And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
You should celebrate joyfully during your festival - you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites, the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows who are in your towns.
God is telling His people to include everyone in their celebrations - especially those who might otherwise be left out or forgotten.
📚 Historical Context
This command was given during the Festival of Booths (Tabernacles), one of Israel's three major annual festivals celebrating God's provision. In ancient Israel, society had clear social hierarchies, but God specifically commanded that religious celebrations include servants, foreigners, orphans, and widows - groups that were often marginalized or vulnerable.
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