an>entecost was an ancient Hebrew festival, one of the three mandatory feasts for Israelite men. Celebrated in the third month (May/June), it commemorated the giving of Torah at Sinai (cf. Exod. 19:1). Called the “feast of weeks” (Deut. 16:10) because it was celebrated seven weeks after Passover, it marked the gathering of the wheat harvest, the firstfruits of the full annual harvest (Exod. 23:16).

In Leviticus 23, Pentecost is scheduled by counting seven weeks from the presentation of the “first sheaf” (Lev. 23:9-15). The fiftieth day is Pentecost. No work was to be done on this day. In contrast to Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the first month, Pentecost required leavened bread (Lev. 23:17), which the priest consecrated by waving or lifting two loaves before Yahweh (Lev. 23:20). The priests offered seven year-old male lambs, a bull, and a ram as ascension offerings; a male goat for a sin offering; and two year-old lambs for a peace offering (Lev. 23:18-19). 
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