Deuteronomy 16:16-17

The Threefold Feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16).

The meeting three times a year was a covenant requirement, an act of loyalty and a requirement for tribute. By this the covenant was continually confirmed.

Analysis in the words of Moses:

a Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Yahweh your God in the place which He shall choose (Deuteronomy 16:16 a).

b In the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of sevens, and in the feast of tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16 b)

b And they shall not appear before Yahweh empty (Deuteronomy 16:17 a).

a Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of Yahweh your God which he has given you (Deuteronomy 16:17 b).

Here we have both progression and chiasmus. In the chiasmus in ‘a' they are to appear at these great feasts three times a year and in the parallel they are to give as Yahweh has blessed them. In ‘b' the three feasts are detailed, and it is emphasised that they must not appear before Him empty. The assumption behind this is that Yahweh has blessed them, but in return they are to bring their tribute and thanksgiving gifts in their hands.

Deuteronomy 16:16

‘ Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of sevens, and in the feast of tabernacles, and they shall not appear before Yahweh empty, every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of Yahweh your God which he has given you.'

Note the names used for the feasts, ‘unleavened bread' because that side of it has been Moses' emphasis in this speech as far as the people were concerned, ‘sevens' because it indicated the divine content of the feasts, and ‘tabernacles' because the people would be erecting and spending their time in tents. The first and third were features of their direct participation, and the second emphasised an expectancy of divine participation. They baked the bread and ate it, they erected the tents and lived in them, and they waited the seven sevens in expectancy. It made them feel as though they were taking part even while they were listening. The name Passover stressed the sacrificial side, and Harvest (Exodus 23:16) and Ingathering (Exodus 23:66; Exodus 34:22) as used elsewhere were more descriptions of their purpose. Thus those names were not used here. Here the concentration was on the people's participation.

So all the males of Israel were to gather for these three feasts, unleavened bread, sevens and tabernacles, every year, appearing ‘before Yahweh' in the place where He had chosen to dwell and establish His authority. And there they were to pay their tribute. They were not to come empty. If Yahweh's commands were carried out none would need to appear empty. And they must be ready to give as they were able in accordance with the blessing that they had received from Yahweh.

It would be an act of tribute to their Overlord, an expression of gratitude to their Father (as His sons - Deuteronomy 14:1), and an act of commitment and dedication for the future. For the males it was compulsory, but all were welcome, and a good time was to be had by all as they rejoiced together in Yahweh's presence declaring their gratitude and love.

The emphasis on the males was because they mainly had responsibility for the running of their communities, for fighting their battles, and for deciding issues connected with the covenant. It was necessary that all of them be there when reasonably possible, for at the feasts many issues connected with the community would be thrashed out, and major judgments decided. It represented in fact a semi-democracy. They might also be necessary in case one or two tribes were feeling recalcitrant. Others apart from the men were welcome but were not as necessary, and indeed some might well be required to stay at home while the males were away. This probably refers to all free males over a certain age. Had it not been a strict requirement many may have sought to opt out. As it was they knew that non-appearance was the equivalent of treason unless a cast iron case could be made for absence.

So here we come to the end of this section commencing at Deuteronomy 12:1 which has stressed their needing to worship Yahweh in spiritual fitness and joy, free from idolatry (Deuteronomy 13), living cleanly and wholesomely (Deuteronomy 14), being generous to the needy (Deuteronomy 14:28 to Deuteronomy 15:18), worshipping in joy (Deuteronomy 16) and bringing their offerings and tithes and firstlings to Him, and all at the place which He would choose..