Feast Days Celebrated Outside of Israel or In Captivity

Egypt and the Wilderness

Exodus 12:1–28, 40–51

The first Passover was kept in Egypt before the Exodus.

Numbers 9:1–5

A second Passover was observed in the wilderness of Sinai, one year later.

Leviticus 23

The instructions for all the feasts were given at Mount Sinai—outside the land of Israel.

Before Possessing the Land

Joshua 5:10–12

Passover was celebrated at Gilgal, just after crossing the Jordan, before Israel fully settled the land.

Exile in Assyria and Babylon

Tobit 2:1

Tobit, living in Nineveh, kept Pentecost (Shavuot) with a feast.

Daniel 9:21

Daniel, in Babylon, referred to the evening sacrifice, showing the calendar of Yahuah was still honored in exile.

Ezekiel 45:21–25

Ezekiel, also in Babylon, described Passover and Tabernacles in his vision of the restored temple.

Persia

Esther 9:20–32

The feast of Purim was established in Shushan and celebrated across the provinces.

Return from Captivity

Ezra 6:19–22

Returning exiles celebrated Passover and Unleavened Bread after Babylonian captivity.

Nehemiah 8:14–18

The feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) was restored in Jerusalem after being neglected for generations.

Maccabean Writings

2 Maccabees 1:18–36

Tabernacles remembered in exile context.

2 Maccabees 10:6–8

Tabernacles celebrated after the temple was rededicated under foreign oppression.

New Testament Witness

Acts 2:1–11

At Pentecost, Jews from “every nation under heaven” gathered in Jerusalem. Diaspora Yahudi carried feast observance with them.

Acts 20:6

Shaul (Paul) kept the Days of Unleavened Bread in Philippi (Greece) before traveling.

Acts 27:9

The “Fast” (Day of Atonement) is mentioned while Paul was at sea en route to Rome.

1 Corinthians 5:7–8

Paul exhorted believers in Corinth to keep Unleavened Bread with sincerity and truth.

John 7:2

The Feast of Tabernacles is highlighted during Messiah’s ministry.

John 10:22–23

Yahusha was in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah).

Historical Records

Elephantine Papyri (5th century BCE, Egypt)

A Yahudi community was instructed to observe Passover.

Philo of Alexandria (1st century CE, Egypt)

Described Yahudi in Egypt celebrating Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

Josephus, Antiquities 14.10.18

Recorded Roman decrees allowing Jews across the empire to keep Shabbats and feasts.

What This Means for Us

The feasts were not bound to the land of Israel alone.

They were celebrated:

• In Egypt before the Exodus.

• In the wilderness before entering the land.

• In Assyria and Babylon during exile.

• In Persia, Greece, and Rome during dispersion.

• By faithful assemblies across the centuries.

The pattern is clear: wherever Israel was scattered, the feasts were remembered. Yahuah’s appointed times are not tied to geography. They are tied to His covenant people.