Asbury Bible Commentary – A1. The Universal Worship of Yahweh as King (14:16-21)
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A1. The Universal Worship of Yahweh as King (14:16-21)

A1. The Universal Worship of Yahweh as King (14:16-21)

The oldest pilgrimage festival was probably the Feast of Tabernacles (or “Booths”), which commemorated the season of harvest and was connected to the deliverance from Egypt. During the postexilic period it became the occasion for reading the Torah and reestablishing the covenant (Ne 8:14-18). Thus it was the perfect festival to unite the survivors of the nations in their worship of Yahweh. Any possibility of apostasy will be avoided by drought, making the reticent worshiper recognize his need to depend on Yahweh for life. Egypt is specially mentioned because she was not dependent on rainfall. The Nile was her source of life and pride. But even Egypt will be no exception in Yahweh’s universal kingdom.

In that day of final victory in Yahweh’s new kingdom, even horses will be uniquely consecrated to him and will wear on their harnesses the legend Holy to the lord, which was engraved on the turban of the high priest (Ex 28:36). There will no longer be a distinction between sacred and secular, and common cooking utensils will be used in the temple (Baldwin, 207). The Canaanite in the house of the Lord denotes any moral or spiritual impurity that might mar this perfect scene. When God is made King, every aspect of life becomes sacred, down to the pots and pans.