Tyndale Open Study NotesDeuteronomy 16

• The Passover (Hebrew pesakh) is the feast celebrating God's deliverance of Israel from the tenth plague and from slavery in Egypt (see Exodus 11–12; Leviticus 23:5–8).

• The exodus was so important in Israel's history that the month of Abib, when it happened, became the start of Israel's yearly calendar (see Exodus 12:2).

a dwelling for His Name: The Lord’s name represented the Lord himself. When God placed his name in the tabernacle or temple, he was effectively taking up residence there (see 12:5, 18).

Yeast (or leaven) often symbolizes corruption or sin (Leviticus 6:14–17; Matthew 16:11–12). At the first Passover, the Israelites did not use yeast because they had no time to let bread rise (see Exodus 12:10–14). Each part of the yearly Passover celebration reminded the Israelites of what God had done for them.

The Feast of Weeks happened seven weeks after Passover to celebrate the wheat harvest (Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 23:15–22).

The Feast of Tabernacles is called this because God told the Israelites to live for one week in simple shelters made from tree branches. These shelters reminded them of the years they wandered in the wilderness (Leviticus 23:33–43). This feast also celebrated the fall harvest.

Participation in the festival was required of every man, but women and children could participate as well (16:11, 14; compare Luke 2:41).

The community of Israel, like any nation, needed different kinds of leaders. These leaders helped keep the people united and guided them in the right direction.

The Lord told Moses to set up a proper system of leadership. He also gave clear standards for choosing leaders and explained the duties of each role.

• judges and officials: The use of both words together may mean that they had similar roles. The word officials usually refers to public leaders in general. Here, however, it likely refers to people who helped carry out the law. They may have served as administrators of justice or as officers who enforced the law.

• with righteous judgment: This phrase means judging by a clear and just standard. Decisions were to be based on what was right. They were not to be changed because of pressure from the public or from private interests.

show partiality: See study note on 1:16–17.

Asherah pole … sacred pillar: See study note on 7:5; also see 12:3; Isaiah 27:8–9; Micah 5:13–15.