Commentary on Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Complete John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
the necessity of remaining in Jerusalem had been imposed on all, so long a stay would have been burdensome. But, if they chose to be present from the beginning to the end, still there would have been only one journey, which is named after the most remarkable day. And certainly 701 the word ,רגליםraglim, which Moses uses, means, metaphorically, rather journeys than times, although I allow that,פעמיםphagnemim, which signifies times, is used in Deuteronomy in a similar sense. At any rate, it appears that God spared His people, when prescribed only three necessary convocations, lest the fathers of families and their children should be wearied by the expense and trouble of them, since he approves of no service which does not proceed from a cheerful heart.
Deuteronomy 16
Deuteronomy 16:1, 2, 5-17
1. Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
1. Observa mensem Abib, et fac Pesah Jehovae Deo tuo: quia mense Abib eduxit to Jehova Deus tuus ex Aegypto nocte.
2. Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.
2 Et sacrificabis Pesah Jehovae Deo tuo de pecudibus et bobus, in loco quem elegerit Jehova ut habitare faciat nomen suum ibi.
5. Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:
5. Non poteris sacrificare Pesah in aliqua e portis tuis quas Jehova Deus tuus dat tibi.
רגליםandפעמיםeach signify the feet, in their primary sense; and each are used, but the latter more commonly, for times, as when we say, "so many times." — W
It is so used in Deuteronomy 1:2, and 16:16. For this critical sentence, the following is substituted in Fr., "Ainsi trois festes y eussent este comprises; pource qu'ils ne fussent point retournez jusques a ce qu'elles eussent este aceomplies;" thus, three festivals would have been comprised in it; because they would not have returned until they were all completed.