Deuteronomy16

Deuteronomy 16 outlines the observance of three annual feasts: Passover and Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles, emphasizing their proper celebration at the Lord's chosen place with rejoicing and offerings. It also commands the appointment of just judges and officers, prohibiting bribery and partiality. Finally, the chapter forbids idolatrous practices like planting groves or setting up images near God's altar.

The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread

1
"Observe the month of Aviv, and keep Pesach to ADONAI your God; for in the month of Aviv, ADONAI your God brought you out of Egypt at night. ​
2
You are to sacrifice the Pesach offering from flock and herd to ADONAI your God in the place where ADONAI will choose to have his name live. ​
3
You are not to eat any hametz with it; for seven days you are to eat with it matzah, the bread of affliction; for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste. Thus you will remember the day you left the land of Egypt as long as you live. ​
4
No leaven is to be seen with you anywhere in your territory for seven days. None of the meat from your sacrifice on the first day in the evening is to remain all night until morning.
5
You may not sacrifice the Pesach offering in just any of the towns that ADONAI your God is giving you;
6
but at the place where ADONAI your God will choose to have his name live - there is where you are to sacrifice the Pesach offering, in the evening, when the sun sets, at the time of year that you came out of Egypt. ​
7
You are to roast it and eat it in the place ADONAI your God will choose; in the morning you will return and go to your tents. ​
8
For six days you are to eat matzah; on the seventh day there is to be a festive assembly for ADONAI your God; do not do any kind of work.

The Feast of Weeks (Shavuot)

9
"You are to count seven weeks; you are to begin counting seven weeks from the time you first put your sickle to the standing grain. ​
10
You are to observe the festival of Shavu'ot [weeks] for ADONAI your God with a voluntary offering, which you are to give in accordance with the degree to which ADONAI your God has prospered you. ​
11
You are to rejoice in the presence of ADONAI your God - you, your sons and daughters, your male and female slaves, the L'vi'im living in your towns, and the foreigners, orphans and widows living among you - in the place where ADONAI your God will choose to have his name live. ​
12
Remember that you were a slave in Egypt; then you will keep and obey these laws. ​

The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)

13
"You are to keep the festival of Sukkot for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing-floor and winepress. ​
14
Rejoice at your festival - you, your sons and daughters, your male and female slaves, the L'vi'im, and the foreigners, orphans and widows living among you.
15
Seven days you are to keep the festival for ADONAI your God in the place ADONAI your God will choose, because ADONAI your God will bless you in all your crops and in all your work, so you are to be full of joy! ​

Mandatory Annual Pilgrimages

16
"Three times a year all your men are to appear in the presence of ADONAI your God in the place which he will choose - at the festival of matzah, at the festival of Shavu'ot and at the festival of Sukkot. They are not to show up before ADONAI empty-handed, ​
17
but every man is to give what he can, in accordance with the blessing ADONAI your God has given you. ​

Establishing Justice and Authority

18
"You are to appoint judges and officers for all your gates [in the cities] ADONAI your God is giving you, tribe by tribe; and they are to judge the people with righteous judgment. ​
19
You are not to distort justice or show favoritism, and you are not to accept a bribe, for a gift blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of even the upright. ​
20
Justice, only justice, you must pursue; so that you will live and inherit the land ADONAI your God is giving you. ​

Prohibition of Idolatry

21
"You are not to plant any sort of tree as a sacred pole beside the altar of ADONAI your God that you will make for yourselves. ​
22
Likewise, do not set up a standing-stone; ADONAI your God hates such things. ​

Study Notes for Deuteronomy 16

Verse 1

Observance of the Passover (Pesach) is tied directly to the historical memory of the Exodus, which occurred in haste. Abib (later called Nisan) is the first month of the religious calendar.

Verse 2

The command to sacrifice the Passover 'in the place which the LORD shall choose' reinforces the Deuteronomic principle of centralizing worship, preventing unauthorized local shrines.

Verse 3

Unleavened bread (matzah) is called the 'bread of affliction' because it symbolizes the speed of the departure from Egypt and the suffering endured there, emphasizing continuous remembrance.

Verse 6

The ritual timing—'at the going down of the sun'—marks the transition into the 15th day of Abib, ensuring accurate observance of the moment of departure.

Verse 7

The instruction to return to their tents the next morning indicates that while the sacrifice must be central, the people did not need to reside permanently at the chosen sanctuary during the entire feast.

Verse 9

This festival, known as the Feast of Harvest or Weeks (Pentecost in Greek), marks the conclusion of the spring grain harvest, occurring seven weeks after the beginning of the barley harvest.

Verse 10

The offering is a 'freewill offering' proportional to God's blessing, linking agricultural success directly to required gratitude and generosity towards the Lord.

Verse 11

The emphasis on including the socially vulnerable (Levite, stranger, fatherless, widow) underscores the theological principle that communal rejoicing must be radically inclusive.

Verse 12

The remembrance of slavery in Egypt serves as the ethical foundation for observing these statutes, ensuring that Israel treats others justly and celebrates inclusively.

Verse 13

This final major festival celebrates the autumn harvest (gathering corn and wine) and commemorates Israel’s dwelling in temporary shelters during the wilderness wanderings.

Verse 15

The command to 'surely rejoice' is repeated, emphasizing joy as a required element of worship, based on the assurance of God’s blessing upon their labors.

Verse 16

This verse summarizes the law of mandatory pilgrimage, requiring all adult males to appear at the central sanctuary three times a year, symbolizing national unity and allegiance.

Verse 17

The instruction that they 'shall not appear before the LORD empty' establishes the principle of proportional giving; offerings must reflect the relative blessing the individual has received.

Verse 18

The transition here moves from religious observance to civil structure. The appointment of judges and officers (shoterim) in every city ensures local application of divine law.

Verse 19

The prohibition against perverting justice, respecting persons (favoritism), or taking bribes is foundational to the covenant society, protecting the vulnerable from corruption.

Verse 20

The pursuit of absolute justice ('that which is altogether just') is tied directly to the continued inheritance and life in the land, illustrating the theological connection between morality and national destiny.

Verse 21

This law strictly forbids planting sacred poles (Asherah poles, often associated with Canaanite fertility cults) near the altar of Yahweh, demanding purity in worship space.

Verse 22

The prohibition against setting up a sacred pillar (matzevah) or standing stone—even if intended for Yahweh—aims to prevent the adoption of foreign religious practices associated with idol worship.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options