning and Preparing the Pesach Lamb on a Spit." Be sure to say a blessing and prayer to the Father before you sleigh the lamb. Always remember to do this with an obedient and merciful heart knowing it is Yahuah who creates life and takes it. Most of us returning to the Truth of Elohim's Word have never lived in an agrarian society and sleighing a farm animal can be an emotional and difficult task. In light of this we have to realize it is not what we are used to and it is a routine for farmers and hunters all over America and most of the world. Yahuah also tells us in Genesis 1:29-30, he created certain animals for food.   Genesis 1:29-30 (NKJV) 29 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so. Upon writing this, it will be my third Pesach preparing a live lamb, and I am now raising sheep and goats for meat. Yes, it takes a little getting used to. I'm also impressed by the interaction with family and acquaintances on the subject of preparing your own meat, how far removed we are in the industrial and information societies from identifying that meat actually comes from an animal. Yes, people know this intellectually, but really don't make the connection that it was a living animal that had to be killed and quartered. Believe it or not. It is a good thing there are still plenty of small farms and ranches in America and hunting is a popular sport, otherwise the shock of many urban Americans who are far removed from the knowledge of agrarian societies could not be mitigated or appeased on the concept of butchering your own meat. It's a good thing too that we have fancy and famous people like Julia Child with popular recipes like "Leg of Lamb."  For dozens upon dozens of specialty lamb recipes from all over the world, check out "Sheep's Creek Farm Lamb Recipes" at www.sheepscreek.com. Recipes are from countries like Greece, Turkey, South Africa, Spain, France, Indonesia, Armenia, Israel, Morocco, Italy, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Korea, Albania, Yugoslavia, Iran, India, the Middle East, and the great South of the United States. Preparing the Fire: Be sure to have plenty of firewood. You will need to make sure any remaining meat or bones of the Pesach lamb is burned up the next day on Aviv 16. If you are not used to setting up hot coals in an open fire for roasting a whole lamb, you could start too soon and use up extra firewood. I'm recommending at least seven bundles of firewood. The bundles are the kind you can get at the local grocery story, camping site or hardware store. For this occasion you might even buy a half-cord of wood because for the price you pay for the seven bundles of firewood at the local store, you could get almost three to four times more firewood for the same price by buying a half-cord of wood. Prices of cords of wood can vary from $75 to $120 per cord depending on where you are in the country and the type of wood. The extra wood you have left over can always be used for extra firewood or campfires. If you live in an area where you can cut and split your own wood, give yourself at least two or three afternoons to get this done. Remember to consider rainy days into your scheduling. Allow about three hours for the firewood to produce enough hot coals for roasting the lamb. You want to evenly spread the hot coals below the lamb. Allow about three to five hours for roasting the lamb depending on the size. Have extra firewood ready at the side in case y