Covenant Laws IV: Corruption, Poverty, Three Festivals, God’s Promises: The book of the covenant concludes with laws that establish judicial integrity (vv. 1–9); Sabbath laws that protect the poor and beasts of burden (vv. 10–13); and the institution of three yearly festivals (vv. 14–19). Then the text returns to the narrative of God’s promises to Moses (vv. 20–33). The alternating pattern of social justice legislation with laws about the people’s relation to God continues.

23:20–33 These verses are a formal narrative conclusion to the book of the covenant. They provide a balance to the introduction by reiterating the theme of the Lord’s first-person concern for true worship of the Creator and redeemer of Israel (20:22–26). Scholars have noted a shift to a Deuteronomic style. The text immed…