Charles Ellicott Commentary Deuteronomy 16:13-15

"Thou shalt keep the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in from thy threshing-floor and from thy winepress: and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a feast unto Jehovah thy God in the place which Jehovah shall choose; because Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the work of thy hands, and thou shalt be altogether joyful." — Deuteronomy 16:13-15 (ASV)

Deuteronomy 16:13–15. THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES.

Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days. —For details of the observance see the passages already referred to in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, but more especially Leviticus 23:33-43.

Thou, and thy son ... —The rejoicing of the Feast of Tabernacles was proverbial among the Jews. On the persons who are to share the joy, Rashi has an interesting note: “The Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow—My four (Jehovah’s), over against your four—your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant. If you will make My four to rejoice, I will rejoice your four.”

Seven days. —An eighth day is mentioned both in Leviticus 23:36 and Numbers 29:35. But the seven days of this feast are also spoken of in both those passages (Leviticus 23:36 and Numbers 29:12). There is, therefore, no contradiction between the two passages.

The eighth day is treated apart from the first seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, somewhat in the same way as the Passover is always distinguished in the Pentateuch from the six days which followed it, and which are called the Feast of Unleavened bread. The reason for the distinction in that case becomes clear in the fulfillment of the feast by our Lord. The Passover is His sacrifice and death. We keep the feast of unleavened bread by serving Him in “sincerity and truth.”

The Feast of Tabernacles has not yet been fulfilled by our Lord like the two other great feasts of the Jewish calendar. Unfulfilled prophecies regarding it may be pointed out, as in Zechariah 14. Our Lord refused to signalize that feast by any public manifestation (John 7:2–10).

There may, therefore, be some reason for separating the eighth and last day of the Feast of Tabernacles from the former seven, which will appear in its fulfillment in the kingdom of God. It is remarkable that the dedication of Solomon’s temple, the commencement of the second temple, and the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem all occurred about the time of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Thou shalt surely rejoice. —In the Hebrew this is a somewhat unusual form of expression. Literally, you will be only rejoicing. Rashi says it is not a command, but a promise.