Deuteronomy Chapter 16

Passover Festival

¹ “In the month Abib, celebrate Passover to Yahveh your God. That’s when he brought you out of Egypt at night. ² Sacrifice the Passover from the flock and the herd where he designates. ³ For a week, only eat bread without yeast—the bread of suffering (you came out in a hurry)—so you’ll remember all your life when you left Egypt. ⁴ For a week no yeast will be anywhere in any of your houses. None of the meat you sacrifice the first evening is to remain till morning. ⁵ You can’t sacrifice the Passover anywhere except where Yahveh designates for his name. ⁶ Sacrifice it at sundown, which is when you left Egypt. ⁷ Cook it and eat it where he designates. In the morning go back home. ⁸ For six days, eat bread with no yeast. On the seventh, hold a solemn assembly to Yahveh. Don’t do any work that day.                                                                                                    

Deut 16:1-8

Festival of Weeks

⁹ “Count seven weeks from when you start using the sickle on standing grain. ¹⁰ Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to Yahveh with a freewill offering. Give in proportion to how he blesses you. ¹¹ Celebrate in his presence—you, your son and daughter, male and female servant, the Levite in your town, the foreigner, orphan, and widow among you. ¹² Remember that you were a slave in Egypt. Observe these statutes carefully.                                                            

Deut 16:9-12

Festival of Tabernacles

                  ¹³ “Celebrate the Festival of Booths for a week after you’ve gathered in the grain from your threshing floor and the wine from your vat. ¹⁴ Celebrate at the festival—you, your son and daughter, male and female servants, the Levite, foreigner, orphan, and widow in your towns. ¹⁵ Celebrate a festival to Yahveh for a week where he designates. He’ll bless everything you do and what you produce. You’ll be altogether joyful.

¹⁶ “Three times a year, males are to appear in Yahveh’s presence where he designates: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. They’re not to appear empty-handed. ¹⁷ Every man will give as he can, in proportion to Yahveh’s blessing.                                                                             

Deut 16:13-17

Judges Appointed      

¹⁸ “Appoint judges and officers in your towns by tribes. Judge the people with justice. ¹⁹ Don’t distort justice. Be impartial. Don’t take bribes; they blind the wise and pervert the just. ²⁰ Pursue justice and justice only, so you can live and possess the land Yahveh’s giving you.

Worshiping Other Gods

²¹ “Don’t set up a wooden Asherah pole beside an altar you make for Yahveh. ²² Don’t set up sacred pillars. That’s something he despises.                                                                                             Deut 16:18-22