EXPOSITION CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER FESTIVAL , THE FEAST OF PENTECOST AND OF TABERNACLES . APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND PREVENTION OF IDOLATRY . (Comp. Exodus 23:14-19 ; Exodus 34:18 , Exodus 34:22-26 ; Leviticus 23:1-44 . On the Passover, see Exodus 12:1-51 .; Exodus 13:3-10 .) The other great festivals of the Israelites, the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, are not here... read more
From such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn ; i . e . from the commencement of the corn harvest. The seven weeks were to be counted from this terminus; and as the corn harvest began by the presentation of the sheaf of the firstfruits on the second day of the Passover, this regulation as to time coincides with that in Le Deuteronomy 23:15 . read more
The Feast of Weeks (cf. Exodus 23:16 ). read more
The Feast of Weeks, or of Harvest. This Feast of Weeks was not commemorative in the same sense as that of the Passover; it was connected, not with a great national epoch, but with the seasons of the year and the times of harvest. The method in which it was to be observed is stated in Leviticus 23:10 , et seq . We find there, and in the various Scripture references to this festival, the following principles indicated. 1. That the Hebrews were to regard the produce of the soil as... read more
Pentecost, the Feast of Firstfruits. Fifty days after the Passover, or a week of weeks, came the second great national festival, when offerings were presented unto God of the firstfruits of the harvest, and a people already blessed recorded their thankfulness. It was also made a celebration of the giving of the Law from Sinai, which took place, according to calculation, exactly fifty days after the Passover. In consequence of this twofold reference to the harvest and to the giving of the... read more
Pentecost. I. A SACRED RECKONING . " Seven weeks shall thou number," etc. ( Deuteronomy 16:9 ). A week of weeks, seven times seven, hence the name, "Feast of Weeks "( Deuteronomy 16:10 ). The count began with the offering of the sheaf of firstfruits on Nisan 16, the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread ( Leviticus 23:11 ). Till that sheaf was offered, no Israelite was permitted to eat of the new corn ( Deuteronomy 16:14 ). With the arrival of the fiftieth day,... read more
The Feasts of Weeks and of Tabernacles. For the moral improvement of the Hebrews, it was desirable to keep alive among them the recollection of their early history. Prior to the invention of printing, and when written records would be scarce, memory and affection and conscience were impressed by the annual festivals. The Passover commemorated the national birth; the Feast of Tabernacles commemorated the tent life of the desert. The joys of harvest and of vintage were things unknown in the... read more
This feast was to be kept with sacrificial gifts according to the measure of the free-will offerings of their hand, i . e . voluntary offerings which they gave as the Lord had blessed them; nothing was specially prescribed, each was to give of his own free-will as the Lord had prospered him. The word translated "tribute" in the Authorized Version ( מִסַּת ) occurs only here, and is of doubtful signification. The LXX . render it by καθὼς , as, according to; it is identical with... read more
Rejoice before the Lord. "The expression, to rejoice before the Lord , denotes here nothing else than to honor him by sacred songs; comp. Spencer, 'De Legg. Hebrews Ritual.,' p. 881, edit. 3". In the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there ; rather, shall choose , as in verse 15. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 16:1-9
The Passover. The Passover was a sacrifice ( Exodus 12:2 ), and was connected with sacrifices ( Leviticus 23:5-8 ; Numbers 28:15-26 ); hence "flock and herd" ( Deuteronomy 16:2 ) covering the sacrifices of the seven days' feast. It was the sacrifice which mediated the new relationship established between Jehovah and the people on the night of the Exodus. There was a fitness, at so solemn a crisis in the history of the chosen nation, in the line of demarcation between them and the... read more