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The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 15:18
Where a slave determined to have his freedom, the master was to set him free without grudge; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years; literally, double the hire of a hireling he…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 15:19-23
In Deuteronomy 12:6, Deuteronomy 12:17 and in Deuteronomy 14:23, reference is made to sacrificial meals, and to the appropriation of the firstlings of the herds and flocks thereto; Moses here reverts to this, and gives…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 15:19-23
The firstlings. The solution of the apparent discrepancy between this passage and Numbers 18:18 seems to lie in the custom of inviting the worshippers to share in the feasts provided by their offerings. View the sanctif…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 15:19-23
The firstlings for God. The firstlings which were males were not to be reared for work, but kept for communion. They were to constitute, if perfect, a peace offering before God; if imperfect, they were to be eaten at ho…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 15:19-23
The first for God. As God is supreme, so his claim to recognition and obedience must have consideration prior to all other claims. Such priority is his indefeasible right; such priority best subserves the interests of m…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 15:21
Sacrifices to be without blemish. A reference to passages in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, will show the frequency with which the injunction here contained was insisted upon, and the importance attached t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:1-9
The Passover. The Passover was a sacrifice (Exodus 12:2), and was connected with sacrifices (Leviticus 23:5-8; Numbers 28:15-26); hence "flock and herd" (Deuteronomy 16:2) covering the sacrifices of the seven days' feas…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:1-22
EXPOSITION CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER FESTIVAL, THE FEAST OF PENTECOST AND OF TABERNACLES. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND PREVENTION OF IDOLATRY.
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:1-17
(Comp. Exodus 23:14-19; Exodus 34:18, Exodus 34:22-26; Leviticus 23:1-44. On the Passover, see Exodus 12:1-51.; Exodus 13:3-10.) The other great festivals of the Israelites, the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonemen…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:1-7
The Feast of the Passover. Deuteronomy 16:1, Deuteronomy 16:2 The month of Abib (cf. Exodus 12:2; Exodus 23:15). The time is referred to as a date well known to the people. Keep the passover; make ( עַשִׂיתָ) or prepare…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Passover a memorial and a prophecy. In a singular and a miraculous manner, the national existence of the Hebrews had commenced. God had signally interposed as their Champion, in a way altogether unparalleled. Withou…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Passover, a memorial of deliverance. The institution of the Passover (Exodus 12:1-51.) was preliminary to their deliverance from Egypt, just as the Lord's Supper was preliminary to the death of Jesus Christ, which i…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Feast of the Passover. (For a reference to the minute points of difference, necessitated by different circumstances, between the first Passover and subsequent ones, see art. 'Passover,' in Smith's 'Bibl. Dict.;' see…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:3
Bread of affliction; bread such as is prepared in circumstances of trial and pressure, when there is no time or opportunity for the application of all the means required for the preparation of bread of the better sort.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:4
No leavened bread; properly, no leaven ( שְׂאֹר) (cf. Exodus 12:15). Not only was no leavened bread ( מַחָּוז) or dough ( חָמֵץ) to be used by them, leaven itself was not to be in the house. Deuteronomy 16:5, Deuteronom…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:7
Thou shalt roast. The verb here primarily signifies to be matured by heat for eating; hence to be ripened as by the sun's heat (Genesis 40:10; Joel 3:13; Hebrews 4:13); and to be cooked, whether by boiling, seething, or…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:8
On the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly. This is not placed in antithesis to the injunction, six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as if the Feast of Unleavened Bread (mazzoth) lasted only for six days and the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:9
From such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn; i.e. from the commencement of the corn harvest. The seven weeks were to be counted from this terminus; and as the corn harvest began by the presentation of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:9-17
The Feasts of Weeks and of Tabernacles. For the moral improvement of the Hebrews, it was desirable to keep alive among them the recollection of their early history. Prior to the invention of printing, and when written r…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:9-13
Pentecost. I. A SACRED RECKONING. "Seven weeks shall thou number," etc. (Deuteronomy 16:9). A week of weeks, seven times seven, hence the name, "Feast of Weeks "(Deuteronomy 16:10). The count began with the offering of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:9-12
The Feast of Weeks, or of Harvest. This Feast of Weeks was not commemorative in the same sense as that of the Passover; it was connected, not with a great national epoch, but with the seasons of the year and the times o…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:9-12
Pentecost, the Feast of Firstfruits. Fifty days after the Passover, or a week of weeks, came the second great national festival, when offerings were presented unto God of the firstfruits of the harvest, and a people alr…
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:9-12
The Feast of Weeks (cf. Exodus 23:16).
The Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:10
This feast was to be kept with sacrificial gifts according to the measure of the free-will offerings of their hand, i.e. voluntary offerings which they gave as the Lord had blessed them; nothing was specially prescribed…