Deuteronomy 16:16-22

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:
17 Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.

Judges

18 Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly.
19 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.
20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.
21 Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build to the LORD your God,
22 and do not erect a sacred stone, for these the LORD your God hates.

Deuteronomy 16:16-22 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 12

  • 1. Deuteronomy 31:11; Psalms 84:7
  • 2. S Exodus 12:17
  • 3. S Exodus 23:14,16; Ezra 3:4
  • 4. S Exodus 34:20
  • 5. S Exodus 18:21,26; Deuteronomy 1:16
  • 6. S Genesis 31:37
  • 7. S Exodus 23:2; Exodus 23:2,8
  • 8. S Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17
  • 9. S Exodus 18:21; S 1 Samuel 8:3; Ecclesiastes 7:7
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 7:5
  • 11. Exodus 34:13; 1 Kings 14:15; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 21:3; 2 Chronicles 33:3
  • 12. S Exodus 23:24; Leviticus 26:1
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