Exodus 23:14-17

Three National Feasts

14 "1Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me
15 "You shall observe 2the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the 3month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And 4none shall appear before Me empty-handed.
16 "Also you shall observe 5the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year 6when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.
17 "7Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

Exodus 23:14-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 23

This chapter contains several laws, chiefly judicial, relating to the civil polity of Israel, as concerning witness borne and judgment made of cases in courts of judicature, without any respect to poor or rich, and without the influence of a bribe, Ex 23:1-3,6-8, concerning doing good to an enemy in case any of his cattle go astray, or fall under their burden, Ex 23:4,5, and of the oppression of a stranger, Ex 23:9, and then follow others concerning the sabbath of the seventh year, and of the seventh day, with a caution against the use of the names of idols, Ex 23:10-13, next are laws concerning the appearance of all their males at the three feasts, Ex 23:14-17, and concerning the slaying of the sacrifice of the passover, and bringing the first of the firstfruits of the land, Ex 23:18,19 and then a promise is made of sending an angel to them to bring them into the land of Canaan, where they should carefully avoid all idolatry, and show a just indignation against it, and serve the Lord, and then it would be well with them, Ex 23:20-26, and particularly it is promised, that the Lord would send his fear, and his hornets, before them, to destroy the inhabitants of the land, and drive out the rest by little and little, until they should possess the utmost borders of it, which are fixed, Ex 23:27-31, and the chapter is concluded with a direction not to make a covenant with these people, or their gods, nor suffer them to dwell among them, lest they should be a snare unto them, Ex 23:32,33.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Exodus 23:17; Exodus 34:22-24; Deuteronomy 16:16
  • 2. Exodus 12:14-20; Leviticus 23:6-8; Numbers 28:16-25
  • 3. Exodus 12:2; Exodus 13:4
  • 4. Exodus 22:29; Exodus 34:20
  • 5. Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 23:10; Numbers 28:26
  • 6. Leviticus 23:39
  • 7. Exodus 23:14; Exodus 34:23; Deuteronomy 16:16

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit "they...not"
  • [b]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD
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