Deuteronomy 31:10

KJV

And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of [every] seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

KJV (with Strong's)

And Moses {H4872} commanded {H6680} them, saying {H559}, At the end {H7093} of every seven {H7651} years {H8141}, in the solemnity {H4150} of the year {H8141} of release {H8059}, in the feast {H2282} of tabernacles {H5521},

Complete Jewish Bible

Moshe gave them these orders: "At the end of every seven years, during the festival of Sukkot in the year of sh'mittah,

Berean Standard Bible

Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of remission of debt, during the Feast of Tabernacles,

American Standard Version

And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 31:10 records a pivotal command given by Moses to the Israelites, just before his death and their entry into the Promised Land. This divine injunction mandated a national assembly every seven years, specifically during the Feast of Tabernacles in the Sabbatical year, for the public reading of the entire Law. This regular, communal engagement with God's covenant stipulations was designed to ensure that all generations, from the leadership to the youngest child, would hear, understand, and commit themselves afresh to the divine instructions that formed the bedrock of their national identity, spiritual vitality, and prosperity in the land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This command is situated within Moses' poignant farewell discourse to Israel, a series of final addresses recorded in the book of Deuteronomy. Chapters 29-30 emphasize the profound implications of the Mosaic covenant, detailing the blessings for obedience and the severe curses for disobedience, culminating in a fervent call to "choose life" ([Deuteronomy 30:19](/deuteronomy/30-19 "Deuteronomy 30:19 - Choose Life")). Chapter 31 specifically details Moses' final acts of leadership: commissioning Joshua as his successor ([Deuteronomy 31:7-8](/deuteronomy/31-7-8 "Deuteronomy 31:7-8 - Joshua Commissioned")), delivering the written Law to the Levitical priests and elders ([Deuteronomy 31:9](/deuteronomy/31-9 "Deuteronomy 31:9 - Moses Delivers the Law to the Priests")), and instituting this septennial public reading. The immediate verses, [Deuteronomy 31:11-13](/deuteronomy/31-11-13 "Deuteronomy 31:11-13 - The Purpose of the Reading"), elaborate on *who* was to read the Law (the priests and elders) and *why* (so all might hear, learn, fear the Lord, and diligently observe His words). This institutionalized public reading served as a vital mechanism for the perpetuation of the covenant beyond Moses' lifetime, ensuring the nation's continued adherence to God's revealed will.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The command in [Deuteronomy 31:10](/deuteronomy/31-10 "Deuteronomy 31:10 - The Command for Public Reading of the Law") is deeply rooted in the socio-religious calendar and agricultural rhythms of ancient Israel. The phrase "at the end of every seven years" refers to the *Shemitah*, or Sabbatical year, a period mandated in [Deuteronomy 15:1-11](/deuteronomy/15-1-11 "Deuteronomy 15:1-11 - Laws of the Sabbatical Year") for the resting of the land from cultivation and the release of debts among Israelites. This cycle underscored God's sovereignty over their economy and provision, fostering a profound reliance on Him rather than solely on human effort. The "feast of tabernacles" (Sukkot) was one of the three major annual pilgrimage festivals, celebrated in the autumn (Tishri/Ethanim), following the ingathering of the harvest. As detailed in [Leviticus 23:33-43](/leviticus/23-33-43 "Leviticus 23:33-43 - The Feast of Tabernacles"), Sukkot commemorated Israel's forty years of wandering in the wilderness, living in temporary shelters, and celebrated God's bountiful provision. Its joyous, communal nature, coupled with the national reset and economic freedom of the *Shemitah*, created an ideal environment for a solemn yet celebratory re-engagement with God's foundational covenant Law.
* **Key Themes:** [Deuteronomy 31:10](/deuteronomy/31-10 "Deuteronomy 31:10 - The Command for Public Reading of the Law") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights the **centrality and authority of God's Word** as the indispensable foundation of Israel's life and identity. The Law was not merely a set of rules but the very expression of God's character and will, essential for their spiritual health, moral purity, and national well-being. Secondly, it underscores the critical theme of **covenant renewal and intergenerational instruction**. This regular reading ensured that every generation, including those born after the Exodus, would be personally exposed to the terms of God's covenant, fostering a continuous reaffirmation of their commitment and preventing spiritual amnesia. Thirdly, it emphasizes **corporate responsibility and communal worship**. The command was for the entire community – men, women, and children, and even the sojourner within their gates ([Deuteronomy 31:12](/deuteronomy/31-12 "Deuteronomy 31:12 - All Israel to Hear the Law")) – to gather and listen. This fostered a shared understanding and collective commitment to God's commands, recognizing that the nation's fate was inextricably tied to its collective obedience. This institutionalized practice was vital for preventing spiritual drift and maintaining national fidelity to the Lord, echoing the warnings and exhortations found throughout [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy/1 "Deuteronomy - The Second Law").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **release (Hebrew, _shᵉmiṭṭâh'_):** From H8059, this term signifies remission, letting go, or suspension of labor. It specifically refers to the Sabbatical year, a divinely ordained period during which the land was to lie fallow, and debts among Israelites were to be cancelled ([Deuteronomy 15:1-11](/deuteronomy/15-1-11 "Deuteronomy 15:1-11 - Laws of the Sabbatical Year")). The public reading of the Law during this time served as a spiritual counterpart to the physical and economic releases, reminding the people of their ultimate dependence on God and their covenant obligations, fostering renewal and trust.
* **feast (Hebrew, _chag'_):** From H2282, this word denotes a festival or solemn assembly, often accompanied by pilgrimage and sacrifice. It emphasizes the celebratory and communal nature of the occasion. The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three major annual pilgrimage festivals, requiring all Israelite males to appear before the Lord at the central sanctuary. This ensured a widespread gathering, making it an ideal time for a national event of such solemn significance as the reading of the Law.
* **tabernacles (Hebrew, _çukkâh'_):** From H5521, this feminine noun refers to a hut, lair, booth, or temporary dwelling. It is the namesake of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), during which Israelites were commanded to live in temporary shelters for seven days ([Leviticus 23:42-43](/leviticus/23-42-43 "Leviticus 23:42-43 - Dwelling in Booths")). This act served as a powerful annual reminder of God's faithful provision and protection during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness, reinforcing their pilgrim status and dependence on Him, making it a fitting backdrop for re-engagement with His Law.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Moses commanded them, saying,":** This opening phrase establishes the divine authority behind the instruction. Moses, as God's chosen mediator and prophet, delivers this command not as a personal suggestion but as a direct mandate from the Lord to the entire nation. It underscores the weight, binding nature, and ultimate divine origin of the subsequent instruction, emphasizing its non-negotiable character for Israel's future.
* **"At the end of [every] seven years,":** This specifies the precise timing of the command, linking it to the completion of the Sabbatical cycle. The phrase implies a regular, recurring event, ensuring that the Law would be continually re-presented to new generations and reaffirmed by all. This periodic rhythm prevented the Law from becoming forgotten or irrelevant over time, embedding spiritual renewal within their temporal and economic existence.
* **"in the solemnity of the year of release,":** This further refines the timing, specifically identifying the Sabbatical year, a time of profound national significance marked by economic and agricultural reset. The term "solemnity" (môwʻêd, H4150) denotes an appointed, sacred time or festival, highlighting the gravity and spiritual importance of this particular Sabbatical year for the public reading. It was a time when the nation was already focused on God's provision and their covenant obligations.
* **"in the feast of tabernacles,":** This final temporal marker pinpoints the exact festival during which the reading was to occur. The Feast of Tabernacles, a time of joyful celebration and remembrance of God's wilderness provision, provided a natural gathering point for the entire nation. The combination of the Sabbatical year's spiritual reset and Sukkot's communal joy created a unique and powerful context for a profound national encounter with God's authoritative Word.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 31:10, though concise, employs several literary devices that enhance its significance within the broader narrative of Deuteronomy. The primary device is **Emphasis through Specificity**, where the precise temporal markers ("end of every seven years," "year of release," "Feast of Tabernacles") are not merely chronological details but carry profound symbolic weight. This specificity highlights the divine intentionality behind the command, embedding the spiritual practice within the very rhythms of Israel's life. The verse also relies heavily on **Symbolism**, particularly through the chosen timing. The "seven years" symbolize divine order, completion, and the cyclical nature of God's covenant relationship with Israel. The "year of release" (Shemitah) symbolizes spiritual and physical renewal, a time of letting go, trusting God's provision, and resetting. The "Feast of Tabernacles" (Sukkot) symbolizes remembrance of God's faithful wilderness provision and joyful dependence on His harvest. The combination of these symbolic timings creates a powerful mnemonic, embedding the command for hearing the Law within the very fabric of Israel's life and faith. Furthermore, this verse serves as a culmination of the **Repetition** of the command for hearing and obeying God's Law found throughout Deuteronomy, underscoring its paramount importance for the nation's future and ensuring its institutionalized practice.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 31:10 profoundly illustrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, not merely through provision and protection, but through continuous, accessible instruction in His holy Law. This command reveals a divine pedagogy, recognizing humanity's inherent propensity to forget, drift, and deviate from His path. By ordaining a regular, public, and comprehensive reading of the Torah, God ensured that the knowledge of His character, His expectations, and His redemptive history would be perpetually renewed within the national consciousness. It was a crucial safeguard against spiritual amnesia and a powerful means of fostering intergenerational faith and obedience. The communal nature of the reading underscored that fidelity to God was a corporate responsibility, binding every individual and family into the larger covenant community. This practice was foundational for Israel's unique identity as a people set apart by God's word, a testament to His desire for an informed and obedient relationship with His chosen nation.

* [Joshua 8:34-35](/joshua/8-34-35 "Joshua 8:34-35 - Joshua Reads the Law to All Israel")
* [Nehemiah 8:1-8](/nehemiah/8-1-8 "Nehemiah 8:1-8 - Ezra Reads the Law to the People")
* [Psalm 119:105](/psalms/119-105 "Psalm 119:105 - Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 31:10 serves as a timeless reminder of the indispensable role of God's Word in shaping individual and communal life. Just as ancient Israel needed regular, corporate immersion in the Law to remember their covenant, understand God's will, and live in obedience, so too do believers today require consistent and intentional engagement with Scripture. This verse challenges us to prioritize biblical literacy, not merely as an academic pursuit, but as a vital spiritual discipline that informs our identity, guides our decisions, and nourishes our souls. It calls us to value both personal study and corporate worship where the Bible is faithfully taught, preached, and proclaimed. The historical context of the Sabbatical year and the Feast of Tabernacles further encourages us to embrace rhythms of rest, remembrance of God's faithfulness, and joyful celebration of His provision, all grounded in His revealed truth. Our spiritual health, the vitality of our families, and the flourishing of the church depend on our collective commitment to hear, learn, fear, and obey the living Word of God, allowing it to transform us from the inside out.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the command in Deuteronomy 31:10 highlight the importance of regular, corporate engagement with God's Word in your life and community?**
* **What practical steps can you take to ensure that you, and those around you, are consistently hearing, understanding, and applying the Bible?**
* **In what ways can remembering God's past faithfulness, as celebrated in the Feast of Tabernacles, strengthen your commitment to His commands today?**
* **Considering the "year of release," how might embracing rhythms of rest and reliance on God's provision deepen your spiritual walk and obedience to His Word?**

### FAQ
**Why was the Law read only every seven years, rather than more frequently?**

Answer: The septennial reading of the Law, specifically during the Feast of Tabernacles in the Sabbatical year, was strategically chosen for maximum impact and attendance, rather than being the *only* time the Law was engaged with. While individual and family instruction in the Law was ongoing and commanded daily ([Deuteronomy 6:7](/deuteronomy/6-7 "Deuteronomy 6:7 - Teach Your Children Diligently")), the public, national reading served a distinct and profound purpose. The Sabbatical year (the "year of release") meant that agricultural work ceased, and many debts were remitted, freeing people to travel and participate without the usual burdens of labor or financial obligation. The Feast of Tabernacles was one of the three major pilgrimage festivals, ensuring that a vast majority of the male population, along with their families, would already be gathered in Jerusalem. This unique combination created an unparalleled window for a truly national assembly, allowing the entire covenant community—men, women, and children, even foreigners residing among them ([Deuteronomy 31:12](/deuteronomy/31-12 "Deuteronomy 31:12 - All Israel to Hear the Law"))—to collectively hear and renew their commitment to God's covenant. It was a profound, memorable, and unifying event designed to prevent spiritual drift over generations and to embed the Law deeply into the national consciousness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 31:10, with its emphasis on the public reading and hearing of God's Law, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Law, given through Moses, served as a shadow of the perfect reality to come ([Hebrews 10:1](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1 - The Law as a Shadow of Good Things to Come")). While the Old Covenant commanded a periodic re-engagement with written statutes, the New Covenant brings the living Word of God, Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies and fulfills the Law in every detail ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). He is the ultimate revelation of God's character and will, the one in whom all the promises of God find their "Yes" and "Amen" ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "2 Corinthians 1:20 - All God's Promises are Yes in Christ")). We no longer gather every seven years to hear a copy of the Law read, but we continually encounter the Law's perfect fulfillment and grace in Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit, who writes God's law on our hearts ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant")), enabling true obedience from within. Furthermore, just as the Law was read to all Israel, the good news of Christ's saving work is now proclaimed to all nations, inviting all to hear, believe, and live by the ultimate Word of God, who is Jesus Christ Himself ([John 1:1-14](/john/1-1-14 "John 1:1-14 - The Word Became Flesh")). He is the true Feast of Tabernacles, who "tabernacled" or "dwelt among us" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), and the ultimate Year of Release, proclaiming freedom for the prisoners and release for the oppressed to all who believe in Him ([Luke 4:18-19](/luke/4-18 "Luke 4:18 - Jesus Proclaims Good News and Freedom")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 23:34

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month [shall be] the feast of tabernacles [for] seven days unto the LORD.

Leviticus 23:43

That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 15:1

¶ At the end of [every] seven years thou shalt make a release.

Deuteronomy 15:2

And this [is] the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth [ought] unto his neighbour shall release [it]; he shall not exact [it] of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release.