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10 Moses commanded them, saying, On the feast of Booths,(A) at the prescribed time in the year for remission[a] which comes at the end of every seven-year period, 11 when all Israel goes to appear before the Lord, your God, in the place which he will choose, you shall read this law aloud in the presence of all Israel. 12 Assemble the people—men, women and children, as well as the resident aliens who live in your communities—that they may hear and so learn to fear the Lord, your God, and to observe carefully all the words of this law. 13 Their children also, who do not know it yet, shall hear and learn to fear the Lord, your God, as long as you live on the land which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.

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Footnotes

  1. 31:10 The year for remission: cf. 15:1–3 and note there.

10 Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts,(A) during the Festival of Tabernacles,(B) 11 when all Israel comes to appear(C) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose,(D) you shall read this law(E) before them in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn(F) to fear(G) the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. 13 Their children,(H) who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

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16 You shall also keep the feast of the grain harvest with the first fruits of the crop that you sow in the field; and finally, the feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you collect your produce from the fields.

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16 “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest(A) with the firstfruits(B) of the crops you sow in your field.

“Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering(C) at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.(D)

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22 (A)You shall keep the feast of Weeks with the first fruits of the wheat harvest, likewise, the feast of the Ingathering at the close of the year.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 34:22 Feast of Weeks: the festival of thanksgiving for the harvest, celebrated seven weeks or fifty days after the beginning of the harvest. It was also called Pentecost (fiftieth) and coincided with the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, fifty days after the offering of the first fruits; cf. Lv 23:10–11; Dt 16:9. Feast of the Ingathering: feast of Booths.

22 “Celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits(A) of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering(B) at the turn of the year.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 34:22 That is, in the autumn

34 Tell the Israelites: The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Lord’s feast of Booths,[a](A) which shall continue for seven days. 35 On the first day, a declared holy day, you shall do no heavy work. 36 For seven days you shall offer an oblation to the Lord, and on the eighth day you will have a declared holy day. You shall offer an oblation to the Lord. It is the festival closing. You shall do no heavy work.

37 [b]These, therefore, are the festivals of the Lord which you shall declare holy days, in order to offer as an oblation to the Lord burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and libations, as prescribed for each day, 38 in addition to the Lord’s sabbaths, your donations, your various votive offerings, and the voluntary offerings that you present to the Lord.

39 On the fifteenth day, then, of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord[c] for a whole week. The first and the eighth day shall be days of rest. 40 On the first day you shall gather fruit of majestic trees, branches of palms, and boughs[d] of leafy trees and valley willows. Then for a week you shall make merry before the Lord, your God. 41 You shall keep this feast of the Lord for one whole week in the year. By perpetual statute throughout your generations in the seventh month of the year, you shall keep it. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days; every native-born Israelite shall dwell in booths, 43 that your descendants may realize that, when I led the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, I made them dwell in booths. I, the Lord, am your God.

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Footnotes

  1. 23:34 Feast of Booths: this is the final harvest festival of the year celebrating the remaining harvest. It is called the “feast of Ingathering” (Ex 23:16; 34:22), the “feast of Booths” (Lv 23:34; Dt 16:13), or simply the “feast” (1 Kgs 8:65). It is a seven-day festival with an eighth closing day. The first and eighth days are rest days (see note on v. 3).
  2. 23:37–38 This appears to be the original conclusion of the chapter.
  3. 23:39–43 The feast of the Lord: the feast of Booths, the preeminent festival. This section supplements vv. 33–36 by prescribing the popular activities for the festival.
  4. 23:40–43 Fruit…branches…boughs: the fruit and/or foliage from these trees is to be gathered, but it is not said how they are used. The command to make merry suggests they may have been used in a procession or even circumambulation of the altar (cf. Ps 26:6). Later tradition understood these prescriptions as referring to making the booths out of the foliage (Neh 8:15).

34 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh(A) month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles(B) begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly;(C) do no regular work.(D) 36 For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly(E) and present a food offering to the Lord.(F) It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.

37 (“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings(G) required for each day. 38 These offerings(H) are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths(I) and[a] in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings(J) you give to the Lord.)

39 “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival(K) to the Lord for seven days;(L) the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. 40 On the first day you are to take branches(M) from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees(N)—and rejoice(O) before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Live in temporary shelters(P) for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters 43 so your descendants will know(Q) that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 23:38 Or These festivals are in addition to the Lord’s Sabbaths, and these offerings are

On the Feast of Booths. 12 [a]On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you will declare a holy day:(A) you shall do no heavy work. For the following seven days you will celebrate a pilgrimage feast to the Lord. 13 You will offer a burnt offering, an oblation of pleasing aroma to the Lord: thirteen bulls[b] of the herd, two rams, and fourteen yearling lambs that are unblemished. 14 Their grain offerings will be of bran flour mixed with oil: three tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, 15 and one tenth for each of the fourteen lambs. 16 One goat will be a purification offering. These are in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and libation.

17 On the second day: twelve bulls of the herd, two rams, and fourteen unblemished yearling lambs, 18 with the grain offerings and libations for the bulls, rams and lambs in their prescribed number, 19 as well as one goat as a purification offering, besides the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and libation.

20 On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen unblemished yearling lambs, 21 with the grain offerings and libations for the bulls, rams and lambs in their prescribed number, 22 as well as one goat for a purification offering, besides the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and libation.

23 On the fourth day: ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen unblemished yearling lambs, 24 the grain offerings and libations for the bulls, rams and lambs in their prescribed number, 25 as well as one goat as a purification offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and libation.

26 On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen unblemished yearling lambs, 27 (B)with the grain offerings and libations for the bulls, rams and lambs in their prescribed number, 28 as well as one goat as a purification offering, besides the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and libation.

29 On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen unblemished yearling lambs, 30 with the grain offerings and libations for the bulls, rams and lambs in their prescribed number, 31 as well as one goat as a purification offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and libation.

32 On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen unblemished yearling lambs, 33 with the grain offerings and libations for the bulls, rams and lambs in their prescribed number, 34 as well as one goat as a purification offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and libation.

35 On the eighth day(C) you will hold a public assembly:[c] you shall do no heavy work. 36 You will offer a burnt offering, an oblation of pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, and seven unblemished yearling lambs, 37 with the grain offerings and libations for the bulls, rams and lambs in their prescribed number, 38 as well as one goat as a purification offering, besides the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and libation.

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Footnotes

  1. 29:12 This feast of Booths (Tabernacles or Sukkot) celebrating the vintage harvest was the most popular of all and therefore had the most elaborate ritual. See note on Lv 23:34.
  2. 29:13 Thirteen bulls: the number of bulls sacrificed before the octave day was seventy, arranged on a descending scale so that the number on the seventh day was the sacred number seven.
  3. 29:35 A public assembly: the Hebrew word is the technical term for the closing celebration of the three major feasts of the Passover, Pentecost and Booths, or of other special feasts that lasted for a week. Cf. Lv 23:36; Dt 16:8; 2 Chr 7:9; Neh 8:18.

The Festival of Tabernacles(A)

12 “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh(B) month,(C) hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days. 13 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord(D) a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.(E) 14 With each of the thirteen bulls offer a grain offering(F) of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; 15 and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth.(G) 16 Include one male goat as a sin offering,(H) in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.(I)

17 “‘On the second day(J) offer twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.(K) 18 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings(L) and drink offerings(M) according to the number specified.(N) 19 Include one male goat as a sin offering,(O) in addition to the regular burnt offering(P) with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.(Q)

20 “‘On the third day offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.(R) 21 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified.(S) 22 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

23 “‘On the fourth day offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 24 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 25 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

26 “‘On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 27 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 28 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

29 “‘On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 30 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 31 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

32 “‘On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 33 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 34 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

35 “‘On the eighth day hold a closing special assembly(T) and do no regular work. 36 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord(U) a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old,(V) all without defect. 37 With the bull, the ram and the lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 38 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

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All the people of Israel assembled before King Solomon during the festival in the month of Ethanim (the seventh month).[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 8:2 “The seventh month” (“Ethanim” in the Canaanite calendar) corresponded to late September/early October. The great festival at that time of year is the feast of Booths, or Succoth/Sukkoth (see Lv 23:33–43; Dt 16:13–15). The feast was important enough to warrant holding the dedication ceremony either a month before or eleven months after the Temple was completed in the eighth month (6:38).

All the Israelites came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival(A) in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.(B)

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62 The king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord. 63 [a]Solomon offered as communion offerings to the Lord twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. Thus the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the Lord. 64 On that day the king consecrated the middle of the court facing the house of the Lord; he offered there the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the communion offerings, because the bronze altar before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the fat of the communion offering. 65 On this occasion Solomon and all Israel with him, a great assembly from Lebo-hamath to the Wadi of Egypt, celebrated the festival before the Lord, our God, for seven days. 66 On the eighth day he dismissed the people, who blessed the king and went to their tents, rejoicing and glad of heart because of all the blessings the Lord had given to David his servant and to his people Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. 8:63 “Communion offerings” (shelamim) is another wordplay on the name of Solomon.

The Dedication of the Temple(A)

62 Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices(B) before the Lord. 63 Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated(C) the temple of the Lord.

64 On that same day the king consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings and the fat(D) of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar(E) that stood before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings.(F)

65 So Solomon observed the festival(G) at that time, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath(H) to the Wadi of Egypt.(I) They celebrated it before the Lord our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all. 66 On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good(J) things the Lord had done for his servant David and his people Israel.

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(A)They also kept the feast of Booths in the manner prescribed, and they offered the daily burnt offerings in the proper number required for each day.

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Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles(A) with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day.

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14 (A)They found it written in the law commanded by the Lord through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month;

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14 They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters(A) during the festival of the seventh month

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The Feast of Booths. 25 In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, on the feast day and for the next seven days, he shall make the same offerings: the same purification offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, and offerings of oil.(A)

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25 “‘During the seven days of the festival,(A) which begins in the seventh month on the fifteenth day, he is to make the same provision for sin offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings and oil.(B)

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