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Deuteronomy 31

Deuteronomy 31:10

The Reading of the Law · Deuteronomy 31:9–13
Read Deuteronomy 31

Translations

Modern
Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of remission of debt, during the Feast of Tabernacles,
Traditional
And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,
Literal
And Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, in the Feast of the Booths,
Latin
Præcepitque eis, dicens: Post septem annos, anno remissionis, in solemnitate tabernaculorum,

Original

Hebrew
English
Then Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of remission of debt, during the Feast of Tabernacles,

Notes

Deuteronomy 31:10

  • The year of remission of debt was the seventh year of the calendar, not the seventh year of a specific transaction between people. All debts were cancelled, and Hebrew bond servants were released from their creditors (see 15:1–3).

  • Feast of Tabernacles: People celebrated this feast in the seventh month each year (Hebrew Tishri, September/October). It celebrated God's miraculous protection of Israel in the wilderness. It also celebrated the fall harvest (see 16:13–15).

Deuteronomy 31:9–13

To remind future generations in Israel of their covenant obligations, they read the covenant text in front of the people. This was necessary because personal copies of documents were rare.

Deuteronomy 31:1–29

For a covenant document to remain binding and important, it had to be kept in a place where both sides could easily find it.

The book of Deuteronomy needed to be preserved for future generations. In this way, Israel would continue to remember to submit to the Lord’s rule.

Parallels

Nehemiah 8:1–8

People

Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Biblical Concept of Law Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of Joshua, Book of Jubilee Year Numbers, Book of

Topics

Feast of Tabernacles: The Law Read in Connection With, Every Seventh Year Instruction of Children Law: Expounded to the Assembled Nation at the Feast of Tabernacles in the Sabbatic Year Priest: Duties of Teach the Law Sabbatic Year: Called Year of Release Sabbatic Year: Ordinances Concerning Instruction in the Law During School: Like a Bible School The Feast of Sabbatical Year: Enactments Respecting: Public Reading of the Law at Feast of Tabernacles The Feast of Tabernacles: The Law Publicly Read Every Seventh Year At The Law of Moses: Publicly Read: At the Feast of Tabernacles in the Sabbatical Year Word of God: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To