Deuteronomy 16:1-22, NLT
Deuteronomy 16
Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread
1“In honor of the Lord your God, celebrate the Passover each year in the early spring, in the month of Abib,*16:1 Hebrew Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the Lord your God. Abib, the first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurs within the months of March and April. for that was the month in which the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night.
5“You may not sacrifice the Passover in just any of the towns that the Lord your God is giving you.
The Festival of Harvest
9“Count off seven weeks from when you first begin to cut the grain at the time of harvest.
The Festival of Shelters
13“You must observe the Festival of Shelters*16:13 Or Festival of Booths, or Festival of Tabernacles; also in 16:16. This was earlier called the Festival of the Final Harvest or Festival of Ingathering (see Exod 23:16b). It is celebrated today as Sukkot (or Succoth). for seven days at the end of the harvest season, after the grain has been threshed and the grapes have been pressed.
16“Each year every man in Israel must celebrate these three festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters. On each of these occasions, all men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he chooses, but they must not appear before the Lord without a gift for him.
Justice for the People
18“Appoint judges and officials for yourselves from each of your tribes in all the towns the Lord your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly.
21“You must never set up a wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build for the Lord your God.