Exodus 23:17

Three times in the year. Considering the fact that Palestine is a small country, less than 145 mi. long by 75 mi. wide, attendance at these feasts was not a burden. Furthermore, such festive occasions appealed to the people, for they were an important means of spreading information and offered almost the only opportunity for relatives and friends to see one another. The Israelites looked forward to these occasions with joyous anticipation. They exerted an important unifying influence and were thus a vitally important part of national life, tending as they did to weld the people together in the knowledge and service of God. While “all thy males” were required to attend, other members of the family were free to do so if they wished (1 Sam. 1:1–23; Luke 2:41–45).