Deuteronomy 16
Deuteronomy 16 provides instructions for three major feasts that the Israelites were to observe once they entered the Promised Land: the Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. These feasts were not only times of celebration but also moments to remember God’s deliverance and provision, as well as to gather in Jerusalem at the place God chose to make His name dwell.
Deuteronomy 16:1 (NKJV)
"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."
Moses reminds the Israelites to observe the Passover in the month of Abib, the time when God delivered them from Egypt. This feast commemorates their liberation from slavery and God's powerful intervention in their history. It serves as a constant reminder of His faithfulness and the importance of obedience.
Deuteronomy 16:2 (NKJV)
"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."
God commanded that the Passover sacrifice be performed only at the place He chose. This central location, eventually Jerusalem, highlighted the unity of the people and the importance of coming together to worship God in the manner He prescribed. It reinforced that their worship must be according to God's instructions, not their own preferences.
Deuteronomy 16:3 (NKJV)
"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."
Eating unleavened bread, referred to as the “bread of affliction,” was a reminder of the haste in which the Israelites had to leave Egypt. It symbolized both their suffering in slavery and the urgency of their departure. This ritual was meant to ensure they never forgot the miraculous deliverance God provided.
Deuteronomy 16:4-5 (NKJV)
"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.
You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which the Lord your God gives you;"
These verses emphasize the strict prohibition of leaven during the seven-day period of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The prohibition against sacrificing the Passover within their gates underscores the importance of centralized worship. God set boundaries to ensure that the people followed His specific commands regarding worship.
Deuteronomy 16:6-7 (NKJV)
"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.
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."
The timing of the Passover sacrifice was symbolic, performed at twilight to commemorate the time of Israel’s departure from Egypt. The instructions to roast and eat the meal at the designated place remind the Israelites of God's sovereignty in choosing where His presence would dwell. The morning departure symbolizes the journey forward with God’s blessing.
Deuteronomy 16:8 (NKJV)
"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."
The seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was to be a day of rest and a sacred assembly, reminding the Israelites of God's provision. It allowed them to reflect on the significance of their deliverance from Egypt, as well as their complete dependence on Him, without distraction from daily work.
Deuteronomy 16:9-10 (NKJV)
"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.
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."
The Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost, was a harvest celebration. The timing of the festival depended on the beginning of the grain harvest, symbolizing God’s provision. The freewill offerings reflected the people's gratitude and acknowledgment of God's blessings. This feast reinforced their reliance on God for their sustenance.
Deuteronomy 16:11 (NKJV)
"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."
This verse emphasizes the inclusivity of worship during the Feast of Weeks. All members of the community, including servants, Levites, strangers, and those in need, were to rejoice together. God's provision extended to everyone, regardless of their social status, reflecting His care for all.
Deuteronomy 16:12 (NKJV)
"And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes."
Moses again calls the Israelites to remember their former slavery in Egypt. This memory was essential to cultivate humility and obedience. God’s deliverance from slavery was to be a motivation for faithfully observing His commands, and to remind them of their dependence on His grace and mercy.
Deuteronomy 16:13-15 (NKJV)
"You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress.
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.
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."
The Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated after the harvest. It was a time of thanksgiving for the abundance God had provided. The entire community, including servants, foreigners, and the needy, was called to rejoice together. The feast acknowledged God’s blessings, and this time of celebration was also a reflection of His continued faithfulness to His people.
Deuteronomy 16:16-17 (NKJV)
"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.
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you."
All males were required to gather three times a year at the central place of worship for these feasts. The command to not appear empty-handed emphasized giving according to how God had blessed each person. This principle reflects the relationship between worship and gratitude, where giving is a response to God's goodness.
Deuteronomy 16:18-20 (NKJV)
"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.
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.
You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you."
Moses instructed the Israelites to appoint judges and officers to administer justice throughout the land. These leaders were called to uphold fairness and integrity, avoiding bribes and favoritism. By ensuring justice, they would preserve righteousness in the nation and ensure their continued possession of the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 16:21-22 (NKJV)
"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.
You shall not set up a sacred pillar, which the Lord your God hates."
These final verses warn against idolatry. Planting trees or setting up sacred pillars near God’s altar reflected pagan practices. Such actions would defile the place of worship and dishonor God. The warning served as a reminder to keep their worship pure and free from any influence of surrounding pagan cultures.