Deuteronomy 16:15-22

15 By seven days thou shalt hallow feasts to thy Lord God, in the place which the Lord choose; and thy Lord God shall bless thee, in all thy fruits, and in all the work of thine hands, and thou shalt be in gladness. (For seven days thou shalt keep this feast to the Lord thy God, in the place which the Lord shall choose; and the Lord thy God shall bless thee, with all thy fruits, and with all the work of thine hands, and thou shalt be glad, or be happy.)

16 In three times by the year all thy male kind shall appear in the sight of thy Lord, in the place which he choose, in the solemnity of therf loaves, and in the solemnity of weeks, and in the solemnity of tabernacles. A man shall not appear void before the Lord; (Three times a year all thy males shall appear before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles. A man shall not appear empty-handed before the Lord;)

17 but each man shall offer after that that he hath, by the blessing of his Lord God, that he gave to him. (but each man shall offer what he hath, in proportion to the blessing which the Lord his God hath given him.)

18 Thou shalt ordain judges, and exactors, in all thy gates which thy Lord God shall give to thee, by each of thy lineages, that they deem the people by just doom, (Thou shalt ordain judges, and exactors, in all thy gates which the Lord thy God shall give thee, in each of thy tribes, and they shall judge the people with fair judgements,)

19 and bow they not into the other part for favour, either gift. Thou shalt not take a person, neither gifts, for why gifts blind the eyes of wise men, and change the words of just men (Thou shalt not show favour to anyone, nor take a bribe, or a gift, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise, and change the words of the just).

20 Thou shalt pursue justly that that is just, that thou live, and wield the land which thy Lord God shall give to thee. (Thou shalt only pursue what is right, or just, so that thou can live, and possess the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.)

21 Thou shalt not plant a wood, and each tree (or any tree), by the altar of thy Lord God; (Thou shalt not plant a sacred grove, or put up a pole, beside the altar of the Lord thy God;)

22 neither thou shalt make to thee, and ordain an image; which things thy Lord God hateth. (nor shalt thou set up a sacred pillar, or an idol, for thee to worship; the Lord thy God hateth all these things.)

Deuteronomy 16:15-22 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.