Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
All thy males shall appear before the Lord God. All the males who were purified, including indigenous or home-born servants (persons circumcised), were enjoined to repair to the tabernacle, and afterwards the temple, and the women frequently went. The institution of this national custom was of the greatest importance in many ways-by keeping up a national sense of religion and a public uniformity in worship; by creating a bond of unity, and also promoting internal commerce among the people. Though the absence of all the males at these three festivals left the country defenseless, a special promise was given of divine protection, and no incursion of enemies was ever permitted to happen on those occasions.