Deuteronomy 16:11-16

11 And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites in your towns, and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows living among you.
12 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and follow carefully these decrees.

The Festival of Tabernacles

13 Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress.
14 Be joyful at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns.
15 For seven days celebrate the festival to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will choose. For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.
16 Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed:

Deuteronomy 16:11-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 16

This chapter treats of the three grand yearly festivals, of the feast of passover, when, where, and what was to be sacrificed, how to be dressed, and in what manner to be eaten, De 16:1-8, of the feast of pentecost, when to begin it, where and how it was to be observed, De 16:9-12, and of the feast of tabernacles, when, where, and how long it was to be kept, De 16:13-15, which three times in the year all the males were to appear before the Lord, and not empty, De 16:16,17, an order is given for the appointment of judges in the land, to execute judgment, De 16:18-20, and the chapter is closed with a caution against planting groves, and setting up images, De 16:21,22.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Deuteronomy 12:7
  • 2. S Exodus 20:24; S 2 Samuel 7:13
  • 3. Deuteronomy 12:12
  • 4. S Deuteronomy 14:29
  • 5. Nehemiah 8:10
  • 6. S Deuteronomy 15:15
  • 7. S Leviticus 2:14; Leviticus 23:34
  • 8. S Genesis 27:37; S Exodus 23:16
  • 9. ver 11
  • 10. Job 38:7; Psalms 4:7; Psalms 28:7; Psalms 30:11; Leviticus 23:39
  • 11. Deuteronomy 31:11; Psalms 84:7
  • 12. S Exodus 12:17
  • 13. S Exodus 23:14,16; Ezra 3:4
  • 14. S Exodus 34:20
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