Deuteronomy 16 Bible Commentary

The Geneva Study Bible

(Read all of Deuteronomy 16)
16:1 Observe the month of a Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

(a) Read (Exodus 13:4).

16:2 Thou shalt therefore b sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.

(b) You shall eat the Easter lamb.

16:3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, [even] the bread of c affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

(c) Which signified the affliction which you had in Egypt.

16:5 Thou mayest d not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:

(d) This was chiefly accomplished, when the temple was built.

16:6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the e passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.

(e) Which was instituted to remind them of their deliverance our of Egypt and to encourage them in the hope of Jesus Christ, of whom this lamb was a figure.

16:9 Seven weeks shalt thou f number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from [such time as] thou beginnest [to put] the sickle to the corn.

(f) Beginning the next morning after the Passover, (Leviticus 23:15; Exodus 13:4).

16:13 Thou shalt g observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:

(g) That is, the 15th day of the seventh month, (Leviticus 23:34).

16:17 Every man [shall give] as he is h able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.

(h) According to the ability that God has given him.

16:18 i Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

(i) He gave temporary authority to the people to choose magistrates for themselves.

16:20 That which k is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

(k) The magistrate must constantly follow the tenor of the law, and in noting decline from justice.