Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed.
God made allowance for His people's weakness by requiring only three journeys instead of five; the males alone were commanded to leave their homes because the burden of travel fell harder on women, who were almost always pregnant or nursing. The fathers represented their wives and children in the sacred assembly, so the profession extended to the other sex and to those of tender age.
AI summary
The three yearly feasts kept up communion between God and His people and preserved the face of religion in the nation. One week only was festival, yet their solemn preparation before and serious reflection afterward amounted to observance of the whole month; thus the ceremonies themselves became the means by which God's truth took root in their hearts.
AI summary
Commenting on Deuteronomy 16:1-17
The three appearances at Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles were not empty formality; every man was bound to bring an offering according to his ability, either a burnt offering of appearance or peace offerings with money corresponding to them, as the tradition fixed the amounts. To appear empty-handed was to mock the Lord's command.
AI summary