Deuteronomy 16:8-18

8 For the next six days you are to eat bread prepared without yeast, and on the seventh day assemble to worship the Lord your God, and do no work on that day.
9 "Count seven weeks from the time that you begin to harvest the grain, 1
10 and then celebrate the Harvest Festival, to honor the Lord your God, by bringing him a freewill offering in proportion to the blessing he has given you.
11 Be joyful in the Lord's presence, together with your children, your servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. Do this at the one place of worship.
12 Be sure that you obey these commands; do not forget that you were slaves in Egypt.
13 "After you have threshed all your grain and pressed all your grapes, celebrate the Festival of Shelters for seven days. 2
14 Enjoy it with your children, your servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns.
15 Honor the Lord your God by celebrating this festival for seven days at the one place of worship. Be joyful, because the Lord has blessed your harvest and your work.
16 "All the men of your nation are to come to worship the Lord three times a year at the one place of worship: at Passover, Harvest Festival, and the Festival of Shelters. Each man is to bring a gift
17 as he is able, in proportion to the blessings that the Lord your God has given him.
18 "Appoint judges and other officials in every town that the Lord your God gives you. These men are to judge the people impartially.

Deuteronomy 16:8-18 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 2

  • 1. 16.9-12Leviticus 23.15-21;Numbers 28.26-31.
  • 2. 16.13-15Leviticus 23.33-36, 39-43;Numbers 29.12-38.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.