February 21, 2025
Foods, Tithes, Feasts, and More!
Deuteronomy 14-16
Katia Chaillot
Big Book Idea
There are three sermons from Moses, but the greater Moses is still to come.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 16:1
"Observe the month of Abib and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night."
Deuteronomy 14-16
Chapter 14
Clean and Unclean Food
1 You are the sons of the LORD your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. 2 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
3 You shall not eat any abomination. 4 These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, 1 14:5 Or addax the antelope, and the mountain sheep. 6 Every animal that parts the hoof and has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 7 Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cloven you shall not eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew the cud but do not part the hoof, are unclean for you. 8 And the pig, because it parts the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch.
9 Of all that are in the waters you may eat these: whatever has fins and scales you may eat. 10 And whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.
11 You may eat all clean birds. 12 But these are the ones that you shall not eat: the eagle, 2 14:12 The identity of many of these birds is uncertain the bearded vulture, the black vulture, 13 the kite, the falcon of any kind; 14 every raven of any kind; 15 the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind; 16 the little owl and the short-eared owl, the barn owl 17 and the tawny owl, the carrion vulture and the cormorant, 18 the stork, the heron of any kind; the hoopoe and the bat. 19 And all winged insects are unclean for you; they shall not be eaten. 20 All clean winged things you may eat.
21 You shall not eat anything that has died naturally. You may give it to the sojourner who is within your towns, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a people holy to the LORD your God.
You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.
Tithes
22 You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. 23 And before the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. 24 And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the LORD your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God chooses, to set his name there, 25 then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the LORD your God chooses 26 and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. 27 And you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your towns, for he has no portion or inheritance with you.
28 At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
Chapter 15
The Sabbatical Year
1 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. 2 And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the LORD's release has been proclaimed. 3 Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release. 4 But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— 5 if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today. 6 For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.
7 If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. 9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly 3 15:9 Or be evil; also verse 10 on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. 10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
12 If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold 4 15:12 Or sells himself to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed. 14 You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. 16 But if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he is well-off with you, 17 then you shall take an awl, and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave 5 15:17 Or servant; the Hebrew term ebed designates a range of social and economic roles (see Preface) forever. And to your female slave 6 15:17 Or servant you shall do the same. 18 It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for at half the cost of a hired worker he has served you six years. So the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do.
19 All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the LORD your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You shall eat it, you and your household, before the LORD your God year by year at the place that the LORD will choose. 21 But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. 22 You shall eat it within your towns. The unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as though it were a gazelle or a deer. 23 Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
Chapter 16
Passover
1 Observe the month of Abib and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 And you shall offer the Passover sacrifice to the LORD your God, from the flock or the herd, at the place that the LORD will choose, to make his name dwell there. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction—for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste—that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt. 4 No leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall any of the flesh that you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain all night until morning. 5 You may not offer the Passover sacrifice within any of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, 6 but at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell in it, there you shall offer the Passover sacrifice, in the evening at sunset, at the time you came out of Egypt. 7 And you shall cook it and eat it at the place that the LORD your God will choose. And in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents. 8 For six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD your God. You shall do no work on it.
The Feast of Weeks
9 You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain. 10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there. 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
The Feast of Booths
13 You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress. 14 You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. 15 For seven days you shall keep the feast to the LORD your God at the place that the LORD will choose, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.
16 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.
Justice
18 You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. 20 Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Forbidden Forms of Worship
21 You shall not plant any tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the LORD your God that you shall make. 22 And you shall not set up a pillar, which the LORD your God hates.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Deuteronomy
Timeline
Theme
Deuteronomy, the final book in the Pentateuch, contains Moses’ last three sermons and two prophetic poems about Israel’s future. Reflecting on the nation’s past mistakes, Moses urges the people not to repeat those errors when they enter the Promised Land. Possessing Canaan will fulfill the promises made to the patriarchs, but if the people fall into idolatry or fail to keep the law, they will be exiled.
Purpose and Background
Deuteronomy is largely a sermon, or set of sermons, preached by Moses to all of Israel shortly before his death. It is a motivational sermon, urging Israel’s faithful obedience to the covenant laws given 40 years previously at Sinai (Exodus 19–40).
The sermon is especially important because of Israel’s earlier failure to conquer the land (see Deut. 1:19–46). Now that they are back at the eastern border of the Promised Land, Moses wants to ensure that the people will be obedient this time. The sermon encourages obedience by constantly reassuring them of God’s faithfulness and his power to keep his promises. God is still faithful, despite Israel’s persistent sin (e.g., 1:19–46; 9:1–29). He is merciful to his sinful people, for the sake of his promises to Abraham.
In Deuteronomy, Moses urges Israel to trust and obey, and to conquer the land. He highlights God’s uniqueness (e.g., ch. 4), his power over other nations and armies (e.g., 2:1–23), and his grace and faithfulness. He reminds the people that God promised the land, that God’s gift of the land is undeserved (9:4–6), and that the land is full of good things (e.g., 6:10–12).
Moses emphasizes the importance of God’s law, given at Sinai (e.g., see 5:1–3). The large central section of Deuteronomy (12:1–26:19) recites the law and urges Israel to keep it. The law is wide-ranging, incorporating all areas of life (economics, family and sexual relationships, religious observance, leadership, justice, guidance, food, property, and warfare). The details of the laws expand upon the great command of 6:5, that Israel is to love the Lord with all its heart, soul, and strength. Chapters 12–16 show what such total love of God will look like and provide examples of what the Ten Commandments (ch. 5) mean in practice.
Key Themes
- God’s uniqueness (4:1–40).
- Israel’s election (4:37–38; 7:6–8; 10:14–15; 14:2).
- The land’s goodness (1:25; 6:10–11; 8:7–13; 11:8–15).
- God’s faithful promise-keeping (1:8, 19–46; 7:1–26; 8:1–20; 9:1–10:11).
- God’s power to defeat the enemies in the land (2:1–3:11; 4:1–40; 7:1–26).
- Exhortations to Israel to love, serve, fear, and obey God (6:5; 10:12–13; 13:4).
- Warnings against idolatry and instruction for proper worship of God (4:9–31; 5:6–10; 7:1–5; 8:19–20; 12:1–32; 13:1–18).
- The impact of God’s laws (12:1–27:26).
- Moses’ imminent death (1:37; 3:26; 4:21; 32:51; 34:1–12).
Outline
- Prologue (1:1–5)
- Moses’ First Speech: Historical Prologue (1:6–4:43)
- Moses’ Second Speech: General Covenant Stipulations (4:44–11:32)
- Moses’ Second Speech: Specific Covenant Stipulations (12:1–26:19)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Blessings and Curses (27:1–28:68)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Final Exhortation (29:1–30:20)
- Succession of Leadership (31:1–34:12)
The Setting of Deuteronomy
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Deuteronomy records Moses’ words to the Israelites as they waited on the plains of Moab to enter Canaan. Moses begins by reviewing the events of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
Fact: Genesis through Deuteronomy
Genesis through Deuteronomy are the foundation of the Bible. They introduce the key promises that show God’s purposes in history and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Fact: The Sadducees
The Sadducees were a small but powerful group of Jewish leaders who did not believe in the resurrection (12:18). This may have been because of their emphasis on the Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy), which does not seem to explicitly mention the resurrection. But Jesus showed them that the idea of resurrection can, in fact, be found in the Pentateuch (Mark 12:26–27).
Fact: Was Deuteronomy a treaty?
Was Deuteronomy a treaty? There are many similarities between the book of Deuteronomy and various ancient Near Eastern treaties that date from the time of Moses. When a nation made a treaty with a less powerful nation, the document began with the past relationship between the countries. Next, the treaty stated the laws that would govern the relationship from that point on. Finally, the treaty concluded with a list of blessings and punishments for obedience or disobedience.
Fact: A book of sermons?
A book of sermons? Deuteronomy consists of at least three addresses or sermons from Moses to Israel. Moses encourages Israel to obey all the commandments of God.
Fact: Jesus quoted from
Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy more than any other OT book. He quoted 8:3 when tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:4).
Fact: The Book of the Law of the Lord
The Book of the Law of the Lord. The high priest discovered this forgotten book while the temple was being repaired (34:14). After reading the Law, King Josiah called the nation to further measures of repentance and reform. The book may have included part or all of Deuteronomy.
Fact: Death penalty for apostasy?
Death penalty for apostasy? Anyone who urged a fellow Israelite to “go and serve other gods” was to be put to death (13:6–11). While the NT does not prescribe death for such an offense, it gives serious warning to anyone who leads another person into sin (Matt. 18:6).
Fact: What is unleavened bread?
What is unleavened bread? Leaven is another name for yeast. Because bread made without yeast does not rise, unleavened bread is flat. During the exodus, the Israelites left Egypt so quickly that there was no time for their bread to rise. Unleavened bread was therefore used in Passover celebrations.
Fact: Threshing
Threshing is the process of separating kernels of grain (such as barley and wheat) from their stalks. This was done by beating the stalks or by using an ox or a donkey to pull a weighted sled over the harvest. Often large, flat rocks were used as threshing floors (16:13).
Fact: Blind, lame, and sick animals
Blind, lame, and sick animals were financially worthless. The Lord commanded his people to sacrifice healthy animals (see Deut. 15:21; 17:1). Disobeying this command showed a lack of respect for the Lord (Mal. 1:8, 14).
The Setting of Deuteronomy
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Deuteronomy records Moses’ words to the Israelites as they waited on the plains of Moab to enter Canaan. Moses begins by reviewing the events of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Ancient Treaty Structures and Deuteronomy
| Ancient Treaty Structure | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|
| Preamble | 1:1–5 |
| Historical Prologue | 1:6–4:49 |
| General Stipulations | 5:1–11:32 |
| Specific Stipulations | 12:1–26:19 |
| Blessings and Curses | 27:1–28:68 |
| Document Clause | 31:9–29 |
| Witnesses | 32:1–47 |
Deut. 14:1–2 You are the sons of . . . God. While the NT often refers to individual believers as “sons” or “children” of God, this is fairly rare in the OT (see 1:31; 8:5; Isa. 1:2). The nation as a whole is called God’s “son” in Ex. 4:22–23 and Hos. 11:1. cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. Probably both of these activities were part of pagan worship (Lev. 19:27–28; see also 1 Kings 18:28). Compare Lev. 21:5–6.
Deut. 14:3 Unclean animals are regarded as an abomination (see Leviticus 11; Deut. 7:25–26 and note). Clean and unclean animals are kept separate to illustrate the separation of Israel from other nations (14:2).
Deut. 14:4–8 Clean animals have a cloven hoof and chew the cud. Cleanness cannot be based on the animals’ vegetarian diet, since unclean animals such as the camel, hare, and rock badger are vegetarian.
Deut. 14:11–20 Unclean birds seem to be birds of prey. These eat dead creatures and blood, which are forbidden to Israelites (v. 21).
Deut. 14:1–21 Israel’s diet was to be distinctive, showing how the nation itself was different from all other nations (compare Leviticus 11).
Deut. 14:21 Israelites cannot eat anything that has died naturally, probably because the blood is still in the animal (see note on 12:16). holy to the LORD. See 7:6; 14:2. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. To do so would be an insult to God’s creative design (compare Ex. 23:19 and note; Deut. 22:6–7).
Fact: Death penalty for apostasy?
Death penalty for apostasy? Anyone who urged a fellow Israelite to “go and serve other gods” was to be put to death (13:6–11). While the NT does not prescribe death for such an offense, it gives serious warning to anyone who leads another person into sin (Matt. 18:6).
Deut. 14:23 in the place that he will choose. See 12:5–6 and note. you shall eat. Deuteronomy’s emphasis on festive celebration of the land’s blessing is seen here with an annual “tithe party.” The whole household (14:26) plus the Levites (v. 27) are to be included. The person who truly learns to fear the Lord will also learn to trust that the 90 percent remaining after the tithe will be enough.
Deut. 14:24–26 when . . . God blesses you. A blessing is clearly expected. wine or strong drink. The Bible condemns drunkenness (Prov. 23:29–35; Gal. 5:21) and forbids priests to drink while in the sanctuary (Lev. 10:9), but it expects that drinking will sometimes take place at celebratory occasions such as weddings (John 2:1–10). rejoice. See Deut. 12:7.
Deut. 14:27 you shall not neglect the Levite. See notes on 10:6–9 and 12:12.
Deut. 14:22–29 People practiced tithing (giving 10 percent) as early as the days of Abram (Gen. 14:20). For laws about tithing, see Lev. 27:30–33; Num. 18:8–32.
Deut. 14:28–29 An additional tithe is to be given every third year for those who own no land and therefore may be poor.
Deut. 15:1–3 All debts between Israelites, however large, were to be cancelled at the end of every seventh year. Debts owed by foreigners were not cancelled (compare 14:21).
Deut. 15:4–6 There will be no poor among you is in effect a command to be generous: “Let there be no poor among you.” Since the land will be sufficiently blessed by God (v. 6), if the laws are followed (v. 5), there should be no poor. But see v. 11 and note on vv. 9–11.
Deut. 15:7–8 If . . . one of your brothers. The law of vv. 7–8 does not apply to the poor outside of Israel. should become poor . . . lend . . . for his need. The cause of the fellow Israelite’s poverty is not the issue, even if it involves wastefulness or foolishness. you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand. It may be costly to the Israelite to give what is needed, but he must be willing to do so.
Deut. 15:9–11 If the sabbatical year is close, loans are less likely to be repaid, but the one asked to lend should have no such unworthy thought in his heart. Verse 4 expressed an ideal situation (see note on vv. 4–6), but the reality is that Israel will never perfectly keep the law, so there will never cease to be poor people among them. There will always be a need for generosity. Compare Matt. 26:11.
Deut. 15:12 When a wealthier Israelite allowed a debtor to become his “slave,” it was considered an act of mercy (Gen. 47:21–25). Indebted people sometimes chose to remain slaves permanently, because of the security it provided (see Deut. 15:16–17). This type of slavery was very different from the kind of slavery usually seen today, which involves kidnapping and forced labor.
Deut. 15:13–15 When a slave ends his term of service, his former owner is to give him supplies and not let him go empty-handed, to help ensure that he won’t have to return to slavery. The Israelites should desire to treat their slaves kindly as they remember (1) God’s blessings (As the LORD . . . has blessed you) and (2) their own long years of slavery in Egypt (remember that you were a slave; see 8:2–3 and note).
Deut. 15:16–17 Piercing with an awl marks permanent ownership. See Ex. 21:5–6; and note on Deut. 15:12.
Deut. 15:1–18 The laws in these verses relate to the sabbatical year. See Ex. 23:10–11 and Lev. 25:1–7.
Deut. 15:18 A warning against greed.
Fact: Blind, lame, and sick animals
Blind, lame, and sick animals were financially worthless. The Lord commanded his people to sacrifice healthy animals (see Deut. 15:21; 17:1). Disobeying this command showed a lack of respect for the Lord (Mal. 1:8, 14).
Deut. 15:19–23 Giving the firstborn is an expression of thanks and trust that more animals are to come. The animal is to be eaten in the central place before the LORD.
Deut. 16:1 Abib. The first month (Ex. 12:2; Lev. 23:5), corresponding to March/April.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Deut. 16:2 flock or the herd. In Deuteronomy, the Passover sacrifice does not need to be a lamb (compare Ex. 12:3, 21).
Deut. 16:3 eat no leavened bread. Unleavened Bread is the name of the seven-day feast after Passover (Ex. 23:15; compare Ex. 12:15–20). remember. Remembrance leads to obedience (see Deut. 8:2–3 and note).
Fact: What is unleavened bread?
What is unleavened bread? Leaven is another name for yeast. Because bread made without yeast does not rise, unleavened bread is flat. During the exodus, the Israelites left Egypt so quickly that there was no time for their bread to rise. Unleavened bread was therefore used in Passover celebrations.
Deut. 16:5–6 You may not offer the Passover sacrifice within any of your towns. During their wilderness journeys, the Israelites could celebrate the Passover in their tents (see Ex. 12:21–24). Deuteronomy, however, gives instructions for the time when they will be settled in the Promised Land.
Deut. 16:7 Cook means roast, not boil (Ex. 12:8–9).
Deut. 16:9–10 The Feast of Weeks is called the Feast of Harvest in Ex. 23:16. The seven weeks are counted from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain, marking the end of the grain harvest. The Greek name for this festival is Pentecost, meaning 50 days (see Acts 2:1). A freewill offering expresses thankfulness for the harvest.
Deut. 16:13 The Feast of Booths or Tabernacles is called the Feast of Ingathering in Ex. 23:16 and 34:22. It occurred in September/October and marked the harvest of summer fruits such as dates, grapes, and olives. The law was to be read every seventh year during this feast (Deut. 31:9–13).
Fact: Threshing
Threshing is the process of separating kernels of grain (such as barley and wheat) from their stalks. This was done by beating the stalks or by using an ox or a donkey to pull a weighted sled over the harvest. Often large, flat rocks were used as threshing floors (16:13).
Deut. 16:1–17 These verses deal 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. On Passover, see Ex. 12:2–39; 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 of worship. For those who lived outside Jerusalem, attendance required several days of travel (compare Luke 2:41–52).
Deut. 16:16–17 all your males. Presumably females were free to attend the feast (vv. 11, 14), but only males were required to attend. The repeated mention of blessing encourages Israel to enter the land.
Deut. 16:19 You shall not . . . Justice comes from God’s character. See 1:17 and note on 1:16–17; 10:17; Ex. 23:6–8.
Deut. 16:21–22 tree as an Asherah . . . pillar. See note on 7:5. Canaanite worship items were to be destroyed (7:5; 12:3). This law prohibits bringing pagan religious practices into the central place of worship. Compare 2 Kings 21:7.
What types of judges were appointed at this time in Israel's history?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Deuteronomy 14-16
In Deuteronomy 14-16, Moses continues to recap the laws God has outlined for the Israelites to follow as they settle in the Promised Land, finally becoming civilians rather than exiles. God didn't rescue His people out of Egypt only for them to wind up becoming like the pagans around them. Instead, He calls the Israelites "holy" and "chosen" and His "treasured possession" (Deuteronomy 14:2).
Earlier in Deuteronomy 11:26-28, God promised blessings for the Israelites' obedience and warned about curses if they turned away. God wants blessings for His people, not curses, and so He spells out for them what it looks like to live faithfully as His chosen and treasured possession, worshiping Him in every aspect of their lives, including how they honor God with their bodies, foods, tithes, feasts, and more.
These are not just holy busywork. Rather, these things are meant to instill in His people a heart full of gratitude, humility, and joy. When God tells the Israelites to "rejoice in your feast" of remembrance for what the Lord has done (Deuteronomy 16:14) so that "you will be altogether joyful" (Deuteronomy 16:15), I see God's hope that His people will turn to Him in obedience—so that they may find joy and blessings.
But too often, my heart stops believing God's promise that if I walk in obedience, God will bring me joy. I begin to see God's call on my life as a burden, a checkbox, one more thing I have to do to keep up appearances. In these seasons, it's easy to ignore God, avoid quiet times and church gatherings, or focus more on the Easter Bunny than Christ's resurrection at Easter dinner. But these are the moments when an act of obedience creates a space for God to speak into my heart and restore my joy in Him. Then, I can obey God out of a place of joyfulness, allowing Him to bring me further joy. How amazing is God's design!
This month's memory verse
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
– Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Discussion Questions
1. God promises joy in our obedience. Are you convinced that in your obedience God will provide you joy? If not, what lie could you be believing about God's character?
2. What are two or three simple ways you can walk in obedience this week?
3. Are there any habits, activities, or commitments in your life that are hindering your obedience to God?
4. Reflect on a time in your life when you were struck by God's faithfulness. How can that moment build your confidence in God's faithfulness in your life today?