First-fruits

Easton, 1897

The first-fruits of the ground were offered unto God just as the first-born of man and animals.

The law required, (1.) That on the morrow after the Passover Sabbath a sheaf of new corn should be waved by the priest before the altar (Leviticus 23:5, Leviticus 23:6, Leviticus 23:10, Leviticus 23:12; Leviticus 2:12).

(2.) That at the feast of Pentecost two loaves of leavened bread, made from the new flour, were to be waved in like manner (Leviticus 23:15, Leviticus 23:17; Numbers 28:26).

(3.) The feast of Tabernacles was an acknowledgement that the fruits of the harvest were from the Lord (Exodus 23:16; Exodus 34:22).

(4.) Every individual, besides, was required to consecrate to God a portion of the first-fruits of the land (Exodus 22:29; Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:26; Numbers 15:20, Numbers 15:21).

(5.) The law enjoined that no fruit was to be gathered from newly-planted fruit-trees for the first three years, and that the first-fruits of the fourth year were to be consecrated to the Lord (Leviticus 19:23-25). Jeremiah (Jeremiah 2:3) alludes to the ordinance of "first-fruits," and hence he must have been acquainted with the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, where the laws regarding it are recorded.