Deuteronomy 16
OGCSUMMARY OF CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The month of Abib to be observed, 1. The feast of the passover and of unleavened bread, 2-8. The feast of weeks, 9-12. The feast of tabernacles, 13-15. All the males to appear before the Lord thrice in the year, none to come empty, each to give according to his ability, 16, 17. Judges and officers to be made in all their cities, 18. Strict justice shall be executed, 19, 20. No grove to be planted near the altar of God, nor any image to be set up, 21, 22.
QUESTIONS, LESSON THIRTEEN
(Deuteronomy 16:1-17; Deuteronomy 16:21-22; Deuteronomy 17:1)
Name the three yearly Jewish feasts, giving at least two names for each, and the time of year each was observed.
What did the Passover commemorate? (Discuss the name and its significance.)
Why use unleavened bread? Why was it called bread of affliction?
Explain what Paul meant when he referred to Christ as our passover.
How did Pentecost get its name?
What was celebrated at this feast?
What great New Testament event occurred on the first day of this feast?
Why is the feast of tabernacles so called?
What two things did this festival commemorate?
Were both men and women to attend these annual festivals?
Who or what were the Asherah?
In this lesson, what kind of sacrifice is an abomination unto Jehovah?
Deuteronomy 16:1-8
LESSON THIRTEEN Deuteronomy 16:1-17; Deuteronomy 21, 22; Deuteronomy 17:1
d. HOLY FESTIVALS (Deuteronomy 16:1-17; Deuteronomy 21, 22; Deuteronomy 17:1) (These three yearly feasts are also discussed in Exodus 23:14-17; Exodus 34:23; Leviticus 23; Numbers 28:16 to Numbers 29:40.)
(1) THE PASSOVER (Deuteronomy 16:1-8)[32]
[32] An excellent study of typology relating to the passover is found in the book Shadow and Substance, by Victor E. Hoven. (N. W. Christian College Press, Eugene, Ore,) He also treats the other festivals mentioned here, This book is for sale from College PressJoplin, Missouri,
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto Jehovah thy God; for in the month of Abib Jehovah thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. 2 And thou shalt sacrifice the passover unto Jehovah thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which Jehovah shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there. 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. 4 And there shall be no leaven seen with thee in all thy borders seven days; neither shall any of the flesh, which thou sacrificest the first day at even, remain all night until the morning. 5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee; 6 but at the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell 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. 7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents. 8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread; and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to Jehovah thy God; thou shalt do no work therein.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 16:1-8
According to our calendar when was the month Abib?
In the order of observance, when were the days of unleaven bread?
Are we to understand from Deuteronomy 16:5 that the Passover could not be observed in the home? Discuss.
Mention at least two comparisons of the sacrifice of our Passover lamb.
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 16:1-8
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. 2 You shall offer the passover sacrifice to the Lord your God from the flock or the herd, in the place where the Lord will choose to make His name [and His presence] dwell. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of afflictionfor you fled from the land of Egypt in hastethat all the days of your life you may [earnestly] remember the day when you came out of Egypt. 4 No leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory for seven days; nor shall any of the flesh which you sacrificed the first day at evening be left all night until the morning. 5 You may not offer the passover sacrifices within any of your towns which the Lord your God gives you; 6 But at the place which the Lord your God will choose in which to make His name [and His presence] dwell, there you shall offer the passover sacrifice in the evening at sunset, at the season that you came out of Egypt. 7 And you shall roast or boil and eat it in the place which the Lord your God will choose; and in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents. 8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread; and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord your God; you shall do no work on it.
COMMENT 16:1-8
Basic to a study of this feast is a knowledge of the original Passover, Exodus 12, 13.
OBSERVE THE MONTH ABIB (Deuteronomy 16:1)The first Jewish month, Exodus 12:2. Leviticus 23:5 specifies that the passover was to begin on the 14th day of this month, at even. The Jewish month Abib overlaps between our March and April. Smith, in his Bible Dictionary, states, From the time of the institution of the Mosaic law downward the month was a lunar one. The cycle of the religious feasts commencing with the passover depended not simply on the month, but the moon; the 14th of Abib was coincident with the full moon. the commencement of the month was generally decided by observation of the new moon The months were often simply referred to by number, and some had more than one name, Abib, for example, is also called Nisan (Nehemiah 2:1).
AND THOU SHALT SACRIFICE THE PASSOVER (Deuteronomy 16:2)The feast’s name and its implications are obvious from Exodus 12:21-28. Our Paschal Lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed and we, too, have been redeemed from bondage and slavery.. wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). Even as God passed over the houses of those Israelites who had appropriated to themselves the blood of the lamb, so God will pass over us, not inflicting the penalty of death, if we have appropriated unto ourselves the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
OF THE FLOCK AND OF THE HERD (Deuteronomy 16:2)Note the offerings demanded on this day in Numbers 28:18 ff.
THOU SHALT EAT NO UNLEAVENED BREAD (Deuteronomy 16:3)Exodus 12:39 gives the reason for this. They were not only to have unleavened bread, but no leaven was to be found in their houses (see Deuteronomy 16:4 and Exodus 12:19). Leaven is usually also a type of sin, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7; Galatians 5:7-9.
BREAD OF AFFLICTION (Deuteronomy 16:3)So called because of the affliction from which they were delivered in Egypt.
AT EVEN, AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN (Deuteronomy 16:6)Referring to Exodus 12, Victor E. Hoven says of the passover lamb: It was killed at even on the fourteenth, about three o-‘clock (Deuteronomy 16:6) the time Israel came out of Egypt (Deuteronomy 16:6), At the same time, when the daily evening sacrifice of a lamb took place in Jerusalem, the Lamb of God expired on the cross (Matthew 27:45-50).Shadow and Substance, p. 95.
Deuteronomy 16:9-12
(2) PENTECOST (Deuteronomy 16:9-12)
9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: from the time thou beginnest to put the sickle to the standing grain shalt thou begin to number seven weeks. 10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto Jehovah thy God with a tribute of a freewill-offering of thy hand, which thou shalt give, according as Jehovah thy God blesseth thee: 11 and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are in the midst of thee, in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there. 12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 16:9-12
Please read Exodus 23:16; Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 23:15-21; Numbers 28:26-31 and Deuteronomy 26:1-11 to be able to understand this feast, and more especially the counting of time.
Why call this the feast of Pentecost?
Why was the purpose of this feast?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 16:9-12
9 You shall count seven weeks: beginning to number the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. 10 Then you shall keep the feast of weeks to the Lord your God with a tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give to the Lord your God, as the Lord your God blesses you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and daughter, your manservant and maidservant, and the Levite who is within your towns, the stranger or temporary resident, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place in which the Lord your God chooses to make His name [and His presence] dwell. 12 And you shall (earnestly) remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be watchful and obey these statutes.
COMMENT 16:9-12
(More on this feast in Exodus 23:16; Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 23:15-21; Numbers 28:26-31, and Deuteronomy 26:1-11.)
This feast has several names: also called Harvest and First-fruits. It marked the beginning of the harvest period, and is called Pentecost (fiftieth) because they were to number fifty days after the Passover for its observance (Leviticus 23:15-16; Acts 2:1) which was on the first day of the week. Because seven weeks of seven days were numbered before it was observed during their month Sisan or Sivan, which answers to our May-June.
The giving of the first fruits, of course, honored God. In the old economy God was to be thought of firsthow much more in the new!
Deuteronomy 16:13-15
(3) TABERNACLES (Deuteronomy 16:13-15)
13 Thou shalt keep the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in from thy threshing-floor and from thy winepress: 14 and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates, 15 Seven days shalt thou keep a feast unto Jehovah thy God in the place which Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the work of thy hands, and thou shalt be altogether joyful.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 16:13-15
What was the purpose of the feast of Tabernacles?
Read: Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:33-36; Numbers 29:12-16 to help in your understanding of this feast.
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 16:13-15
13 You shall observe the feast of tabernacles or booths seven days, after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and wine vat. 14 You shall rejoice in your feast, you, your son and daughter, your manservant and maidservant, the Levite, the transient and the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, that are within your towns. 15 Seven days you shall keep a solemn 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 works of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.
COMMENT 16:13-15
Also called the feasts of booths, and ingathering. See Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:33-36; Leviticus 23:39-44; Numbers 29:12-16. It was on the 15th day of the 7th month, the month Tisri (our Sept.-Oct.). At this time they gathered in the fruits of the land (Leviticus 23:39). The word Tabernacles (from the Heb. sukkah or succoth)[33] is translated booths in most of the recent versions as this word more aptly describes the homes of the Israelites during the week this festival was being celebrated. It was camp meetin-’ time, and a memorial service to their camping days as they came out of Egypt, as well as a Thanksgiving Day for the recent harvest.
[33] Gesenius says of this word: a booth, a cot, made of leaves and branches interwoven. He would render the phrase, the feast of tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:13) the feast of booths and branches.
AND THOU SHALT BE ALTOGETHER JOYFUL (Deuteronomy 16:15)This probably was Israel’s most festive and joyous feast.
Deuteronomy 16:16-22
- GENERAL RULES FOR OBSERVANCE (Deuteronomy 16:16-17; Deuteronomy 16:21-22; Deuteronomy 17:1)
16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before Jehovah 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 Jehovah empty: 17 every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God which he hath given thee.
21 Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of Jehovah thy God, which thou shalt make thee. 22 Neither shalt thou set thee up a pillar; which Jehovah thy God hateth. Thou shalt not sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God an ox, or a sheep, wherein is a blemish, or any thing evil; for that is an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 16:16, 17, 21, 22; 17:1
To what place does Deuteronomy 16:16 allude?
What was to be given by every man? In what attitude?
What a strange prohibition! Who would consider such a strange admixture of Jehovah and Asherah? Cf. Deuteronomy 16:21.
If a man did not have a healthy animal to offer to the Lord what should he do?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 16:16, 17, 21, 22; 17:1
16 Three times a year shall all your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles or booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed; 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. 21 You shall not plant you any kind of tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the Lord your God which you shall make. 22 Neither shall you set up an idolatrous stone or image, which the Lord your God hates. You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or sheep with a blemish or any defect whatever; for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.
COMMENT 16:16, 17, 21, 22; 17:1
EVERY MAN SHALL GIVE AS HE IS ABLE (Deuteronomy 16:17)This was true of the giving required at these feasts (whether the offerings specified were for the particular feast, or free-will offerings) and all through the ages. Paul asked each Corinthian Christian to lay by him in store, as he may prosper (1 Corinthians 16:2). For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not (See 2 Corinthians 8:3; 2 Corinthians 8:12).
THOU SHALT NOT PLANT THEE AN ASHERAH OF ANY KIND OF TREE BESIDE THE ALTAR (Deuteronomy 16:21)See Deuteronomy 7:2; Deuteronomy 7:5, notes; Deuteronomy 12:1-4. An Asherah of any kind of tree (or, as otherwise rendered, an asherah [or pole] of any wood) has reference to the idols of wood that were made to this female diety. The commentators are not altogether agreed as to whether the name Asherah is the name of a distinct goddess, as well as the -poles,-’ -stumps,-’ or -stems-’ which represented her; or whether the notorious -Ashtoreth-’ (Astarte) was herself worshipped under these obscene images.[34] In any case the rites associated with the Asherahs were immoralinvolving the glorificationeven dieficationof sexual passion.
[34] Rotherham, in a Special Note on the Destruction of the Canaanite Nations. It is difficult to find cultured words to express the grossness of the immorality associated with these idols.
Note here that God did not want his worship associated in any way with idolatry and such sensual and evil rites as accompanied it. Yet there was apparently the possibility that there would be an attempt to blend the true religion of God with the Asherah. So the later statements that Israel feared Jehovah and served other gods.
THOU SHALT NOT SACRIFICE. OX. SHEEP, WHEREIN IS A BLEMISH (Deuteronomy 17:1)See also Deuteronomy 15:21, Leviticus 22:19-25. It seems probable that this exhortation was given in connection with the sacrifices to be offered at the three major festivals just mentioned.
Such animals could be eaten, but not sacrificed to God. There is surely a parallel here between what God demanded in an Old Testament sacrifice, and the life he expects us, through Christ, to give to him as a Christian. We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God (See Romans 12:1-2). And how thankful we can be that the perfect sacrifice of Christ compensates for our imperfection!
Deuteronomy 16:18-22
LESSON FOURTEEN Deuteronomy 16:18-20; Deuteronomy 17:2 to Deuteronomy 18:22
e. THE LEADERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE (Deuteronomy 16:18-20; Deuteronomy 17:2 to Deuteronomy 18:22)
(Laws concerning Judges, kings, priests, and prophets)
(1) JUDGES (Deuteronomy 16:18-20; Deuteronomy 17:2-13)
18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, according to thy tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 Thou shalt not wrest justice: thou shalt not respect persons; neither shalt thou take a bribe; for a bribe doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. 20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
2 If there be found in the midst of thee, within any of thy gates which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that doeth that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah thy God, in transgressing his covenant, 3 and hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 4 and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, then shalt thou inquire diligently; and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel, 5 then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, who hath done this evil thing, unto thy gates, even the man or the woman; and thou shalt stone them to death with stones. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shalt he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 7 The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee. 8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose; 9 and thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days: and thou shalt inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment. 10 And thou shalt do according to the tenor of the sentence which they shall show thee from that place which Jehovah shall choose; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they shall teach thee: 11 according to the tenor of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do; thou shalt not turn aside from the sentence which they shall show thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto the priest that standeth to minister there before Jehovah thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. 13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 16:18-20; 17:2-13
Think carefully about the full meaning of the term judge as used here; to what office or work does this term compare in our day? A lawyer?
How could justice be wrested?
Approximate a circumstance in which a bribe could be attractive.
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 16:18-20; 17:2-13
18 You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not misinterpret or misapply judgment; you shall not be partial, or take a bribe; for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 Follow what is altogether just [that is, uncompromisingly righteous], that you may live and inherit the land which your God gives you. 2 If there is found among you, within any of your towns which the Lord your God gives you, a man or woman who does what is wicked in the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant, 3 Who has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or moon or any of the host of the heavens, which I have forbidden, 4 And it is told and you hear of it; then inquire diligently, and if it is certainly true that such an abomination has been committed in Israel, 5 Then you shall bring forth to your town’s gates that man or woman who has done that wicked thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death. 6 On the evidence of two or three witnesses, he who is worthy of death shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. 7 The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from among you. 8 If there arise a matter too hard for you in judgment, between one kind of bloodshed and another, between one legality and another, between one kind of assault and another, matters of controversy within your towns, then arise and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses, 9 And you shall come to the Levitical priests, and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall make clear to you the decision. 10 And you shall do according to the decision which they declare to you from that place which the Lord chooses, and you shall be watchful to do according to all that they tell you; 11 According to the decision of the law which they shall teach you, and the judgment which they shall announce to you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside from the verdict they give you, either to the right hand or the left. 12 The man who does presumptuously, and will not listen to the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or to the judge, that man shall die; so you shall purge the evil from Israel. 13 And all the people shall hear, and (reverently) fear, and not act presumptuously again.
COMMENT 16:18-20; 17:2-13
We have treated the last of these two sections in lesson ten because the basic subject matter is the same. But because the scripture also concerns the judges, we include it again here.
JUDGES AND OFFICERS SHALT THOU MAKE IN ALL THY GATES (Deuteronomy 16:18)Obviously anticipating the settled life in Canaan. In ancient times, the gates of the city composed the city hall, and the chief area of civil business. In Ch. Deuteronomy 1:13-18 we saw how judges were appointed for Israel’s good for the length of their wilderness wanderings. Now, a similar system was in order for each city. JUDGES. shophetim, among the Hebrews, were probably the same as our magistrates or justices of the peace. OFFICERS. shoterim, seems to have been the same as our inquest sergeants, beadles [formerly, messengers of the court] & c., whose office it was to go into the houses, shops, & c., and examine weights, measures, and the civil conduct of the people. When they found anything amiss, they brought the person offending before the magistrate, and he was punished by the officer on the spot. They seem also to have acted as heralds in the army, Deuteronomy 20:5. (Clarke, who is, of course, comparing Britain).
The Hebrew word for judge (shaphat) is the same as occurs in the book of Judges, but, as we saw in Lesson Ten (Deuteronomy 17:9), the same word is used for men who usually performed very different functions than those outlined here.[35]
[35] Some judges during that era did appear to perform in an office similar to Moses-’ in the wilderness, judging the hard mattersJdg 3:10; Judges 4:5, 1 Samuel 4:18; 1 Samuel 7:6; 1 Samuel 7:15. But when it is said of a man, he judged Israel twenty years (Samson. Judges 16:31), much more is meant.
THOU SHALT NOT WREST JUSTICE (Deuteronomy 16:19)See Deuteronomy 1:16-17, notes.
IF THERE BE FOUND IN THE MIDST OF THEE (Deuteronomy 16:2)On Deuteronomy 16:2-13, see our remarks in lesson ten. Note that the judge is involved in judgment of the difficult cases (Deuteronomy 16:9) working in conjunction with the priests. Cf. Deuteronomy 19:15-21.