Deuteronomy 16:1-17

The celebration of Passover, Firstfruits, and Tabernacles 16:1-17

The point of connection of this section with what precedes is the sacrificial meals. Moses repeated here the instructions regarding those important feasts that included sacrificial meals that the people would eat at the tabernacle (cf. Exodus 12; Leviticus 23; Numbers 28-29).

1. Passover and Unleavened Bread Deuteronomy 16:1-8

2. Pentecost (also called Harvest, Weeks, and Firstfruits) Deuteronomy 16:9-12

3. Tabernacles (also called Ingathering and Booths) Deuteronomy 16:13-17

God commanded all the male Israelites to assemble at the sanctuary for all these feasts each year (Deuteronomy 16:16). These feasts amounted to a pledge of allegiance to Yahweh each time the Israelites celebrated them. They came to His presence to do so, as their Near Eastern neighbors returned to their kings similarly to honor them periodically.

"The ancient requirement that the men of Israel should report to the central sanctuary three times a year has an interesting parallel in the Near Eastern treaty requirements. It was common practice for suzerains to require their vassals to report to them periodically, in some cases three times a year, in order to renew their allegiance and to bring tribute." [Note: Thompson, p. 198.]

The Passover and Unleavened Bread feasts were a more solemn occasion (Deuteronomy 16:8), but the other two were joyous celebrations (Deuteronomy 16:11; Deuteronomy 16:15). Evidently the Israelites roasted the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:9), but they boiled the additional offerings for that day (Deuteronomy 16:7; cf. 2 Chronicles 35:13). [Note: Sailhamer, p. 452.]

God’s people should celebrate God’s redemption, remember our previous enslaved condition, and rejoice in God’s provisions corporately and regularly (cf. Ephesians 5:4; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 2:7; Colossians 4:2; 1 Timothy 4:3-4). These are the things God encourages Christians to remember at the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-28).