Deuteronomy 16:4-14

4 There must be no yeast anywhere in your land for seven days. Offer the sacrifice on the evening of the first day, and eat all the meat before morning; do not leave it overnight.

5 Do not offer the Passover sacrifice in just any town the Lord your God gives you,

6 but offer it in the place he will choose to be worshiped. Offer it in the evening as the sun goes down, which is when you left Egypt.

7 Roast the meat and eat it at the place the Lord your God will choose. The next morning go back to your tents.

8 Eat bread made without yeast for six days. On the seventh day have a special meeting for the Lord your God, and do not work that day.

9 Count seven weeks from the time you begin to harvest the grain,

10 and then celebrate the Feast of Weeks for the Lord your God. Bring an offering as a special gift to him, giving to him just as he has blessed you.

11 Rejoice before the Lord your God at the place he will choose to be worshiped. Everybody should rejoice: you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites in your town, the strangers, orphans, and widows living among you.

12 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and carefully obey all these laws.

13 Celebrate the Feast of Shelters for seven days, after you have gathered your harvest from the threshing floor and winepress.

14 Everybody should rejoice at your Feast: you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows who live in your towns.

Deuteronomy 16:4-14 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.