THE THREE GREAT FEASTS (DEUTERONOMY 16:1). Moses now reminded them that every year Israel were to gather at the three great feasts, Passover, Sevens (Weeks or Harvest) and Tabernacles (or Ingathering/Booths). (See Exodus 23:14; Exodus 34:23. Compare for details Exodus 12; Leviticus 23:4; Numbers 28:... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PASSOVER AND THE FEAST OF SEVENS (DEUTERONOMY 16:7). Deuteronomy 16:7 is part of the chiasmus for the feast of sevens, and yet it continues on smoothly from Deuteronomy 16:1. But remembering that we shall now consider them along with the Feast of Sevens (the one day feast of weeks or harvest o... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAST OF SEVENS OR HARVEST OR DAY OF THE FIRSTFRUITS (DEUTERONOMY 16:9). Deuteronomy 16:9 ‘ Seven sevens shall you number to you, from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain shall you begin to number seven sevens.' This count of seven sevens was to commence the day after th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES (BOOTHS, INGATHERING) - (DEUTERONOMY 16:13). This feast is passed over very briefly, not because it was not important, for it was the feast at which the whole Law had to be read out every seven years (Deuteronomy 31:10), but because what Moses has been emphasising has alrea... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THREEFOLD FEASTS (DEUTERONOMY 16:16). The meeting three times a year was a covenant requirement, an act of loyalty and a requirement for tribute. By this the covenant was continually confirmed. Analysis in the words of Moses: a Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Yahweh y... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEED TO APPOINT SATISFACTORY JUDGES (DEUTERONOMY 16:18). Crucial to enjoying blessing in the land was the establishing of a satisfactory system of justice. There can be no question that a fair and effective justice system produces the maximum benefit for everyone, even though some prefer to be... [ Continue Reading ]
A BAN ON ALL RELIGIOUS OBJECTS AND BEHAVIOUR WHICH WOULD DISHONOUR YAHWEH AND MAKE THEM UNFIT AS JUDGES (DEUTERONOMY 16:21 TO DEUTERONOMY 17:1). It is quite possible that certain matters of justice among the Canaanites (both in Canaan, and in Egypt where Canaanites settled) were decided at Canaanite... [ Continue Reading ]
A BAN ON ALL RELIGIOUS OBJECTS AND BEHAVIOUR WHICH WOULD DISHONOUR YAHWEH AND MAKE THEM UNFIT AS JUDGES (DEUTERONOMY 16:21 TO DEUTERONOMY 17:1). It is quite possible that certain matters of justice among the Canaanites (both in Canaan, and in Egypt where Canaanites settled) were decided at Canaanite... [ Continue Reading ]