Reminder For Men To Appear Before Yahweh, But Not Empty Handed

Originally Written: 2024-03-16

Exodus 23:14-17 "Three times in the year you are to observe a Feast to Me:
15 Guard the Feast of The Unleavened Breads. Seven days you eat unleavened breads, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of HaAviyv - for in it you came out of Mitsrayim - and do not appear before Me empty-handed;
16 and the Feast of The Harvest, the first-fruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of The Ingathering at the outgoing of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.
17 Three times in the year all your males are to appear before the Adon Yahweh." Exodus 34:18-26 "Guard the Feast of The Unleavened Breads. For seven days you eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, in the Appointed Time of the month of HaAviyv, because in the month of HaAviyv you came out from Mitsrayim.
19 Everyone opening the womb is Mine, and every male first-born among your livestock, whether bull or sheep.
20 But the first-born of a donkey you ransom with a lamb. And if you do not ransom, then you shall break his neck. Every first-born of your sons you shall ransom. And they shall not appear before Me empty-handed.
21 Six days you work, but on the seventh day you rest - in ploughing time and in harvest you rest.
22 And perform the Feast of Weeks for yourself, of the first-fruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of The Ingathering at the turn of the year.
23 Three times in the year all your men are to appear before the Adon, Yahweh, the Elohiym of Yisra’eyl,
24 for I dispossess nations before you, and shall enlarge your borders, and let no one covet your land when you go up to appear before Yahweh your Elohiym three times in the year.
25 Do not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leaven, and do not let the sacrifice of the Feast of The Passover remain until morning.
26 Bring the first of the first-fruits of your land to the House of Yahweh your Elohiym. Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk." Deuteronomy 16:16-17 "Three times a year all your males appear before Yahweh your Elohiym in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of The Unleavened Breads, and at the Feast of The Weeks, and at the Feast of The Tree Huts. And none should appear before Yahweh empty-handed,
17 but each one with the gift of his hand, according to the blessing of Yahweh your Elohiym which He has given you."

Comments: It seems self-explanatory and easy to understand from the above three sections of Scripture that men are responsible to give some type of offering or gift to Yahweh three times a year at the time of the Feast of The Unleavened Breads, the Feast of The Weeks, and the Feast of The Tree Huts.

Why does it focus on men? Men were the primary and default owners of most property and resources, usually, in most cases. Obviously there could be exceptions to that norm – but that was the typical expected norm in Israelite society in ancient times. Men, by default, therefore, carry the responsibility of ensuring that resources including food/crops, animals, silver, or other things of value are handled in a way that pleases Yahweh. Obviously if a woman has resources she may choose to give as well, but it seems the ones held guilty for not ensuring this happens are the men. Someone may ask though – does that mean women today with resources can give nothing and not be guilty? I can’t answer that because I can only say what Scriptures say and that topic is not addressed. You have to do what you believe Yahweh wants you to do. Men definitely would be considered guilty, however, if they did nothing. If someone is extremely poor – maybe share some food or give a small amount to someone to get some food for the feast – something – doing something is better than being 100% "empty-handed".

I would not do any financial transactions that result in exchange of cash or banks doing things on Weekly Sabbaths or Annual Sabbaths. For this reason, you may need to do your giving a week or two in advance before the feast at the start of a week that has no Annual Sabbaths because Annual Sabbaths can fall on any day of the week and sometimes there are delays with bank transactions. I believe as long as it’s around that feast time and it is for that purpose that it is fulfilling the command. You can, also, in addition to that giving, give food to people if you are in person during the feast time. It is permissible to invite others to eat with you or be the one who provides the food to others that day, or give food to others in advance that will be eaten during the feast, or the financial assistance you provide others before the feast could be specifically for them to cover their food expenses of food they will eat during the feast. So even if the giving is done in advance, it still could be viewed that you are not coming "empty-handed" from my perspective. But I would not do it too far in advance that it doesn’t seem connected to the feast since that is the time you are to not come before Yahweh empty-handed.

If you want to view this information in a PDF format, click here. The phrase, "New Moon Traditional Reminders", is in the footer of that document because it is my tradition to read that document on New Moon Day every month to remind myself and others about the importance of not being empty-handed when I/others are coming before Yahweh in the next upcoming Feast time of the year.