Scripture
Old Testament / Hebrew Bible
Deuteronomy 31:9-13
Deuteronomy 33:1-29
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Joshua 1:1-9
Nehemiah 8:1-12
Genesis 1:1-2:3
New Testament
Notes
Simchat Torah itself is not commanded in Scripture. The biblical passages instead provide background for the Jewish practice of reading and teaching the Torah.
Deuteronomy 31 commands a public reading of the Law before men, women, children and foreigners. The purpose was that the people would hear, learn and obey.
Nehemiah 8 gives us an important example of communal Scripture reading. Ezra read from the Law while the people listened, and others helped explain its meaning.
On Simchat Torah, Deuteronomy 33-34 brings the annual Torah-reading cycle to its conclusion. The death of Moses is followed almost immediately by Genesis 1 and the beginning of creation. Joshua 1 is traditionally read as the Haftarah and naturally continues the story after the death of Moses.
The New Testament passages do not describe Simchat Torah. Luke and Acts instead show the established Jewish practice of public Scripture reading in the synagogue. These passages provide useful background without placing the later festival into the first century.