Archives

Deuteronomy 16:1-8

The month of Abib was a name adopted from the Canaanite calendar.  It was later replaced by Nissan from the Babylonian calendar.  The Lord commanded them to celebrate Passover in this month to commemorate their exodus from Egypt.  They were not to forget that night.

The Passover was to be celebrated at the tabernacle and not at home.  The Feast of Passover is often called the Feast of Unleavened Bread – these are used interchangeably to refer to both.  The unleavened bread reminded them that they left in haste and the bread did not have leaven in it.  Unleavened bread is called the bread of affliction to remind them of their bondage.  No leaven was to be found among them for seven days.

The Passover was to be sacrificed at twilight, roasted, and eaten as specified.  None of it was to be kept until morning. 

See also Exodus 23:12-19; 34:18-26; Lev 23; Numbers 28-29.

Deuteronomy 16:9-12

The Feast of Weeks was also later called Feast of Harvest or Day of First Fruits.  It was to occur seven weeks after the beginning of harvest.  This became associated with the giving of the law which appeared to be fifty days after Passover.  It also was called Pentecost and was the birth of the church in the New Testament era. 

This feast called for a pilgrimage to the Tabernacle to present the offerings before the Lord.  This was a time of remembrance and covenant renewal.  The wave offering of two loaves of bread became part of the tradition that appears to be symbolic of the two tablets of the law.  In addition, sacrifices were offered with grain and drink offerings.

See Ex 23:16; 34:22; Numbers 28:26

Deuteronomy 16:13-15

The Feast of Tabernacles is also called the Feast of Ingathering.  This celebrates the final harvest and the end of the growing season.  Booths were constructed to commemorate the booths built by the harvesters for shelter in the field.  These booths also have a connection with the Jews' shelter in the wilderness.  This was a seven-day feast beginning on the 15^th day of the seventh month. 

This feast was later celebrated by lighting the great lamps (menorahs) in the court of women in the temple.  It was there that Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world.”

See also Exodus 23:16.

Deuteronomy 16:16-17

Three times a year every male was to be present at the place God chose for worship.  The ladies were not excluded, it just wasn’t mandatory for them.  The three feasts were: Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, and Feast of Tabernacles. 

The men were not to come empty handed.  They were to bring an offering and give as they were able, according to how God had blessed them.  This giving appears to be over and above the normal tithe and required sacrifices.

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

The system of justice used during the exodus, through the wilderness and the conquering of the land, was military in nature.  Once the land was settled, individual communities would appoint judges and officers.  These men would stand as God’s representatives to judge among the people.  They were to be consistent in their judgments, not perverting them, not showing partiality, and not taking bribes.  Justice in the gates is linked to the inheritance and life in the land.

“Those in authority were expected to protect the rights of the poor and weak in society. “True justice” (see Lev 19:15) was required of kings, officials and local magistrates. In fact, the “world turned upside down” theme found in the book of Judges and in prophetic literature (Is 1:23) describes a society in which “laws are enacted, but ignored”

Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000).

The IVP Bible background commentary:

Old Testament (electronic ed., Dt 16:18–20).

InterVarsity Press.

See Proverbs 6:35; Micah 7:3; Micah 3:11; Ezra 4:4-5)

Deuteronomy 16:21-22

Idolatry is seen as a judicial issue.  A just judge was to deal with the idolater.  The “wooden image” is an Asherah, a pagan fertility goddess.  In like manner, they were not to set up sacred stones.  They were not to mingle their worship with these Canaanite gods in any way, shape, or form. 

©2007, 2023 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater