Deuteronomy 16:11-21

11 and you shall 1rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants * and 2the Levite who is in your town, and 3the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst, in the place where * the LORD your God chooses to establish His name.
12 "4You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
13 "5You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat;
14 and you shall 6rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants * and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns.
15 "Seven days you shall celebrate a 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 will be altogether joyful.
16 "7Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and 8they 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.
18 "You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
19 "9You shall not distort justice; 10you shall not be partial *, and 11you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.
20 "Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that 12you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
21 "13You shall not plant for yourself an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of the LORD your God, which you shall make for yourself.

Deuteronomy 16:11-21 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 13

  • 1. Deuteronomy 12:7
  • 2. Deuteronomy 12:12
  • 3. Deuteronomy 14:29
  • 4. Deuteronomy 15:15
  • 5. Leviticus 23:34-43
  • 6. Deuteronomy 16:11
  • 7. Exodus 23:14-17; Exodus 34:23, 24
  • 8. Exodus 34:20
  • 9. Exodus 23:2; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 10:17
  • 10. Proverbs 24:23
  • 11. Exodus 23:8; Proverbs 17:23; Ecclesiastes 7:7
  • 12. Deuteronomy 4:1
  • 13. Deuteronomy 7:5; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 21:3; 2 Chronicles 33:3

Footnotes 9

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