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Three Festivals at the Place of Worship

(Exodus 23.14-17)

Moses said:

16 Each year there are three festivals when all Israelite men must go to the place where the Lord chooses to be worshiped. These are the Festival of Thin Bread, the Harvest Festival,[a] and the Festival of Shelters. And don't forget to take along a gift for the Lord. 17 The bigger the harvest the Lord gives you, the bigger your gift should be.

Treat Everyone with Justice

Moses said to Israel:

18-19 (A) After you are settled in the towns that you will receive from the Lord your God, the people in each town must appoint judges and other officers. Those of you that become judges must be completely fair when you make legal decisions, even if someone important is involved. Don't take bribes to give unfair decisions. Bribes keep people who are wise from seeing the truth and turn honest people into liars.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 16.16 Harvest Festival: See the note at 16.10,11.
  2. 16.18,19 turn … liars: Or “keep innocent people from getting justice.”

16 Three times a year all your men must appear(A) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread,(B) the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles.(C) No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed:(D) 17 Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.

Judges

18 Appoint judges(E) and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly.(F)

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