Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Here is, I. A good work ordered to be done, and that is the presenting of a basket of their first-fruits to God every year, Deut. 26:1, 2. Besides the sheaf of first-fruits, which was offered for the whole land, on the morrow after the passover (Lev. 23:10), every man was to bring for himself a basket of first-fruits at the feast of pentecost, when the harvest was ended, which is therefore called the feast of first-fruits (Exod. 34:22), and is said to be kept with a tribute of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:1

And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land ,.... The land of Canaan, which they were now on the borders of, and just entering into: which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance ; which is often mentioned, to observe that it was not through their merits, but his gift, that they should enjoy the land; and the rather here to enforce the following law concerning the basket of firstfruits: and possessest it, and dwellest therein ; not only had entered into it, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:2

That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth ,.... This oblation of firstfruits was different front the sheaf of the firstfruits brought at barley harvest in the time of the passover, and from the two wave loaves of wheaten flour, at wheat harvest, at Pentecost; and from the cake of the first of their dough; see Leviticus 23:10 . They were of one sort only, these of various kinds; though, as Jarchi observes, not all firstfruits, or the first of all sorts of fruits, were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:3

And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days ,.... Whose course and turn it would be to minister before the Lord; though, according to the Targum of Jonathan, it was the high priest they were to apply to on this occasion; and so Aben Ezra observes, that this law is obligatory all the time there is an high priest, as if it was not binding when there was none, and all depended on him; who in this case was typical of Christ our high priest, to whom we must bring, and by him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:4

And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand ,.... To wave it, as Jarchi says, putting his hand under the hand of the owner, and so waving it; and this being waved to and fro towards the several corners of the earth, was an acknowledgment of the Lord being the proprietor of it: and set it down before the altar of the Lord thy God ; that it might have some appearance of a sacrifice, and be a fit emblem of the spiritual sacrifice of praise, which is accepted upon the altar... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:5

And thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God ,.... Speak with a loud voice, lifting up the voice, as Jarchi interprets it; or "answer" F5 וענית "et respondebis", Montanus, Vatablus; "et respondens dices", Munster. , to the question the priest will ask, saying, what is this thou hast brought? as Aben Ezra remarks; and this being said in the tabernacle, and before the priest of the Lord, and as in the presence of the Lord, is represented as said before him, which is as follows:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:6

And the Egyptians evil entreated us ,.... Ordered their male children to be killed by the midwives, and by another edict to be drowned by the people: and afflicted us ; by setting taskmasters over them, who put heavy burdens upon them: and laid upon us hard bondage ; in mortar and brick, and all manner of field service, in which they made them serve with rigour, and whereby their lives were made bitter; see Exodus 1:9 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:7

And when we cried unto the Lord our God ,.... As they did by reason of their hard bondage, Exodus 2:23 , and the Lord heard our voice, and looked upon our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression ; with a look of pity and compassion, heard their cries, answered their petitions, and sent them a deliverer, Exodus 2:25 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:8

And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt ,.... After some time: with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm ; by his almighty power, of which full proof was given by what he then did, Deuteronomy 5:15 , and with great terribleness : to Pharaoh and his people, through the plagues that were inflicted on them, especially the last, the slaying of their firstborn; see Deuteronomy 4:34 , and with signs and with wonders ; wrought by the hands of Moses and Aaron, meaning the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:9

And he hath brought us unto this place ,.... After forty years travel through the wilderness: and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey ; an usual description of the land of Canaan, because of the great fertility of it, and the abundance of good things in it; see Exodus 3:8 . read more

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