Deuteronômio 16
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Deuteronômio 16:1-8
16:1-12 These verses discuss the three annual feast days that are to be observed at the central sanctuary. This same information is found in Exod. 23:14-19 Exod. 34:18-26 Lev. 23:1-44 (includes several other special days) Numbers 28-29 (includes several other special days) These annual feast days were Israel's way to remember yearly YHWH's great acts, and provided a way to teach the next generation. SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL 16:1 "Observe" This is such a recurrent term (BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE) in Deuteronomy- 73 times! This chapter is written in the same Hebraic style as the Ten Commandments of chapter 5. ▣ "month" This is the same root as "new moon" (BDB 294 I). SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE CALENDARS ▣ "Abib" This word means "new grain" (BDB 1), which would denote the first ripened sheaves of barley. It was the Canaanite designation for the time period of March‒April. In the Babylonian calendar the word Nisan is used for this time period. It was considered the first month in the Hebrew calendar (cf. Ecxod. 13:4; 33:15). Surprisingly, this month is related to the feast of Unleavened Bread, which was an additional feast linked to the Passover, cf. Exod. 12:5,15-20; 13:1-10; Lev. 23:6-8 (i.e. seven days long after Passover) Passover in Lev. 23:4-5; Deut. 16:1-8 (i.e. one day) These two feasts were later joined into one eight day feast. SPECIAL TOPIC: PASSOVER ▣ "celebrate" This common VERB, "do," "make" (BDB 793, KB 1581) is used several times in chapter 16 and is translated several ways: "celebrate," Deut. 16:1,10,13 "shall be," Deut. 16:8 "shall be careful to observe," Deut. 16:12 "shall not. . .make," Deut. 16:21 SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PASSOVER ▣ "by night" When the Death Angel passed over at night (BDB 538), Pharaoh said, "go now" (cf. Exod.12:31-33). The Israelites left immediately. SPECIAL TOPIC: DEATH ANGEL 16:2 "from the flock and the herd" Originally it was only a sheep or a goat (cf. Exod. 12:5). In the special Passovers of Hezekiah and Josiah, they offered more types of animals, possibly peace offerings, 2 Chr. 30:24; 35:7. What does "and the herd" mean? Only sheep or goats were part of the Passover ritual. The Hebrew CONJUNCTION (BDB 251-255) can mean "and" or "or." But this does not answer the question, "Why is an animal from the herd an option?" The Tyndale OT Commentary by J. A. Thompson, p. 194, suggests that the herd sacrifices were connected with the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread from ancient times and this is why Hezekiah and Josiah had herd animals offered (i.e. peace offerings) as a way to provide food for the celebrants. It is just possible that "the herd" refers to offering of the firstborn, which is mentioned in the same context (cf. Exod. 22:29; 34:20) the freewill offering of v. 16 ‒ attendees of the three annual feasts should not come "empty-handed" (cf. v. 17) SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERING ▣ "in the place where the Lord chooses to establish His name" In Egypt this was a family service; in Deuteronomy it has been reserved for central sanctuary worship (cf. Deut. 12:5,11,13,14,18,21,26; 14:23,25; 15:20; 16:2,6,7,11,15,16; 17:8,10; 18:6; 23:16; 26:2; 31:11). 16:3 "unleavened bread" The Israelites could not wait to depart until morning for the bread to rise. This detail of the exodus night gave rise to the Exodus' Passover feast being combined with an agricultural feast (cf. Exod. 12:15-20; 23:14-17; 34:18). Leaven, which was regularly used in sacrificial items (cf. Lev. 7:13; 23:17), became a symbol of sin and rebellion. The fermentation was viewed in this symbolic feast as Israel's opportunity on an individual basis to examine their lives for any hint of rebellion or disobedience to YHWH. As the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) functioned on a national level, the Feast of Unleavened Bread functioned on an individual or family level. This annual required feast being combined with the Passover feast kept the gracious deliverance of YHWH ever before the minds and hearts of His people. As grace and promise provided deliverance from Egypt, so Israel depended on these unchanging divine characteristics to save her as the years went by (cf. Deut. 4:9). SPECIAL TOPIC: LEAVEN ▣ "bread of affliction" See Exod. 12:8. ▣ "(for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste)" The Israelites left Egypt in haste at Pharaoh's request (cf. Exod.12:31-33). ▣ "that you remember. . .Egypt" The Passover has historical and theological significance. In Egypt the Passover experience was family oriented; in Deuteronomy it foreshadowed the coming central sanctuary service; in Jesus' day it became a combination of both (part at the temple and part at home or where pilgrims were staying while in Jerusalem). SPECIAL TOPIC: PASSOVER 16:4 Remember, Moses is addressing, for the most part, the children of the exodus generation. This verse implies that every generation should put themselves in the place of that first generation who experienced the power and presence of YHWH, yet rebelled and died in the wilderness. Each of the annual feasts were to help Israel trust more in YHWH's presence and provision. He was with them and for them, as He had been with their ancestors. 16:5 "in any of your towns" This is literally "gates" (BDB 1044, cf. Deut. 12:15,17,21), thereby referring to a future time after Israel had conquered Canaan (cf. Deut. 16:18). 16:6 "in the evening at sunset" For the Israelites this was the beginning of a new day (cf. Genesis 1, cf. Exod. 12:6. ). 16:7 "You shall cook and eat it" The Hebrew can mean "boil" or "cook" (BDB 143, KB 164, Piel PERFECT with waw), but because of Exod. 12:8-9, it must be a general term for "cook." Most of the sacrifices were "boiled" (cf. Exod. 29:31; Lev. 8:31; Num. 6:15; 1 Sam. 2:13). The Passover sacrifice was to be roasted with fire (Exod. 12:8-9; 2 Chr. 35:13). It is possible, like 2 Chr. 35:13, that both ways of cooking were used. boiled ‒ the herd of v. 2 roasted ‒ the flock of v. 2 See F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, pp. 213-214. This is one of my favorite books on Bible difficulties. F. F. Bruce handles the texts so well. I highly recommend this book to you! ▣ "you are to return to your tents" This can mean: the wilderness wandering setting (or at least on the plains of Moab) the pilgrims going to Jerusalem stayed in tents during these seven feast days it is an idiom meaning "return to your homes 16:8 "a solemn assembly to the Lord your God" The festival ended with a corporate worship setting (cf. Exod. 12:16, "a holy assembly"). One purpose for the central sanctuary was to develop a sense of corporate identity and community.
Deuteronômio 16:9-12
16:10 "the Feast of Weeks" This is also called the Feast of Harvest in Exod. 23:16 the Feast of First Fruits in Num. 28:26 Later, it became Pentecost (rabbinically linked to the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai), which means "fifty days." It was the May ‒ June harvest festival or the time of the wheat harvest. YHWH, not Ba'al, was the provider! SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL, I. D. 2. ▣ "a freewill offering" This allowed the people to bring an offering in accordance to how much the Lord had blessed each one (cf. Deut. 16:17). This is a universal principle of giving (cf. 2 Corinthians 8-9). 16:11 YHWH wants everyone to know His past acts for Israel and His special care for those in need (cf. Deut. 12:12,18,19; 14:27,29; 16:14; 26:11-13). 16:12 "You shall remember" The theological reason for the Feast of Weeks (agricultural harvest) was Israel's experience of slavery in Egypt.
Deuteronômio 16:13-15
16:13 "Feast of Booths" The Feast of Booths came in the fall and was during the ingathering time (cf. Exod. 23:16; 34:22; Lev. 23:33-43). The background to "booths" is said to reflect the Israelites' experience of: agricultural life in Egypt, where booths were built in the fields at harvest time to house workers and protect the crop living in temporary housing (i.e. tents) during the exodus and wilderness wandering period the temporary shelters needed for pilgrims to stay at the central sanctuary (less probable) SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL, I. D. 3. 16:15 YHWH wants to bless His people so that they may rejoice (BDB 970, KB 1333, Qal PERFECT with waw) individually, as a family, and as the people of God (cf. Deut. 12:7,12,18; 14:26; 16:11,14; 26:11; 27:7).
Deuteronômio 16:16-17
16:16 "Three times in a year all your males shall appear" Verses 16 and 17 are summary verses which apply to all three major annual feasts (cf. Exod. 23:14,17). Remember meals were special times of friendship and family fellowship. These feasts allowed Israel to: develop a sense of national community teach God's gracious acts to new generations help the poor and needy rejoice in the goodness of the God of Israel and His fulfillment of covenant promises/blessings Why only men? Does this reflect the submissive role of women? Surely the ANE was not egalitarian, but women were honored within Israel (e.g. Proverbs 31). I think there are two good possibilities: the women were needed at home in a ranching and agricultural setting, especially if the men were absent the practice of men only would have noticeably marked Israel's worship as different from Canaanite fertility worship, where women were expected For a good, brief discussion of these three annual pilgrimage feasts see Roland de Vaux, Ancient Israel, vol. 2, pp. 484-502. SPECIAL TOPIC: WOMEN IN THE BIBLE ▣ "Feast" This Hebrew term (BDB 290, KB 290), both the VERB and the NOUN, refers to one of the three annual worship days at the central sanctuary. It could be translated "pilgrim-feast." 16:17 "give as he is able" This refers to the universal principle of giving-each is to give as he is able (cf. Deut. 16:10; 2 Corinthians 8-9). SPECIAL TOPIC: TITHING ▣ "the blessing" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BLESSING (OT)
Deuteronômio 16:18-20
16:18-20 This is a separate section which should go with chapter 18. It deals with guidelines for civil leadership (tribal judges, Levitical judges, kings, priests, and prophets). 16:18 "You shall appoint for yourself, judges and officers in all your towns" These are the same as the local elders of the gates (e.g. 21:19; 22:15; Amos 5:10,12,15). Moses was chief judge, but he appointed helpers (cf. Deut. 1:9-18; Exod.18:13-27). 16:19 "You shalt not" This verse lists three guidelines for the judges, Moses' helpers: You shalt not distort justice (BDB 639, KB 692, Hiphil IMPERFECT, cf. Exod. 23:6; 27:19; Deut. 16:19; 24:17; 27:19) You shalt not show partiality (BDB 647, KB 699, Hiphil IMPERFECT, the literal Hebrew is "ye shall not look at a face") You shalt not take a bribe (BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Deut. 27:25). ▣ "bribe" A bribe does two things: "blinds the eyes of the wise" ‒ BDB 734, KB 802, Piel IMPERFECT, cf. Exod. 23:8; it is metaphorical for the power of money "perverts (literally 'twist') the words of the righteous" ‒ BDB 701, KB 758, Piel IMPERFECT, cf. Exod. 23:8; remember the term "just" or "righteous" is from the term, "measuring reed" or "straight edge." Most words for sin in the Bible are a word play on this concept. SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS 16:20 "Justice" A judge ruled according to the standard which was the revealed will of God ("justice, and only justice"; the MT doubles the NOUN). Leaders (local and priestly judges) were to model the mercy, yet fairness, of YHWH (cf. Exod. 23:6-8). ▣ "you shall pursue" This VERB (BDB 922, KB 1191, Qal IMPERFECT) is used literally in Deut. 11:4; 19:6, but here it is imagery of Israel's judicial system. Other uses are found in Ps. 34:14; Prov. 21:21; Isa. 51:5; and Hosea 6:3. ▣ "that" Israel's possession of the land and the promises/blessings of YHWH were conditional (cf. Deut. 4:1,25-26,40; 5:16,29,33; 6:18; 8:1; 11:8-9,18-21; 16:20; 32:46-47). SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT
Deuteronômio 16:21-22
16:21 Deuteronomy 16:21, 22 and 17:1 are one paragraph. The paragraph deals with appropriate ways of offering sacrifices. For a brief description of Canaanite worship see Alfred J. Hoerth, Archaeology and the Old Testament, pp. 219-222 and William Foxwell Albright, Archaeology and the Religion of Israel, pp. 67-92. ▣ "You shall not plant. . .an Asherah of any kind of tree" This "grove" or Asherah implies either a grove of trees or holes in the raised worship platforms of the Canaanites where the carved poles, or live trees representing the female consort of the male fertility gods, were put. This symbolized fertility worship. See note at Deut. 12:3. SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE 16:22 "You shall not set up for yourself a sacred pillar" See note at Deut. 12:3. SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL'S MANDATED RESPONSE TO CANAANITE FERTILITY WORSHIP ▣ "God hates" See note at Deut. 12:31.