Deuteronomy 16 - Introduction

The Three Feasts

Every year Israel shall celebrate three Feasts at the Sanctuary. First, in the spring month Abib, a Passover, Pesaḥ, with the Feast of Maṣṣôthor unleavened loaves (Deuteronomy 16:1-8, cp. Deuteronomy 16:16). Second, seven weeks from the time the sickle is put to the corn, the Feast of Weeks, Shabu-ôth(Deuteronomy 16:9-12). Third, after the ingathering from threshing-floor and winepress, the Feast of Booths, Suḳḳoth(Deuteronomy 16:13-15). Thus thrice a year all males shall appear before God, with gifts (Deuteronomy 16:16 f.). In Sg. throughout; on the questionable integrity of the passage see below.

The same three feasts are prescribed in E, Exodus 23:15 a, Exodus 23:16, Maṣṣôth, Ḳaṣîror Harvest, and "Asiphor Ingathering, the last at the going out of the year, the early Israelite year ending in September; and in J, Exodus 34:18 a, Exodus 34:22; Exodus 34:25 Maṣṣôth(Exodus 34:25, Passover), Weeks (firstfruits of wheat-harvest) and Ingathering, at the turn of the year. In H (enlarged by P) Leviticus 23, the Passover is on the 14th, and Maṣṣôth on the 15th of the first month, reckoning now from spring when the later Israelite, or Babylonian, year began; a sheaf of first-fruits is to be brought to the priest with other offerings, and 50 days later a new meal offering; and on the 15th day of the seventh month, after the produce of the land is gathered in, a feast of seven days shall begin, Israel dwelling in booths. In P, Numbers 28:16-29 we find (with additional annual solemnities) Passover and Maṣṣôth fixed as in Leviticus 23; a day of firstfruits with a new meal offering in Weeks; and on the 15th day of the seventh month a convocation with seven days of sacrifices, and on the 8th another convocation.

See Chapman, Intr. to the Pent.146 ff., and the relevant notes in Driver's Exod.with a table (pp. 370 ff.) of the J and E laws -derived evidently from a common original."

The three Feasts, Maṣṣôth, Harvest or Weeks, and Ingathering or Booths are those of an agricultural people. The Passover alone was possible to Israel in their nomadic state; and in Egypt a similar sacrifice was celebrated by them, as a tradition from their nomad ancestors (Exodus 3:8; Exodus 9:13; cp. Deuteronomy 12:21 and Driver's note). Its association with the Exodus is already recognised by J, Exodus 12:25-27. D extends the same historical meaning to Maṣṣôth, P another one to Booths, and the later Jewish tradition still another to Weeks. D also removes all three from the rural sanctuaries to the One Altar. -Naturally the transference to the capital severed the close connection [of these Feasts] with the agricultural life, facilitated the historical interpretation and transformed local rural feasts into strictly regulated and exactly dated festivals for the whole commonwealth; which subsequent generations, in Leviticus 23, Numbers 28 f., fixed by a precise calendar" (Marti).