And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
You should celebrate joyfully before the LORD your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites living in your towns, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows who are among you. Do this in the place where the LORD your God has chosen to put his name.
God wants his people to celebrate together with joy, making sure to include everyone—especially those who are often forgotten or left out.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of Moses' instructions about the Festival of Weeks (also called Pentecost), one of three major Jewish festivals where all Israelite men were required to appear before God. The festivals were to be celebrated at the central sanctuary, which would later be the temple in Jerusalem. These celebrations were meant to remember God's provision and bring the entire community together.
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