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Deuteronomy, 16

1. Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

1. Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover in honor of Yahweh since it was in this month that Yahweh, your God, brought you out of Egypt by night.

2. Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.

2. On the Passover, you shall sacrifice oxen and sheep to Yahweh in the place he has chosen for his Name to dwell.

3. Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, [even] the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

3. For the Passover supper, you are not to eat leavened bread, but for seven days, you shall eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt hastily. So you shall remember all the days of your life the day on which you left Egypt.

4. And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there [any thing] of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.

4. For seven days, no leaven shall be seen throughout your territory; nor shall any of the flesh you sacrificed on the evening of the first day be left for the following day.

5. Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:

5. You may not offer the Passover sacrifice in any city which Yahweh gives you,

6. But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.

6. but only in the place chosen by Yahweh as the dwelling place for his Name. Sacrifice the Passover in the evening, at sunset, at the time you came out of Egypt.

7. And thou shalt roast and eat [it] in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.

7. You shall roast it and eat it in the place chosen by Yahweh, your God. And then, in the morning you shall return to your house.

8. Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day [shall be] a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work [therein].

8. You shall eat unleavened bread for six days, and on the seventh, you shall celebrate a solemn assembly in honor of Yahweh and you shall not work.

9. Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from [such time as] thou beginnest [to put] the sickle to the corn.

9. You shall count seven weeks, beginning from the day you start cutting the standing wheat.

10. And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give [unto the LORD thy God], according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

10. Then you shall celebrate the Feast of the Seven Weeks for Yahweh, your God, making a voluntary offering from your harvest in proportion to the way Yahweh, your God, blesses you.

11. And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that [is] within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that [are] among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

11. At the place Yahweh has chosen as the dwelling place for his Name, you shall feast, you and your children, your servants, the Levite who lives in your cities, the foreigner, the orphan and the widow who live among you.

12. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

12. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and be careful to put these precepts into practice.

13. Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:

13. Celebrate too the Feast of the Tents for seven days, after gathering the produce of your threshing floor and of your winepress.

14. And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that [are] within thy gates.

14. Rejoice during this feast - you and your children, your servants, the Levite, the foreigner, the orphan and the widow who live in your city.

15. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

15. You shall feast for seven days in honor of Yahweh at the place chosen by him; because Yahweh will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that your joy may be complete.

16. Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

16. Three times a year all your men shall present themselves before Yahweh, your God, in the place chosen by him: on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on the Feast of Weeks, and on the Feast of Tents. And you shall not present yourselves empty-handed,

17. Every man [shall give] as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.

17. but each one will offer in proportion to what he has, according to the blessing that Yahweh has bestowed upon you.

18. Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

18. Appoint judges and secretaries for your tribes in every city which Yahweh gives you, that they may judge the people according to justice.

19. Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

19. You shall not bend the law or show partiality. Do not accept gifts because gifts blind the eyes of the wise and subvert the cause of the righteous.

20. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

20. Justice! Seek justice if you want to live and inherit the land which Yahweh, your God, gives you.

21. Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.

21. Do not plant any tree or sacred pillar near the altar of your God.

22. Neither shalt thou set thee up [any] image; which the LORD thy God hateth.

22. Do not put up there the sacred stones that Yahweh hates.



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Footnotes:

16:1-8 - The instructions for Passover emphasize the importance of collective memory and worship. Celebrating the deliverance from Egypt is central to the identity of God's people (see also Exodus 12:14 and Luke 22:19-20).

16:9-12 - The celebration of the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) emphasizes gratitude for the harvest and the importance of remembering God's work. This reinforces the connection between worship and gratitude (see also Exodus 23:16 and Acts 2:1).

16:13-15 - The Feast of Tabernacles highlights the importance of remembering God's provision in the wilderness. This celebration is an expression of gratitude and dependence on God (see also Leviticus 23:39-43 and John 7:37-39).

16:16-17 - The requirement that all men appear before God three times a year reinforces the need for corporate worship and the priority that should be given to worship (see also Psalm 122:1 and Hebrews 10:24-25).

Verses related to Deuteronomy, 16:

Deuteronomy chapter 16 orders the celebration of the festivals. How does the religious calendar shape life in Israel? This foundational text details the observance of the Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The chapter emphasizes the importance of collective memory, gratitude to God and community joy. Deuteronomy 16 also addresses the administration of justice. Explore with us five biblical passages that relate to the key themes of this festive chapter.

Exodus 23:14-17: "Three times a year you will celebrate me a feast. Observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time, in the month of Abib, for in it you left Egypt. No one shall appear before me empty-handed. Observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labor in the field. Also observe the Closing Harvest Festival at the end of the year, when you harvest the harvest in the field. Three times a year all men must present themselves to the Sovereign Lord." - This text from Exodus establishes the three main festivals that are detailed in Deuteronomy 16, showing the continuity of the Mosaic law.

2 Chronicles 8:13: "As the daily order required, he offered them according to Moses' commandment for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, and for the three annual festivals: the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths." - This verse shows how the festivals established in Deuteronomy 16 were observed during Solomon's reign, demonstrating their continuing importance.

John 7:2,37: "The Jewish festival of Booths was approaching, [...] On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice: 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.'" - Jesus participates in the Festival of Booths, established in Deuteronomy 16, and uses the occasion to teach, showing how these festivals remained relevant in the New Testament.

Acts 2:1: "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all gathered in one place." - The Pentecost mentioned here is the Feast of Weeks of Deuteronomy 16, showing how this feast became a pivotal moment in the history of the early church.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8: "Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be new and unleavened dough, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover Lamb, was sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of wickedness and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." - Paul references the Feast of Unleavened Bread of Deuteronomy 16, giving it a Christological meaning.

FAQ:

What is the Feast of Passover in Deuteronomy 16?

The Passover Festival celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt. It was held in the month of Abib, where the sacrifice of the lamb represented redemption. (Deuteronomy 16:1-3)

What is the significance of the Feast of Weeks in Deuteronomy 16?

The Feast of Weeks is celebrated seven weeks after the harvest. It marks the beginning of the harvest and symbolizes gratitude to God for the fruits of the earth. (Deuteronomy 16:9-10)

How did God direct the Feast of Tabernacles in Deuteronomy 16?

The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates God's provision during the 40 years in the wilderness, being a time of joy and thanksgiving for the harvest. (Deuteronomy 16:13-15)

Why does God command justice to be done in Deuteronomy 16?

God instructs judges to be impartial and not to accept bribes, so that justice may prevail and the land may be blessed. (Deuteronomy 16:18-20)

How important is it to worship only God in Deuteronomy 16?

The chapter reiterates the importance of not worshiping other gods and destroying pagan altars, preserving the exclusive worship of God. (Deuteronomy 16:21-22)


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