18 "You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread . For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread , as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Abib , for in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt . 19 " The first offspring from every womb belongs to Me, and all your male livestock , the first offspring from cattle and sheep . 20 " You shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey ; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck . You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons . None shall appear before Me empty-handed . 21 "You shall work six days , but on the seventh day you shall rest ; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest . 22 "You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks , that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest , and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year . 23 " Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD , the God of Israel . 24 "For I will drive out nations before e you and enlarge your borders , and no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the Lord your God . 25 " You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread , nor is the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover to be left over until morning . 26 "You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God . "Y ou shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk ."
27 Then the Lord said to Moses , " Write down these words , for in accordance e with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 34:18-27
Commentary on Exodus 34:18-27
(Read Exodus 34:18-27)
Once a week they must rest, even in ploughing time, and in harvest. All worldly business must give way to that holy rest; even harvest work will prosper the better, for the religious observance of the sabbath day in harvest time. We must show that we prefer our communion with God, and our duty to him, before the business or the joy of harvest. Thrice a year they must appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. Canaan was a desirable land, and the neighbouring nations were greedy; yet God says, They shall not desire it. Let us check all sinful desires against God and his glory, in our hearts, and then trust him to check all sinful desires in the hearts of others against us. The way of duty is the way of safety. Those who venture for him never lose by him. Three feasts are here mentioned: 1. The Passover, in remembrance of the deliverance out of Egypt. 2. The feast of weeks, or the feast of Pentecost; added to it is the law of the first-fruits. 3. The feast of in-gathering, or the feast of Tabernacles. Moses is to write these words, that the people might know them better. We can never be enough thankful to God for the written word. God would make a covenant with Israel, in Moses as a mediator. Thus the covenant of grace is made with believers through Christ.