Deuteronomy 16 Commands Remembrance, Joy, and Justice

Deuteronomy 16 commands Israel to remember the day they came out of Egypt, share the blessings they had received with others, and never pervert justice. These three themes appear in the instructions concerning the Passover, the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Booths, and the administration of justice in verses 1–20. Israel was not only to commemorate its past deliverance through annual festivals but also to rejoice together in the present harvest and pursue justice in every town.

Passover Taught Israel to Remember the Day of the Exodus Throughout Their Lives

Israel was to observe the Passover in the month of Aviv because it was during that month, at night, that the Lord brought them out of Egypt. The sacrifice could not be offered in just any town. It had to be offered at the place the Lord would choose as a dwelling for his Name, at twilight, when the sun was setting—the time of day when they departed from Egypt.

The way the meal was eaten and the length of the observance were also prescribed. The people were not to eat bread made with yeast but were to eat unleavened bread for seven days. The passage calls it “the bread of affliction,” explaining that Israel had left Egypt in haste. No yeast was to be found anywhere in their territory, and none of the meat sacrificed on the first day could remain until morning.

All these Passover instructions pointed to one event: the people were to remember the day they came out of Egypt for the rest of their lives. The exodus was not merely a distant memory to recall from time to time. They were to remember it repeatedly by observing the appointed month, place, and time and by eating unleavened bread for seven days. On the seventh day, they were to gather in solemn assembly before the Lord and do no work.

The Joy of the Feast of Weeks Was Shared with Many

Israel was to count seven weeks from the day the sickle was first put to the standing grain and then celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Everyone was not required to bring the same amount. Each person was to give a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord had given them.

The joy of the festival was not confined to one person or family. Sons and daughters, male and female servants, the Levites in their towns, foreigners, orphans, and widows were all to rejoice together before the Lord. The next command once again reminded Israel that they had been slaves in Egypt. Remembering their former slavery and inviting many others to share in the festival’s joy were woven into the same ordinance.

The Feast of Booths Celebrated the Harvest Together

The Feast of Booths was observed for seven days after the produce from the threshing floor and winepress had been gathered. Once again, sons and daughters, male and female servants, Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows were all to celebrate together. The passage commands the people to rejoice fully because the Lord would bless all their produce and everything they put their hands to.

Three times each year, every Israelite man was to appear before the Lord at the place he would choose. No one was to appear empty-handed, but each person’s gift was to reflect the blessings the Lord had given and be proportionate to their means. In the instructions for both the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths, the same themes recur: the harvest they had received, offerings suited to their means, and the participation of the whole community. Festival joy was not a private celebration of personal blessing. It was a time for the entire community to share those blessings together.

Every Town Was to Pursue Justice Alone

After the festival instructions comes the command to appoint judges and officials in every town. They were to judge the people fairly. They were not to pervert justice, show partiality, or accept bribes, because bribes blind the eyes of the wise and twist the words of the innocent.

The passage narrows the standard to this repeated command: “Follow justice and justice alone.” During the festivals, Israel was told to remember the day they came out of Egypt and the time when they had been slaves. After gathering the harvest, they were to rejoice with foreigners, orphans, and widows. In everyday judgment, neither outward appearance nor personal gain was to distort justice. Remembrance was not confined to prescribed rituals. It also shaped how the people shared their blessings and established an order in which others were judged rightly.

To put one thing into practice today, whenever you need to judge someone, set aside appearances and any personal benefit you might gain. Consider the matter according to the same facts and standards you would apply to anyone else. You may also want to reread Deuteronomy 16 in Bible Reading and look for the commands to “remember,” “rejoice together,” and “follow justice and justice alone.”