15:17 servant for ever. See notes on Exodus 21:6; Psalm 40:6; and Hebrews 10:5.

16:2 the passover. For the seven annual “feasts of JEHOVAH,” see Leviticus 23. These included, in order, the feasts of: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Weeks (or Pentecost), Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles (or Ingathering). In this chapter, the Lord through Moses reminds the people again of their solemn obligation to keep the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread (Deuteronomy 16:1-8), the Feast of Weeks (Deuteronomy 16:9-12), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:13-15). These were not more significant than the other feasts, but at these three (with the Passover and Unleavened Bread feast associated together), all the men of Israel were to make a special offering to the Lord from their increase (note also Exodus 23:14-17).