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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
16:1-17 Feasts. This section deals with the three main Israelite feasts (see Ex. 23:14-17). If Deuteronomy's detailed laws are arranged in the order of the Ten Commandments, this section corresponds to the Sabbath law in Deut. 5:12 (cf. Lev. 23:3 for the Sabbath as the weekly day of public worship). On Passover, see Ex. 12:2-39; 34:18-25; Lev. 23:4-8; Num. 28:16-25. On the Feast of Weeks, see Lev. 23:15-22; Num. 28:26-31. On the Feast of Booths, see Lev. 23:33-43; Num. 29:12-40. All the feasts occur at the central place, a point repeatedly made in Deuteronomy 16 (see vv. 2, 6, 7, 11, 15, 16; also 12:5). For those who lived outside of Jerusalem, attendance at the feasts entailed several days of pilgrimage (Luke 2:41-52).
16:1 Abib. The first month (Ex. 12:2; Lev. 23:5), corresponding to March/April. On Jesus' crucifixion at Passover, see John 13:1; 19:31; 1 Cor. 5:7-8.
16:2 flock or the herd. In Deuteronomy, the Passover sacrifice need not be a lamb (cf. Ex. 12:3, 21).
16:3 eat no leavened bread. Unleavened Bread is the name of the after Passover (Ex. 23:15; cf. 12:15-20). remember. Remembrance leads to obedience (see Deut. 8:2-3 and note there).
16:5-6 You may not offer the Passover sacrifice within any of your towns. See note on 16:1-17. This may seem to reverse the provision of Ex. 12:21-24, which envisages the Passover being celebrated in homes. Deuteronomy, however, anticipates settlement in the land.
16:7 cook. The Passover sacrifice was to be roasted, not boiled (Ex. 12:8-9). tents. See Deut. 5:30. For this pilgrimage festival, Israelites needed to stay in temporary accommodations near the central sanctuary.
16:9-10 The Feast of Weeks is called the Feast of Harvest in Ex. 23:16. The are counted from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, thus marking the end of the grain harvest. The Greek name for this festival is Pentecost, meaning , counting inclusively, or seven weeks (see Acts 2). A freewill offering is an expression of thankfulness for the blessing of harvest.
16:11-12 rejoice. See 12:7 and note. Landless people are again included (see 12:12 and note). The Israelites are called to remember their slavery in Egypt, a time when they were also landless (see 8:2-3 and note).
16:13 The Feast of Booths or Tabernacles is called the Feast of Ingathering in Ex. 23:16 and 34:22. Occurring in September/October, it focuses on the harvest of summer fruits such as dates, grapes, and olives. This is the feast in which the law was to be read every seventh year (Deut. 31:9-13).
