Deuteronomy 26:2-4

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 26:2

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 26:2

Thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit, etc. - This was intended to keep them in continual remembrance of the kindness of God, in preserving them through so many difficulties and literally fulfilling the promises he had made to them. God being the author of all their blessings, the first-fruits of the land were consecrated to him, as the author of every good and perfect gift. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 26:2

Verse 2 2.That thou shalt take of the first. We know that in the first-fruits the whole produce of the year was consecrated to God. The people, (338) therefore, bore in them a testimony of their piety to Him, whom they daily experienced to be their preserver, and the giver of their food. This typical rite has now, indeed, ceased, but Paul tells us that the true observation of it still remains, where he exhorts us, whether we eat or drink, to do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31.) As... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:1-11

EXPOSITION THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER AT THE PRESENTATION OF FIRSTFRUITS AND TITHES . As Moses began his exposition of the laws and rights instituted for Israel by a reference to the sanctuary as the place which the Lord should choose, and the place where religious service was to be rendered ( Deuteronomy 12:1-32 .), so here he follows up his address by a reference to the same. Of the gifts which had to be presented at the sanctuary there were two specially... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Joy in the use of temporal mercies; or, sanctification of our possessions to God warrants a holy joy in the use of them. The order of thought is this: 1. In due time Israel would be in possession of the land which the Lord promised to give them. 2. Of this comfortable possession the gathering of the fruits thereof would be the proof and sign. 3. In accordance with a well-understood law, the firstfruits were to be offered to God (see reference). 4. In thus offering the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:1-11

The presentation of the first fruits. This interesting ceremony: 1. Reminded the individual that the land and its fruits were God's. 2. Required from him a devout acknowledgment of the fact, with a gift in which the acknowledgment was suitably embodied. 3. Threw him back on the recollection of God's former mercies to his nation. 4. Secured a confession and rehearsal of these from his own lips. It served: 1. To create and deepen religious feeling. 2. To quicken... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Commemorations of national deliverance. An instinct in man impels him to dwell with pleasure on his national beginnings and growth; and, in cases where that beginning sprang out from a specific event, that event has been the subject of public commemoration year by year. Of this Rome is a conspicuous instance. But the Jews were designed to be eminently a religious people; hence this commemoration was to be a simple act of piety—the presentation of firstfruits. I. MAN IS THE ... read more

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