New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Deuteronomy 16
1
Celebrate the Passover Feast of the Lord your God in the month of Abib. In that month he brought you out of Egypt at night.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 13:4
References Egypt
Exodus 34:18
References Lord
Numbers 28:16
Leviticus 23:5
2
Sacrifice an animal from your flock or herd. It is the Passover sacrifice in honor of the Lord your God. Sacrifice it at the special place the Lord will choose. He will put his Name there.
Reference
3
Don't eat the animal along with bread that is made with yeast. Instead, for seven days eat bread that is made without yeast. It's the bread that reminds you of how much you suffered. Remember that you left Egypt in a hurry. Remember it all the days of your life. Don't forget the day you left Egypt.
Reference
4
Don't keep any yeast anywhere in your land for seven days. Don't let any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening of the first day be left over until the next morning.
Reference
5
You must not sacrifice the Passover animal in any town the Lord your God is giving you.
6
Sacrifice it only in the special place he will choose for his Name. Sacrifice it there in the evening when the sun goes down. Do it on the same day every year. Be sure it's the day you left Egypt.
Reference
References God
Deuteronomy 12:5
7
Cook it and eat it. Do it at the place the Lord your God will choose. Then in the morning return to your tents.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 35:13
8
For six days eat bread that is made without yeast. On the seventh day come together for a service in honor of the Lord your God. Don't do any work.
10
Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks in honor of the Lord your God. Give anything you choose to give as an offering. Do it in keeping with the blessings the Lord has given you.
Reference
References God
1 Corinthians 16:2
11
Be filled with joy in the sight of the Lord your God. Be joyful at the special place he will choose for his Name. You, your children, and your male and female servants should be joyful. So should the Levites who are living in your towns. So should the outsiders and widows who are living among you. And so should the children whose fathers have died.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 64:5
2 Corinthians 1:24
Deuteronomy 16:14
References God
Deuteronomy 12:12
Deuteronomy 12:7
Deuteronomy 12:18
Romans 5:11
Habakkuk 3:18
References Lord
Philippians 4:4
12
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. Be careful to obey the rules I'm giving you.
Reference
References Egypt
Deuteronomy 15:15
13
Gather the grain from your threshing floors. Take the fresh wine from your winepresses. Then celebrate the Feast of Booths for seven days.
Reference
14
Be filled with joy at your Feast. You, your children, and your male and female servants should be joyful. So should the Levites, the outsiders, and the widows who are living in your towns. And so should the children whose fathers have died.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 16:11
15
For seven days celebrate the Feast in honor of the Lord your God. Do it at the place he will choose. The Lord will bless you when you gather all of your crops. He'll bless you in everything you do. And you will be full of joy.
Reference
16
All of your men must appear in front of the Lord your God at the holy tent. They must go to the place he will choose. They must do it three times a year. They must go there to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths. No man should appear in front of the Lord without bringing something with him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 2:11
Exodus 34:20
Mark 12:3
References Lord
Psalm 96:8
Haggai 1:9
1 Kings 9:25
Isaiah 23:18
17
Each of you must bring a gift. Do it in keeping with the way the Lord your God has blessed you.
Reference
18
Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes. Do it in every town the Lord your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly.
Reference
Judgment
1 Chronicles 23:4
19
Do what is right. Treat everyone the same. Don't take money from people who want special favors. It makes those who are wise close their eyes to the truth. It twists the words of those who do what is right.
Reference
Judgment
Exodus 23:2
Proverbs 17:23
Deuteronomy 24:17
Proverbs 24:23
Deuteronomy 27:19
Isaiah 1:17
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 10:17
Ecclesiastes 7:7
Righteousness
Leviticus 19:15
Habakkuk 1:4
20
Follow only what is right. If you do, you will live. You will take over the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Reference
Righteousness
Micah 6:8
21
Don't set up a wooden pole that is used to worship the goddess Asherah. Don't set it up beside the altar you build to worship the Lord your God.
Reference
References God
2 Kings 17:16
1 Kings 16:33
Judges 3:7
References Lord
1 Kings 14:15
Sacrifice
2 Chronicles 33:3
Exodus 34:13
2 Kings 21:3
22
Don't set up a sacred stone to honor another god. The Lord your God hates Asherah poles and sacred stones.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 20:4
Revelation 2:15
Revelation 2:6
Jeremiah 44:4
References God
Leviticus 26:1
Deuteronomy 12:31
References Lord
Zechariah 8:17
Summary of Deuteronomy 16
Deuteronomy 16 provides instructions about three great feasts which Israel was to hold each year as appointed times: the feast of Passover and unleavened bread, the feast of weeks and the feast of tabernacles. Moses also provides instruction about judges, making provision for justice and correct forms of worship to God. Deuteronomy 16 shows us how Israel’s religious observances were interrelated with a remembrance of God’s works, gratitude offerings, generosity to others and a commitment to justice.
Deuteronomy 16 opens with the Feast of Passover, when Moses instructs the Israelites to observe the month of Abib “for it was in this month that the Lord brought thee out of the land of Egypt in the night-time.” They were to keep the Passover offering at the place which the Lord would choose “for Himself,” which was to come from their flocks or herds and eaten with unleavened bread.
For seven days they were to eat unleavened bread, which Moses called “bread of affliction” since they fled in haste from Egypt. This served as a reminder to future generations of the exodus. Leaven was not to be found among them in the days of unleavened bread, and no part of the Passover sacrifice was to remain to the morning following.
The Israelites were not to observe the Passover feast in any place that they chose, but rather in the place to which the Lord would bring them. They were to return home after the Passover sacrifice on the seventh day following a solemn assembly, in which no work of common labors was to be performed.
The Feast of Weeks was to come following the seven weeks of harvest, when the people brought a freewill offering, which was to be made in accordance to the blessing that the Lord had given to each household.
They were to observe the feast of weeks as a day of rejoicing to the Lord their God, when the people, their sons, daughters, servants, Levites, strangers, fatherless children and widows dwelled together in a place of rejoicing before the Lord. Moses reminds the Israelites that they had been enslaved in Egypt, and thus were to remember this when rejoicing in the fruits of their labor.
The third great feast was the feast of tabernacles, which followed the gathering of the firstfruits of the threshing floor and winepress. It was another day of rejoicing before the Lord, which involved the whole community. This feast of tabernacles was a time when everyone from families and servants to Levites, strangers, fatherless children and widows gathered together in joy before the Lord. Moses reminded Israel that they were to rejoice for seven days, and that it was the Lord who had blessed their work of hands.
It seems that the command to rejoice is repeated over and over in the instructions for Israel’s festivals. The Israelites were not to take the blessings of God for granted, but rather were to rejoice before Him and share them with all others. The great feasts were to be times of rejoicing before the Lord and in sharing the bounty which He had given.
The three great feasts each required that the Israelites appear before the Lord at the place which He would choose. They were not to appear empty-handed but rather to give gifts to the Lord, in accordance with the blessing which He had given to each household. What is interesting about this is that they were not commanded to bring equal portions, but rather to bring each person according to the blessing he had received.
Following the instruction about the feasts, Moses speaks of judges and officers, instructing the Israelites to appoint judges in their cities and to establish officers throughout the land. This was so that the judges might judge the people with perfect righteousness and to administer justice to the people.
He then issued the charge to the judges “thou shalt not wrest judgment,” for they were to judge righteously and not to respect persons. Moses reminds us that a bribe would blind the wise. They were forbidden to receive gifts and were to judge rightly.
They were to appoint judges who would follow the law, and Moses speaks of this because he knew that Israel would need judges to ensure justice if they were to dwell securely in the land. If bribery and unjust judgment flourished among the people, their society would be corrupted in its foundations.
The chapter concludes with Israel being warned not to set up trees or images in the place of the Lord. They were not to offer any gifts to the Lord that were associated with idolatry, for God hated such things.
Deuteronomy 16 is a chapter which deals with Israel’s worship and ways of observing the Lord’s feasts, generosity in offerings and the administration of law and justice. These themes are intertwined and show us that though these activities of worship and service were separate, they were connected. The feasts were to be times to remember God’s salvation and to rejoice in His bounties. In turn, the offerings were acts of generosity and gratitude.
The appointment of judges was a means to ensure justice among the people and protect them against bribery and corruption. Moses reminds the people of their duty to remember and to live in gratitude. It seems that the themes of remembrance and gratitude run through the chapter, binding the feasts and offerings with the life of service. The chapter shows a nation which is to deal piously with the Lord, remembering His works of salvation and expressing gratitude in generous offerings. The same people were then entrusted with the responsibility of rendering righteous judgment to others.
There is an interesting connection between remembering the Lord’s works and living righteously in the world. Israel was commanded to remember Egypt and the days of her bondage, but she was also commanded to treat strangers, servants, the fatherless and widows with mercy. Their feasts were to be occasions of gratitude and generosity, and not simply times when the rich feasted and the poor were left hungry. Moses reminds us that the faithfulness of Israel was to be seen in these acts of worship before the Lord and the ways in which they treated others.
Deuteronomy 16 prepares Israel to live in the land which the Lord was giving her, and it sets forth the principles which were to govern her religious and social life. She was to live faithfully and piously before the Lord and His people, and the chapter shows us that faithfulness took various forms. Israel was to remember the Lord’s providences through feasts and offerings, which she shared with all others. The people were to ensure proper justice in society through honest judges, who would refrain from bribery and corruption.
Deuteronomy 16 opens with the Feast of Passover, when Moses instructs the Israelites to observe the month of Abib “for it was in this month that the Lord brought thee out of the land of Egypt in the night-time.” They were to keep the Passover offering at the place which the Lord would choose “for Himself,” which was to come from their flocks or herds and eaten with unleavened bread.
For seven days they were to eat unleavened bread, which Moses called “bread of affliction” since they fled in haste from Egypt. This served as a reminder to future generations of the exodus. Leaven was not to be found among them in the days of unleavened bread, and no part of the Passover sacrifice was to remain to the morning following.
The Israelites were not to observe the Passover feast in any place that they chose, but rather in the place to which the Lord would bring them. They were to return home after the Passover sacrifice on the seventh day following a solemn assembly, in which no work of common labors was to be performed.
The Feast of Weeks was to come following the seven weeks of harvest, when the people brought a freewill offering, which was to be made in accordance to the blessing that the Lord had given to each household.
They were to observe the feast of weeks as a day of rejoicing to the Lord their God, when the people, their sons, daughters, servants, Levites, strangers, fatherless children and widows dwelled together in a place of rejoicing before the Lord. Moses reminds the Israelites that they had been enslaved in Egypt, and thus were to remember this when rejoicing in the fruits of their labor.
The third great feast was the feast of tabernacles, which followed the gathering of the firstfruits of the threshing floor and winepress. It was another day of rejoicing before the Lord, which involved the whole community. This feast of tabernacles was a time when everyone from families and servants to Levites, strangers, fatherless children and widows gathered together in joy before the Lord. Moses reminded Israel that they were to rejoice for seven days, and that it was the Lord who had blessed their work of hands.
It seems that the command to rejoice is repeated over and over in the instructions for Israel’s festivals. The Israelites were not to take the blessings of God for granted, but rather were to rejoice before Him and share them with all others. The great feasts were to be times of rejoicing before the Lord and in sharing the bounty which He had given.
The three great feasts each required that the Israelites appear before the Lord at the place which He would choose. They were not to appear empty-handed but rather to give gifts to the Lord, in accordance with the blessing which He had given to each household. What is interesting about this is that they were not commanded to bring equal portions, but rather to bring each person according to the blessing he had received.
Following the instruction about the feasts, Moses speaks of judges and officers, instructing the Israelites to appoint judges in their cities and to establish officers throughout the land. This was so that the judges might judge the people with perfect righteousness and to administer justice to the people.
He then issued the charge to the judges “thou shalt not wrest judgment,” for they were to judge righteously and not to respect persons. Moses reminds us that a bribe would blind the wise. They were forbidden to receive gifts and were to judge rightly.
They were to appoint judges who would follow the law, and Moses speaks of this because he knew that Israel would need judges to ensure justice if they were to dwell securely in the land. If bribery and unjust judgment flourished among the people, their society would be corrupted in its foundations.
The chapter concludes with Israel being warned not to set up trees or images in the place of the Lord. They were not to offer any gifts to the Lord that were associated with idolatry, for God hated such things.
Deuteronomy 16 is a chapter which deals with Israel’s worship and ways of observing the Lord’s feasts, generosity in offerings and the administration of law and justice. These themes are intertwined and show us that though these activities of worship and service were separate, they were connected. The feasts were to be times to remember God’s salvation and to rejoice in His bounties. In turn, the offerings were acts of generosity and gratitude.
The appointment of judges was a means to ensure justice among the people and protect them against bribery and corruption. Moses reminds the people of their duty to remember and to live in gratitude. It seems that the themes of remembrance and gratitude run through the chapter, binding the feasts and offerings with the life of service. The chapter shows a nation which is to deal piously with the Lord, remembering His works of salvation and expressing gratitude in generous offerings. The same people were then entrusted with the responsibility of rendering righteous judgment to others.
There is an interesting connection between remembering the Lord’s works and living righteously in the world. Israel was commanded to remember Egypt and the days of her bondage, but she was also commanded to treat strangers, servants, the fatherless and widows with mercy. Their feasts were to be occasions of gratitude and generosity, and not simply times when the rich feasted and the poor were left hungry. Moses reminds us that the faithfulness of Israel was to be seen in these acts of worship before the Lord and the ways in which they treated others.
Deuteronomy 16 prepares Israel to live in the land which the Lord was giving her, and it sets forth the principles which were to govern her religious and social life. She was to live faithfully and piously before the Lord and His people, and the chapter shows us that faithfulness took various forms. Israel was to remember the Lord’s providences through feasts and offerings, which she shared with all others. The people were to ensure proper justice in society through honest judges, who would refrain from bribery and corruption.